Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing

This post is sponsored by Stonyfield Organic. As always, all opinions are my own.

Ever since I came back from my trip to Stowe with Stonyfield Organic, I have been making a lot of plain yogurt-based salad dressings, dips, and sauces. While this Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing is a current favorite, you can find a plethora of other Greek yogurt recipes in our archives, each offering a unique twist and flavor profile.

While I love fruity yogurt mixes, my true love is plain whole-milk Greek yogurt. I prefer plain yogurt as it allows me to use it as a blank slate to create dips, dressings, and spreads such as my Yogurt Tahini Sauce, White Gyro Sauce, Creamy Yogurt Dill Sauce, and Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing.

What is in a Greek Yogurt Dressing Recipe?

Making this easy Greek yogurt dressing requires nothing more than what is already in a well-stocked pantry. Below, you will find the essential ingredients you’ll need, along with versatile substitutions and optional add-ins to ensure that this creamy yogurt dressing recipe meets your needs.

• Plain Greek yogurt (aka strained yogurt): When it comes to yogurt, I am a big fan of Stonyfield Organic’s Greek yogurt as it is nice and thick and super high quality. However, you can make this Mediterranean yogurt dressing recipe with plain yogurt as well. If you are calorie-conscious and prefer the low-fat or low-calorie version of this dressing, feel free to swap whole milk yogurt with fat-free plain yogurt.
• Fresh garlic: You will need two garlic cloves that are either minced or pressed through a garlic press. Alternatively, for a lighter garlic flavor, you can use a teaspoon of garlic powder in place of fresh garlic.
• Lemon Juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice if you can, as it will deliver the best-tasting yogurt salad dressing.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Olive oil is a key ingredient in providing a rich flavor and ensuring a creamy texture in this yogurt dressing recipe. 
• Fresh dill: Fresh chopped dill is a classic ingredient in many Mediterranean salad dressings (hello, Tzatziki), and this creamy dressing is no exception. If you are not a fan of fresh dill, you can use dried dill. However, please be aware that the dried version has a very mild flavor compared to its fresh version.
• Seasonings: You will need the good old salt and pepper. I prefer kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. However, you can use table salt and white pepper as well. 

How to Make Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing Recipe?

Making this healthy and creamy salad dressing cannot be easier. Simply:

1. Prepare ingredients: Place Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Stir to combine.
2. Add in the oil: As you continuously whisk, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and mix until the mixture is thoroughly emulsified. If you prefer it to be thinner, you can whisk in a few tablespoons of water.
3. Stir in the herbs: If using, add the dill (or any other fresh herbs you are using) and whisk until combined.

And voila, just like that, you have yourself a delicious, healthy, creamy, and homemade dressing that you can use pretty much on anything.

How To Make Ahead and Store?

My favorite thing about this creamy yogurt dressing is that it gets better as it sits, so it is great for meal prep or if you want to make it ahead of time. Here is how I do it:

• Make ahead: Make a batch, place it in a mason jar, cover it tightly with the lid, and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Be sure to give it a vigorous shake before using it.
• Storing leftovers: You can store the remaining yogurt sauce in a jar (or an airtight container), put the lid on, and place it in the fridge. It should be fresh for up to 5 days. If it begins to separate or appear watery as it sits, simply give it a good shake or blend in a few tablespoons of plain yogurt to restore its creamy consistency.

Expert Tips:

While the recipe for this dressing is pretty straightforward, making the best creamy Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing involves some culinary intuition. Here are a few expert tips to help you succeed on your first try:

• Taste as you go: It is best to give it a taste to ensure that the seasoning is to your liking and it is properly seasoned for the dish you are pairing it with.
• Adjust the consistency: Should you prefer a more pourable consistency, feel free to add a splash of water to achieve the desired texture. Conversely, if it is too thick, you can thicken it by adding more Greek yogurt.
• Experiment with flavors: Use this dressing as a place to start, but feel free to try it with different spices and fresh or dried herbs to tailor it perfectly to the dish you are accompanying.
• Blend well: When incorporating olive oil into dressings (as we do here), it is important to whisk or blend it in slowly to create a creamy, emulsified texture. Doing so prevents the dressing from separating. The good news is that you can easily whisk it by hand, but if you are making a large amount (perhaps if you are making it for a crowd), you can use a food processor or a blender to whip it up.
• Let it rest: Keep in mind that this healthy creamy salad dressing gets better as it sits. While you can enjoy it right away, letting it rest in the fridge for a few hours gives the ingredients time to meld and the flavors to marinate, resulting in a dressing that is more robust in taste.
• Use it as a marinade: Got some leftovers? Similar to my Yogurt Marinated Chicken Thighs recipe, this sauce makes an excellent marinade for chicken thighs or chicken breasts.

FAQs

Other Homemade Salad Dressings You Might Like:

• Yogurt Tahini Sauce
• Asian Sesame Dressing Recipe
• Creamy Lemon Vinaigrette
• Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
• Homemade Avocado Dressing
• Cashew Avocado Sauce

If you try this Greek yogurt dressing recipe, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It is a great help to others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.

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Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing Recipe

4.80 from 45 votes

By: Aysegul Sanford

Yields1 cup

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

This healthy Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing recipe is creamy, flavorful, easy to make, and tastes better than any store bought dressing. Ready in 5 minutes, it is delicious when drizzled on salads, roasted vegetables, and even on grilled meat.

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 cup Plain Whole Milk Greek Yogurt
• ▢ 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• ▢ 4 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper, or white pepper
• ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ ¼ cup fresh dill*, chopped or (1 teaspoon dried dill), optional
• ▢ 2 tablespoons water, optional

Instructions 

• Whisk together Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl.
• While whisking constantly, drizzle in the olive oil and mix until the mixture is thoroughly emulsified.
• If it is too thick to your liking, you can use a few tablespoons of water to thin it out.
• Mix in the fresh dill, if using.
• Drizzle onto your favorite salads, roasted vegetables, grain bowls, sandwiches, and more.

Video

Notes

• Yields: This recipe yields one cup of Greek yogurt dressing. The nutritional values below are for the whole dressing.
• Yogurt: While I highly recommend using plain full fat Greek yogurt, if you want, you can use plain yogurt or low-fat or non-fat yogurt (for fewer calories) as well. These substitutions would make it less creamy, but it would still taste good.
• Fresh Herbs: Not a fan of dill? Use fresh parsley, basil, chives or mint instead. Or, you can omit using herbs altogether.
• Dijon Mustard – Optional: While it is not traditional, you can whisk in a teaspoon of Dijon mustard to add some depth and complexity to the dressing and a richer and creamier texture.
• Sweetener – Optional: If you prefer your dressing to have a sweet and savory flavor contrast, you can add in a small amount of (1 teaspoon or less)  maple syrup, agave nectar, or honey. 
• Make ahead: Make a batch, place it in a mason jar, cover it with the lid, and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Be sure to shake before using.
• Storing leftovers: You can store the remaining yogurt sauce in a jar (or an airtight container), put the lid on, and place it in the fridge. It should be fresh for up to 5 days. If it begins to separate or appear watery as it sits, simply give it a good shake or blend in a few tablespoons of plain yogurt to restore its creamy consistency.

Nutrition

Calories: 394kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 2407mg | Potassium: 431mg | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 907IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 255mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Salad Dressing

Cuisine: Mediterranean

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