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This creamy cottage cheese ranch dressing recipe is made with simple ingredients and a great protein-packed alternative to regular ranch. It’s just as delicious and perfect for pouring over your favorite salad or serving as a dip with veggies.
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Why you’ll love this
If you’re a major ranch lover like me, you’ve absolutely gotta give this cottage cheese ranch salad dressing a try. It’s creamy, so much tastier than store-bought dressings and made with an unexpectedly delicious high protein ingredient: cottage cheese!
This delicious ranch dressing is lightened up and packed with wholesome ingredients like protein-rich cottage cheese, fresh dill, fresh chives, garlic and lemon. It’s super flavorful and more nutrient-dense than your classic ranch dressing.
A quarter cup of this dressing has 5 grams of protein plus fewer calories than the traditional version if that’s a priority for you. Drizzle this over your favorite salad or use as a creamy dip for your favorite veggies like bell peppers, baby carrots or cucumbers (or even your favorite potato chips).
If you love this one you’ll also love my Greek Yogurt Cucumber Ranch Dressing or Buffalo Ranch Sauce (Dressing or Dip!). And if you’d prefer something even simpler, make this dressing with pre-made ranch packet instead- check out my 2-Ingredient Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip.
Ingredients
- Cottage cheese: A cup of cottage cheese is a great healthy swap for mayonnaise and sour cream to use in dressings because it’s super creamy, has a mild flavor and blends up smooth.
- Milk: A little milk thins this dressing just enough- if you like a thinner and more pourable dressing I recommend adding a splash of milk until it reaches your desired consisency.
- Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice adds the perfect burst of flavor and brightness to this ranch.
- Dill: Fresh dill is a must in homemade ranch dressings!
- Chives: The dill and chive combination is my favorite for ranch.
- Garlic: A fresh garlic clove adds a big boost of zesty fresh flavor- I prefer it in fresh dressings over garlic powder but you can use powder in a pinch too.
- Salt and onion powder
How to make cottage cheese ranch dressing
Step 1: Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender or food processor (blender will typically yield a smoother dressing).
Step 2: Blend on high until it’s blended into a smooth and creamy texture. Add 1 tbsp of milk at a time until your dressing reaches your desired consistency or keep it as is for a thick texture dressing!
How to store
Store extra dressing in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Variations
- Swap the cottage cheese for Greek yogurt for an equally high protein ranch with a slightly tangy flavor. You can also do 1/2 Greek yogurt 1/2 cottage cheese.
- Add more herbs like fresh parsley. You can also add extra herbs if you like an extra herby ranch.
- Turn this into a buffalo ranch by adding a few tablespoons of buffalo sauce.
- Make a spicy jalapeño ranch by adding 1/2-1 jalapeño, and use lime instead of lemon juice. You can even add a few tbsp of fresh cilantro.
- Serve as a delicious dip for fresh vegetables, pita chips, or even drizzle on top of wraps and sandwiches.
More dressings you’ll love
- Garlic Parmesan Dressing
- Buffalo Ranch Sauce (Dressing or Dip!)
- Greek Yogurt Cucumber Ranch Dressing
- Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
- Creamy Balsamic Date Vinaigrette
- Maple Balsamic Dressing
Cottage Cheese Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese, I recommend full-fat
- 1/3 cup milk, + 1 tbsp at a time extra for thinner dressing
- 1 large fresh garlic clove, roughly minced
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 cup fresh dill, packed
- 2 tbsp fresh chives
- 1 tbsp lemon juice, more to taste
- 1/4-1/2 tsp salt, start with 1/4 tsp- saltiness depends on cottage cheese brand
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor (blender will typically yield a smoother dressing).
- Blend on high until completely smooth and creamy.
- If you prefer a thinner dressing, add an additional 1 tbsp of milk at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Drizzle on your favorite salad or use as a dip for veggies or on sandwiches and wraps.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an estimate.
Food photography by Marie-Catherine Dubé
