Homemade Skinny Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

I love salad, but I always hate how high in calorie dressing is. Don't you? It's crazy. I mean, come on - you go out to a restaurant thinking that a big salad is the best and healthiest choice on the menu only to find out that it's over 1,000 calories. FOR A SALAD. That's ridiculous! Salad should not be more calories than a cheeseburger. That's just wrong. Way wrong. So wrong. So, what's a salad loving girl to do when she wants a dressing that's thick and creamy, yet low in calories and still tastes amazing? Make her own!

There are a few dressings out there in the stores today that are low in calorie and taste pretty good. I use those pretty often, but as you know, I am always trying to find new ways to make things at home that are easy to make and taste just as good. Not to mention, fresh and something everyone can make. This ranch dressing could not be easier to make and it's everything I have been wanting - it's thick and creamy, loaded with fresh herbs and garlic. Plus, it's tastes just like ranch! I know that seems strange to say, but some low fat ranch dressings say they taste like ranch, but they taste like something else. I don't know what, but they don't taste good. This ranch is totally adaptable too with the herbs and other seasonings. I added a bit more garlic powder (because we all know I am obsessed with garlic), more black pepper and also added fresh dill. There is something about the dill that makes the dressing sing. If you don't like dill, you don't need to add it, but if you do, you should definitely try it. It kind of reminds me of La Bou's dill dressing. Not exactly, but that dilly hit sure makes me want to dip a french baguette in it. You fellow Sacramento folks know exactly what I am talking about. At least I hope you do!


This dressing is so quick and easy to whip up. Maybe too easy and it makes A LOT - over three cups of ranch. Now that's a lot of dressing! After all the goodness I've been telling you about, you'd think this homemade ranch would have 150 or more calories a serving, but nope. This ranchy ranch comes in at 50 calories (no, that is not a typo!) for a quarter cup of dressing.  Yes, a quarter cup! That's a lot of dressing, but if you are like me and like a lot of dressing on your salad, this will be perfect for you. This homemade ranch is perfect for salad, perfect for dipping fresh veggies and even perfect on sandwiches. Or however you use ranch. Once you make homemade dressing, you may never go back to store bought again. Just saying.

This dressing will last for a good couple of weeks in your fridge, as long as all the dairy ingredients are fresh!

loving my new ipad stand!

adding in the seasonings to the creamy mixture (the yellow is garlic pow)

lots and lots of fresh herbs!

adding in the buttermilk!

look at all that ranch!

Homemade Skinny Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (slight adapted from Skinny Taste)

3/4 cup fat free sour cream
3/4 cup fat free Greek yogurt (I used Fage)
1/3 cup your favorite light mayonnaise
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (optional, but if you like dill, definitely try it!)
1 teaspoon salt (I added a bit more, but this is to taste)
freshly ground pepper (I added about 1 teaspoon, but this is to taste)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 cups 1% low fat buttermilk

In a small bowl or large measuring cup, combine the sour cream, yogurt, mayonnaise, garlic, powder, onion powder, parsley, chives, salt, and cracked pepper. Mix well. Stir in the white balsamic vinegar; then buttermilk. Adjust the seasonings to taste, adding another tablespoon of balsamic vinegar if desired. The flavors will become bolder over time and meld together.

Stay tuned for a homemade skinny blue cheese dressing. Bet you didn't think blue cheese dressing could be skinny, but it can!