Creamy, delicious, homemade dairy free ranch dressing is perfect for topping salads or dipping veggies! It’s bursting with flavor from fresh herbs and garlic. You’ll love this simple dressing, and your guests won’t believe it’s free of dairy!
We’re approaching salad season here…warm weather, lighter meals, and lots of fresh veggies will soon be the norm.
And what will you top your salads with this season? Do you miss creamy, dairy based dressings like blue cheese and ranch? Have you tried a bottled dairy free ranch dressing, only to be disappointed?
I have the solution – this homemade dairy free ranch dressing is just as creamy and flavorful as the dairy filled variety.Â
When you have dietary restrictions to contend with, it’s often easier to make your own salad dressings. If you’re looking for more inspiration, try this simple Italian vinaigrette, or this honey mustard dressing.
Loaded with flavor from fresh chives, fresh dill, and a good amount of garlic, this ranch dressing is just right for topping all of your favorite foods. Salads, fresh vegetables, chicken tenders and more are a perfect match for this easy, tasty dressing.
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Ingredient Notes
- Dairy Free Cream Cheese – I used Daiya brand cream cheese, but if you have a different brand you like, that’s okay.
- Vegan Mayonnaise – I used Earth Balance Mayo in this recipe. It has a pretty neutral taste. Other brands of vegan mayo could also work in this dressing.
- Non-Dairy Milk – I used So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk Beverage. If you have a different plant-based milk that you prefer, feel free to use it. A neutral tasting milk will work best.
- Herbs and Lemon Juice – Fresh herbs and lemon juice give this ranch dressing a nice bright flavor, and are better than dried herbs.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic is a delicious addition to this dressing.The garlic flavor does get stronger the longer this dressing stays in the refrigerator, so please be aware of that! If you’re out of fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder. The flavor won’t be as strong, but it will work in a pinch.
Variations
If you’d prefer a thicker texture, for dipping chips or vegetables, just use less non-dairy milk. If there are different herbs you would like to use, feel free to experiment! You could try parsley, cilantro, or basil.
Special Equipment
This dressing is easily made in a blender, but you could use a food processor or even an immersion blender if that’s easier for you.
Storage
Store leftover dressing in the refrigerator.
This ranch dressing is best consumed within 3-4 days.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this dressing with:
- a simple green salad
- sliced veggies
- oven baked French fries
- chicken tenders
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Recipe
The Best Homemade Dairy Free Ranch Dressing.
Try this creamy, flavorful, dairy free ranch dressing recipe that's perfect for your summer salads!
Ingredients
- ⅜ cup vegan cream cheese I used Daiya plain cream cheese
- ⅜ cup vegan mayonnaise I used Earth Balance Mindful Mayo
- ½ cup non-dairy milk I used So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk Beverage
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3 Tablespoons fresh dill finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh chives finely chopped
Instructions
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Put the vegan cream cheese, vegan mayo, non-dairy milk, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth.
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Add the fresh dill and fresh chives and pulse a few times to combine.
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Pour the dressing into a glass container and refrigerate until ready to serve.
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Serve over salad greens, or use as a dip for chips.
Recipe Notes
Store leftover dressing in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh for about 3-4 days.
Juliet Donnell
I’m so excited to try this! Is it bad to review premiere? I couldn’t just have no stars! Do you think I could use oat milk? I can’t have coconut milk. My son and I are DF and GF. I love your ideas and your mission! I have recently discovered Violife 100% vegan cream cheese and it smells just like Philadelphia cream cheese! I used it to make DF beef stroganoff with came out amazing! Especially the left overs! It’s funny how the flavors develop better with time. Seems like a metaphor to life. ;)
Kelly Roenicke
I think oat milk would be fine! I am so glad you liked the beef stroganoff!
Sue Fox
how much would you say weight wise is 3/8 cup please.
Mindy
Have tried a few different vegan ranch dressings – and was skeptical about the vegan cream cheese in this one but it turned out fantastic! It’s now my ‘go to’ vegan ranch! The vegan cream cheese made it super creamy (I used Violife) and used cashew milk for the vegan dairy milk. Thanks for this great recipe!
Kelly Roenicke
Yay! I am so happy to hear that! Thank you for letting me know!
Darryl
This is so good! I prefer it to Conventional ranch dressing.
Kortney
Do you think I could make this using dairy ingredients? I love the idea of using cream cheese.
Kelly Roenicke
Yes, you sure could!
Sharon
What a clever recipe! It looks great!
Kelly Roenicke
Thank you!
Julia Mueller
Cheers to salad season!! This dressing looks perfect for all those summer salads! I’m loving this dairy-free version! I’ll forward this recipe on to my brother, who is lactose intolerant (and could use more salads in his life, lol) ;)
Win at The Equipped Cook
Ooooh, looks good. I need a healthy homemade version of ranch dressing. As you say, just in time for salads. Yum. I’m going to make this as soon as I go out and get the ingredients.
Kelly Roenicke
I hope you love it!
Kathy
Looks great. Just what I was wanting for when my girls are here that are dairy free. Thanks. :) You really have been a big help. This is all new to me and I get so frustrated.
Kelly Roenicke
Thank you so much for reading, I’m glad you are encouraged! You can do this! :)