Greek Yogurt Ranch Salad Dressing (Low Calorie)
by Katie Webster
June 6, 2022 (updated 1/25/24) Jump To Recipe
If you love classic home-style Ranch Dressing, but don’t love how high in fat and calories it is, then you’re going to adore this Healthy Greek Yogurt Ranch Salad Dressing. It is low in calories, coming in at only 42 calories per serving, and low in fat (only 3 grams!) But that doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice flavor! This Greek Yogurt and Buttermilk ranch has a tangy homestyle ranch flavor we all know and love so well and will totally satisfy your craving for creamy dressing.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing Recipe
Our healthy homemade ranch dressing is long overdue! Given that I have shared quite a few ranch recipes over the years, from my Healthy Ranch Dip, my Maple Ranch Dressing and my Horseradish Ranch Dressing, it’s high time! I have finally put the finishing touches on it and I have to say, it came out so well!
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!
Love healthier swaps? Don’t miss our Greek Yogurt Aioli and this Greek Yogurt Hollandaise recipe.
More Healthy Salad Dressings
This ranch dressing recipe is among dozens I have shared here on Healthy Seasonal Recipes. If you haven’t tried any of them yet, make sure to check out my some of these popular recipes:
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.
How To Make Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing
While I am a fan of blending dressings with a blender, immersion blender or mini-prep food processor, we loved the more rustic texture of the ranch dressing when it was whisked together by hand.
Simply combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk them until they are completely combined. Make sure that if you are using granulated sugar (or monk fruit) that they are dissolved and that the buttermilk powder is not clumpy.
FAQs and Expert Tips
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.
Yes, you can omit the mayonnaise if you want to make this dressing oil-free and fat-free.
Ranch often includes buttermilk and creamy Italian doesn’t. Italian dressing includes a blend of herbs such as oregano, basil, sage, marjoram and thyme.
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.
Serving Suggestions
- This low calorie dressing recipe goes well over a simple garden salad or hearty chopped salad with chicken.
- Use this healthy ranch dressing to dunk carrot sticks or fresh veggies into for a quick snack!
- It is the best dip for Air Fried Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
- I won’t judge if you want to dip your potato chips or pizza into it
- It gives classic creamy taste when used to dress pasta salad or chicken salad. You would never know it’s low fat!
- The tangy flavor of this ranch is great in place of other creamy sauces
- Pair it with seafood recipes like our cedar plank salmon or crab stuffed mushrooms
Substitutions and Variations To Try
- Instead of shallot and dill: 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. Or come up with your own homemade ranch seasoning with another herb seasoning mix, dried herbs and spices.
- Fresh Herbs: If you are not a fan of dill you can omit it altogether or you can try substituting other fresh herbs such as chopped parsley, tarragon or chervil.
- Yogurt: Do not use regular yogurt because the dressing will be a bit thinner and lack creaminess.
More Healthy Homemade Salad Dressings To Try
- Our egg-free Caesar dressing is tangy and bright and this traditional Caesar Salad dressing is creamy and thick- like from a restaurant!
- Try this Tarragon Vinaigrette over your spring greens. It pairs well with asparagus and goat cheese.
- This Thai Peanut Dressing is savory and delicious on power bowls, noodles or try it on a green salad with cucumbers, scallions and radishes. Our Japanese-inspired Carrot Ginger dressing is our Benihana Copycat!
- This Asian Sesame Dressing with soy is great on fresh mesclun greens or tender spring lettuce and toasted sesame seeds. Nothing more!
- Our love of maple syrup in salad dressing runs long and deep. A few favorites include this Balsamic Walnut Vinaigrette, this Maple Tahini Dressing and this Sherry Maple Vinaigrette.
- We also love Lemon Tahini Dressing with Middle Eastern-themed dinners and for drizzling over our pita pockets.
- Our Mustard Salad Dressing was inspired by the lovely dressings we had on our recent trip to Germany. Try it with a big composed salad!
Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!
Happy Cooking! ~Katie
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Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 1 1/4 cup 1x
- Diet: Low Calorie
Description
Our Greek Yogurt Ranch dressing is simple to prepare, much better than bottled. It has only 42 calories per serving. With a classic, homestyle taste our easy low calorie salad dressing is the perfect healthy and creamy dressing for ranch lovers!
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine. Serve immediately or transfer to a jar and chill. Stir or shake in a jar before serving.
Notes
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.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: na
- Category: Salad Dressing
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 42
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 199 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
Katie Webster
Katie Webster studied art and photography at Skidmore College and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. She has been a professional recipe developer since 2001 when she first started working in the test kitchen at EatingWell magazine. Her recipes have been featured in numerous magazines including Shape, Fitness, Parents and several Edible Communities publications among others. Her cookbook, Maple {Quirk Books} was published in 2015. She launched Healthy Seasonal Recipes in 2009. She lives in Vermont with her husband, two teenage daughters and two yellow labs. In her free time, you can find her at the gym, cooking, stacking firewood, making maple syrup, and tending to her overgrown perennial garden.
Hi! How long does this dressing keep for in the fridge?
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.
Beautiful shot and great salad dressing recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the lovely comment! Hope you have a great day.
What a fabulous Ranch Dressing. Love that you use Greek yogurt and that it is a healthier version. Perfect for my family.
Thank you, Kathleen! Hope you enjoy!
Easy and delicious, this one is a keeper. I know I’m going to make it over and over again!
I’m thrilled to hear that, Shadi!
I have been looking for the best homemade ranch recipe and I have found it!! This recipe is so easy to make and tastes just like store-bought, I’m excited to have this in my fridge all the time now!
I appreciate that, Cam! Hope you have a great day.
Ranch is my very favorite salad dressing. I love this healthier version!
Yes, it’s so creamy and tasty! Thank you, Beth!
This looks delicious! What an easy way to make a healthier ranch dressing. I love shallots, I’m so glad you included them in this recipe.
I agree with you Andrea! Thank you for stopping by!