Homemade avocado ranch is perfect for salads, veggie dips and more. Made with healthy ingredients like fresh, ripe avocado, Greek yogurt and fresh herbs, this dressing and dip is rich and creamy, tangy and delicious!
If you are a ranch dressing lover, you will love this healthy homemade version with a twist. This delicious, creamy avocado ranch dressing recipe is easy to make and can be enjoyed in so many different ways – just like classic ranch dressing!
Making your own salad dressing tastes so much better than the store-bought bottled stuff. Definitely check out my Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing, this Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette and my Simple Homemade Italian Dressing.
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Inspired by the California Grown Agri-tour
I was invited to join and agri-tour in Temecula Valley, California with a group of amazing creators through California Grown. These trips are so inspiring, there’s nothing like seeing firsthand where your food comes from and meeting the people who grow it!
On this tour, we visited Fairfield Farms in Pauma Valley, California, where they grow organic avocados along steep hills. The dramatic elevations create the perfect conditions for growing avocados on the slopes and blueberries in the valley!
I was inspired to created this recipe with California Grown avocados after my day on the farm.
Why you will love this recipe
- It’s packed with healthy fats and super creamy thanks to velvety avocado and Greek yogurt.
- It’s super easy to make. Just throw everything into the food processor and it’s done in just a few minutes.
- You can use it just like you would traditional ranch – drizzle it on your favorite salad, dip raw fresh veggies, pizza crust, chicken tenders, tacos and nachos or use it as a delicious spread on a burger or grilled chicken sandwich. There’s no wrong way to enjoy to enjoy ranch and this version will take your homemade dressing game to a whole new level.
Ingredients
This easy peasy homemade ranch is made with healthy, simple ingredients.
- Avocado – ripe, fresh avocados.
- Plain Greek Yogurt – This adds creaminess and tang. Good plain yogurt means there’s no need for sour cream or mayonnaise here.
- Lemon – fresh squeezed lemon juice.
- Fresh garlic
- Fresh herbs – this dressing is loaded with fresh dill, parsley and chives.
- Onion powder – just a touch.
- Olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
- Water – adding water helps thin out thick dressing to desired consistency.
How to make homemade avocado ranch dressing
This most important part of this recipe is just making sure your avocados are perfectly ripe. The easiest way to tell is to hold it in the palm of your hand and gently press your thumb around the top where the stem was. If it yields to firm, gentle pressure, it’s good to go!
Scoop out the flesh of the avocado into the bowl of a food processor. Roughly chop the herbs and add them with the rest of the ingredients, except the water, into the food processor. Mix on high until everything is smooth and creamy. Add water until your desired consistency and that’s it!
Serving suggestions
- Toss it with a big salad. My favorite way is on Cobb salads or taco salads.
- Add it to a party tray with fresh veggies like cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, celery, carrots and broccoli florets.
- Use it as a dip for fries, chicken tenders, chicken wings or pizza crust.
- Drizzle it on tacos, nachos or quesadillas for a fun twist.
- Use it as a sandwich spread for burgers, grilled or crispy chicken sandwiches.
FAQ
Yes. Fresh definitely gives the best flavor but you can get close with dried herbs. Simply substitute one teaspoon of dried herbs for each tablespoon of fresh.
2-3 days. Because this recipe uses fresh avocado, the shelf life is short and it should be used up rather quickly within a couple days. For best results, store any leftovers in an airtight container or mason jar with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator.
No. It doesn’t hold up well in the freezer. Definitely recommend enjoying this recipe fresh!
More recipes inspired by California grown goods
Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing and Dip
Ingredients
- 1 large avocado
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt full fat
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1 clove garlic grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅓ cup water use less for thicker dressing or dip
Instructions
- Scoop out the flesh of the avocado and add it to the bowl of a food processor.
- Roughly chop fresh herbs and add to food processor along with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, onion powder, olive oil, salt and pepper and a dash of hot sauce if using.
- Use a microplane to grate in fresh garlic.
- Mix on high until smooth and creamy. While the food processor is running, stream in water until dressing reaches desired consistency.
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