Best Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing & Dip Recipes (2024)

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Are you looking for the best Weight Watchers ranch salad dressing and dip recipes? You've come to the right place.

The original ranch dressing, a perennial favorite, dates back to the 1950s. It was served at Hidden Valley Guest Ranch, a dude ranch near Santa Barbara, California. While delicious, it can be very high in fat and calories. Thankfully there are light and healthy alternatives.

While there are a lot of different brands of WW friendly ranch dressings from the bottle and jar, it's hard to beat the flavor of the from-scratch stuff. And with a lot fewer additives and preservatives too.

I've assembled a great collection of the best homemade ranch dressing and dips that are lighter and healthier with a fraction of the fat. For those of you on WW I've also included all the Weight Watchers Points information.

Best Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing & Dip Recipes (1)

How Many Calories and WW Points in Ranch Dressing?

An average 2-tablespoon (30-ml) serving of ranch dressing contains 129 calories, 13 grams of fat, less than 1 gram of protein. If you are a ranch dressing fan trying to lose weight this can be a major problem.

That's where this collection of low fat ranch dressing recipes comes in. It is possible to enjoy all the flavors of your favorite ranch dressing for far fewer calories and much less fat. Most of these recipes have less than 50 calories and 0-2 Weight Watchers Points per serving.

Best Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing & Dip Recipes (2)

3-Ingredient Skinny Ranch Dressing Photo (Skinny Kitchen)

Skinny Ranch Dressing (3-Ingredients)

All you need is three ingredients to make this low fat ranch dressing: buttermilk, light mayonnaise and a package of Hidden Valley Ranch Original Ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix. (Not the buttermilk mix) Homemade ranch dressing doesn't get any easier than this! Talk about a great recipe.

It tastes just as good as any high-fat dressing but with a fraction of the fat and calories. Each 2 tablespoons of skinny ranch dressing has just 30 calories and 2 grams of fat. WW PointsPlus: 1.

This is so delicious as a dressing, dip, or topping for potatoes. (Skinny Kitchen)

Best Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing & Dip Recipes (3)

Zero Point Skinny Ranch Dip Photo (Pointed Kitchen)

Zero Point Ranch Dip (2 -Ingredients)

Talk about easy peasy! Here's a ranch dip that tastes of ranch dressing but still works out at 0 SmartPoints for a quarter cup serving. (With the new WW Personal Points Program your point value may be different. It will be still be 0 if Greek yogurt is one of your zero point foods.)

All you need is two tablespoons Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix and a cup of plain Greek yogurt. There are other ranch dressing mixes available at the grocery store but I have only brand I have ever used is the the Hidden Valley one. to make this zero points dip recipe. (Pointed Kitchen)

Best Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing & Dip Recipes (4)

Easy Healthy Ranch Dressing Made Lighter Photo (Pound Dropper)

Easy Healthy Ranch Dressing Recipe without Buttermilk

This creamy dressing is made with a combination of light mayonnaise and non fat plain yogurt. The light mayo adds creaminess and gives this dressing the flavor full fat ranch and then combining it with the non fat plain yogurt makes this dressing low in points.

You can make the dressing to your desired consistency. For a thicker dressing use less skim milk. For a thinner dressing use more.

While this light ranch dressing recipe suggests Kraft light mayonnaise many folks prefer the taste of best foods mayonnaise. They claim it is the best tasting. The choice, of course is yours. Each 2 tablespoon serving has 1 WW points.

This dressing can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week.

I like that you don't need buttermilk for this dressing. It's not an ingredient I keep on hand. When I do buy it for a specific recipe it ends up past its expiration date and I wind up throwing a lot of buttermilk away. (Pound Dropper)

Best Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing & Dip Recipes (5)

The Best Skinny Ranch with Fresh Herbs Photo (Slender Kitchen)

The Best Skinny Ranch with Fresh Herbs

This healthy recipe made with Greek yogurt, fresh herbs instead of dried ingredients and lemon juice has all the flavor of your favorite high fat ranch store dressing without all the calories. It takes just a few minutes to throw together and tastes amazing.

The dressing is not as thick as a typical ranch, which I actually like. If you want it a little thicker use less buttermilk and add ¼ cup mayonnaise (light of course) (Slender Kitchen)

Best Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing & Dip Recipes (6)

Homemade Salsa Ranch Dressing Photo Credit: Hidden Valley Ranch

Skinny Salsa Ranch Dressing

Lighten up your favorite salad with this fantastic, salsa ranch dressing! I love it on taco salad. It also makes a yummy sandwich spread or a dip for veggies and reduced-fat tortilla chips. Happily, each tablespoon has only 12 calories and 1 gram of fat. (Skinny Kitchen)

Best Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing & Dip Recipes (7)

More Healthy Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing Variations

Plain ranch dressing is a delicious thing, but you can get creative and make some really delicious variations to your light ranch dressing. Here are a few of our favorite ideas:

  • Barbecue Ranch: Add a couple tablespoons of your favorite barbecue sauce for a smoky sweet tangy flavor twist.
  • Buffalo Ranch: Add several shakes of buffalo sauce for a tangy spicy kick.
  • Cheesy Ranch: Stir in some grated Parmesan for a cheesy flavor addition.
  • Chipotle Ranch: Stir in a little bit of finely chopped canned chipotle in adobo for a smoky and spicy option.
  • Garlic Ranch: Add some extra garlic flavor with the addition of garlic paste, pressed garlic, roasted garlic, or freeze-dried garlic.
  • Jalapeño Ranch: Stir in some minced fresh or pickled jalapeño chiles.
  • Salsa Ranch: Add your favorite jarred or homemade salsa for the flavor of the southwest.

Are You Ready To Firmly Plant YourselfOn The Path To Lasting Weight Loss Success?

If you've made one of these light and healthy ranch dips or dressings, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Best Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing & Dip Recipes (8)

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5 from 1 vote

Best Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing and Dip Recipe Collection

A roundup of the best light & healthy recipes for homemade ranch dressing and dip with Weight Watchers Points.

Calories:

Author: Martha McKinnon | Simple Nourished Living

Instructions

  • Choose your recipe.

  • Gather and prep your ingredients.

  • Enjoy your deliciously light & healthy ranch dip or dressing.

Recipe Notes

More Healthy Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing Variations

Plain ranch dressing is a delicious thing, but you can get creative and make some really delicious variations to your light ranch dressing. Here are a few of our favorite ideas:

  • Barbecue Ranch:Add a couple tablespoons of your favorite barbecue sauce (affiliate link) for a smoky sweet tangy flavor twist.
  • Buffalo Ranch: Add several shakes of buffalo sauce for a tangy spicy kick.
  • Cheesy Ranch: Stir in some grated Parmesan for a cheesy flavor addition.
  • Chipotle Ranch:Stir in a little bit of finely chopped canned chipotle in adobo for a smoky and spicy option.
  • Garlic Ranch:Add some extra garlic flavor with the addition of garlic paste, pressed garlic, roasted garlic, or freeze-dried garlic.
  • Jalapeno Ranch: Stir in some minced fresh or pickled jalapeno chiles.
  • Salsa Ranch: Add your favorite jarred or homemade salsa for a southwestern variation

Did you make this recipe?Mention @simplenourishedliving on Instagram and tag #simplenourishedliving - we love to see your creations!

How long can I keep homemade ranch dressing in the fridge?

Homemade ranch dressing will last in the fridge for about one week. The lemon juice will help the dressing from spoiling and buttermilk, yogurt, and sour cream all have a pretty substantial shelf-life. Make sure to keep it in a closed, airtight container and shake or stir before using.

Best Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing & Dip Recipes (9)

What can I use instead of dry ranch mix?

You can stir together your own combination of dried herbs and seasonings to use as a substitute for Ranch Dressing Mix. I use:

  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Dried chives, dried dill, dried thyme, seasoned salt and mustard powder would be great additions. Fresh herbs would be a nice alternative too.

How Many Calories are in Bottled Hidden Valley Ranch Light Dressing?

Each 2 tablespoon serving has 60 calories and 3 Weight Watchers Points.

Is Ranch Dressing Gluten Free?

Ranch dressing is usually made with buttermilk, garlic, onion, mustard, herbs, salt, pepper, and spices. You can also find ranch dressings made with a base of yogurt, mayonnaise, or sour cream. All these ingredients are gluten-free, making most ranch dressings safe for a gluten-free diet.

This bottled creamy dressing is typically available gluten-free, but be careful. Hidden Valley makes both Original Ranch Homestyle and Original Ranch Light gluten-free, but Organic Ranch is not GF. It's tricky, so always check the label!

If you like this collection of Skinny Ranch Dressings & Dips, you might also like

  • 35+ Light Healthy Weight Watchers Salad Dressing Recipes with SmartPoints
  • Low Fat Blue Cheese Dressing
  • Skinny Cucumber Feta Dressing
  • 3-Ingredient Low Fat Honey Mustard Dressing
  • Favorite Skinny Dip Ingredients

Best Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing & Dip Recipes (10)Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.

A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.

She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.

A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.

More about Martha McKinnon

This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!

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Best Weight Watchers Ranch Dressing & Dip Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between ranch dressing and ranch dip mix? ›

Ranch dressing is usually based with mayonnaise, with sufficient water added that it will pour to cover the salad. Ranch dip is usually based with sour cream, or sometimes yogurt, and is not thinned so that it will stick to chips or vegetable slices.

What are the best things to dip in ranch? ›

Top 10 Things People Love to Slather in Ranch Dressing
  • Baked Chicken Nuggets.
  • Double Ranch Fries.
  • Buffalo Cauliflower.
  • Potato Skins.
  • Vidalia Ranch Pizza.
  • Broccoli Tots.
  • Buffalo Chicken Wings III.
  • Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers.
Aug 21, 2017

How many points is salad dressing on Weight Watchers? ›

Are you heading to the grocery store dressing aisle? Opting for low-fat or fat-free salad dressing is an effortless way to keep calories and points in check. Most full-fat dressings pack 8-10+ Points per serving, while low-fat/fat-free options are usually 3-5 Points.

Can you use ranch dressing instead of ranch dip? ›

Certainly. It's all about what texture you're going for. Use the dip mix if you prefer a thicker dressing, or the pourable dressing as dip if you prefer a smoother, creamier texture.

What ranch mix do restaurants use? ›

Most restaurants don't buy pre packaged ranch. They buy hidden valley seasoning and mix it themselves with ingredients they already have.

Why does Hidden Valley Ranch taste different? ›

The ranch packet has a fresher taste, because you add your own mayo and milk. Even though all the herbs and spices in the mix are dried, they rehydrate quickly and leave you with a product that feels homemade. This version of Hidden Valley Ranch is more flavorful than the bottled version and much, much thicker.

How do restaurants make ranch so good? ›

Even when a restaurant does start with premade ranch, they will often fold in extra fresh herbs, and maybe even more buttermilk, to lighten and bring in some brighter flavors that can be lost in shelf-stable bottling.

What can I add to ranch dressing to make it better? ›

This might seem obvious, but you can add a lot of flavor to ranch dressing by adding more of what's already in it. I love adding lots of fresh herbs, extra garlic, or even lemon zest.

How do you make ranch dressing taste better? ›

I use a mix of mayonnaise, sour cream, and a bit of buttermilk for some tang, plus garlic, and plenty of fresh herbs. I also like to add a dash of cayenne pepper for a kick, but you can add Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, or whatever you want. Ranch dressing is fun to customize!

What is the least fattening dressing for a salad? ›

Balsamic Vinaigrette

Martin says, "It's got a hint of sweetness with little to no added sugar and is packed with heart-healthy unsaturated fats." Plus, the lack of sugar can be good for those looking to lose weight in particular, as well as for those on low-sugar and low-carb diet plans.

What is the lowest daily points for WW? ›

Weight Watchers Tips, Tricks and Recipes | I have read that 23 points is the lowest | Facebook.

What dressing is closest to ranch? ›

Ranch dressing alternatives
  • Creamy Tomatillo Ranch Dressing. ...
  • How To Make Classic Green Goddess Dressing. ...
  • Recipe - Cilantro Ranch Dressing. ...
  • Southwest Ranch Salad Dressing Recipe - Food.com. ...
  • Avocado Ranch Dressing Recipe | MoscatoMom.com. ...
  • Cilantro Lime Ranch Salad Dressing Recipe that Doubles as a Marinade. ...
  • Chipotle Ranch.

What is a substitute for sour cream in ranch dip? ›

Yogurt is your best substitute for sour cream. Whether you're baking or making a dip or sauce, yogurt is a 1:1 sub. That means if your recipe calls for 1 cup of sour cream, you can replace it with 1 cup of yogurt. Full-fat Greek or natural yogurts work best, but low-fat or even nonfat can be used, too.

How do you thicken ranch dressing for dip? ›

How do you thicken store-bought ranch dressing? Add more mayonnaise. Ranch dressing = mayonnaise + buttermilk + garlic + herbs (usually dill). Adding more mayo will thicken it without introducing flavors that aren't already there.

Why is it called ranch dip? ›

Ranch was created by a plumber, Steve Henson and his wife, Gayle. In 1954, they purchased a ranch right above Santa Barbara, California and named it Hidden Valley Ranch. They opened a steakhouse there that became popular for its salad dressing.

What is ranch dip made of? ›

Sour cream and mayonnaise: The base for this creamy ranch recipe is a mixture of sour cream and mayonnaise. Seasonings: This flavorful ranch dressing is seasoned with dried chives, dried parsley, dried dill weed, dried garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and ground black pepper.

What is in Hidden Valley Ranch powder? ›

Our magical Ranch blend of buttermilk, garlic and onion flavors mixed with mild heat of aged chiles and red peppers that adds a Bold twist to our classic Ranch Seasoning in a convenient shaker.

Is dipping sauce the same as dressing? ›

A dip for example; nacho dip you make the dip separate from the nachos and dip the nachos into the dip when eating. Whereas 'dressing' is like salad dressing. You cover the food you are eating with that sauce before eating it.

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