Greek Yogurt Ranch Salad Dressing (Low Calorie) (2024)

Recipe Highlights

• Made with Greek yogurt: Which uses less mayonnaise than a typical homemade ranch dressing.
• Real Farmhouse Ranch Flavor: Our Greek Yogurt Ranch recipe is unique in that it has both buttermilk and buttermilk powder added to it for a tangy authentic taste. No Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning packet required!
• Fresh Ingredients: We also added in fresh chopped shallot and dill which make it taste fresh and light and so much better than store-bought dressing. Plus there’s no soybean oil, preservatives or artificial flavors added.
• Economical: Making your own salad dressing instead of buying bottled dressing is a great way to save!

Healthy Ranch Ingredients

• Non-Fat Greek Yogurt: To shave 388 calories off this recipe, we used non-fat Greek yogurt. If you happen to have full fat Greek yogurt it will work too, but note that the nutritional information won’t be accurate.
• Mayonnaise: I’ve found that only a little mayonnaise makes a big difference in the overall flavor and improves mouthfeel. A little fat which is important for both the way we perceive flavors and to help digest the vitamins in your salad. For the whole batch, we only need about 3 tablespoons to do the trick which only contributes 3 grams of fat per serving. Well worth it in my opinion!
• Buttermilk or Milk: To give the dressing the perfect consistency you’ll need a splash of milk or buttermilk.
• Buttermilk Powder: Dried buttermilk powder is one of our pantry staples I keep on hand to make my Oatmeal Buttermilk Pancakes and other baking recipes that call for fresh buttermilk. It lasts in the fridge for months! But I also like keeping it on hand because it also is a great secret ingredient for making ranch. It gives it that classic Hidden Valley flavor in a concentrated way without thinning out the dressing too much. Find it in the baking aisle or with powdered milk. If you cannot find it or are looking for a substitute you can use nutritional yeast or omit it altogether.
• White Vinegar: White Vinegar is perfect for classic-tasting ranch dressing. Sub in rice vinegar, lemon or white wine vinegar if need be. I do not recommend apple cider vinegar because it is too fruity and floral and will add too much additional flavor that is not traditional in Ranch dressing. See also my guide to vinegar.
• Agave Syrup or Sugar: All ranch dressing has a little sugar in it. Here I’ve opted for agave syrup which is neutral in flavor. If you don’t have agave, white sugar is your next best bet for sweeteners. If you are looking for a sugar-free alternative, I like granulated monkfruit (just make sure it completely dissolves.) Honey or maple also work in a pinch.
• Shallot & Dill: Depending on your preference you can use fresh shallot and dill or sub in dried. We tried it both ways and prefer the fresh ingredients for the most delicious classic ranch flavor. If you want to use garlic powder or onion powder, use 3/4 teaspoon. Instead of fresh dill, simply sub 1/2 teaspoon dried dill.
• Salt and Pepper: To season. Just note that we call for regular table salt, not kosher salt, so if you are subbing in a coarse salt read this first.

Storage, Leftovers and Make Ahead

• Keep this healthy ranch dressing in a airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for one week
• Stir well (or shake) before using.
• Unlike a traditional ranch recipe made with sour cream and a lot of mayonnaise, this one may have a thinner consistancy after a day or two, but the flavor will remain tangy and delicious.

Scale

• 1/2 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons buttermilk or milk
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill (or 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed)
• 2 tablespoons minced shallot (or 3/4 teaspoon granulated onion powder)
• 1 tablespoon dried buttermilk powder (or nutritional yeast) *See Note
• 1 teaspoon agave syrup (or sugar)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

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Ingredient Note:

Buttermilk Powder: Find it in the baking aisle or with powdered milk. If you cannot find it or are looking for a substitute you can use nutritional yeast or omit it altogether.

Make-Ahead:

It keeps really well in the fridge for up to one week. Store it in a jar or resealable container. Shake it or stir it well before using it.