Name: Chopped Salad with Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: ½ cup full-fat plain greek yogurt; 2 tbsp mayonnaise ((can sub more greek yogurt)); 1.5 tbsp whole milk (as needed to thin the dressing); 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley; ½ tbsp finely chopped fresh dill; ½ tbsp finely chopped fresh chives; 1-2 small garlic cloves (minced); juice from ½ lemon; ¾ tsp kosher salt; ½ tsp onion powder; ¼ tsp black pepper; 1 head romaine lettuce (chopped (about 5-6 cups)); 2 small ears of corn (shucked & kernels cut off); 1 medium avocado (cubed); 6 oz cherry or grape tomatoes (halved or quartered); ½ english cucumber (diced); ¼ cup diced red onion

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This Chopped Salad is a refreshing mix of crisp produce and creamy greek yogurt ranch dressing! Fresh herbs bring this homemade ranch to the next level, making it more flavorful, healthier & higher in protein than the store-bought kind. It’s the perfect recipe to whip up when you need an easy, no-cook side dish!

wooden salad bowl full of chopped salad with Greek Yogurt ranch dressing poured over top

I’ll be honest…I was fully convinced that I hated ranch for most of my life. I just couldn’t get behind the goopy, mysterious liquid that came out of the Hidden Valley bottles. But then, I made my own ranch dressing and I was like okay….I actually love this. Moral of the story: homemade is always better.

This greek yogurt ranch dressing is not only healthier, but it’s also just way more flavorful and refreshing because it uses fresh herbs, not dried! Fresh herbs are shockingly cheap (especially at places like Trader Joe’s) and they are so worth it. It really brings this dressing to the next level!

I also love that the base of this dressing is primarily plain greek yogurt, which is thick, creamy and rich just like sour cream, but is higher in protein and is a great source of probiotics. When paired with a simple, no-cook salad full of fresh produce, it’s a winner of a recipe.

Recipes like these truly get me in my feels. I just can’t believe a meal made almost entirely with food from the Earth can taste this good. It really makes me pause, reflect and feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. And that in itself is my motivation to eat healthy – it genuinely makes me feel great, emotionally & physically. Okay, I’m done being sappy…I hope you love this ranch salad just as much as we did!

Why You’ll Love this Chopped Salad with Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing

This is an easy, no-cook salad recipe that’s ready in 15 minutes or less!
The greek yogurt ranch dressing is made with fresh herbs for the best flavor.
This chopped salad is filled with a bunch of crisp, fresh produce.
It’s the perfect summer side dish, or full meal when paired with a protein.
Using greek yogurt in the dressing adds protein and probiotics!
It’s gluten free and vegetarian.

close up of wooden salad bowl full of chopped salad with Greek Yogurt ranch dressing poured over top

What You Need to Make this Chopped Salad with Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing

For the Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing:

Full-Fat Plain Greek Yogurt: Greek Yogurt (or skyr) makes a great creamy base for this healthier ranch dressing! It’s also high in protein and probiotics. I definitely recommend using full-fat for the richest flavor.
Mayonnaise: This is optional, but I like to add in a small amount of mayonnaise for that classic tangy flavor. You could also just use more greek yogurt.
Whole Milk: As needed to thin out the ranch dressing. You could also use buttermilk, which is more traditional, if you have it, or even water.
Chives, Parsley & Dill: This ranch dressing utilizes fresh herbs which really takes it to the next level! Trust me, it’s worth it.
Lemon: Every dressing has to have some acidity, and for this one we’re using fresh lemon juice.
Garlic: Fresh minced garlic is best, but in a pinch you could try substituting about 1/2 tsp garlic powder.
Onion Powder, Kosher Salt & Black Pepper: Don’t be shy with these.

ingredients for chopped salad with Greek Yogurt ranch dressing

For the Chopped Salad:

Romaine: The base of this ranch salad is chopped romaine which is crunchy and refreshing! You’ll need one head, which is about 5-6 cups after chopping it.
Corn: Tis the season! Use up your peak-summer corn in this chopped salad recipe. no need to cook it…just chop it right off the cob!
Avocado: Cubed avocado adds some delicious creaminess to this salad recipe.
Cherry Tomatoes: Or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered depending on how big they are.
Cucumber: I prefer English cucumber and I used about 1/2 of a large one.
Red Onion: Finely diced red onion, or shallots if you prefer a milder flavor.

How To Make this Chopped Salad with Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing

Mix together the Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing:

First, add all greek yogurt ranch dressing ingredients to a small bowl and stir until combined. Taste and adjust the amount of fresh herbs, lemon juice and salt & pepper to your preference. Set aside.

top view of homemade Greek Yogurt ranch dressing in glass jar with spoon

Assemble the Chopped Salad & Toss with Ranch Dressing:

Next, add romaine, corn, avocado, tomatoes, cucumber and red onion to a large salad bowl. Pour greek yogurt ranch dressing over top, and then toss with tongs.

Finally, serve as is or paired alongside your favorite protein for a full meal. This ranch salad is best eaten fresh, but can be stored in the fridge for roughly 1 day. See later section in the blog post for tips and tricks on how to meal prep it.

chopped salad in wooden bowl before adding dressing

Can I Use Dried Herbs Instead of Fresh in this Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing?

The magic is in the fresh herbs, just trust me! They really make this greek yogurt ranch dressing feel restaurant-worthy and so flavorful. I have NOT tried this recipe using dried herbs instead, however it should work in a pinch.

The rule of thumb when converting fresh to dried herbs is: 1 tbsp of fresh herbs to 1 tsp of dried herbs. Therefore, I’d recommend trying 1 tsp of dried parsley, 1/2 tsp of dried dill and 1/2 tsp of dried chives. Let me know how it goes if you try using dried instead of fresh!

chopped salad with Greek Yogurt ranch dressing in wooden salad bowl after tossing

Other Salad Add-Ins to Try:

This greek yogurt ranch dressing is so versatile, and would pair well with a lot of different salad add-ins. Here are a few ideas to consider!

Quinoa: If you want to bulk this salad up and make it even more filling, consider adding some cooked & cooled quinoa. Bonus if you cook it in bone broth for extra protein!
Black Beans: A can of black beans, drained & rinsed, is a great way to add some vegetarian-friendly protein and fiber to this salad.
Tortilla Strips: For a lovely crunch factor, chop up some corn tortillas, spray them with avocado oil and air fry until golden & crispy!
Chicken: If you’re not vegetarian, some cubed chicken would transform this salad from a side dish to a full meal. BBQ flavors and smoky, paprika-based dry rubs pair well with this.

Use it as a Dressing, Dip or Sauce!

Greek yogurt ranch dressing is amazing on this chopped salad (duh) but you can also use it wherever you would normally use ranch. Dip your chicken tenders in it, add it to your buffalo recipes…the options are endless. Here are a few recipes of mine where you could substitute homemade, greek yogurt ranch dressing!

How Should I Store Leftover Chopped Salad with Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing?

This ranch chopped salad is definitely best eaten fresh, but can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for about 1 day before it gets too soggy.

If you would like to meal prep this, I would recommend leaving off the greek yogurt ranch dressing until you’re ready to eat. The dressing may thicken as it sits in the fridge, but you can quickly thin it out by adding a bit more milk or water.

Lastly, you may want to wait to add the avocado as it will brown slightly as it sits in the fridge.

Find the full recipe below. As always, please let me know if you tried it by commenting below or tagging me on Instagram, @munchinwithmaddie_.

Looking for More Salad Recipes?

Chopped Salad with Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing

This Chopped Salad is a refreshing mix of crisp produce and creamy greek yogurt ranch dressing! Fresh herbs bring this homemade ranch to the next level, making it more flavorful, healthier & higher in protein than the store-bought kind. It's the perfect recipe to whip up when you need an easy, no-cook side dish!

Servings people

Prep Time 15

Total Time 15

Equipment

cutting board
knife
small bowl
spoon or whisk
large salad bowl + tongs