• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Dash for Dinner
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Dinner
  • Slow Cooker
  • Instant Pot
  • Air Fryer
  • About
  • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Dinner
    • Slow Cooker
    • Instant Pot
    • Air Fryer
    • About
    • Disclaimer
      • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Healthy Recipes

    Greek Yogurt Ranch (Dip and Dressing)

    Published: Sep 5, 2024 by Dorothy Bigelow · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    • Facebook34
    • Twitter
    • Email
    • Print
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    A glass jar filled with homemade ranch dressing.
    Stirring ranch dressing with a wooden spoon in a Weck jar.
    A wooden spoon stirring ranch dressing in a glass jar.

    This easy, high protein recipe for Greek Yogurt Ranch can be used as a delicious dip, or a creamy salad dressing. It's packed with that classic ranch flavor - but uses tangy plain Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream and mayonnaise.

    Scooping ranch from a glass jar with a wooden spoon.

    Whether you're big into meal prep, or are just looking for ways to incorporate high protein foods into your regular meals and snacks - you're going to love this easy recipe for homemade Greek Yogurt Ranch.

    It can be used as a yummy dip (think unbreaded chicken tenders, fresh veggies, etc) or as a healthy homemade salad dressing. It's incredibly versatile - and incredibly delicious!

    Greek yogurt ranch has become a weekly meal prep staple around here. We even love to mix in some cayenne pepper sauce and chopped chicken breast to make a high protein buffalo chicken dip for one (or two).

    Why You'll Love It:

    1. High protein. If you're looking for more ways to sneak in satisfying protein, using a homemade Greek yogurt ranch dressing is a great way to do it!
    2. Easy. Whether you want to use our custom blend of seasonings, or a quick-and-easy ranch packet, this recipe ready to go in mere minutes.
    3. Just as good as traditional ranch. As a ranch dressing lover, I was pleasantly surprised when the final test round revealed a super flavorful and easy homemade yogurt ranch that could stand up to store-bought dressings.
    4. Made with pantry staples. No need to seek out speciality ingredients. If you have a well stocked spice cabinet, you probably have everything you need and won't need to make a trip to the grocery store.

    ​

    You Will Need:

    A small bowl of greek yogurt, and another small bowl filled with various seasonings (chives, dill, parsley, salt, etc).
    • Plain Greek yogurt: In my experience, the best type to use is 2% milkfat or higher (full fat Greek yogurt is divine). The recipe definitely works well with fat free, but it's not as creamy or thick - and a bit more tangy. Over time, I've actually started to prefer Skyr yogurt (like Siggi's plain), and if you can find it I recommend you give it a try too!
    • Seasonings: You will need dried parsley, dried chives, garlic powder, dried minced onion, and a little bit of dried dill. Freeze dried herbs are superior if you happen to have access to some.
    • Salt & pepper: Any fine salt will do, and any cracked or ground black pepper. Feel free to add more according to your taste.

    OR Ranch Dressing Mix: I've also tested this recipe with a single package of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix. It tastes great! That being said, in a side-by-side comparison taste testers strongly preferred the homemade blend of seasonings.

    (Optional) Buttermilk: If you want to make a pourable Greek yogurt ranch dressing, substituting some of the yogurt for buttermilk is the perfect way to achieve that.

    Check the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and the quantities needed. 

    How to Make Ranch with Greek Yogurt

    A bowl of greek yogurt filled with various seasonings.
    1. Add the Greek yogurt, seasonings, salt, and pepper to a bowl.

    Top tip: For a super smooth consistency, consider using a food processor.

    Stirring seasonings into a bowl of Greek yogurt.
    1. Stir everything together with a spoon or silicone spatula.
    A bowl of homemade salad dressing that's being stirred with a wooden spoon.
    1. Continue to stir until smooth and well combined.
    A glass jar filled with homemade ranch dressing, with veggies in the background.
    1. Cover and allow to rest in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes before serving.

    Top tip: Allowing the ranch to chill for this short period of time helps the flavors to meld together, and also softens the dried minced onion.

    Can I Use a Packet of Ranch Seasoning Instead?

    If you want to make a super quick and easy version, you can definitely use store-bought ranch dressing mix (or my homemade ranch seasoning) instead of the listed seasonings, salt, and pepper.

    • Increase the amount of Greek yogurt to 1 ¼-1 ½ cups.
    • Stir in one packet (or 3 tablespoons) of ranch dressing mix (Hidden Valley is my favorite brand).
    • Allow to chill for 30 minutes before serving.
    • Just like with the base recipe, you can make a pourable dressing by swapping ⅓-1/2 cup of the Greek yogurt with buttermilk (or milk - since the mixes contain buttermilk powder).

    Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing

    If you want to make a delicious, high protein and pourable salad dressing, it's easy to adapt this thick and creamy version.

    • Substitute anywhere from ¼-1/3 cup of the Greek yogurt for cultured buttermilk
    • Whisk well to combine, smoothing out any lumps.
    • Then whisk in the salt, pepper, and seasonings.
    • Allow to rest for 30 minutes, then taste and adjust according to your preference.
    Scooping ranch dressing from a jar with a small wooden spoon.

    Storing Homemade Ranch Dressing

    • Transfer the ranch dressing to an airtight container, mason jar, or glass jar with a lid (we love using Weck jars).
    • Store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
    • Note the best before date on the yogurt used to make the dressing - your storage time should not exceed that.
    • Use clean utensils when serving to prolong storage and prevent contamination.

    Ways to Serve Ranch:

    • As a dip for your favorite veggies
    • Drizzled on salad
    • Dipping fried pickles (or chickles)
    • As a dip for chicken tenders or nuggets
    • With chicken wings (or buffalo chicken tenders)
    Stirring ranch dressing in a glass jar.

    Variations

    • Buffalo ranch: Stir in some cayenne pepper sauce (AKA Frank's Red Hot Sauce) according to your taste. I find 1-2 tablespoons is good per ⅓ of a cup. So if you wanted to make the entire batch spicy you could add 3-6 tablespoons.
    • Buttermilk ranch: Substitute some of the Greek yogurt for buttermilk. This makes for a pourable dressing with tangy flavor.
    • BBQ ranch: Add 1 tablespoon of your favorite BBQ sauce to ½ cup of ranch (or according to your taste).
    • Skyr ranch: Feel free to use icelandic skyr yogurt in place of the Greek yogurt. It makes a creamy, delicious, and high protein option and many prefer it to Greek.

    Substitutions

    Fresh herbs: If you want to make a gourmet dressing, substitute the dried dill, dried chives, and dried parsley for their fresh counterparts (fresh dill, fresh chives, etc).

    Dried minced onion: If you don't have this on hand, you can substitute it for onion powder. Start with about half of the amount called for, and adjust to your taste after chilling.

    Packaged ranch seasoning: If you want a super quick option, you can use a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix in place of the seasonings used in the base recipe. I do recommend increasing the Greek yogurt to 1 ¼-1 ½ cups as the flavor concentration can be pretty strong.

    Recipe FAQs

    What does yogurt ranch taste like?

    Yogurt ranch tastes somewhat tangy and creamy. If you use a good quality plain Greek (or icelandic) yogurt, the flavor can be more subtle and similar to a sour cream and mayonnaise based salad dressing.

    What's the difference between ranch dressing and ranch dip?

    Typically, ranch dip has a thicker consistency when compared to classic ranch dressing. That being said, there are many types of commercial salad dressings that are very thick and still used as salad dressing. If you want to thin your ranch dip, you can do so by adding a small amount of buttermilk until you reach the desired consistency.

    Can you substitute Greek yogurt for mayo in salad dressing?

    If you're okay with the change in flavor, swapping plain Greek yogurt for mayonnaise (and/or sour cream) can be a great way to make the dressing a bit lighter and a lot higher in protein. Sometimes, adding a touch of lemon juice can brighten up the flavor a bit to make it taste closer to mayo-based dressings.

    If you loved this recipe for Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip and Dressing, let me know by leaving a 5 star rating in the recipe card or comment below! You can also tag me on Instagram @dashfordinner.

    Scooping ranch dressing from a glass jar with a wooden spoon.

    Greek Yogurt Ranch (Dip and Dressing)

    This easy, high protein recipe for Greek Yogurt Ranch can be used as a delicious dip - OR a creamy salad dressing - your choice!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Condiments
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Resting time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 20kcal
    Author: Dorothy Bigelow

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup greek yogurt substitute some of the yogurt for buttermilk if a pourable salad dressing is desired*
    • 2 teaspoons dried parsley
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¾ teaspoon dried minced onion
    • ¾ teaspoon dried chives
    • ½-¾ teaspoon granulated garlic if you like a strong garlic flavor, use ¾ teaspoon. Otherwise ½ teaspoon is plenty
    • ½ teaspoon dried dill
    • 3-4 pinches black pepper or to taste

    Instructions

    • Add the greek yogurt and seasonings (or package of ranch dressing mix*) to a medium-sized bowl.
      A bowl of greek yogurt filled with various seasonings.
    • Stir all of the ingredients together until well combined.
      A bowl of homemade salad dressing that's being stirred with a wooden spoon.
    • Place in an airtight container or glass jar and allow to chill for 30 minutes. This will help the flavors to develop and the onion to soften.
      A glass jar filled with homemade ranch dressing, with veggies in the background.
    • Serve and enjoy!
    Did you try this recipe?Tag me at @dashfordinner and share your photos!

    Notes

    Storage: Leftovers will keep well in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks in the fridge. Take note of the original expiration date of your yogurt and do not exceed that date.
    Greek yogurt ranch salad dressing: Swap ¼ - ⅓ cup of the Greek yogurt for buttermilk to make a pourable salad dressing.
    *Using a store-bought Ranch Dressing Mix: If you want to make this recipe with a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix (about 3 tablespoons), you can absolutely do that! In recipe testing, increasing the yogurt to 1 ¼-1 ½ cups helps with the flavor dilution. You could also use homemade ranch seasoning in its place.
    What type of yogurt works best? Any type of Greek yogurt works well, but those with 2% or higher fat tend to taste a lot better! If you can, use Icelandic yogurt (Skyr) - it’s our favorite!
    Flavor Variations:
    • Buffalo ranch: Add cayenne pepper sauce (Frank’s Red Hot Sauce) according to your taste (about 1-2 tablespoon per ⅓ cup)
    • BBQ ranch: Add your favorite BBQ sauce to the finished ranch dressing. Use about 1-2 tablespoons per ½ cup.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 20kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 301mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 323IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 0.2mg

    Please note that some of my blog posts here at Dash for Dinner may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please see my Disclaimer for more information.

    More Healthy Recipes

    • A bowl of dip with salsa, Greek yogurt, and topped with shredded cheese.
      Greek Yogurt Protein Dip
    • A skillet filled with cooked chicken stir fry with a golden sauce.
      Honey Ginger Chicken
    • A small glass filled with frosted lemonade with a straw being placed on the side.
      Frosted Lemonade Protein Shake
    • Two crisp chicken thighs on a bed of mashed potatoes.
      Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

    Reader Interactions

    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Dorothy!

    Dash for Dinner was started when I had my first child, as an effort to help other families who were struggling with cooking delicious meals while balancing it all. 

    Our recipes are quick, easy, and created with the busy home cook in mind.

    Read more about me →

    Trending Recipes

    • A chip being dipped into a cold salsa and cream cheese taco dip.
      Layered Cream Cheese and Salsa Dip

    • A bowl filled with cabbage and ground beef stir fry.
      Inside Out Egg Roll

    • A hand holding a halved baby potato encrusted with parmesan cheese.
      Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

    • A bowl of maple glazed carrots, with a large serving spoon taking a portion out.
      Slow Cooker Maple & Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021-2023 Dash for Dinner on the Feast Plugin

    • 34

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.