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This green goddess dressing recipe is ready in minutes! Full tangy, herbal flavor, it’s perfect for salads or enjoying as a dip.

Green goddess dressing is one of my favorite things to make in the spring. Actually, I love it all year long, but this dressing just tastes like spring feels.

It’s a great way to use up any fresh herbs you might have lingering in the fridge, or whatever you have popping up in the garden.

Plus, it takes only five minutes to make!

bottle of green goddess dressing

What is green goddess dressing?

Originating in California, green goddess dressing is an herb-based dip for salads and vegetables.

While its popularity has gone up and down over the years, this delicious recipe deserves a place in your rotation.

Recipes for the dressing vary, with some recipes using only the traditional chives and parsley, while others include other herbs like cilantro, dill, and tarragon.


The creamy dressing is perfect for green salads, as a veggie dip, or even drizzled over grilled chicken.

green goddess dressing drizzled on salad

How to make green goddess salad dressing

To make this recipe, you’ll need either a blender or food processor. I prefer to use my 3.5-cup food processor, which is the perfect size for making a batch of dressing.

Roughly chop parsley. You can eat the stems, but I prefer to use just the leaves. You can either pull off the leaves by hand or just chop off the stems right below the start of the leaves.

Chop the chives, and remove leaves from the tarragon or thyme stems.

Add the herbs and the remaining ingredients, except the salt and pepper, to your food processor. Don’t forget to put the lid on!

Blitz until the herbs are finely chopped and the dressing is completely smooth. If you want a thinner dressing, add a small amount of water until the desired consistency is reached.

Taste and add salt and pepper as desired, then pulse a couple of times to blend.

Transfer your fresh dressing to a pourable container and drizzle away!

Substitutions and variations

If you don’t want to use mayonnaise or sour cream, you can make green goddess dressing with avocado. 

Make sure your avocado is soft enough, or it won’t blend properly. A perfectly ripe avocado will make your dressing wonderfully creamy and thick. If needed, you can thin out the dressing with a bit of water.

When it comes to herbs, nearly anything goes! You’ll need at least 1 packed cup of fresh herbs.

Use leafy herbs like parsley (flat-leaf or curly is fine) or cilantro as your base. Then, add in dill, mint, oregano, fennel fronds, or even baby arugula or green onion.

Can’t find fresh tarragon? I like to use thyme in its place.

Depending on the amount and type of herbs you use, your resulting dressing will be anywhere from pale to vibrant green. It’s all about personal tastes!

Don’t like capers? You can use white wine vinegar instead.

Or, if you want to go traditional, use anchovy paste.

You can swap the raw garlic for roasted, if you prefer a milder bite.

bottle of green goddess dressing with salad behind

Storage Tips

This homemade salad dressing will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Because of the high dairy content, I do not recommend freezing it.

FAQ

Can I use dried herbs to make this green goddess dressing recipe?

Dried herbs cannot be swapped in for the bulk of fresh herbs. Consider using dried herbs in small amounts only, but keep most of your herbs fresh. I recommend using only 1-2 tablespoons of dried herbs in this recipe.

Is green goddess dressing vegetarian?

Traditionally, green goddess includes anchovies. In order to replicate their briny flavor, I’ve swapped in capers.

Can you make this recipe dairy free?

Yes! Simply swap the mayonnaise and sour cream for vegan versions, or use avocado instead.

overhead green goddess dressing in cup

Other dressing recipes you might like

This is such a flavorful dressing — you’ll find yourself making excuses to enjoy it!

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star review below!
It means so much when you enjoy my recipes, so let me know how it goes and leave a comment if you have any questions.

overhead green goddess dressing in cup

Green Goddess Dressing

This green goddess dressing recipe is ready in minutes! Full tangy, herbal flavor, it’s perfect for salads or enjoying as a dip.
Author : Megan Myers
5 from 8 votes
Print Pin Recipe Review
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 16
Calories 110 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 packed cup fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
  • 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon, thyme, or dill
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 teaspoons capers
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • In a blender or food processor, add the herbs, garlic, and capers, then add mayonnaise, sour cream, and lemon juice.
  • Blend until herbs are finely chopped and dressing is smooth. If a thinner consistency is desired, blend in a small amount of water. Taste dressing and add salt and pepper as needed, then pulse a few times to mix. Store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Notes

Makes about 2 cups

Nutrition

Serving: 2 tablespoonsCalories: 110 kcalCarbohydrates: 1 gFat: 12 gSaturated Fat: 2 gCholesterol: 10 mgSodium: 119 mg

Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate based on online calculators. Any nutritional information found on Stetted should be used as a general guideline only.

Tried this recipe?Please leave a rating and comment below!
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About Megan

I learned how to cook by exploring seasonal ingredients, and you can too! Meal time shouldn’t be stressful or complicated, and with fresh ingredients and easy methods, I’m here to help you enjoy the time spent in the kitchen. Read more…

5 from 8 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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8 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This was so delicious on a salad. I remember when this was the “hot” dressing before ranch, and it’s good to see it coming back!

  2. My daughter and I are HUGE fans of green goddess dressing – I have never made it at home, and we tried your recipe yesterday. I will never buy the bottled kind again – scratch is SO MUCH BETTER!!

  3. 5 stars
    I’ve heard of this dressing but never made it myself. It’s creamy and delicious and so easy to make in a jiffy!