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• My Green Goddess Dressing Recipe Is Creamy, Herby, & Bright
• What Is Green Goddess Dressing?
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• My Recipe Tips
• Green Goddess Dressing Recipe card
• Ways I Use It
• Recipe Reviews

My Green Goddess Dressing Recipe Is Creamy, Herby, & Bright

I used to think that green goddess dressing was only for restaurants or bottled stuff at the store. I first tried it at Panera, followed by several store-bought versions that always tasted kind of flat. Not wanting to go out all the time and disappointed with what I could buy, I experimented with my own homemade version. Here’s why I’m sold on making it myself:

• It’s creamier, with actual fresh herbs and garlic – Pre-made dressings have to take shortcuts to be shelf stable. Making my own allows me to use plenty of fresh parsley, chives, and garlic, plus a rich combo of mayo and sour cream. The difference is night and day!
• Lighter than most salad dressings – My green goddess dressing recipe has only 91 calories per (generous) serving, which is around half of many options out there. And it’s naturally gluten free.
• Easy blender recipe – Which means it takes minutes to toss everything in and blend. No chopping involved.
• Many ways to use it – I love this for everything from salads to dipping veggies to meats and more.

If you’re looking for a bright, herby, and creamy new dressing, this is the perfect one to try. Make it with me!

What Is Green Goddess Dressing?

Green goddess dressing is a tangy, creamy, herby salad dressing and dip. I’ve read that it originated in the 1920s at a hotel in San Francisco, but I’m more familiar with the modern-day Panera green goddess dressing and pre-made versions at the store. To me it tastes a lot like Caesar dressing , but with a more herby flavor and a beautiful green color.

“So good and so easy! Only took me 5 minutes and now I have dressing for the week! I love the garlic and herb flavors in this dressing. I put it on a salad yesterday and today added it to a chicken pita for lunch. So versatile and so good!” –Sarah

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my green goddess salad dressing recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Mayonnaise & Sour Cream – These make up the base. I prefer a 50/50 ratio, although you can use any combination. I’ve also tried lightening it up by using Greek yogurt (some green goddess dressing recipes do this), but prefer the flavor with just mayo and sour cream. For a dairy-free option, replace the sour cream with 1/2 of a large, ripe avocado.
• Fresh Herbs – I like fresh parsley and chives here. Feel free to swap in basil, cilantro, dill, or mint. Tarragon is also common, but I rarely use it because it’s harder to find in grocery stores. I don’t recommend using dried herbs here, as the large amount won’t taste very good.
• Anchovy Paste – This paste creates a savory, umami flavor, and surprisingly does not taste fishy. It’s the same signature flavor I love in Caesar dressing! You can substitute 1 to 1 1/2 canned anchovy fillets in place of the paste, but I find the paste more convenient and it lasts seemingly forever in the fridge for me.
• Lemon Juice – For a tangy flavor, plus it thins out the green goddess dressing. You can also use white wine vinegar, lime juice, or apple cider vinegar.
• Garlic – Fresh is best, but 2 teaspoons of jarred minced garlic will do the trick.
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper

My Recipe Tips

• I recommend a high-power blender if possible. I tested it in mine, as well as a food processor ( I use this mini one for smaller batches like this) and regular blender. All three worked, but the high-power blender got me the smoothest result.
• Need to make this without any appliances? You can mix everything by hand if you have to. I recommend mincing the herbs and garlic as finely as you can.
• Try supergreens for an extra boost. Sometimes I add a spoonful of supergreens and they blend in well here.
• Need to adjust the thickness? You can add a splash of water to thin out your green goddess salad dressing if needed. I’ve never needed to thicken it, but if you need to, try a little extra mayo or herbs, depending on what flavor you want more of. I recommend keeping the dressing thick for dipping, a little thinner for salads or drizzling.
• Prefer some texture? I like this dressing totally smooth, but you can pulse your blender if you want some pieces of herbs or garlic intact. You may want to minced or at least chop the garlic in this case.

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise ▢
• 1/2 cup Sour cream ▢
• 1/4 cup Fresh parsley ▢
• 1/4 cup Fresh chives ▢
• 2 tbsp Lemon juice ▢
• 1 tbsp Anchovy paste ▢
• 4 cloves Garlic (peeled) ▢
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt (to taste) ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper (to taste) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Combine the mayo, sour cream, fresh herbs, lemon juice, anchovy paste, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender .
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Adjust salt and pepper to your taste.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 2 tablespoons

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best texture, make this without a blender, or add an extra greens boost.
• Storage: This dressing is perfect to make ahead! I keep it in these glass jars (pictured above) in the fridge and it lasts about a week. Like all mayo-based dressings, avoid freezing as it will lose its smooth texture.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Green Goddess Dressing

Ways I Use It

I originally made this dressing for my green goddess salad , pictured above! I’ve since used it in many other ways:

• More salads – Aside from green goddess, I really enjoy this dressing on a Cobb salad , chef salad , or even Caesar salad .
• Grilled meats & seafood – This makes the ultimate sauce for the best burgers , flaky grilled salmon , shrimp skewers , or lamb kofta . Not grilling? Try it with my air fryer wings !
• Sandwiches & wraps – This creamy green goddess dressing makes the perfect condiment for them! I love veggie-centric options like bell pepper sandwiches , cucumber subs , or collard green wraps .
• Use as a dip – I love it for raw veggies (crudites) in particular, but it’s just as yummy with roasted vegetables , air fried sweet potatoes , or tortilla chips .
• Bowl meals – I love green goddess dressing drizzled over a bowl of baked chicken or sauteed shrimp and vegetables over a bed of cauliflower rice (or feel free to use regular rice, too).

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Green Goddess Dressing

Make my herby, creamy green goddess salad dressing recipe in 5 minutes, with simple ingredients! Use it for salads, dipping, meats, and more.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/green-goddess-dressing/

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup Sour cream
• 1/4 cup Fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup Fresh chives
• 2 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1 tbsp Anchovy paste
• 4 cloves Garlic (peeled)
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt (to taste)
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

1. Combine the mayo, sour cream, fresh herbs, lemon juice, anchovy paste, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender .
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Adjust salt and pepper to your taste.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 2 tablespoons

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best texture, make this without a blender, or add an extra greens boost.
• Storage: This dressing is perfect to make ahead! I keep it in these glass jars (pictured above) in the fridge and it lasts about a week. Like all mayo-based dressings, avoid freezing as it will lose its smooth texture.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)