Blackened Ranch Dressing

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This Blackened Ranch Dressing is creamy, smoky, and way more flavorful than anything store-bought. It's lightened up with Greek yogurt and buttermilk, and ready in just five minutes (plus chill time). It's perfect for salads, wraps, veggies, or dipping everything in your fridge.

35 CAL 3g CARBS 1g FAT 4g PROTEIN 1
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We're a ranch-loving household, like, keep an emergency bottle in the fridge kind of loving. But once we tried that spicy blackened ranch from Popeyes (you know the one), it was game over. It had us rethinking plain ranch altogether. The problem is, fast food versions don't exactly scream healthy or wholesome.

So I started making this lightened-up copycat version at home, and it's become a weekly staple. It uses Greek yogurt for a creamy base, tangy buttermilk for that classic ranch vibe, and a kick of blackening seasoning for bold, smoky flavor. It's thick enough to dip but smooth enough to drizzle over anything and everything!

A glass jar labeled “Blackened Ranch Dressing” filled with creamy dressing speckled with herbs, with a wooden spoon inside, set on a white cloth with celery sticks in the background.

Before You Get Started

Here's everything you need to know about making this healthier blackened ranch dressing:

  • Use full-fat or 2% Greek yogurt for extra richness. Nonfat works, but higher fat = more classic ranch flavor. For a richer flavor, swap in mayonnaise or sour cream for half of the yogurt.
  • Homemade seasoning wins. Store-bought is fine, but homemade Blackening Seasoning tastes fresher and is easy to tweak.

How to Make Blackened Ranch Dressing

This ranch dressing recipe is super easy to make at home and tastes just like the restaurant version!

1. Mix All Ingredients

Stir together Greek yogurt, buttermilk, blackening seasoning, dried herbs, lemon juice, and salt and pepper.

2. Chill for at Least 1 Hour

This helps the flavors meld. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Tips for Making the Best Homemade Ranch

I've been making homemade ranch for several years now, and I've picked up a few tricks and tips along the way that you might find incredibly useful. So here are a few of my best tips to help you get the best-tasting ranch ever:

  • Adjust your seasonings. The beautiful thing about making your own blackening seasoning at home is that you can adjust the seasonings to suit your flavor preferences. Make it spicier, less spicy, less salty, saltier, etc. It's up to you!
  • Play around with ratios. If you're looking for ways to make it richer or keto-friendly, swap the nonfat Greek yogurt for 2% fat or full-fat Greek yogurt. I've even had a few friends prepare it with plain regular yogurt, and it was just as good. If you're after a thinner consistency, simply add more buttermilk or thin it out with a little water if needed.
  • Chill it. Although you can serve this right away, chilling the ranch in the fridge for an hour or up to overnight will let the flavors come together for an even more delicious dressing. If you have the time, it's definitely worth it!
  • Add some heat. I love my ranch dressings with a little heat from time to time. You can add a little spice to this recipe by mixing in some cayenne pepper or Hungarian (hot) paprika.

Spoonful of blackened ranch dressing with herbs and spices on a wooden spoon.

What to Serve With Blackened Ranch Dressing

When it comes to what to serve with ranch, the options are nearly endless. You can serve this blackened ranch with any foods you would serve with traditional ranch dressing. If you're looking for some ideas, here are a few foods that pair incredibly well with blackened ranch dressing:

  • Chicken tenders (paleo-friendly!)
  • Pasta salads
  • Raw vegetables (like carrots, celery, and broccoli)
  • Breadsticks
  • Buddha Bowls
  • Pizza
  • Sandwiches and wraps

How to Store Ranch Dressing

Here’s how to keep homemade ranch dressing fresh for days!

  • Fridge: I like to store my ranch in an airtight container or an airtight jar. When stored properly, homemade ranch dressing will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 7-10 days.
  • Freezer: Because it's made with dairy ingredients, I don't recommend storing ranch dressing in the freezer.

Note: Dairy tends to separate when frozen, which means you would likely end up with clumpy dressing after thawing it out. Luckily, this ranch dressing recipe is super easy to whip up again whenever you're in the mood!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about this blackened ranch dressing recipe:

This recipe was inspired by the delicious Popeye's blackened ranch dip that they serve with fried chicken. Traditionally, the blackened ranch dip is made by combining ranch dressing (made with mayonnaise and sour cream) with onion, garlic, black pepper, white pepper, and blackening seasoning. This lightened-up version replaces most of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.

 

If you want a more traditional ranch dressing, feel free to leave out the blackening seasoning. You could also swap it out with any other spice blend you like. Cajun seasoning, for example, would work really well.

 

One of the foolproof ways to check if your ranch has gone bad is to give it a sniff. If it smells off, or looks and tastes weird, then it needs to be discarded immediately. Another strong indicator is if there is any mold growing on it, so make sure to take a good look at your ranch before diving in.

 

Absolutely! While you certainly don't have to, you can use homemade buttermilk in your ranch dressing if you want to.To prepare homemade buttermilk, just add one tablespoon of lemon juice for every cup of milk. Stir well, let it sit for a few minutes, and then it should be ready to go.

 

Glass jar with blackened ranch sauce served with sliced celery sticks on the side.
The Recipe
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Blackened Ranch Dressing

35 CAL 3g CARBS 1g FAT 4g PROTEIN 1
PREP TIME: 5 Min
COOK TIME: 1 Hours
TOTAL TIME: 1 Hours, 5 Min
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 1 cup low fat plain Greek yogurt (sub 1/2 mayo for richer taste)
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tbsp blackening seasoning (more or less to taste)
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • 2 tsp dried chives
  • 1 tsp dried dill
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

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1

Mix together all the ingredients in a glass jar or container. Taste and season if needed.

Greek yogurt, buttermilk, lemon juice, blackening seasoning, and dried herbs in a glass bowl.
2

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, ideally overnight. Serve as a salad dressing, dip for raw veggies, sandwich spread, and more.

Greek yogurt blackened ranch dressing in a glass jar with a wooden spoon.

Equipment

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Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 1/4 cup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 35
Calories from Fat 8
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 1g
1%
Saturated Fat 0g
0%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 1mg
0%
Sodium 29mg
1%
Total Carbohydrate 3g
1%
Dietary Fiber 0g
1%
Sugars 2g
Protein 4g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
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