This ranch dressing with cottage cheese is creamy, full of refreshing flavors and is a lightened up version of the classic dressing! Best of all, it relies on just a handful of wholesome ingredients, like cottage cheese, mayo, and dried spices, but is filled with that delicious ranch flavor. Great for veggies, salads, dipping chicken nuggets, and so much more!
Table of Contents
Ranch Dressing with Cottage Cheese
If you’re a ranch lover, but prefer to control the ingredients going into your dressing, then you’ll love this cottage cheese ranch dressing! It’s got all of the flavors you know and love, but is a lightened up version with a little kick of extra protein and calcium.
Plus, it makes any veggies more delicious, so you can easily help your family enjoy more carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers and more. Or serve it up drizzled on wraps, or as a dip for pizza and nuggets!
Elysia’s Recipe Recap
Texture: Creamy texture you can drizzle over salads and more
Taste: Creamy and tangy with lots of savory, herby notes and a hint of lemon
Ease: Nothing easier – blend and serve!
Recommended: I love that it’s much healthier than the store-bought stuff and tastes so fresh and flavorful
Would I make it again? We would gladly have this dressing in your fridge at all times!
Why We Love this Blended Cottage Cheese Ranch Dressing
- Super simple to make – just blend and serve!
- Low in sodium and contains no preservatives or additives
- Relies on simple ingredients and everyday herbs
- Delicious dip for your favorite veggies or to spoon over salad
- Tastes just like the Ranch dressing you know and love
Ingredient Notes
- Low-fat cottage cheese: Most ranch dressing recipes use sour cream. Instead of that, we’re going to use high-protein cottage cheese, but blend it until thick and creamy.
- Mayo: Although you can use regular mayo, I like to use olive oil or avocado oil mayo for the extra heart-healthy fats.
- Milk: You just need a little milk to thin it out. Feel free to use regular dairy milk or your favorite non-dairy option.
- Lemon juice: For a brighter flavor.
- Seasonings: You don’t need much to get that classic ranch flavor. Keep it simple with onion powder, garlic powder, dry or fresh dill, salt, and black pepper.
- Fresh herbs (optional): Fresh herbs add so much more freshness than dried. Finely chopped parsley and chives work perfectly with the dried herbs.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a mini blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. If your mix is still too thick when blending, add an extra splash of milk until you achieve desired consistency.
- Store in the fridge for later or serve on your favorite salads and wraps or along with nuggets or fritters.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Expert Tips
- If you prefer a stronger dill flavor, you can add up to 1/2 teaspoon dry dill. I prefer a more subtle dill flavor, so I usually add 1/4 teaspoon.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can, but it won’t have quite the same richness and the protein count may be slightly be different.
If you prefer to use a ranch packet from the store, you certainly can, but be mindful of the ingredients. Those packets are highly processed and contain additives and preservatives, like monosodium glutamate (MSG), maltodextrin, xanthan gum, and other ingredients to keep it shelf-stable and free-flowing.
It is also very high in sodium, containing 60mg in just 1/4 teaspoon. This can be problematic for young children as well as people with heart issues. For a lower sodium option, try this low sodium ranch seasoning instead!
Yep, in fact, I recommend it. Dried seasonings take time to bloom and rehydrate, so I like to make this dip at least an hour before I need it, if not a few days.
Storage Guidelines
Store the leftover dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days if using fresh herbs or 5-7 days if only using dried herbs.
The flavor increases the longer the dressing sits, so I like to make it a day or two before I need it for maximum flavor.
Serving Suggestions
This cottage cheese ranch dressing recipe is intended to be used like your favorite salad dressing for dipping your favorite veggies or air fryer zucchini fries, dunking grilled chicken nuggets or these almond flour chicken tenders, or even serving with pizza (if you know, you know).
We like to keep it around for a quick after-school snack, but it also tends to show up for lunch and dinner as well. It’s such a versatile condiment!
If you prefer a thicker, creamier dip, you can actually reduce the amount of milk as well. This healthy ranch dip is especially great for serving with veggie trays, like this Christmas Wreath Veggie Tray.
Recipe Variations
- Add pickle brine: If you love tangy flavors, try replacing the lemon juice with pickle juice. It works so well with the dill in the dressing and tastes amazing with potato chips or fresh vegetables.
- Adjust consistency: To make a creamy dip, reduce the amount of milk. For a thinner dressing, add more.
- Try different seasonings: Once you realize how easy it is to make a higher protein dressing with cottage cheese and mayo, you’ll want to try other seasoning blends. Raid the spice cupboard and see what else you can create!
More Cottage Cheese Recipes
- Creamy Cottage Cheese Egg Salad
- Cottage Cheese Queso Dip Recipe
- Cottage Cheese Egg Bake
- Cottage Cheese Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Cottage Cheese Protein Bagels
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Whipped Cottage Cheese Ranch Dressing {High Protein}
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese (I used 1%)
- 1/2 cup mayo (I used olive oil mayo)
- 1/4 cup any milk
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon dry dill (or 1-2 tablespoons fresh dill)
- 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper
Optional add-ins:
- 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a mini blender and blend until smooth and creamy. If your mix is still too thick when blending, add an extra splash of milk until you achieve desired consistency.
- Store in the fridge for later or serve on your favorite salads and wraps or along with nuggets or fritters.
Notes
- The nutritional information is based on about a 2 tablespoon serving.
- If you prefer a stronger dill flavor, you can add up to 1/2 teaspoon dry dill. I prefer a more subtle dill flavor, so I usually add 1/4 teaspoon.
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