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    Home » Recipes » Pantry

    Easy Buttermilk Herb Dressing

    Published: Jan 23, 2023 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    A photo collage shows the buttermilk herb dressing on top and a salad with it drizzled over on the bottom.

    Buttermilk herb dressing is a great way to use up a cup of leftover buttermilk to make an easy homemade salad dressing with garden fresh herbs or your favorite dried herbs from the pantry.

    A mason jar filled with homemade buttermilk dressing sits next to a bunch of green onions and a bowl of cherry tomatoes.

    When I buy a container of buttermilk to make my favorite homemade buttermilk waffles or buttermilk biscuits, I always seem to have just a cup leftover.

    One of my favorite ways to use it up is to make homemade buttermilk herb dressing for salads with chicken or leftover pork and lots of fresh veggies.

    This easy dressing recipe is perfect because I always have the remaining ingredients in my fridge and it is flexible enough to go with whatever fresh herbs or dried herbs I feel like using.

    My favorite fresh herb to use is dill but during the winter I'll often use a dried Italian herb blend instead.

    Jump to:
    • Why This is the Best Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Whisk the Dressing
    • Add the Buttermilk
    • Herb Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage Tips
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why This is the Best Recipe

    I absolutely love this easy buttermilk herb dressing and think it is the best recipe because:

    1. Uses Up Leftover Buttermilk: It only takes a cup, so it is the perfect way to use the last of the container.
    2. Easy Ingredients: I almost always have everything else on hand but it is flexible enough to swap out the seasonings.
    3. Flexible: You can use your favorite herbs here, fresh or dried.
    4. Light but Creamy: Compared to bottled dressings, the texture of this recipe is perfect for drizzling over fresh, crispy vegetables.

    Ingredients

    The ingredients to make the homemade dressing are on the counter.

    Look at just how few things you need to make this!

    • Buttermilk: I love using organic buttermilk because it always lasts longer in the fridge so I have more time to use it up!
    • Mayonnaise: You can use light made with olive oil or regular.
    • Dijon Mustard
    • Minced Garlic
    • Olive Oil
    • Green Onions:
    • Lemon
    • Fresh or Dried Herbs: Be sure to read my notes on which ones to choose below.

    Whisk the Dressing

    First, prep all the ingredients but the buttermilk and herbs.

    Add the mayo, mustard, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and chopped green onions to a mixing bowl. Whisk them together to combine the flavors.

    The green onions and dressing ingredients are in a big mixing bowl.

    Add the Buttermilk

    Next, drizzle in the buttermilk to the mixing bowl. Pour slowly and stop when your desired texture has been reached.

    You may or may not need the entire cup of buttermilk.

    The dressing has been whisked and the cup of buttermilk is about to be drizzled in.

    I like our dressing to be easy to drizzle, not too thick.

    The finished dressing is shown in the mixing bowl to show consistency.

    Herb Variations

    Finally, season the buttermilk dressing with your favorite herbs.

    I had some fresh dill on hand the day I made this, so I added a tablespoon of chopped dill.

    When my patio herb garden is in full swing, I might also use:

    • Fresh basil
    • Fresh thyme
    • Fresh tarragon
    • Fresh chives
    • Fresh dill: If you use dill, be sure to save some to make my easy dill dip for veggies, too!

    However, sometimes fresh herbs aren't available and you don't feel like running out to the store.

    You can make this herb dressing with dried herbs, too.

    3 jars of seasoning in a row to show options for changing up the dressing.

    I love to use:

    • Dried Italian herb blend
    • Dried Mediterranean herb blend
    • Dried ranch seasoning

    Serving Suggestions

    A green salad with chicken, tomatoes, and croutons has been drizzled with the buttermilk herb dressing.

    This buttermilk herb dressing tastes great as a salad dressing with chunks of leftover chicken or pork.

    Don't have leftovers? Just cook some chicken tenderloins in the air fryer and chop them up.

    Pair it with my homemade cornbread croutons for a surprisingly easy but very impressive salad if you're serving company. Or add a homemade buttermilk drop biscuit for the bread roll.

    I've also used this herb dressing as a dip for fresh vegetables or even potato chips.

    You could use it as a chicken marinade for baked chicken to keep it nice and juicy.

    • Homemade cornbread croutons on a blue plate next to a bowl of buttermilk dressing.
      Homemade Cornbread Croutons
    • A white plate has a pile of fresh baked buttermilk drop biscuits.
      Easy Buttermilk Drop Biscuits {4 Flavor Variations}
    • An airfryer basket has 7 seasoned chicken tenderloins golden brown and cooked.
      Healthy Chicken Tenderloins in the Air Fryer
    • A big bowl of red and yellow cherry tomatoes have been sliced in half and marinated in an Italian dressing.
      Marinated Tomatoes

    Storage Tips

    Store the prepared dressing in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

    While buttermilk itself freezes well, don't try to freeze this prepared dressing because the herbs and green onions may affect the texture as it thaws.

    📖 Recipe

    A mason jar filled with homemade buttermilk dressing sits next to a bunch of green onions and a bowl of cherry tomatoes.

    Buttermilk Herb Dressing

    5 from 1 vote
    Easy buttermilk herb dressing can be seasoned with your favorite fresh or dried herbs like dill, basil, chives, or Italian herb blend. Use it for salads with chicken or pork or as a chicken marinade.
    TOTAL TIME 5 minutes minutes
    PREP TIME 5 minutes minutes
    YIELD 1 ¼ cups dressing
    PIN RECIPE FOR LATER PRINT RECIPE NOW

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 green onions minced
    • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
    • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • Juice from 1 lemon
    • 1 cup buttermilk
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • 1 tablespoon fresh herbs or 2 teaspoon dried herbs See Notes

    Instructions

    • Chop both the green and white parts of the green onions and add them to a small mixing bowl.
    • Add the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, olive oil, minced garlic, and lemon juice to the bowl and whisk everything together until smooth.
    • Drizzle in the buttermilk while whisking. Stir until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and either fresh or dried herbs. (See notes.)
    • Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Chill until ready to use.

    Recipe Notes

    Easy Herb Variations

    You can use your favorite fresh or dried herbs in this recipe but I recommend using one of the following:
    • Fresh dill
    • Fresh thyme
    • Fresh basil
    • Fresh chives
    • Dried Italian herb blend
    • Dried Mediterranean herb blend
    • Dried ranch seasoning
    COURSEPantry
    CUISINESouthern
    AUTHORTiffany Dahle

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    A photo collage shows the buttermilk herb dressing on top and a salad with it drizzled over on the bottom.

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for women.

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