Healthy Ranch Dressing

By Adam Fisher
Published 8/12/2025
Dietitian Reviewed: Erin McNamara, RDN, LDN, CLT
Approved for These Diets:
Heart Healthy | Low Sodium | Gluten Free | Diabetic | GLP-1 | Low Cholesterol | Low Fat | Vegetarian
Healthy Ranch Dressing
Photo Credit: Jessica Kielman, Baldwin Publishing

Skip the store-bought bottle and whip up this Healthy Ranch Dressing that’s creamy, flavorful, and easy to make in just 10 minutes. Our low sodium Homemade Ranch Seasoning blends paprika, dill, garlic, and a hint of cayenne for bold flavor without the salt overload. And instead of mayonnaise, we use nonfat Greek yogurt, making this a low fat dressing (1g fat per serving) that still delivers rich creaminess while adding protein. This dressing is light and satisfying, perfect for drizzling over crisp salads, pairing with fresh vegetables, or serving as a dip for baked or air-fried chicken wings. So if you are looking for the best low sodium ranch dressing (only 111mg sodium per serving), our reimagined, fresh recipe of the classic is it and will never have your taste buds craving the processed, bottled version again.

We’ve got even more low sodium salad dressings to keep your meals flavorful without excess salt. This protein-rich dressing also pairs perfectly with any of our high protein salads. You’ll have endless ways to enjoy this healthy staple.

BONUS: You’ll find two healthy and delicious flavor twists for this recipe waiting for you further down the page!

Total Time
10 minutes
Servings
8
Calories
40

About This Healthy Ranch Dressing

This healthy homemade ranch dressing delivers full flavor with a much lighter nutrition profile. At only 40 calories per 2-tablespoon serving, it has just 1 gram of fat and zero saturated fat, making it a smart swap for anyone watching heart health or calorie intake. The base of nonfat Greek yogurt adds 4 grams of protein to help keep you satisfied, while pistachios and nutritional yeast in the seasoning provide richness without excess oil. With only 49 milligrams of sodium, it’s also one of the best low sodium ranch dressing options you can make at home. Fresh herbs, tangy vinegar, and a balanced spice mix give you the creamy, herby taste you love — without the heaviness of most bottled dressings.

Ingredient Substitutions

Try raw sunflower seeds or cashews for a similar lightly crunchy texture.

White wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar will work.

Use unsweetened plant-based yogurt, such as plain almond or soy yogurt.

Skip the cayenne pepper and add more dill instead.

Leave out the extra water for a thicker consistency.

Key Health Highlights

  • High in protein from Greek yogurt
  • Heart-healthy unsaturated fats from pistachios
  • Only 49 mg sodium per serving — 81% less than many brands
  • Naturally gluten-free and vegetarian
  • Made with clean, whole ingredients and no preservatives

Serving & Storage Tips

  • Store in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for up to 1 week
  • If it thickens, stir in 1 tablespoon of water or vinegar before serving
  • Use as a veggie dip, sandwich spread, or light pasta salad dressing
  • For meal prep, keep the chive garnish separate until ready to serve

FAQs About Healthy Ranch Dressing

Most bottled ranch dressings are high in fat, sodium, and additives. This version uses no preservatives, is lower in sodium and fat, and adds protein, making it a much better everyday choice.

Whisk Greek yogurt, vinegar, water, fresh chives, and homemade seasoning until smooth. Adjust thickness with more water if needed.

Our Homemade Ranch Seasoning uses plant-based ingredients and works with non-dairy yogurt for a completely dairy-free option for this recipe.

It already is! It has just 1 gram of fat per serving! Using nonfat yogurt keeps it extra light without sacrificing creaminess.

More Creamy, Low Fat Salad Dressing Recipes

If you love this healthy ranch dressing, you’ll want more options that deliver rich texture without extra fat. These recipes keep calories low, flavor high, and work on everything from greens to grain bowls.

Tzatziki Dressing
Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing
Special Sauce

Why Our Healthy Ranch Dressing is Healthier Than Hidden Valley® Ranch

If you’ve ever flipped a bottle of store-bought ranch to read the label, you know it can be a shock. Hidden Valley® Ranch may be the household name, but here at Health eCooks, we’ve reimagined ranch from the ground up to fit modern, health-conscious eating. Our recipe is developed so it’s not just tasty, but to be healthy for you, too.

We believe creamy salad dressings shouldn’t be loaded with excess fat, sodium, or preservatives. By using nonfat Greek yogurt, real herbs, and our own healthy ranch seasoning, we deliver the same satisfying flavor with a fraction of the calories and a boost of protein. This is ranch you can enjoy daily without the nutritional trade-offs. Here’s how the two compare:

Hidden Valley Ranch (2 Tbsp serving)

  • Calories: 130
  • Total Fat: 13g
  • Saturated Fat: 2g
  • Sodium: 260mg
  • Protein: 0g

Health eCooks Healthy Ranch Dressing (2 Tbsp serving)

  • Calories: 40
  • Total Fat: 1g
  • Saturated Fat: 0g
  • Sodium: 49mg
  • Protein: 4g

Why Our Ranch Dressing is Healthier:

  • 92% less fat (1g vs 13g)
  • 100% less saturated fat (0g vs 2g)
  • 81% less sodium (49mg vs 260mg)
  • 69% fewer calories (40 vs 130)
  • 4g protein boost compared to 0g
  • Made with real yogurt and herbs, not preservatives or artificial flavors

When you can get the same creamy, herby flavor with a fraction of the fat, sodium, and calories, there’s no reason to settle for the bottled stuff. This swap is better for your heart, waistline, and taste buds.

Health eCooks Cookbook on Amazon

Ingredients

Recipe yields 8 servings

Homemade Ranch Seasoning

Ranch Dressing

How to Make Healthy Ranch Dressing

Homemade Ranch Seasoning

  1. Add the pistachios, nutritional yeast and salt to a food processor or spice mill and grind to the texture of a coarse meal. Transfer to a small bowl and mix in the remaining ingredients until well combined.

Ranch Dressing

  1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, chopped chives, rice vinegar, water, black pepper, and homemade ranch seasoning; stir until well combined and smooth. If needed, add 1 or 2 more tablespoons of water to reach desired consistency. Transfer to an airtight container or mason jar and refrigerate until ready to use. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Easy Flavor Twists for Ranch Dressing

Once you master the base recipe, it’s easy to give it a fresh spin. These quick mix-ins turn your healthy ranch into bold, flavorful dressings for any salad, wrap, or grain bowl.

Healthy Chipotle Ranch Dressing

  • Add 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder or 1 finely minced chipotle pepper in adobo to the finished dressing.
  • Blend until smooth for a smoky, spicy kick perfect for taco salads or grilled chicken wraps.

Healthy Avocado Ranch Dressing

  • Mash half a ripe avocado and stir into the finished dressing.
  • Add an extra tablespoon of water or lime juice for a pourable texture.
  • Great for Southwest-style salads and veggie bowls.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size:
2 Tbsp

40
Calories
1
g
Fat
2
mg
Cholesterol
49
mg
Sodium
3
g
Carbs
0
g
Sat. Fat
1
g
Fiber
4
g
Protein
2
g
Sugars

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