Creamy Jalapeño Dip {Chuy's Copycat Recipe} (2024)

Creamy Jalapeño Dip is an all-natural copycat recipe of the popular dip from Chuy's, made with just a handful of real ingredients including fresh jalapeños, cilantro, and salsa verde!

For even more scrumptious, Tex-Mex inspired dips, you might enjoy Beef Enchilada Dip, Creamy Salsa Dip, and Zesty Black Bean Dip!

In case you've never had Creamy Jalapeño Dip, it's a bowl of deliciousness served alongside chips and salsa at the eclectic Tex-Mex chain, Chuy's...a restaurant that started in Austin but -- according to my quick perusal of their website -- is now spread across a variety of states (you lucky Ohioans).

I believe it's well-documented that I've always been a queso girl (and still am to this day, foreverandeveramen). But when they bring out your chips and salsa at Chuy's, they also bring out that aforesaid small bowl of Creamy Jalapeño Dip.

And it's so addictive that I typically situate it at arm's reach and inhale it faster than anyone else at the table.

In fact, it pretty much makes me forget about ordering queso until our crew is at least two bowls in on the Creamy Jalapeño front. It's just that good, folks.

So a few years back, I decided to attempt an at-home version of the recipe.

All-Natural Copycat

While Chuy's Creamy Jalapeño Dip at the restaurants reportedly starts with packaged ranch dressing mix, I wanted to put a fresher spin on the dip by using more natural ingredients.

So while I recognize that my recipe is not an exact copycat, I honestly think that it tastes even better than the original! And I feel better about the ingredients, to boot. 🙂

Ingredients

As mentioned above, original Chuy's Creamy Jalapeño Dip (as well as most copycat recipes) starts with dry ranch dressing packets. And unfortunately, that most popular and beloved store-bought brand of ranch dressing mix includes a bunch of unpronounceable ingredients plus MSG...

So wanting to keep this recipe a bit more from-scratch, I started with my Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing ratio of ingredients as a base. And then I added plenty of flavor!

• Fresh jalapeños. I love the freshness and bite of fresh jalapeños, although you may substitute drained, pickled jalapeños if you prefer (which is actually what Chuy's restaurants use). It's also possible to make this recipe mild or spicy, depending on your taste. Scroll down for some tips on controlling the heat of your jalapeños!
• Cilantro. This recipe traditionally contains a bit of cilantro, but not too much, since the primary flavor is meant to be jalapeño. That being said, if you're feeding this dip to a group of cilantro fans, feel free to double or even triple the amount. My family happens to love cilantro, so I always go heavy on it.
• Mayonnaise + sour cream + buttermilk. This is the "homemade ranch base" that I've been referring to. Once combined and thoroughly chilled, it has a perfect consistency and balance of flavor for a creamy dressing or dip.
• Tomatillo salsa. Also known as salsa verde. I always check the label for minimal (real) ingredients, and I've found that there are some good jarred options at most grocery stores.
• Garlic powder + onion powder. For additional flavor that's not too overpowering.
• Salt + pepper. Be sure to add enough salt, which will help the other flavors in the dip "pop."

How to Make Creamy Jalapeño Dip

(The below photos are intended to be helpful, but please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for FULL DIRECTIONS.)

Once you gather your ingredients, you're just moments away from sampling Creamy Jalapeño Dip BLISS!

1. In a blender or food processor, pulse the jalapeños until minced.

2. Add the cilantro and pulse until chopped.

3. Add the remaining ingredients and blend or puree until completely smooth. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if necessary.

But wait! You're not quite done yet!

Don't Skip this Step!

There's one final, very important step before you dig in!

After you transfer your Creamy Jalapeño Dip to a container, you need to chill it for at least 4 hours -- but preferably 8 or more hours! This will allow the flavors to blend and intensify. When you first make this dip, it tastes rather mayonnaise-y...but that will go away as it chills.

Popping it in the fridge will also thicken it up a bit. The dip at Chuy's is actually fairly runny, as is this copycat when you first blend it up. But chilling will help remedy that.

As for the flavor, I always recommend tasting it again one last time, just before serving. This will allow you to further adjust the salt and pepper, if necessary.

Controlling the Heat of the Jalapeños

Creamy Jalapeño Dip can be made to be fairly mild -- with the jalapeños contributing more flavor than heat -- if you scrape out and discard all of the seeds and membranes from the jalapeños.

However, if you want a spicy dip, just leave those seeds and membranes intact before whizzing everything together.

And what if you're not sure? Well, in my experience, some jalapeños are just naturally hotter than others, and you never really know what you're going to get until you try them.

So here's what I often do (since I have kiddos who enjoy some heat but can't handle too much)...

1. I initially remove and reserve the seeds and membranes from the jalapeños. That's right...I set them aside!
2. Then I proceed to make the dip as directed without those seeds and membranes.
3. Once the dip is done, I taste it. If I want it spicier, I add a portion of the seeds and membranes back to the dip, completely pureeing them in and then tasting again.
4. I keep adding more seeds/membranes and tasting until I reach my desired heat level. If, at that point, I still have seeds and membranes that I didn't use, I know I'm safe to discard them.

Finally, do keep in mind that the heat of the jalapeños is likely to intensify just a smidge once the dip chills for a while.

Other Ways to Enjoy Creamy Jalapeño

If you eat at Chuy's, you can actually get this concoction poured over your enchiladas or burrito or Chuychanga as a Creamy Jalapeño sauce.

It also makes a fabulous salad dressing. Taco salad, anyone?

Or you can simply drain it straight from the bowl, as fast as your little chips will carry it to your mouth!

After all, sometimes one's usual vat of queso has earned a well-deserved break. 😉

So what are you waiting for?

I'm sure you can think of a reason or two to enjoy some of this Creamy Jalapeño Dip goodness! Taco Tuesday? Cinco de Mayo? Game day???

Hope you enjoy this one, friends.

More Yummy Dips

• Ultimate Bean Dip
• Hot Taco Dip
• Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Jalapeño Hummus

Originally published on April 21, 2016, and updated on May 22, 2020, and February 9, 2022.