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    Make It Skinny Please » Recipes » Sauces & Dressings » Low Calorie Ranch Dressing

    Published: Aug 24, 2022 · Modified: Aug 24, 2022 by Toni Dash · 7 Comments

    Low Calorie Ranch Dressing

    Weight Watchers Points1
    Calories: 25kcal
    Carbs: 2g
    Protein: 1g
    Fats: 2g
    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    low calorie ranch dressing in glass jar.

    Toss out those dressing packets and the bottled stuff and enjoy this easy homemade Low Calorie Ranch Dressing from scratch. Full of buttermilk, light sour cream, fresh herbs, garlic and more making this creamy dressing a favorite for dipping raw veggies or on your favorite salad.

    low calorie ranch dressing in glass jar.
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    low calorie ranch dressing in glass jar.

    There is a world of difference between store-bought dressing and homemade salad dressings. They can be the difference between craving salad and resisting eating it. Our skinny ranch has great fresh flavor thanks to fresh buttermilk and natural flavors. The only difference is the lower calories.

    Making your own salad dressing, like our light Bleu Cheese Dressing or skinny Green Goddess dressing, let's you control the ingredients. It's easy to make light versions using real food simple ingredients and in the case of this low calorie ranch dressing, with classic ranch flavors. They will become your go-to vegetable dip as well as salad dressing.

    Jump to:
    • What makes this skinny?
    • Recipe Ingredients Notes
    • How to make Low Calorie Ranch Dressing from scratch
    • How to make Homemade Buttermilk
    • Variations
    • How to Use
    • Expert Tips
    • How to Store
    • More recipes you'll love!
    • Recipe

    What makes this skinny?

    This low calorie ranch dressing was easy to slim down just by using reduced fat ingredients. Light mayo, light sour cream and low fat buttermilk still give the homemade dressing the classic buttermilk ranch flavor but cut the calories in half from the original version and lowered the grams of fat from 5 to 2 grams per serving.

    We considered substituting nonfat Greek yogurt for the sour cream but the calories are equivalent to light sour cream and we feel the texture of the sour cream adds to the dressing consistency. You can substitute Greek yogurt (non-fat) for the sour cream if desired.

    Recipe Ingredients Notes

    low calorie ranch dressing labelled ingredients.

    Buttermilk. Use low-fat buttermilk versus regular full fat. You can also make it yourself (see section below)!

    Light Mayonnaise. Use light mayonnaise which is 35 calories per tablespoon. Most have this calorie amount though some can be higher.

    Light Sour cream. Use light sour cream. There is also fat-free sour cream though some fat is what makes this dressing so delicious.

    Fresh Dill. This really gives the dressing a fresh flavor.

    Garlic cloves. You'll need two garlic cloves minced.

    Italian parsley. Use fresh parsley for the best flavor.

    Kosher Salt.

    Black pepper. Use freshly ground black pepper if possible.

    Onion powder or onion salt. Onion powder will add an onion flavor where onion salt is a combination of onion powder and salt so will add a saltier flavor. If using onion salt add it before any kosher salt to adjust the kosher salt to taste.

    Mustard powder. This is dry mustard powder found in the spice section of the grocery store.

    low calorie ranch dressing on spoon.

    How to make Low Calorie Ranch Dressing from scratch

    Printable recipe card at the end of this post.

    Combine all ingredients into a medium size bowl: low fat buttermilk, light mayonnaise, light sour cream, dill, garlic, Italian parsley, salt, pepper, onion powder and mustard powder.

    ingredients in a mixing bowl.

    Whisk to combine. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate. It will thicken slightly when chilled and the flavors will blend.

    low calorie ranch dressing ingredients in a mixing bowl whisked

    How to make Homemade Buttermilk

    I shared this trick recently in a Buttermilk Pancakes recipe. If you are out of buttermilk you can make a homemade version!

    1. Add 1 tablespoon of either white vinegar or lemon juice to a 1 cup liquid measuring cup. 
    2. Fill with milk to make 1 cup total.
    3. Allow to sit 10 minutes to curdle and thicken. 
    4. Replace the mayonnaise and sour cream with low-fat versions if you want a lower-fat dressing.

    Variations

    Use dried herbs. If you've run out of fresh herbs you can replace them with dried herbs (though we really recommend fresh herbs for the best flavor in this delicious dressing). Use half as much dried herbs as you would fresh.

    Add spices. You can change up the flavor by adding different spices. Try white pepper, paprika, or celery seed. Minced shallots and fresh chives also make a nice addition.

    Adjust the amount of mayonnaise and sour cream to your liking. Some people prefer to have a bit more sour cream for a tangier dressing.

    homemade ranch dressing on spoon above jar.

    How to Use

    • Put it on your favorite salad recipes. It turns a simple green salad into a favorite!
    • Dipping raw vegetables. Use it on a crudité platter for a healthy ranch dip.
    • Use it as a dip for prepared vegetables like air fryer cauliflower!
    • If you are a pizza crust dipper here's your lower calorie option
    • Substitute when regular ranch is called for
    low calorie ranch dressing on fresh green salad.

    Expert Tips

    Whisk by hand. Though you can make the dressing in a blender or food processor, it will turn green like Green Goddess dressings if you do so. Whisking it keeps the white color with flecks of fresh herbs as seen in the photos.

    How to Store

    Store in a sealed Mason jar or airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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    Recipe

    low calorie ranch dressing.

    Low Calorie Ranch Dressing

    Weight Watchers Points1
    Click to track Weight Watchers Points
    Tangy, creamy Low Calorie Ranch Dressing is full of buttermilk and herb flavors. Ready in minutes this fresh homemade salad dressing is perfect for dipping vegetables and on favorite salads.
    5 from 59 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Lactose, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 14 2-Tablespoons servings (total yield: 1 ¾ cups)
    Calories: 25kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup low fat buttermilk
    • ⅓ cup light mayonnaise
    • ¼ cup light sour cream
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder or onion salt
    • ¼ teaspoon dry mustard powder

    Instructions

    • In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients.
    • Whisk to fully mix together. Store in an airtight glass jar in the refrigerator.

    Notes

    Ingredients
    Onion powder will give some onion flavor. Onion salt will also add some salty flavor. If choosing to use onion salt, make the dressing without the kosher salt. Taste it and add kosher salt as needed (if at all).
    Pro Tip: whisk the dressing by hand. Though you can put it in the blender it will turn green like Green Goddess dressing if you do.
    How to store
    Store in an airtight container or jar (glass) in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 25kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 150mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 0.04g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    low calorie ranch dressing in glass jar.
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutritional Coach and certified Weight Loss Specialist, writer/blogger, photographer, chief recipe developer and creator of Make It Skinny Please. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her slimmed down recipes using real food ingredients bring excitement to the dining table and never taste like 'diet food'. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 59 votes (52 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. wilhelmina says

      August 26, 2022 at 10:33 am

      5 stars
      This has all the delicious flavor and richness of "regular" ranch, so good!

      Reply
    2. Aimee Mars says

      August 24, 2022 at 1:44 pm

      5 stars
      This was so easy to make and I loved that it tasted just as good as the real stuff but without all the calories! Thank you for sharing this. I was looking for a good ranch dressing to dip my veggies.

      Reply
    3. Tori says

      August 24, 2022 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      I'm embarrassed to say this is the first time I've ever made dressing at home. After tasting it I wish I would have started sooner. This is delicious. I made it to go with a salad but plan to serve it with vegetables for dipping at a party this weekend. Really good.

      Reply
    4. Andrea says

      August 24, 2022 at 8:19 am

      5 stars
      I've been looking for a homemade ranch dressing and this recipe turned out perfectly. It was way healthier than store bought.

      Reply
    5. Tara G says

      August 24, 2022 at 8:00 am

      5 stars
      I will never buy store bought again!! My whole family loved this so much and my kids dip ranch on everything!

      Reply
    6. Dana says

      August 24, 2022 at 7:53 am

      5 stars
      I love how this is a lighter version yet it doesn't lose any of the flavor at all. It doesn't even lose texture! I'd have never known this was a lightened up Ranch had I not made it myself! Great recipe.

      Reply
    7. Katherine says

      August 24, 2022 at 7:22 am

      5 stars
      This is such a great flavorful dressing! And a bonus that it's low-cal!

      Reply

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I'm a Certified Nutrition Coach and NASM certified Weight Loss Specialist. I'm excited to share Classic Recipes made more calorie friendly using real food!

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