It only takes 5 minutes to whip up THE BEST Cilantro Lime Sauce, perfect for steak, chicken, shrimp or fish tacos! This creamy Mexican sauce is literally good on everything. Immediately bookmark this recipe because you’re going to want to make it over and over again!

cilantro lime sauce in small white bowl with spoon

Table of contents

I’m a saucy girl that truly believes any meal can be elevated with the right sauce. This Cilantro Lime Sauce is the right sauce for so many meals! Once I made it for the first time, I literally put it on everything.

I put it on eggs for breakfast, turkey wraps for lunch and steak tacos for dinner. The fresh, tangy flavor and light, creamy texture of the sauce will make you fall in love at first bite!

The best part is, this sauce only requires two steps, add and blend. Add all of the ingredients to a blender, then blend it up until it’s smooth and creamy! In 5 minutes or less, you’ll have a delicious sauce to add to all of your meals throughout the week!

ingredients for cilantro lime sauce

Ingredients

  • Fresh cilantro – since this is the main ingredient, you want to make sure that you have fresh cilantro with bright green leaves. You’ll need 3 packed cups of cilantro, so you might need to buy two bundles at the grocery store, depending on how large each bundle is. For this recipe, feel free to use the cilantro leaves and stems, as they’ll all get blended together into the sauce.
  • Jalapeno
  • Lime juice – fresh squeezed is always preferred for the best flavor!
  • Fresh garlic cloves
  • Crema or sour cream – Mexican crema is found in most major grocery stores near the sour cream. The texture is somewhere between heavy cream and sour cream. If you can’t find crema, feel free to use sour cream or plain greek yogurt instead. It will make the texture of the sauce slightly thicker, but you can always add 1-2 tablespoons water to make the sauce thinner, if you’d like.
  • Salt
ingredients for cilantro lime sauce in blender

Instructions

  1. Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor.
  2. Blend until smooth and creamy.

Frequently asked questions

  • How long will the sauce last? Refrigerated in a sealed container, the sauce will stay good for up to 7 days.
  • Can you make the sauce vegan? Yes, use plant-based sour cream, or canned coconut cream, instead of the Mexican crema, to make the sauce vegan.
  • Is the sauce gluten-free? Yes, all of the ingredients in the sauce are naturally gluten free.
  • Is the sauce keto-friendly? This sauce contains 1 net carb per ounce, making it perfect for those on a keto diet. Drizzle it over grilled steak or chicken and toss it with greens to make a complete keto meal.
  • Can you freeze the sauce? I do not recommend freezing the sauce, as the dairy will separate and the texture of the sauce will not be the same after it’s been frozen.
  • What type of blender do you recommend to make the sauce? I used a Nutribullet to make this sauce, but any high-powered blender or food processor will work.
  • Is the sauce spicy? The sauce has a mild kick from the jalapeno, but I definitely wouldn’t call it spicy. If you’re extremely sensitive to spice, you can always leave the jalapeno out of the sauce. If you want more spice, feel free to add in another jalapeno or a serrano pepper.
steak tacos on plate with cilantro lime sauce

Ways to use it

I literally want to put this cilantro lime sauce on everything! It’s so creamy and flavorful, you can’t go wrong eating it for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

  • Drizzle it over grilled steak or chicken
  • Use it as a salad dressing and toss it with your favorite Mexican-style salad
  • Spread it on a sandwich or wrap
  • Drizzle it over nachos or fajitas
  • Use it as a dipping sauce for raw or roasted vegetables
  • Drizzle it on top of a burrito bowl
  • Spoon it over eggs for breakfast
  • Drizzle it over steak, chicken, shrimp or fish tacos

Pair it with any of these recipes for a winning combination!

cilantro lime sauce on spoon in bowl

More sauce recipes

Red Enchilada Sauce

Chimichurri Sauce

Poblano Sauce

Green Enchilada Sauce

White BBQ Sauce

Garlic Parmesan Sauce
cilantro lime sauce in bowl with spoon
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Cilantro Lime Sauce

It only takes 5 minutes to whip up THE BEST Cilantro Lime Sauce, perfect for steak, chicken, shrimp or fish tacos! This creamy Mexican sauce is literally good on everything.
Servings: 16 ounces
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Author: Whitney Bond
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor.
  • Blend until smooth and creamy.

Notes

  • The nutritional information provided is for one ounce of sauce, which equals 2 tablespoons.
  • The sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
  • I do not recommend freezing the sauce, as the dairy will separate and the texture of the sauce will not be the same after it’s been frozen.
  • The recipe is naturally gluten free and keto-friendly.
  • To make the sauce vegan, use plant-based sour cream, or canned coconut cream, instead of the Mexican crema.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 29kcal (1%)Carbohydrates 2g (1%)Protein 1g (2%)Fat 2g (3%)Saturated Fat 1g (5%)Polyunsaturated Fat 1gMonounsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 8mg (3%)Sodium 208mg (9%)Potassium 25mg (1%)Fiber 1g (4%)Sugar 1g (1%)Vitamin A 280mg (6%)Vitamin C 3mg (4%)Calcium 28mg (3%)Iron 1mg (6%)
Did you make this recipe?Tag @WhitneyBond on Instagram and hashtag it #WBRecipes!

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