Homemade Ranch Kefir Salad Dressing

The homemade ranch kefir salad dressing our family is obsessed with! It is not only delicious but also packed with good-for-you ingredients. A longtime favorite in our house, for both kid and adult dipping! It mixes up in minutes, making it the perfect kefir ranch dip to enjoy week after week.

What is kefir?

Are you familiar with kefir?

For the longest time, I had not tried or tasted it. I figured it was a variation on yogurt and was made similarly.

Once I tasted tangy kefir and saw the buttermilk-like consistency, I would then describe it as “yogurt milk” to my kids- because to me it really just tasted like runnier yogurt.

Well, it turns out kefir is made very differently than yogurt!

Instead of heating and then adding cultures (aka beneficial bacteria) as you do with yogurt, you add the kefir grains (which are not really grains) into milk and allow the probiotics to do their fermenting thing for 24 hours.

A pretty simple way to make something with great health benefits at home!

I have yet to try making my own kefir at home, but yogurt has been mastered. If you want to attempt making homemade yogurt in a crockpot, I do have that how-to for you!

Something else you might love: How to make homemade crockpot yogurt

Homemade Ranch Kefir Salad Dressing

Now onto this fantastic homemade ranch kefir salad dressing!

The main stars in this delicious dip are the avocado oil mayo (you can really use any mayo), kefir, and tons of herbs.

It’s a little bit tangy from the kefir, super creamy from the mayonnaise, and perfect for those taste buds given all the herbs.

My kids LOVE it.

I LOVE it.

My husband LOVES it.

HAPPY family with every dip!

Can you double the recipe?

We can down a whole batch with a meal, so definitely double the recipe if you are making it for a lot of people as we do in our house.

I keep the dressing for up to 1 week, but usually, it’s gone within just a few days.

I hope this kefir ranch dressing becomes a standard in your house as well!

Your gut healthy gets the good for your probiotics with every dip thanks to the kefir!

Ready to try it? Let’s take our veggie dipping up another notch!

Simple ingredients in homemade ranch kefir salad dressing

• avocado oil mayonnaise
• plain whole milk kefir
• extra virgin olive oil
• dried chives
• dried parsley
• garlic granules
• dried dill
• sea salt
• black pepper

You can individually grab the seasonings, or use my bulk ranch seasoning mix instead!

How to make kefir ranch dressing

1. Combine the mayo, kefir, olive oil, and ranch seasoning in a medium bowl. Whisk and enjoy with veggies, on salads, or dip your favorite food items in!

NOTE – You can also quickly blend the dressing together in a blender or food processor.

Watch me make this healthy homemade ranch dressing

The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!

Substitutions for this kefir salad dressing recipe

Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this kefir salad dressing recipe. 

If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!

Avocado oil mayonnaise – Regular mayo works as a substitute, as would a vegan mayo!

Plain kefir – I’ve used plain yogurt and sour cream in a pinch when I’ve run out of kefir. It works! However, it’s a bit thicker which works great as a dip. Thin it out with a little water to make it more dressing-like, or a little lemon juice for an even more tangy flavor.

Extra virgin olive oil – Olive oil or avocado oil work!

Dried herbs – The combination of dried chives, parsley, and dill will give your kefir salad dressing the classic ranch flavor. If you’re out of one of them, simply increase the other’s a bit more to still give that herby flavor.

Garlic granules – Try garlic powder or onion powder as a substitute.

More healthy recipes you’ll love

• Bulk ranch seasoning mix
• Buffalo chicken salad
• Adobo turkey spinach meatballs
• Pineapple pork and potato sheet pan dinner
• Cilantro lime sauce recipe
• Healthy spinach artichoke dip

If you try this homemade ranch kefir salad dressing recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!

XO

Heather

Originally published in February 2018. Updated February 2023.