One flavor that many people miss when they drop unhealthy vegetable oils is creamy, tangy ranch dressing. I know I did. I still love the taste of ranch but cringe to remember how I would put ranch dressing on almost every school lunch in high school… adding vegetable oils and processed soy to more vegetable oils and processed soy…
Now that I prefer my food to only contain ingredients I can pronounce, I needed a grown-up, upgraded, healthier ranch dressing.
This easy real-food ranch dressing recipe doesn’t taste exactly the same as the junk version, but it does have the creamy texture and same type of flavor.
If you have kids (or adults) who will eat anything with ranch dressing, try this recipe!
Why Homemade Ranch Dressing?
Why take the time to make homemade dressing? I was quite dismayed when I found out my favorite condiment had some hidden not-so-great ingredients such as:
- Vegetable oils
- Sugar
- Soy
- Xanthan gum
- Modified food starch
- Artificial flavors
- Calcium disodium EDTA (as preservative)
- MSG
(Cringe.)
I go through some extra trouble (and money) to make sure our meats and produce are from the best sources we can afford, and I don’t want to ruin them! This homemade version avoids all these unhealthy ingredients and even adds probiotics with the addition of Greek yogurt.
And honestly, the fresh flavor profile alone makes it worth it. This ranch dressing gets its characteristic zip not from “fake food” additives but from fresh herbs and spices (with all their health benefits as a bonus).
I use dill in my usual recipe, but making your own dressing also means you can mix up the flavors from time to time and find your favorite variation. Check out some of our variations and other favorite salad dressings listed below the recipe.
Ranch Dressing from Scratch in a Snap
It may sound intimidating at first to make things like condiments and dressings from scratch, but the secret is simply a little practice. Soon, it feels like no work at all to whip up a dip or sauce that can be stored in the fridge and used on a whole variety of foods throughout the week. It helps keep meals interesting and makes fresh veggies more appealing to little ones.
It helps me to keep my list of staple ingredients in a meal planner (I use this one) so I can whip up ranch dressing at any time. (And it avoids a trip to the store… always a bonus!) In fact, if I have the ingredients around, my older kids can even make this recipe on their own.
Another helpful shortcut: If you’re looking for a real-food alternative to those ranch dressing mix packets that are featured in so many recipes, check out this simple dry mix recipe that makes a great marinade, soup addition, or base for a dip.
Easy Real-Food Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
Instructions
- Put all ingredients except oil in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Very slowly, add the oil so that it emulsifies.
- Use immediately, or store up to 1 week in the fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
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Ranch Dressing Variations:
- Use 2 tsp of fresh herbs like dill, mint, or basil for alternate flavors.
- Use avocado instead of yogurt if you don’t tolerate dairy.
- Use Italian seasoning instead of dill and double the parmesan for a Caesar-like dressing.
My Favorite Salad Dressing Recipes:
- Creamy Caesar Dressing – The real-deal Caesar dressing (I would accept nothing less!) made with pastured egg yolks for healthy fats and a creaminess that can’t be beat.
- Zesty Italian Dressing – white wine vinegar, thyme, basil, and olive oil… nothing artificial here!
- Tangy Greek Dressing – red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and oregano punch up the flavor in this homemade Greek dressing.
- Sweet Asian Dressing – Coconut aminos take the place of soy in this 5-ingredient recipe with sweet honey and spicy ginger. Or try this creamy coconut ginger version!
- And more favorite recipes here!
What’s your best recipe for a healthy salad dressing? Share below!
I made this with fresh basil and dill ( 1 tsp each ) and whole Greek yogurt. Came out great- I love it on both salad and as a dip. Mine was thin made in my mini food processor without adding thinners. Thanks!
This is so delicious and the best homemade ranch I’ve tried yet!! I was searching for a mayo free recipe bc I didn’t want to have to make any…. I ended up using half whole milk yogurt and half sour cream, part dill and part Italian seasoning, avocado oil instead of olive, and 1/4 tsp garlic powder bc I didn’t have a clove. I also added a splash of milk to make it more pourable but it was still thick enough to use as a dip as well.
Thanks for the great recipe, this is definitely my new go to ranch recipe!! 🙂
Excellent recipe! Here is my hack!
2 C Whole Milk Yoghurt
1/4 C EVOO
3 TBS Braggs ACV with the Mother 🙂
3 TBS Braggs nutritional yeast
2 TBS dry parsley
1 TBS dill
1 TSP dry mustard
1 TSP dry chili pepper flakes
1/2 TSP cumin
2 minced garlic cloves
2 minced scallions
Seasoning salt + pepper to taste!
A few tweaks and this is now my favorite! To this recipe I added the juice of 1 lemon, garlic powder instead of raw, 1/2 tsp Bragg’s Liquid Aminos and 3 tbs. caraway seeds. YUM!!
I was wondering if you could use something else besides olive oil, my son is allergic to it but I’m trying to find a good ranch dressing recipe for him like this one because he also has lot’s of other allergies. The oil would be the only replacement for is in this recipe
You might try avocado oil, perhaps?
I know this is an old post but, I must say, I’m a little surprised to see no one using buttermilk in their ranch dressing. I use a pretty classic mix of spices and herbs common in ranch dressing. I add those to a 1 to 1 ratio mix of mayonnaise (homemade) and buttermilk. Everyone loves it!! Even friends of mine that aren’t on the real food band wagon. They all say the same thing, it’s better then anything you buy at a store. This year I’m hoping to grow my own herbs and spices and drying them myself. I bet it will taste even better!
I believe it’s because this is suppose to be a healthier option. Buttermilk and mayo aren’t “healthy” options.
When I add the olive oil, do I put a bit in at a time & blend in the blender/food processor or do I take everything out of blender/food processor & whisk/spoon in a bit at a time?
Ive played around with this recipe quite a bit. Ive found it taste most like traditional ranch with the additions of bried basil & some onion & garlic powders along with the dill. I also add a tad bit of lemon juice & a sprinkle of raw sugar (or honey). The additional herbs & spices and the acid from the lemon and the sweetness from the sugar or honey really help to mellow out the yogurt & olive oil and make it taste more like a traditional ranch dressing. This is still so much more healthy than all the questionable ingredients in the bottled stuff. I make this all the time now! It does tend to separate in the fridge but a good shake of my jar and its well blended again.
I love your additions but could you give us an idea of the amounts of the additions? Thanks!
I must have done something wrong. It tasted like olive oil
Maybe try avocado oil instead. I love using avocado oil since there is really no flavor to it. I use it in all my baking in place of canola or other vegetable oils.
ThankU soooo much!!! This recipe is great! Ive been searching for salad dressings that dont have thickeners like carrigeenan or xanthan gum, because i have digestive issues that these things make worse. The only one i could find at the store was $6 for a 12 oz bottle! I found ur ranch recipe and it was with greek yogurt (no mayo!) And very basic and simple! I followed the recipe exactly and it was great! A lil thick for my salad so i just thinned it with a couple Tbls of water and it was perfect and tasted great!!!!! Maybe next time ill play with it some more and use some of the other readers suggestions, but this is fantastic! U have saved my salads!!!