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This all-scratch buttermilk dressing is a healthy restaurant-quality alternative to the bottled version. In just 5 minutes, you will have a fresh and creamy dressing, perfect for pouring on a crisp green salad. Full of fresh herbs, this dressing is so good it can be used for dipping veggies, drizzling on your pizza, or used alongside your buffalo chicken wings!
Keep this salad dressing recipe on hand instead of buying the store-bought bottled dressing. It’s so much fresher, healthier, and will be your family’s new favorite.
I hope you’ll try more homemade salad dressings, such as my red wine vinaigrette and balsamic vinaigrette, next!
IS RANCH DRESSING THE SAME AS BUTTERMILK DRESSING
No, they’re not the same. They’re closely related and use many common ingredients. They’re both creamy salad dressings that use buttermilk as their key ingredient and base.
Buttermilk salad dressing is usually simpler than homemade ranch dressing, which most people consider to be a particular type of buttermilk dressing.
BUTTERMILK DRESSING RECIPE INGREDIENTS
- Mayonnaise: Used as the base for this creamy dressing and acts as a binder. If you’d like, you can cut down the mayo and add sour cream. This will add more tang, but it can also make the dressing thinner. You can also cut down the mayo with Greek yogurt.
- Buttermilk: It adds a little tanginess and loosens the mayo base. Since buttermilk already has natural tanginess, we don’t add a lot of lemon juice to the dressing.
- Chives: Fresh chives bring freshness and a little pungent flavor.
- Dill: Fresh dill is key to this dressing and adds sweet, grassy flavor with mild licorice-like notes.
- Lemon juice: This little addition of brightness is just the right amount to balance the mayo. There is no vinegar in this recipe, and I prefer the flavor of lemon juice in this dressing.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic adds pungent flavor to the dressing, while garlic powder isn’t as flavorful.
- Black pepper + Salt: Fresh cracked pepper and table salt.
- Onion Powder: This adds a very mild onion flavor.
- Sugar: I like to add a pinch of sugar, which balances the flavors.
- Parsley: Optional. Add to increase the herbal flavor.
TIPS + VARIATIONS
- Shake the Buttermilk in the carton before measuring it for best results.
- Start By Combining Base Ingredients: Mix buttermilk and mayonnaise. At this point, adjust the ratio based on your preferred consistency and creaminess level.
- Taste And Adjust: Like all recipes, taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Let it Chill: For the best flavor, refrigerate the dressing for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to marry and meld together.
- Customize: To shake up the flavors in the dressing, try adding a dash of hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or cayenne pepper.
- Add Blue Cheese: If you’d prefer blue cheese dressing, try adding blue cheese to this dressing.
STORING + FREEZING + MAKE-AHEAD
- How Long Can You Keep This in The Fridge? Once made, the dressing will last up to 3-4 days in the fridge. Store the dressing in an airtight container, like a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, in the refrigerator.
- Can You Freeze This? You can freeze the dressing for up to 3 months. Measure about 1/3 cup into a freezer bag for individual servings. Thaw, mix, and serve.
- Make-Ahead: Yes, make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge.
- Food Safety: If you’d like more info on food safety, check out this link.
SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS
This dressing is a green salad’s best friend! It’s also great used to drizzle over sliced tomato or cucumber, or as a dipping sauce for pizza, fried chicken, fried okra, French fries, sandwiches, sandwich wraps, and crudités. Just grab a bag of potato chips and you’re all set.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE BUTTERMILK DRESSING
- Whisk mayonnaise and buttermilk in a mixing bowl. Add all the remaining ingredients.
- Whisk until well combined.
- Serve.
***See the full instructions below.
MORE DIPS AND SAUCES
- Horseradish Sauce
- Creole Sauce
- Enchilada Sauce
- Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
- Burger Sauce
- Awesome Sauce
- Bang Bang Sauce
- Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce
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Buttermilk Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup fresh chives, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 large clove garlic, minced
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise (1 cup) and buttermilk (3/4 cup) until smooth.
- Add all the remaining ingredients and whisk until well combined.
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Shake the Buttermilk in the carton before measuring it for best results.
- Start By Combining Base Ingredients: Mix buttermilk and mayonnaise. At this point, adjust the ratio based on your preferred consistency and creaminess level.
- Taste And Adjust: Like all recipes, taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Let it Chill: For the best flavor, refrigerate the dressing for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to marry and meld together.
- Customize: To shake up the flavors in the dressing, try adding a dash of hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or cayenne pepper.
- Add Blue Cheese: If you’d prefer blue cheese dressing, try adding blue cheese to this dressing.
Nutrition
On your phone? Check the web story here.
I’ve been using thousand island and caesar salad, I gotta tell you, homemade dressing is better than anything. I love this dressing!
Hey, Ashley. I’m glad you tried this dressing! Thanks for the positive feedback and 5-star rating 🙂
How long can I store it in the refrigerator ?
To be safe, this will last 3-4 days in the fridge.