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    Home » Recipes » Sauces + Dips

    Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip

    Published: Mar 14, 2025 by Nicole Addison · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

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    Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip is the most delicious high protein snack to pair with your favorite veggies. It's lower in fat, but still so creamy!

    Dipping a carrot in cottage cheese ranch dip.

    One of my favorite hacks to eat more veggies is to pair them with a yummy dip, which is why I meal prep one pretty much every week. I love a good hummus, but I'm also a huge fan of blended cottage cheese dips.

    This cottage cheese ranch dip is so perfect for all my ranch lovers. Thanks to the cottage cheese, it's packed with 6g of protein per serving and a bit lower in fat than a traditional sour-cream based dip. Once you mix in all the fresh herbs, it tastes just like ranch.

    I like making this for parties and get-togethers, but I also like making it in my meal prep for easy snacking throughout the week. I always aim for at least two food groups at snacks, so this high protein dip is an amazing pairing to make anything more balanced.

    Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved

    1. High protein. One cup of cottage cheese has 25g of protein, which is so important for keeping us full after eating.
    2. Easy to prep. You only need 5 simple ingredients and a food processor.
    3. Lower in fat. Most creamy dips are made with sour cream, but this one is a great low-fat option if that's what you prefer.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients including cottage cheese, herbs, lemon juice, milk and ranch seasoning.

    Ranch seasoning. Any ranch seasoning will work (you can find it in the spice aisle at most grocery stores) however I typically use my homemade ranch seasoning blend.

    Lemon juice. Fresh lemon juice is best for a hint of freshness to compliment the herbs.

    Cottage cheese. I typically enjoy using 5% cottage cheese to create the creamiest ranch dip, however if you only have a lower fat option such as 1 % this will work as well.

    Milk. Any milk (dairy or non dairy) will work great- this just helps him out the dip.

    Chives. A hint of fresh herbs is essential for this ranch dip.

    The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below. 

    Instructions

    Blending ranch dip in a food processor.
    1.  In a food processor or high powered blender combine cottage cheese, milk, lemon juice, ranch seasoning and chives (if using). Blend until smooth. 
    Close up of cottage cheese ranch dip, topped with chives.
    1. Serve with vegetables or crackers and enjoy!

    Substitutions and Variations

    To make gluten-free: this recipe is naturally gluten-free.

    To make dairy-free: I haven't found a dairy-free cottage cheese, but you can try a thicker dairy-free yogurt. If you do this, omit the milk.

    To make nut-free: this recipe is naturally nut-free.

    Equipment

    • Food processor or high powered blender

    Storage

    This dip can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. It might slightly separate during storage, so before enjoying just give it a quick stir.

    Top Tips for Success

    Cottage cheese does have a naturally tangier taste compared to the traditional buttermilk base that ranch dressing uses. If you are looking to make this ranch dip a bit creamier, I recommend adding 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What do you pair with your ranch dip?

    I love adding it to snack plates with chopped vegetables or crackers. It also makes an amazing addition to bowls like my buffalo chicken bowls!

    Should I use non-fat or full-fat cottage cheese?

    Either will work! Using a higher fat such as 5% will result in a creamier dip, however 0 or 1% will also work.

    Spooning cottage cheese ranch dip.

    More Healthy Dip Recipes

    Cottage cheese is one of my go-to ingredients for a high protein dip. Try these next!

    • Garlic and Herb Dip
    • High Protein Cottage Cheese Queso
    • Cottage Cheese Buffalo Dip
    • Air Fryer Spinach Cottage Cheese Dip

    See you in the kitchen!

    PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this cottage cheese ranch dip, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!

    📖 Recipe

    Spooning cottage cheese ranch dip.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip

    Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip is the most delicious high protein snack to pair with your favorite veggies. It's lower in fat, but still so creamy!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Total Time5 minutes mins
    Course: Sauces and Dips, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: dips, high protein
    Servings: 4

    Ingredients 

    • 1 cup cottage cheese 5% results in the creamiest dip
    • 3 tablespoon milk of choice see notes below
    • Juice of ½ a lemon
    • 2 teaspoon homemade ranch seasoning see notes
    • 3 tablespoon freshly chopped chives optional for freshness

    Instructions

    • In a food processor or high powered blender combine cottage cheese, milk, lemon juice, ranch seasoning and chives (if using). Blend until smooth.
    • Serve with vegetables or crackers and enjoy!

    Notes

    This is my recipe for homemade ranch seasoning.
    Milk can be added to thin the dip to desired preference. I personally find 3 tablespoon is the perfect mix between creamy and thin enough to dip. However, if you like a thinner dip, add ¼ cup of milk and if you like a thicker dip add only 2 tbsp.
    For an even creamier consistency (and more traditional tangy taste), I recommend adding 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise
    If you like a bit of spice add in a few red pepper flakes or even some dijon mustard.
    *I have included an estimation of the nutrition information for this recipe below. However, always remember a recipe is so much more than just nutritional content and these numbers do not need to dictate your food choices. Please don't forget that both your body and soul need nourishment! The owner of this website is not liable for this estimation.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 395mg | Potassium: 84mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 190IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    Did you know....rating and sharing recipes is one of the best ways you can support your favourite food bloggers? If you make this recipe, I would love if you clicked the stars below to leave a rating and/or sharing a photo on social media by tagging @nourishedbynic or using the hashtag #nourishedbynic!

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    Comments

    1. Antonia says

      March 26, 2025 at 11:01 pm

      5 stars
      This cottage cheese ranch dressing is soo good! I used almond milk and the homemade ranch seasoning to make this dressing. I brought this dressing/dip with me to a party, along with a veggie tray, and it was a huge hit!

      Reply
    2. Sarah says

      March 26, 2025 at 8:16 pm

      5 stars
      Honestly delicious. I am a ranch snob and I wasn’t sure how I would like this but it’s very good! Texture is great and I love that it uses cottage cheese for added protein. Such and healthy and yummy way to help me eat more veggies.

      Reply
    3. Jaime Black says

      March 26, 2025 at 5:15 pm

      5 stars
      My daughter and I are obsessed with this dip. I struggle to get my daughter to eat enough protein but she does love veggies and ranch so this is a game changer for us. She loves it. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
    4. Nicole Addison says

      March 14, 2025 at 3:34 pm

      5 stars
      Probably my new favourite higher protein dip to meal prep!! I hope you love it as much as I do!

      Reply

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    Nicole Addison, RD

    Hi I'm Nicole!

    I’m a Registered Dietitian, recipe developer and content creator on a mission to help individuals rediscover the joys of cooking with easy, accessible, healthy recipes.

    On my page you'll find yummy recipes, wellness tips, and even some of my favourite travel and lifestyle recommendations!

    More about me →

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