This Avocado Green Goddess Dressing is creamy, herb-packed, and made with nutritious ingredients like Greek yogurt, avocado, and fresh greens. It comes together in minutes and adds a pop of flavor and color to everything from salads and grain bowls to roasted vegetables and sheet pan dinners. It’s my favorite way to use up fresh herbs before they get forgotten and wilt into sad oblivion in the back of my fridge!
As a dietitian, one of my secret weapons to add lots of flavor to recipes while keeping the emphasis on nutrient-rich meals is a great sauce of dressing. And this avocado green goddess dressing is sooo flavorful and versatile.
It's a modern spin on green goddess dressing which is typically made with a blend of fresh herbs, mayo or sour cream as the base, and anchovies for added savory flavor. Instead, this avocado green goddess dressing still uses fresh herbs, but I replaced the mayo with a combination of Greek yogurt and avocado to give it the creamy consistency and olive oil + lemon juice + garlic instead of anchovies to balance it out.
If you like this recipe, you may enjoy my Greek Yogurt Avocado Mash or Green Sauce for Pasta, another easy and unique way to get in your greens. If you want to turn it into a meal, make a Green Goddess Sheet Pan Dinner, Green Goddess Chicken Salad Wrap. It also pairs well with roasted veggies or a Tuna Wrap.
Jump to:
- Key Ingredient Notes and Substitution Ideas
- How to Make Avocado Green Goddess Dressing
- Video of How to Make Avocado Green Goddess Dressing
- Variations
- Equipment
- How to Serve Green Goddess Dressing
- Storage for Green Goddess Salad Dressing
- Expert Advice
- Dietitian tip
- FAQ
- Related
- Perfect for Pairing
- Want to Learn More About Nutrition?
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Key Ingredient Notes and Substitution Ideas
This avocado green goddess dressing recipe uses simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Check the recipe card for measurements.
- Avocado - using a fresh avocado is an easy way to give this dressing a creamy texture. Avocados contain nearly 20 nutrients including dietary fiber to support gut health, heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, and antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E.
- Greek Yogurt - I use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream & mayo typically found in green goddess dressing to cut back on saturated fats and add protein and probiotics. Substitutes for Greek yogurt here are cottage cheese or plant-based yogurt.
- Lemon Juice - freshly squeezed lemon juice adds brightness and enhances the other flavors. It also adds vitamin C.
- Parsley - fresh parsley adds a clean and earthy flavor and antioxidants. If you like cilantro better, you can use it instead.
- Dill - dill has a citrusy grassy flavor similar to tarragon which is used in some green goddess recipes. You can substitute with either tarragon or basil if you'd like, but I think fresh dill pairs so nicely with the other fresh herbs and lemon juice. Dill contains vitamins C and A and manganese.
- Mint - fresh mint adds a cooling effect and it tastes so refreshing in this creamy avocado dressing. Mint can also soothe digestive issues and help support a healthy gut.
- Spinach - baby spinach adds sweetness and nutrients like antioxidants, iron, and vitamins C and K. You can substitute with kale or other greens if you want.
- Garlic - raw garlic balances out the herby flavors. The fresh garlic clove also adds allicin, a powerful antioxidant.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil - extra virgin olive oil has a robust flavor and heart-healthy fats that are also important for brain health and hormone health. You can substitute with avocado oil if you like a more mild flavor. This recipe only requires a small amount of oil.
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper - just a little salt and pepper to tie all the flavors together.
- Water - optional to thin it out to your desired consistency.
How to Make Avocado Green Goddess Dressing
Below are the instructions for how to make this recipe with visuals that I hope are helpful! The full recipe is in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Step 1 - Slice the avocado in half and remove the skin and pit. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, adding cold water to thin it out as needed.
- Step 2 - Give it a taste and add more salt or lemon juice as needed.
Hint: If you want to use it as a salad dressing, make it a little thinner by adding a tablespoon or two of cold water. If you will be using it as a thicker dip, no need to thin it out!
Video of How to Make Avocado Green Goddess Dressing
Here is a video of how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful!
Variations
One of the great things about making your own salad dressing is you can customize it to your liking. Below are some suggestions for variations.
- Spicy - crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce are all a perfect addition to add some heat.
- Deluxe - use green onions, nutritional yeast, red onion or anchovy paste to add umami flavor.
- Vegan Version - use plain vegan yogurt or replace it with cashew cream to make this recipe vegan.
Equipment
All you need to make this avocado green goddess dressing is a food processor or a high-speed blender. I use my Ninja Blender or KitchenAid food processor.
How to Serve Green Goddess Dressing
- Chicken Salad combine it with shredded or chopped cooked chicken to make a Green Goddess Chicken Salad . Add it to a wrap with romaine lettuce, and your favorite tortilla or flatbread.
- Green Goddess Sheet Pan Chicken Dinner - roast chicken, broccoli, cauliflower and potatoes on a sheet pan and serve with this creamy dressing.
- In Grain Bowls - use this dressing next time you make a grain bowl. Add brown rice or quinoa, leafy greens, pickled red onion or shallot, cucumber, green goddess dressing, and your favorite protein to a big bowl and dig in! It goes great with Greek chicken meatballs as the protein.
- As a Dipping Sauce - serve green goddess dip as a snack or appetizer with raw veggies, seed crackers or tortilla chips. You can even serve it with sweet potato fries or sweet potato cubes.
- On Your Favorite Salads - pour a Tablespoon or two over your favorite green salad. Green Goddess Dressing goes great with crunchy romaine lettuce, other chopped salads.
- Pasta Salad- use Green Goddess dressing in a pasta salad with asparagus and green peas.
- Potato Salad - add this dressing in place of mayo in your next potato salad! It adds so much flavor and extra nutrition.
- Over Roasted Vegetables - drizzle a couple of Tablespoons on top of warm roasted veggies like broccoli or Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots. Brussels sprouts, potatoes, or other root vegetables go great with this dressing too.
Storage for Green Goddess Salad Dressing
- Refrigerator - store Green Goddess Salad Dressing in an airtight container like a mason jar in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
To thin it back out, add a touch of olive oil or water and give it a stir.
Expert Advice
- For best flavor, I suggest using fresh lemon juice instead of bottled lemon juice for this recipe if possible.
- Be sure to use a ripe avocado. To tell if it's ripe, use these simple tips from Hass Avocado Board (HAB): give it a gentle squeeze and if it is slightly soft, it is ready to use! You don't want it to be mushy and not hard, either. Ripe avocados will have a darker color but HAB recommends to go more by the feel AND color than the color alone.
Dietitian tip
Making homemade salad dressing recipes can feel intimidating! But it's as easy as blending a few ingredients. Not only does making dressing at home taste amazingly fresh, it also gives you more control over the ingredients and the flavor. And while store-bought dressings have preservatives, there's no need for that with a simple homemade dressing. 😊
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this Green Goddess Dressing with Avocado is a nutrient-rich option. It contains several herbs that provide antioxidants and vitamins C, A, and K. It also contains heart-healthy olive oil that also supports brain health and hormone health. This recipe also calls for avocado and spinach, both of which provide dietary fiber for gut health. And the Greek yogurt provides protein, calcium, and phosphorus. This recipe is also vegetarian, gluten-free, and does not contain added sugars.
I have not frozen green goddess dressing myself because I always eat it quickly. But from what I have read, you can freeze it. To do so, put it in the freezer in either a freezer safe ziplock bag or another freezer-safe airtight container. Freeze it for up to 2 months. To thaw, put it in the refrigerator overnight or run warm water over it. To get it back to the consistency you like, add a bit of olive oil and stir it.
This green goddess dressing is herbaceous, tangy, and creamy. It is very flavorful and the fresh herbs and lemon shine through. It has a refreshing taste and is surprisingly smooth.
From what I've read, the original green goddess dressing was served at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco in the 1920s and was created by Chef Philip Roemer. The main ingredients were green herbs, anchovies, and a mix of mayo and sour cream.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Green Goddess Dressing with Avocado:
Want to Learn More About Nutrition?
Here are some nutrition education articles from a dietitian:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Easy Green Goddess Dressing with Avocado (Creamy)
Equipment
- 1 food processor or blender
Ingredients
- 1 medium avocado (150g)
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1 cup fresh parsley, loosely packed
- ½ cup fresh dill, loosely packed
- ½ cup fresh mint, loosely packed
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 3-4 tablespoon lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove
- ½ teaspoon salt (more to taste)
- pinch black pepper
- 2-4 tablespoon water (to thin it to desired consistency)
Instructions
- Slice the avocado in half and remove the skin and pit. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, adding up to 1 tablespoon of cold water to thin it out if needed.
- Give it a taste and add more salt or lemon juice if you want.
- Hint: If you're using it as a salad dressing, make it a little thinner by adding the bit of cold water. If you will be using it as a thicker dip, no need to thin it out!
Video
Notes
- For best flavor, I suggest using fresh lemon juice instead of bottled lemon juice for this recipe if possible.
- Be sure to use a ripe avocado. To tell if it's ripe, use these simple tips from Hass Avocado Board (HAB): give it a gentle squeeze and if it is slightly soft, it is ready to use! You don't want it to be mushy and not hard, either. Ripe avocados will have a darker color but HAB recommends to go more by the feel AND color than the color alone.
Adelle
We LOVE this dressing!! It is so fresh and tangy - just perfect! Question, can it be frozen?
Mallory
Hi Adelle, thank you SO much for taking time to leave a review and comment!!! I'm so happy to hear that you enjoy the dressing. Great question about whether it can be frozen. I haven't tried freezing it myself, but I don't think it would work honestly. 😔 The reason I say that is because the yogurt will likely get a bit grainy if frozen and the fresh herbs may lose some of their flavor and brightness. BUT I would absolutely say try it if you want because my hypothesis could be wrong! If you do try it, I suggest freezing it in ice cube trays and then when you thaw it, add a small bit of olive oil or avocado oil and stir it very well to get everything to emulsify again. I really hope that helps!! -Mallory