Looking for the perfect dressing to top your southwest salad?
Look no further!
Here are 17 delicious dressings that will take your salad to the next level.
From cilantro-lime vinaigrette to avocado ranch, there’s a dressing on this list for everyone.
So whether you’re looking for something light and refreshing or rich and creamy, you’ll find it here.
So go ahead and give one (or all!) of these dressings a try.
Your taste buds will thank you!
Why Consider Using A Dressing on Southwest Salad?
Salads are a great way to get in your daily dose of vegetables, but they can sometimes be a little bland.
This is why it is important to consider using a dressing on southwest salad.
A good dressing can add flavor and depth to a dish, making it more enjoyable to eat.
There are many different dressings that can be used on southwest salad, but some of the most popular include ranch, vinaigrette, and balsamic vinegar.
Each dressing has its own unique flavor that can complement the flavors of the vegetables in the salad.
Using a dressing on southwest salad is also a good way to add some extra nutrition to the dish.
Many dressings are made with healthy ingredients like olive oil and vinegar, which can help improve the overall nutritional value of the salad.
So, if you’re looking for a way to make your salads more flavorful and nutritious, consider using a dressing.
What Dressing Goes on Southwest Salad?
There are many different dressings that go well with southwest salad. Some of the most popular include ranch, vinaigrette, and Caesar. For a mild flavor, you can try a honey mustard or Italian dressing. If you want something with a bit more spice, you can go for a chipotle ranch or a jalapeño vinaigrette.
But, with all the choices out there, it can be hard to know which dressing goes on your Southwest Salad.
Luckily, we’ve got you covered.
Here are 17 great options for dressing up your southwest salad:
1. Ranch Dressing
Ranch dressing is a perfect choice for southwest salads because it goes well with the salad’s ingredients and has a light, tart flavor that will complement the spicy ranch dressing.
The light, creamy texture of ranch dressing also makes it a great partner for the lettuce and other fresh vegetables in your salad.
2. Caesar Dressing
Caesar dressing is another great choice for southwest salads, especially if you’re looking to add some crunchy texture to your salad.
The flavors of this dressing are milder than ranch dressing, so they won’t distract from the strong flavors of Southwest-inspired dishes like nachos or tacos.
The creamy texture of caesar dressing will also help lighten up heavier ingredients like tortilla chips, salsa, or guacamole if you’re looking for something on the lighter side of things (or just want to keep things simple).
3. Blue Cheese Dressing
Blue cheese dressing is one of the most popular dressings used on southwest salads.
It’s creamy and tangy, which makes it the perfect complement to the southwestern flavors found in this dish.
The blue cheese gives it a bit of spice, and you can use as much as you want depending on how much flavor you like.
The best part about blue cheese dressing is that it’s easy to make yourself—all you need is sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt and pepper!
4. Honey Mustard Dressing
Honey mustard dressing is a sweet and tangy dressing that has become increasingly popular in recent years.
It’s made with a base of mayonnaise, which helps keep your salads fresh and moist for longer periods of time than other dressings would allow for.
Honey mustard adds a bit of sweetness to your salad without being too overpowering or cloying when combined with other ingredients like spinach or lettuce leaves.
5. Balsamic Vinaigrette
This is a classic dressing that will add just the right amount of sweet and tangy flavor to your salad.
The balsamic vinegar will add depth and richness to the overall taste of this salad, while also giving it a sweet edge that’ll make your mouth water as soon as you take a bite.
This dressing will go great with any type of meat or fish when served as an appetizer at a party or even as a dip for veggies if you’re trying to eat healthier!
6. Italian Dressing
An Italian dressing has an even more complex flavor than a balsamic vinaigrette, which makes it perfect for those who love the deep, rich taste of this vinegar-based dressing.
With garlic and oregano in addition to balsamic vinegar, there’s no doubt that this dressing will add some punch to your meal!
7. Creamy Southwest Dressing
This dressing is a creamy blend of mayonnaise, sour cream, and cilantro.
It’s super-easy to make and goes great on southwest salad!
- Just mix together one cup mayonnaise, one cup sour cream, and one cup chopped fresh cilantro.
- Stir well until the dressing is smooth and creamy.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.
8. Avocado Dressing
This avocado dressing is delicious on any salad—and it has a whole lot of health benefits to boot!
- To make it, just mash up one ripe avocado in a small bowl with a fork or potato masher until it’s smooth and creamy (or use a food processor if you prefer).
- Add two tablespoons lime juice and one teaspoon salt, then stir well until combined.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature over your favorite southwest salad ingredients (like black beans or corn).
9. Cilantro Lime Dressing
This is a very popular dressing that goes well on salads.
It’s made with cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and garlic.
The cilantro gives it a fresh flavor, while the lime juice adds a little zing to it.
The garlic has some great health benefits as well.
10. Salsa
Salsa is another great option for dressing your salad.
It’s made with tomatoes, onions, jalapenos or any other peppers you like, fresh cilantro if you have it on hand, lime juice if you want more of that citrusy flavor in your meal (like me!), and salt and pepper to taste!
11. Ketchup
Ketchup is a great choice for a salad because it’s sweet and spicy, and it pairs perfectly with the flavors in the salad.
The sweetness of ketchup helps to balance out the heat from your chili powder, while the vinegar in ketchup is a nice complement to the lime juice in southwest dressing.
12. Vinaigrette Dressing
Vinaigrette dressing can be tricky because it usually comes with vinegar or lemon juice in it—two things that can be overpowering if used too liberally.
But if you use just enough and don’t overdo it, vinaigrette dressing can make for an excellent dressing for Southwest Salad.
It has a little bit of tanginess from the vinegar but also has sweetness from the oil and sugar in it—so it kind of balances out the sourness of the salad itself (which tends to be pretty tart).
The fact that there are so many different variations on vinaigrette adds even more dimension to its appeal!
13. Russian Dressing
Russian dressing is a creamy, tangy dressing that is made with mayonnaise, ketchup, relish and spices.
This dressing goes well with southwest salads because it has a lot of flavor and will give your salad some crunchy texture from the diced vegetables that are typically used in the salad.
14. Thousand Island Dressing
Thousand Island dressing is made with mayonnaise, relish, ketchup and spices.
It can also include garlic or onion powder.
Thousand Island dressing has a sweet and sour taste with a hint of spiciness from the vinegar.
It goes well on salads because it adds another layer of flavor to an already delicious combination of ingredients.
15. Elderberry Vinaigrette
This is a great dressing for a salad because it’s light, but also has some bold flavors.
The elderberry vinaigrette is made with balsamic vinegar, which has a nice tangy flavor that pairs with the cilantro and black beans in this particular salad.
It also has honey and lime juice, which add sweetness and acidity to balance out the vinegar.
The dressing is easy to make—just combine all of the ingredients in a jar or bowl, shake it up until they’re blended together well, and then pour it over your salad!
16. Buttermilk Dressing
The buttermilk dressing is also delicious on southwest salads because it’s creamy and tangy at once.
It’s made with buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic powder, salt, pepper and lemon juice (if you want).
You can use this dressing as a dip for chips or veggies or as part of your salad like we’re doing here today!
It’s also good on chicken or fish if you want something more substantial than just chips or veggies!
17. Green Goddess Dressing
This is a great option if you want to add a little bit of color to your salad.
It’s also super healthy, and can be used as a dip for veggies or as an accompaniment to chicken.
What Dressing Goes on Southwest Salad? (17 Dressings)
Ingredients
- Ranch Dressing
- Caesar Dressing
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Honey Mustard Dressing
- Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Italian Dressing
- Creamy Southwest Dressing
- Avocado Dressing
- Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Salsa
- Ketchup
- Vinaigrette Dressing
- Russian Dressing
- Thousand Island Dressing
- Elderberry Vinaigrette
- Buttermilk Dressing
- Green Goddess Dressing
Instructions
- Pick your favorite salad dressing from this list to use.
- Prepare the rest of your ingredients.
- Enjoy in no time.