Apr 28, 2023 by Hannah Sunderani
Healthy Ranch Dressing
This Healthy Ranch Dressing is my go-to recipe! I can whip it up in seconds when I’m craving a creamy dressing or dip and it’s filled with nourishing, healthy ingredients. It’s also beautifully tangy, creamy, full of delicious dill flavour, and the absolute best pairing for my Baked Sweet Potato Wedges and Cauliflower Buffalo Wings!
When people think of Ranch dressing, I think they most often think of Hidden Valley. It’s the classic, but unfortunately it’s not vegan-friendly or the healthiest of choices. The first ingredient in Hidden Valley’s store-bought ranch dressing is Soybean or Canola Oil, followed by Buttermilk, Sugar, Egg Yolk and an array of preservatives.
For this healthier ranch dressing, I wanted to use wholesome ingredients that you could feel good about feeding your family, and I think we’ve achieved just that! I love it, my husband loves it, and even my 18-month-old loves it!
Vegan or not, I really think you’re going to love this plant-based ranch dressing too; made with healthy and wholesome ingredients. So, let me tell you exactly how to make it.
This Healthy Ranch Dressing is…
- Delicious
- Vegan-friendly
- Gluten-free
- Made with clean ingredients
- Plant-forward
- Newbie-cook approved
- Perfect for meal prep
- Versatile
- Ready in less than 5 minutes
Ingredient Notes
This easy homemade ranch recipe is made with 3 main components:
- A creamy base: I used plain yogurt (coconut yogurt to make it vegan!) as my creamy base. It’s got a very similar creamy texture and doesn’t require an immersion blender, food processor, or high-powered blender to make. If you can’t find a coconut yogurt in your local grocery store, learn How to Make Coconut Yogurt at Home with a couple cans of coconut milk!
- One small splash of acidity: This helps brighten up the creamy flavours and enhance the flavour in the herbs and spices. I used apple cider vinegar, but you could also use distilled white vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice in its place.
- A simple blend of seasonings: Dried dill, onion powder, sea salt, paprika, and black pepper is all you need!
How to Make Healthy Ranch Dressing
Making this homemade ranch dressing at home couldn’t be easier! All you need to do is add all of the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
Then, taste the ranch and adjust the seasonings to suit your personal taste buds. That’s it!
PrepAhead Options
As with most of my vegan Sauces, Dips, and Dressings, this healthy homemade ranch dressing recipe can be prepped a couple of days in advance and chilled in the refrigerator until ready to use. Prepping this ranch in advance also helps the herbs and spices meld into the yogurt and makes it more flavourful.
Storage Instructions
Once prepped, this dressing will keep for up to 5 days. For optimal freshness, store in an airtight container such as a glass mason jar or similar container with a sealable lid.
When ready to use, give it another good stir and serve while chilled!
Serving Suggestions
One of the best parts of this dairy-free ranch dressing is you likely won’t have trouble finding ways to enjoy it.
Here are a few of my favourite ways to use it, but of course feel free to experiment!
- Light snacking: If you’re looking for a flavourful dressing for your veggie sticks, look no further! Pair this healthier version with baby carrot, celery sticks, raw broccoli and cauliflower for a great healthy snack (perfect for school lunches!).
- Dipping: Use this vegan ranch dressing as a dip for homemade french fries, Sweet Potato Wedges, Baked Potato Wedges, Tofu Nuggets, Oven Roasted Potatoes, or Baked Cauliflower Buffalo Wings.
- Salads: Tossing this ranch dressing with your favorite salad greens is a classic! Pair it with one of my favorite Vegan Salad Recipes, or try it with this Kale and Quinoa Salad or this Strawberry Spinach Salad.
- Pizza: This ones a little unconventional, but some people love dipping their pizza into ranch or even drizzling it on top of a BBQ “chicken” pizza! Give it a go with one of these delicious and healthy pizza recipes: TGIF Vegan Pizza, Vegan Cauliflower Pizza Crust, or this incredible Salad Pizza!
Recipe FAQs
Can I make this homemade salad dressing with fresh herbs?
Absolutely! I typically make it with dried herbs because it’s what I’m most likely to have on hand, but if you have fresh herbs you are welcome to use them! I’d recommend starting with 1 teaspoon of fresh dill and adjusting from there.
My dressing is really thick. How can I thin it out?
Depending on the store-bought yogurt you purchase, your ranch dressing may be on the thicker side. To thin it out, simply add a tablespoon of unsweetened plant-based milk at a time until your desired consistency is reached. Avoid using water – this will water down the dressing and make it less flavorful.
More Healthy Dressings You Might Love:
I hope you love this Vegan Ranch Dressing recipe as much as we do! If you do make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think! I truly love hearing from you, and I’m always here to answer any questions you might have.
And of course, tag me on Instagram with your pictures using the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to see your recreations.
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Healthy Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut yogurt
- 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- pinch paprika
- pinch pepper
- almond milk (optional for thinning)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the coconut yogurt, apple cider vinegar, dill, onion powder, sea salt, paprika and pepper. Mix to combine and serve.
Notes
Storage Instructions:
This dressing will keep for up to 5 days. For optimal freshness, store in an airtight container such as a glass mason jar or similar container with a sealable lid. When ready to use, give it another good stir and serve immediately while chilled!Approvals
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