Creamy Cilantro Sauce: The Ultimate Drizzle for Everything

Y’all, this Cilantro Cream Sauce is the best thing to ever happen to Mexican food—and chips, and tacos, and pretty much anything else you can think of! It’s cool, creamy, and bursting with fresh cilantro and lime. A little tangy, a little zesty, and a whole lotta delicious.

Cilantro Cream Sauce

I have been wanting to share this recipe with y’all for a long time now!

Cilantro cream sauce is my number one favorite condiment, and it’s not something you can just grab off a grocery store shelf.

Nope, this homemade goodness is one-of-a-kind!

It’s smooth, fresh, and downright addictive. You’ll be drizzling it, dipping in it, and licking the spoon before you know it.

I love it on so many things—from dipping my chips in it, to pouring on any Mexican inspired dish, such as my Enchilada Meatball Casserole, Taco Pasta, and even my Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole.

It’s seriously fantastic, and I always have it in my fridge.  It lasts about 1-2 weeks, depending on how fresh the ingredients are, and it just gets better the longer it sits.

Why You’ll Love Cilantro Cream Sauce

• Better Than Store-Bought: You won’t find it in any grocery store! It’s homemade, fresh, and packed with flavor you won’t find in a bottled sauce.
• Easy to Make: This recipe comes together in just 5-10 minutes in a food processor or blender. No fuss, no hard-to-find items—just a simple recipe with a handful of ingredients.
• Stays Fresh for Days: When you store it in an airtight glass jar it will keep for a couple of weeks.

Ingredients for Cilantro Cream Sauce

• Cream Cheese: It’s what makes the creamy sauce extra thick and rich.
• Sour Cream: Adds a little tang and makes it a great sauce for dipping. I love to use my homemade sour cream!
• Tomatillo Salsa: This green sauce brings a bright, zesty kick! Some grocery store brands call it tomatillo sauce, others call it salsa verde—it’s the same thing.
• Black Pepper: Just a little bit gives a warm bite.
• Celery Salt: A secret ingredient adds a wonderful flavor.
• Taco Seasoning: Taco seasoning mix brings a lot of flavor and just the right amount of spice.
• Fresh Garlic: You need a few cloves of garlic for a bold, garlicky flavor.
• Fresh Jalapeños: If you like a little heat, leave the seeds in. If you want it milder, take them out.
• Fresh Cilantro: Gives you the classic cilantro taste perfect for any Mexican dish.
• Fresh Lime Juice: Adds a fresh, bright flavor and acid which helps preserve the sauce.

How to Make Cilantro Cream Sauce

1. Gather Your Ingredients: Grab everything you need for this easy recipe—cream cheese, sour cream, tomatillo salsa, fresh cilantro, fresh garlic, fresh jalapenos, and all the seasonings. Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature so it blends smoothly.
2. Blend It Up: Toss all the ingredients into a food processor or blender. Puree until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. It’s the best way to get a perfect texture for your creamy cilantro sauce.
3. Taste and Adjust: Give it a little taste. Want more bright flavor? Add extra fresh lime juice. Need a little more heat? Throw in more jalapeno peppers. Tweak it however you like best.

Recipe Variations

1. Make It Lighter: Swap out the sour cream for plain Greek yogurt to make it a little healthier and add some protein.
2. Turn Up the Heat: Love spice? Add more jalapeno peppers, or throw in a serrano pepper for extra kick. A dash of red peppers or hot sauce will fire things up, too!
3. Go Extra Tangy: Add a little more fresh lime juice and some lime zest for a tangy twist.
4. Make It a Dressing: Want a pourable salad dressing? Thin it out with a little heavy cream, Mexican crema, or even a splash of olive oil. It’s the perfect sauce for drizzling over salads, taco salad, or grilled veggies.

Ways to Serve Cilantro Cream Sauce

This cilantro cream sauce recipe is the perfect sauce for just about anything. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:

• It’s a delicious dip for tortilla chips.
• Drizzle it on fish tacos, or street tacos.
• Spoon it over burrito bowls or taco salad.
• It’s a great dipper for all-the-things, especially my Black Bean Balls and Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers.
• Use it as a salad dressing.
• Pour it over Chiles Rellenos or huevos rancheros.
• My favorite thing to serve it alongside are my Southwest Egg Rolls.

Once you try it the first time, you’ll be looking for different ways to use it next time!

How to Store Leftovers

Pour your sauce into an airtight container or an airtight glass jar. This keeps it fresh and delicious.

Pop it in the fridge, and it’ll stay good for 1-2 weeks—but let’s be real, it probably won’t last that long!

Print Pin

Cilantro Cream Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 7oz can tomatillo sauce or salsa (same thing, different companies label them different)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
• 6 cloves garlic
• 2-4 jalapenos seeded (or leave the seeds in for extra heat)
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro
• the juice of half a lime

Instructions

• Combine all the ingredients together in a food processor or blender. Puree until smooth.
• Transfer to a jar with a tight fitting seal, and refrigerate for up to 1-2 weeks.