I wouldn’t be a good Midwesterner if I didn’t have a million uses for ranch—pour it on salads, use it as a vegetable dip, dip your pizza or chicken in it…the possibilities are endless!
I think everyone needs a really good ranch dressing recipe in their back pocket—this is mine. By using a base of whole milk Greek yogurt, the dressing is packed with healthy fat and protein.
Why should I make my own salad dressing?
A good salad dressing goes a long way to making veggies more exciting (even for those folks who aren’t big veggie fans). My kid happily chows down on raw veggies when they are dipped in this Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing. When you make your own dressing, you can save money and customize the flavors and texture exactly to your liking. Want a thicker ranch to use as a dip, for example? Use less buttermilk and you’re all set!
For more on taking your salads to the next level with homemade salad dressing, as well as many more dressing recipes, check out our Salad Dressings 101 post.
Do I really need the buttermilk?
This recipe uses a little bit of buttermilk (it really helps give the dressing that typical ranch flavor), but if you’re sick of buying big containers of buttermilk and not using it all, do what I do—freeze it! I freeze buttermilk in one-ounce cubes, and then I have it on hand whenever I need it for dressings, pancakes, or biscuits.
Protip: DIY ranch seasoning
Your other option is to get buttermilk powder, and whip up a batch of ranch seasoning. Use it for quick and easy dressings, dips, and seasoning popcorn or pumpkin seeds!
What do I need to make this Greek yogurt ranch dressing?
Making homemade ranch dressing isn’t tough. In fact, the only thing you need to make it is a wide-mouth mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. You just add all your ingredients to the jar, tighten your lid, and shake it like crazy! Toss, shake, and go! If you prefer a smoother dressing, you can always use a blender or a food processor. But you definitely don’t need one.
How should I store my homemade ranch dressing?
If you used the toss and shake method mentioned above, your salad dressing is already in the perfect container: a mason jar. However, this Greek yogurt ranch dressing can be stored in any airtight glass or plastic container.
How long will my Greek yogurt ranch dressing last?
This ranch dressing will last in the fridge for up to a week. Because it’s dairy-based, you don’t want it sitting around any longer than that. But this recipe only makes a cup of dressing at a time—it’s the perfect amount for a few salads scattered throughout the week.
Should I use fresh or dried herbs?
Either! The only caveat here is that fresh herbs incorporate into the dressing much faster than dried herbs. If you’re using fresh herbs, you only have to let your dressing sit for 15 minutes, while dried herbs should sit in your dressing for at least a few hours for full flavor.
You can sub out the following dried herbs for their fresh counterparts.
- Quarter onion diced = two teaspoons onion powder
- One clove of minced garlic = one teaspoon garlic powder
- Quarter cup fresh minced parsley = one tablespoon dried parsley
- Two tablespoons of fresh minced chives = one tablespoon dried chives
What can I use this Greek yogurt ranch dressing on?
Honestly, you can pair it with anything! It’s a fantastic dip for your veggies, and I absolutely love it as a dip for my pizza crust. You could also use it as a Greek yogurt ranch dip for chicken wings or sausage balls. Of course, it’s also delicious on all kinds of salads.
Is this dressing vegan? Gluten-free?
Yes, this Greek yogurt ranch dressing is naturally gluten-free! Just be careful that the Greek yogurt and buttermilk you use don’t have any additives that might contain gluten.
To make this dressing vegan, you’ll need to sub out the Greek yogurt and buttermilk. If you don’t want to mess around with substitutions, I’d recommend using my delicious coconut milk ranch dressing or cashew ranch dressing. Yum!
If you want to substitute, a great vegan swap for Greek yogurt is mashed avocado! You can sub it out in a 1:1 ratio for the yogurt in the recipe. You can also use soy yogurt or other vegan yogurt alternatives.
To switch out the buttermilk, you can mix one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar with any plant-based milk, so it comes up to half a cup. Allow it to sit—and curdle—for 10-15 minutes after mixing.
Looking for more homemade salad dressings?
We have a whole collection of salad dressing recipes, including:
- Chili Lime Vinaigrette
- Lemon Vinaigrette
- Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
- Ginger Dressing
Homemade Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing
This homemade Greek yogurt ranch dressing is SO easy to make (and delicious, too!). It'll send any salad over the moon!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup whole milk plain Greek yogurt
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced OR 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup fresh minced parsley OR 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1/4 medium onion, diced (about 2 tablespoons) OR 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 tablespoons fresh minced chives OR 1 tablespoon dried chives
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- Juice of 1/2 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1/4-1/2 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid, shake until well combined. Alternatively, you can combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse until well combined and smooth.
- Refrigerate and let flavors blend for at least 30 minutes, preferably 2 hours, before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 2 tablespoonsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 61Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 380mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 4g
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
