This Mexican white sauce recipe is perfect for livening up all sorts of dishes. From tacos and burritos, to enchiladas and quesadillas, this creamy Rango sauce topping is sure to add a unique twist that you, your friends, and family will love!
Where is Rango Sauce From?
Have wondered what the white salsa recipe IS? Well, now you can make it right at home with this recipe!
I lived in the Fort Bragg, NC to Williamsburg, VA areas during several military assignments. When arriving at a Mexican restaurant like Plaza Azteca or El Toro Loco, you're always served tortilla chips, salsa, and Mexican white sauce as soon as you're seated.
It's referred to as salsa blanca, or white sauce, by the staff, but often referred to as Rango sauce, Mexican White Sauce, or Mexican Restaurant White Sauce, or simply 'the White Sauce' by locals. It's simply amazing, you will find yourself using it to not just dip your tortilla chips in, but to slather on your burritos, tacos, etc.
What is Mexican White Sauce?
The Mexican restaurant white sauce is a blend of food service salad dressing, like Miracle Whip, sour cream, milk, and spices. It's blended together and served in small bowls with the tortilla chips and salsa. Yes, you can request refills just like with salsa, and trust me, you will!
It's a delicious, creamy, garlicky sauce that is perfect for topping enchiladas, tacos, burritos, as well as dipping your tortilla chips in.
I've not found West Coast Mexican restaurant where they are familiar with Salsa Blanca, White Sauce, Rango sauce, or Mexican White Sauce. Often they ask if I mean a Queso Dip. But around the military installations in Virginia and North Carolina, most Mexican restaurants serve this awesome white Mexican sauce.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
You'll find this simple Mexican restaurant white sauce complements any dish that has spicy flavors, or as a topping on your favorite roasted vegetables, chip dip, and even salad dressing!
Mexican white sauce is fast and easy to make. You can mix it up in five minutes, but it actually really blooms if you let it sit overnight for the spices to blend. Once made, you will find it fabulous as a dip for vegetable crudites, crackers, and chips.
Jump to:
- Where is Rango Sauce From?
- What is Mexican White Sauce?
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Mexican White Sauce Ingredients
- How to Make Mexican White Sauce
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitutions & Variations For Rango Sauce
- Storage
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Food Safety
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- Connect with Smells Like Delish!
- 📖 Recipe
Mexican White Sauce Ingredients
The ingredients for Mexican restaurant white sauce are simple items you most likely already have in the refrigerator and pantry. With just a few minutes, you'll have your own Rango sauce right at home!
- Miracle Whip - or any brand 'Salad Dressing'.
- Sour Cream
- Milk - to thin it down.
- Lime Juice - fresh squeezed.
- Garlic Powder
- Cumin - ground.
- Oregano - dried.
- Cayenne powder
- Black Pepper - fine ground.
- Salt
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Mexican White Sauce
This Mexican restaurant white sauce recipe is merely mixing ingredients in a bowl, transferring into a clean Ball canning or Mason Jar, and chilling overnight, if you can wait.
Measure Ingredients
- Measure the salad dressing, or Miracle Whip into a bowl.
- Add the sour cream, milk, and the lime juice.
- Whisk with a wire whisk, or you can use a blender or even a food processor. Add all the seasonings to the bowl.
Mix and Chill
- Blend all the rango sauce ingredients until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust salt if needed.
- Pour white contents into a large jar. Seal and place in the refrigerator overnight if you can. It's worth making this white sauce up a day early just so the flavors have time to blend together.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Mexican white sauce like the restaurants do. Accompany a basket of corn tortilla chips with salsa, guacamole, and this amazing Mexican Rango sauce.
Need a recipe for salsa and guacamole? Try our Easy Pico de Gallo and 4 Ingredient Guacamole. It's also great as a sauce for our Chili's Steak Fajitas and Chipotle Lime Shrimp Tacos.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitutions & Variations For Rango Sauce
You can use dairy free sour cream and almond or soy milk if you need this to be dairy free. I've even made it without the sour cream. Here are a few other variations to make.
- Like your white sauce thinner? Just add more milk.
- Like your white sauce more spicy? Add a bit more cayenne powder, or add about ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes.
Storage
Store Mexican restaurant white sauce in a covered bowl or in a mason jar until ready to serve. Do not freeze, as this sauce will separate when defrosted due to the Miracle Whip or salad dressing.
Tips for Success
- Make a day or two ahead. As great as this rango sauce is fresh made, it's even better with time to let the flavors blend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is. It was a homegrown sauce made originally for salads, and became popular at a 1960's era American style Mexican restaurant. Other Mexican restaurants in the Virginia area had to provide it also, by customer demand. Mexican white sauce is regional to the Fayetteville/Fort Bragg, NC area up through the Williamsburg, VA area.
Yes, Rango sauce is the 'gringo name' for the Mexican restaurant white sauce, or white salsa.
Probably not, as it is a Mexican American 'Gringo' concoction made tailored to Southern American tastes by brilliant Mexican restaurant entrepreneurs!
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
Connect with Smells Like Delish!
📖 Recipe
Mexican White Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup Miracle Whip or off brand salad dressing
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- ¾ teaspoon cumin
- 1½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- pinch cayenne powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Measure the salad dressing, or Miracle Whip into a bowl. Add the sour cream, milk, and the lime juice. Whisk with a wire whisk, or you can use a blender or even a food processor.1 cup Miracle Whip, 1 cup sour cream, ½ cup milk, 2 tablespoon lime juice
- Add all the seasonings into the bowl. Blend all the ingredients until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust salt if needed.¾ teaspoon cumin, 1½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon oregano, pinch cayenne powder, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, salt to taste
- Pour contents into a large jar. Seal and place in the refrigerator overnight if you can. It's worth making Mexican White Sauce up a day early just so the flavors have time to blend.
Notes
- Make a day or two ahead. As great as it is fresh made, it's even better with time to let the flavors blend.
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