What is the Healthiest Ranch You Can Buy?

October 20, 2025 •

5 min read

Over 70% of people in the United States list ranch as their favorite dressing, yet a typical two-tablespoon serving can contain over 140 calories and 14 grams of fat. Navigating the grocery store aisles to find the healthiest ranch you can buy can be overwhelming, with options ranging from full-fat to fat-free and yogurt-based alternatives. This guide will break down the nutritional differences and point you toward the most diet-friendly options available.

Quick Summary

This article explores the nutritional differences between various store-bought ranch dressings, including low-calorie, vegan, and traditional options. It provides a detailed comparison of popular brands, highlights key ingredients to look for and avoid, and concludes with a guide to making informed choices based on health goals.

Key Points

Yogurt-based ranches are often the healthiest: Brands like Bolthouse Farms use yogurt to create a creamy texture with significantly fewer calories and fat than traditional versions.
Vegan dressings offer a healthier fat profile: Options from Follow Your Heart or Drew's Organics use plant-based fats like vegenaise or sunflower oil, which can be beneficial for heart health.
Read the ingredient list for hidden additives: Many low-calorie or light ranches contain artificial fillers, sugars, and MSG. Look for brands with simple, whole-food ingredients.
Homemade is the healthiest option: Creating your own ranch with a Greek yogurt or nut-based base gives you complete control over the ingredients, ensuring it's free of artificial preservatives and excess sodium.
Match your ranch to your diet: Keto, vegan, and low-calorie diets all have specific ranch options. Primal Kitchen is a popular keto choice, while Follow Your Heart is well-regarded in the vegan community.
Check sodium levels: Some ranch dressings can be high in sodium, so compare nutrition labels if you're watching your intake. Vegan options made with hemp hearts tend to be naturally lower in sodium.
Don't forget portion control: Even the healthiest ranch should be enjoyed in moderation. Stick to the suggested 2-tablespoon serving size to keep your calorie and fat intake in check.

Understanding the Nutritional Differences in Ranch Dressings

Not all ranch dressings are created equal. The healthiness of a ranch dressing hinges on its calorie, fat, sodium, and ingredient content. Traditional ranch is typically made with buttermilk, sour cream, and mayonnaise, which results in a high-calorie, high-fat product. However, the market now offers a variety of alternatives designed to be lighter or suitable for specific dietary needs, such as vegan or keto diets.

The Spectrum of Store-Bought Ranch

Traditional Ranch: High in calories and fat, these are the classic, creamy dressings many people enjoy. Brands like Hidden Valley and Litehouse offer rich, full-flavor versions, but they also come with the highest nutritional cost.
Light/Low-Calorie Ranch: These products use modified food starches and other thickeners to reduce fat and calories. Marzetti Simply 60 is a great example, offering a lighter option without sacrificing too much flavor. These are often a good compromise for those watching their calorie intake.
Yogurt-Based Ranch: Brands like Bolthouse Farms use yogurt as their base, resulting in significantly lower calorie and fat counts while maintaining a creamy texture. Their Classic Ranch offers just 45 calories per serving, making it one of the healthiest options for a creamy dressing.
Vegan Ranch: Made without dairy or eggs, these use bases like vegan mayonnaise (often made from vegenaise, or nut-based alternatives like cashews or hemp hearts). Follow Your Heart is a popular vegan brand, and its ranch provides a good option with heart-healthy fats.
Keto/Paleo Ranch: These versions are made with healthy fats like avocado oil and avoid sugars and artificial ingredients. Primal Kitchen offers a keto-friendly ranch made with avocado oil.

Key Ingredients to Consider

When evaluating a ranch dressing, scrutinize the ingredient list beyond just the calorie count. Some low-calorie options achieve their numbers by adding fillers or artificial ingredients that may not align with a whole-foods diet. Look for these specific components:

Healthy Fats: For a keto or paleo diet, look for dressings made with avocado oil or coconut milk. For a plant-based option, those using hemp hearts or cashews are a good choice.
Whole Food Bases: Dressings using Greek yogurt, sour cream, or buttermilk as a primary ingredient can offer better nutrient density and a richer flavor with fewer added fillers. Bolthouse Farms uses a yogurt base, while Drew's Organics uses high-oleic sunflower oil.
Natural Flavors and Preservatives: Many traditional ranch seasonings contain MSG and artificial flavors. If you're trying to avoid these, look for brands that use simple, recognizable ingredients. Making your own at home from a seasoning packet mixed with a Greek yogurt base is a great alternative.
Sodium: Ranch dressings can be surprisingly high in sodium. Always check the label if you're monitoring your sodium intake. Hemp-heart-based dressings offer a naturally lower-sodium alternative.

Comparison Table: Healthy Ranch Dressings


Brand	Base	Calories (per 2 tbsp)	Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Best For...
Bolthouse Farms Classic Ranch	Yogurt	45	3	230	Creamy, low-calorie option
Marzetti Simply 60	Reduced-fat	60	3.5 (approx)	220	Balanced, low-calorie taste
Follow Your Heart Vegan Ranch	Vegenaise (plant-based)	130	14	125	Vegan diet, lower sodium
Primal Kitchen Ranch	Avocado Oil	120 (approx)	12 (approx)	200 (approx)	Keto/Paleo, high healthy fat
Drew's Organics Vegan Ranch	High-oleic sunflower oil	100 (approx)	10 (approx)	200 (approx)	Organic, vegan option
Tessemae's Creamy Ranch	Organic, dairy-free	100 (approx)	10 (approx)	150 (approx)	Organic, sugar-free, dairy-free

Making Your Own Healthier Ranch

For the ultimate control over ingredients and nutrition, making your own ranch at home is the best solution. A homemade version is typically free of artificial preservatives, flavors, and unwanted sugars. It also allows you to customize the base to fit your dietary needs.

Simple Homemade Ranch with Greek Yogurt

Base: Instead of mayo and sour cream, use plain Greek yogurt. It provides a protein boost and a creamy texture with a fraction of the fat and calories.
Herbs and Seasoning: Use fresh dill, chives, and parsley for the best flavor. Add garlic powder and onion powder, but be mindful of salt. Start with a small amount and taste as you go.
Liquid: Thin the dressing to your desired consistency with a little water, lemon juice, or unsweetened almond milk.

The Vegan Blender Ranch

Base: Raw cashews or soaked hemp hearts blended with water create a rich, creamy texture without any dairy.
Acidity and Flavor: Use a combination of apple cider vinegar and lemon juice for the classic tangy flavor. Nutritional yeast can add a cheesy depth, and fresh herbs are essential.

Conclusion: Finding Your Healthiest Ranch

The healthiest ranch you can buy is the one that best fits your individual dietary goals. If you're counting calories, a yogurt-based option like Bolthouse Farms is a clear winner. For those on a vegan diet, Follow Your Heart or Drew's Organics offer great alternatives. If you're following a keto lifestyle, dressings made with avocado oil, like Primal Kitchen's, are ideal. However, for maximum control over ingredients, making your own ranch is always the top choice. The key is to read labels carefully, understand the trade-offs, and choose a product that aligns with your overall health and wellness plan.

How to choose a healthy ranch

To pick the best ranch for your health, follow these steps:

Define Your Goal: Are you looking for low-calorie, low-sodium, vegan, or keto? Your priority will dictate your choice.
Read the Label: Don't just look at the front of the bottle. Turn it over and check the ingredients and nutritional facts.
Check for Preservatives: Avoid dressings with a long list of ingredients that you can't pronounce, as these often contain artificial flavors and preservatives like MSG.
Compare Calories and Fat: Compare the nutrition facts of a few different brands to see how they stack up. A light or yogurt-based option will almost always be lower in calories and fat.
Taste Test: Ultimately, the healthiest option for you is one you will actually use. Find a dressing that you genuinely enjoy so you can stick with your healthy eating habits.

Expert Takeaways for a Healthy Ranch Choice

Ultimately, the best ranch is often a homemade one, but plenty of healthy store-bought options exist. Yogurt-based dressings are an excellent compromise for creaminess and low calories, while vegan alternatives cater to specific dietary needs. Always prioritize simple, natural ingredients over products with long lists of artificial additives. When in doubt, read the nutrition label and compare brands based on your personal health goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yogurt-based ranch dressings, such as Bolthouse Farms Classic Ranch, are typically the lowest in calories, with some containing as little as 45 calories per two-tablespoon serving.

Not necessarily. While vegan ranches avoid dairy and eggs, their calorie and fat content can vary widely depending on the base. Some use healthy fats from nuts or seeds, while others use processed vegan mayonnaise, so it's important to check the nutritional information.

For a keto diet, the best ranch dressing would be one made with healthy fats and no added sugar. Brands like Primal Kitchen offer a keto-friendly ranch made with avocado oil.

Yes, making your own ranch is often the healthiest choice because you can control every ingredient. Using a Greek yogurt base or a blended nut base allows you to avoid preservatives, artificial flavors, and excess sodium found in many store-bought options.

To find a healthier option, try to avoid dressings with a high amount of saturated fat, excessive sodium, added sugars, and artificial ingredients like MSG and various preservatives.

You can make store-bought ranch healthier by using it in moderation and mixing it with a healthier base. A common trick is to combine a ranch seasoning packet with plain Greek yogurt and a little water to create a lighter, higher-protein version.

Taste is subjective, but many people find that some 'light' or 'fat-free' ranches have a different texture and flavor profile than their full-fat counterparts due to the use of fillers and sugar substitutes. Reading reviews or trying a smaller bottle first is recommended.