Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip
This ranch dip is made using cottage cheese and blended with ranch seasoning made from scratch. The result is a creamy and protein-packed dip that can be served with chips, crackers, or fresh veggies for a delicious appetizer or snack that doesn't compromise on flavor!
Has anyone else noticed that cottage cheese is suddenly cool and trendy? In the past, there seems to have been strong love or hate opinions on it. While those still exist, we are seeing new ways to use cottage cheese that makes it more approachable to more people.
I've been team cottage cheese for years. I love using it for this jello salad, as a topping for pancakes, and to eat with fruit like pineapple or grapes.
Growing up, one of my friend's mom would make a chip dip by just blending cottage cheese until smooth. She was way ahead of this latest cottage cheese trend! This recipe takes that concept and adds ranch flavor to mimic the ever popular ranch dip.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Quick & easy - Unlike many ranch dip recipes that rely on sour cream, mayo, or Greek yogurt, this one uses just cottage cheese as the base. Everything comes together in minutes with a food processor or blender.
- Packed with flavor - Making homemade ranch seasoning instead of using a packet gives this dip its bold, herby flavor. You likely already have the spices on hand, and you'll notice the difference!
- Versatile - The possibilities for serving this dip are endless, and I bet it will convert any cottage cheese naysayer! It'll be a huge hit for game day, potlucks, barbecues or an everyday healthy snack.
Ingredient Notes
Here are some tips & tricks for the ingredients needed for this recipe. Find exact measurements in the recipe card below!
- Cottage cheese - Use your favorite brand. Full-fat cottage cheese gives the creamiest texture, but 2% or low-fat works too.
- Herbs & spices - Instead of reaching for a ranch seasoning packet, it's so easy to make your own! Garlic powder, onion powder, dill, parsley and salt will give the dip it's herby flavor.
- Lemon juice - The acidity of the lemon juice complements the creaminess of the cottage cheese and adds that slight tang that you find in ranch dressings that are made with sour cream or buttermilk. The acid from the lemon juice help the flavor pop.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip
This dip is so easy to make! Here's how you do it:
Step 1 - Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until desired smoothness, about 30-45 seconds.
Texture note: I think texture is the main reason people think they don't like cottage cheese. Blend it longer for ultra-smooth, or stop earlier if you prefer a little texture. While I love large-curd cottage cheese on its own, I go for a fully smooth and creamy texture for this dip.
If the dip feels too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons milk until desired texture is reached.
Step 2 - This might be the hardest step. Wait about 30 minutes before serving. Chilling gives the flavors time to meld and makes this a great make-ahead appetizer.
Serving Tips
Serve this dip as you would any ranch or dill dip. Some ideas include:
- Potato or pita chips
- Crackers
- Pretzels
- Your favorite veggies such as carrots, peppers, cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower or grape tomatoes. Place dip in a bowl in the center of your veggie tray!
Some unique and fun ideas:
- As a spread for toast or bagels and top with sliced veggies, avocado or salmon lox
- Mix it in to your scrambled eggs before cooking for a flavorful, high-protein breakfast
- Add a couple spoonfuls to freshly cooked pasta to create a simple, creamy sauce
- Add a dollop to a baked potato for a great substitute to sour cream
Storage Tips
Homemade dips made with dairy will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
While cottage cheese can technically be frozen, the texture of thawed cottage cheese may be altered. Although this is a smooth dip, defrosted dip may become watery.
Because of this I'd recommend enjoying this dip fresh, within 5 days. The recipe will scale nicely to make a larger batch for parties, or you could half it if you want to make a smaller amount.
FAQ
Yes, either a blender or food processor will work to make this dip. A blender may require a little more liquid to get nice and smooth. If this is the case, add a tablespoon or so of milk until it easily blends together.
Cottage cheese is a low-calorie, high protein food that also has many other nutritional benefits such as calcium, vitamin B12, selenium and phosphorus. The difference in fat and calorie content between low-fat and full-fat is actually quite small, and low-fat often contains other additives.
I use dried herbs in this recipe for their simplicity (and cost). Dried dill and parsley are staples in my spice cabinet. Fresh herbs are wonderful, but not always as readily available. You can use fresh dill and parsley in this recipe, but be sure to increase the amount to 3 times what the recipe calls for.
The main difference is the consistency. Dressing is meant to have a more pourable, runny texture while a dip should be thicker to hold up what will be dipped in it. Milk or buttermilk is often used to make the dressing runnier.
Other Appetizers You'll Love
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📖 Recipe
Ranch Cottage Cheese Dip
Ingredients
Method
- Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until desired smoothness.16 oz. cottage cheese, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. onion powder, 1 tsp. dried parsley, 1 tsp. dried dill, ¼ tsp. kosher salt, 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- Transfer to a storage bowl or serving bowl. For best results, allow the dip to sit for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld together.
- Serve with chips, crackers or veggies. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
This dip was delicious. Only thing I would change for next time would be a little less garlic powder. 1 tsp had quite the garlic aftertaste. I don’t mind it much, but felt like I had major garlic breath. I used some fresh dill because I had it. Absolutely simple recipe that was seriously so good!!!
So glad you enjoyed it! I'm a major garlic fan, so I'll take the blame there!
Mine is completely runny, what did I do wrong?
Did you use a full-fat cottage cheese? A non-fat cottage cheese could make the dip runnier then desired. Other than that, you aren't adding any other liquid besides the lemon juice that would make it too runny. Hope this helps.
So easy and so delicious, hard to wait the 30 minutes but so worth it.