This healthy homemade ranch dressing is perfect for dipping, topping, and finishing dishes! Using a combo of plain Greek yogurt & mayo as the base ensures it's tangy and creamy while lemon juice and a few dried herbs add tons of classic ranch flavor! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! 😊
As a dietitian, one of my favorite things to create is healthier versions of classic salad dressings and sauces like my homemade hot honey mustard or healthier Big Mac sauce! When I noticed how many of you are ranch lovers, I decided to take on the challenge of making a healthy ranch dressing!
I knew it would take some work to get it to taste as good as store-bought ranch dressing and after many trials and tests, I'm so excited to share the recipe so you can make you own ranch too!
Pair this perfect dip with raw fresh veggies or add it to a buffalo chicken rice bowl! It's my favorite way to balance out the spicy flavors of the buffalo sauce.
More Healthy Salad Dressings
- Simple Lemon Dijon Maple Dressing
- Maple Balsamic with Dijon
- Honey Lemon Vinaigrette
- Creamy Maple Tahini Dressing
- Ginger Lime Salad Dressing
- Healthy Sesame Ginger Dressing
- Creamy Southwest Salad Dressing
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Key Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
This healthy Greek yogurt ranch dressing is made with simple ingredients. Below is the ingredient list and substitution ideas. Check the recipe card for measurements.
- Greek Yogurt - typically, ranch dressing is made using mayonnaise and sour cream. In this recipe, I use Greek yogurt to lighten it up a bit while still providing the creamy consistency and tangy flavor. Full fat Greek yogurt will make it the most creamy. You can replace Greek yogurt with whipped cottage cheese if you don't like Greek yogurt.
- Mayonnaise - just a little bit of mayo goes a long way. If you prefer, you can cut out the mayo altogether and use extra Greek yogurt.
- Fresh Lemon Juice - this brightens up the dressing and adds so much flavor!
- Water - to thin it out to the consistency you prefer.
- Seasonings - this is what really takes this homemade ranch over the top is all the delicious seasonings - garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, dried chives, dried parsley, and kosher salt!
How to Make Healthy Homemade Ranch Dressing
Below are the instructions for how to make this homemade salad dressing with photos I hope are helpful. Check the recipe card for the full directions.
- Step 1: Combine the Greek yogurt, mayo, 2 tablespoons of water, lemon juice, and seasonings in a small bowl. Use a small whisk or spoon to mix it well.
- Step 2: Give it a taste and add 1-2 more tablespoons of water until it gets to the consistency you want.
Hint: you can also make this recipe in a food processor by blending everything!
Dietitian Tip
Simple recipe swaps like replacing sour cream with a mixture of mayo and Greek yogurt cuts down the amount of calories and saturated fats. It also adds nutrients like probiotics for gut health, protein and calcium.
Variations
The great thing about homemade ranch recipe is you can customize to your taste! Below are some ideas.
- Fresh - If you prefer fresh, you can use fresh garlic, fresh chives, fresh parsley, and fresh dill. If doing so, I suggest blending everything in the food processor.
- Creamier - use regular milk in place of water if you prefer a creamier or richer consistency.
- Buffalo Ranch - add a tablespoon or 2 of hot sauce and/or buffalo sauce to turn it into a buffalo ranch with bold flavor!
- Garlic Ranch - if garlic flavor is your favorite, double up on the garlic flavor or blend the dressing with a few cloves of garlic. Roast the garlic for a lot of flavor!
- Vegan - use a vegan mayo like this plant-based mayo from Hellman's and your favorite plant-based yogurt to make this recipe vegan.
Storage
- Refrigerator - store your leftovers in an airtight container like a mason jar in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Ideas for Serving Healthy Homemade Ranch
- As a Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing - opt for this homemade ranch over the bottled stuff by adding it to a green salad with fresh vegetables.
- Veggie Dip - serve it on a veggie platter with baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, and snap peas!
- In Grain Bowls - it's a perfect addition for a buffalo chicken rice bowl!
- On a Pasta Salad - this flavorful dressing is a great addition to pasta salad. Just combine it with cooked pasta and fresh vegetables like chopped red onion, cucumber, romaine lettuce, and plenty of fresh herbs.
- With Chicken Wings & French Fries or Potato Wedges - game day parties often involve some kind of wings and fries! Lighten it up by replacing traditional ranch with homemade dressings like this ranch!
- As a Marinade - add a little avocado oil and use this easy salad dressing as a marinade on chicken. The Greek yogurt helps to tenderize the chicken and lock in moisture.
Expert Tips
- Use full fat Greek yogurt for the creamiest consistency.
- If you prefer not to use mayo, you can replace it with another tablespoon of Greek yogurt.
- Start with adding 2 tablespoon of water and add the rest to thin it out to your desired consistency.
- Add this dressing to a salad right before serving.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this ranch dressing is a nutrient-rich option. It contains some protein, calcium, and probiotics from the Greek yogurt. And the fresh lime juice provides a bit of vitamin C and antioxidants.
Nope! If you don't like mayo or don't have any, you can just use a bit of extra Greek yogurt and add a drizzle of avocado oil or olive oil instead. This will help the dressing to emulsify which is what the mayo helps with.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with healthy homemade ranch dressing:
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
Healthy Homemade Ranch Dressing with Greek Yogurt
Equipment
- 1 small bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise (optional)
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice (about ½ a large lemon)
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (more to taste)
- 2-4 tablespoon water (to thin it out)
Instructions
- Combine the Greek yogurt, mayo, 2 tablespoons of water, lemon juice, and seasonings in a small bowl. Use a small whisk or spoon to mix it well.
- Give it a taste and add 1-2 more tablespoons of water until it gets to the consistency you want.
- Hint: you can also make this recipe in a food processor by blending everything!
Notes
- Use full fat Greek yogurt for the creamiest consistency.
- If you prefer not to use mayo, you can replace it with another tablespoon of Greek yogurt.
- Start with adding 2 tablespoon of water and add the rest to thin it out to your desired consistency.
- Refrigerator - store your leftovers in an airtight container like a mason jar in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
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