Goat Cheese Ranch Dip
This Goat Cheese Ranch Dip is an easy and delicious party appetizer recipe! It can also be turned into a salad dressing. No matter how you serve it, this dip is packed with flavor!
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Some recipes get passed down through families. They get photocopied many times and each person adds their notes in the margins. Other recipes are new favorites that come from neighbors and friends. And yet other recipes are recreations inspired by vacations. This Goat Cheese Ranch Dip falls into that last category.
Last summer, Laura and I took an extended weekend trip out to Jackson, Wyoming. We wanted to stay within the continental United States, but we also wanted to pick a location out of our usual stomping grounds. We looked west and landed on Jackson – partly because there was an amazing sale on airfare at the time.
In short, Jackson, Wyoming is an amazing place to visit. We will certainly be taking our son back at some point…hopefully in the near(ish) future. If you get a chance to visit Jackson, do it! But this post isn’t about travel recommends to Wyoming. It’s about a Goat Cheese Ranch Dip that we ordered as an appetizer at a bar in Jackson.
Goat Cheese Ranch Dip
When we ordered this dip, it was served with thick-cut homemade potato chips. It was absolutely delicious! This dip is essentially homemade ranch dressing with goat cheese blended in. We fell in love with the flavor, and we asked our waiter for the recipe. We certainly didn’t expect that they’d share it…so you can imagine the looks on our faces when they were kind enough to share the recipe!
Back home, we made a couple tweaks to the recipe…mainly adding more fresh herbs. In my opinion, fresh herbs can take a recipe from good to great. This recipe calls for fresh chives, flat leaf parsley and dill. Trust me when I say the flavor here is out of this world!
The first time I made this recipe at home, I screwed it up. I set out to make a double batch, so I used double the amount of liquid…without doubling everything else. Oops. The result was a thinner version of the dip that actually made for a fantastic salad dressing! So if you’re looking for a Goat Cheese Ranch Salad Dressing, then just double the buttermilk in this recipe.
The point here is you can tailor this recipe in whatever way you’d like. If you want a thicker dip that would be a great party appetizer, then don’t use as much milk. If you want a salad dressing, use more milk. The flavor is amazing no matter how you serve it!
For the Goat Cheese Ranch Dip, we served it with thick-cut store-bought potato chips. (If you’re feeling ambitious, you could make your own homemade potato chips.) We also added some veggies like chopped broccoli and carrots to the plate. We can’t live on potato chips alone! (Or can we??)
If you’re looking for an easy and delicious dip recipe, then I wholeheartedly recommend this Goat Cheese Ranch Dip. Just adjust the amount of liquid to your personal preferences and get ready for a flavor explosion. This dip comes together in 5 minutes, although I do recommend chilling it for a couple of hours after mixing it up.
How to Store Leftovers
Leftovers of this dip (or salad dressing if you go that route) should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Due to the fresh herbs in this recipe, this dip has a fairly limited shelf life. I do not recommend freezing the leftovers.
We prefer this Goat Cheese Dip as a thicker dip, but it does work well as a salad dressing. It can be used in any recipe that calls for ranch dressing. And I think it would be fantastic spread on top of a grilled burger or a sandwich. Or maybe use it as a dip for pizza crust. Or maybe just skip all of that and eat it with a spoon – the taste is just that good! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do here in our house – cheers!
Did you make this Goat Cheese Ranch Dip recipe at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me (@Spicedblog) on Instagram – I’d love to see your version!
Goat Cheese Ranch Dip
Ingredients
- 16 oz. goat cheese
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ¼-½ cup whole milk adjust depending on your preference for thickness
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp onion powder
- 1 Tbsp black pepper
- 1 Tbsp kosher salt
- ¼ cup chopped fresh chives
- ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley
- ¼ cup chopped dill
- {for serving} broccoli carrots, celery, thick potato chips
Instructions
- Using a blender or food processor, add all of the ingredients except for the fresh herbs; pulse until smooth. (Note: I recommend starting with no whole milk and add more milk until the dip/dressing reaches your desired thickness.)
- Add fresh herbs; pulse several times until well combined.
- Transfer dip into an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. (Tip: Refrigerating overnight is better for flavor!)
- Transfer dip into a bowl and serve with fresh veggies and/or thick potato chips.
Looking for more delicious dip recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
I need to try this soon for me BTW can’t wait to make your recipes soon for me
This dip (or salad dressing if you add more liquid) is pretty fantastic, Ramya – I hope you enjoy it!
i’m sure this is delicious David, but hubby and i have mm some memories of eating goat’s cheese in Greece years ago which tasted just like … goat!! EEk!!
Oh no! Don’t let that experience in Greece ruin you on goat cheese, Sherry. I suspect the stuff they sell in stores is very different nowadays! But that certainly sounds like an EEK occasion…haha.
That really was so nice of the restaurant to share their recipe with you. We all get to benefit now as a result! And… I totally agree with you about the fresh herbs. These make your dip next-level amazing. I am also really happy about how your happy little accident transformed this goat cheese dip into an equally delicious ranch salad dressing! That makes your homemade salad dressing recipe the perfect two-for-one!
I know, right?? I was a little surprised that they were willing to share the recipe – but I’m also glad they did! This dip/dressing is so easy to make. It’s definitely a favorite around here. Plus, it’s kinda fun that it can start as a dip and then leftovers can be turned into salad dressing! (Of course, that assumes there are any leftovers…) Thanks, Heidi!
David, this goat cheese ranch dip looks so tasty and versatile. I love how the tangy goat cheese must brighten up that classic ranch flavour.
I would never have guessed that the combination of ranch and goat cheese would be so good – but it is!!
This goat cheese ranch dip just gets more irresistible the more I think about it, that mix of tangy goat cheese, herbs, and creamy ranch vibes feels like the kind of snack that turns a casual gathering into a full‑blown “wait, who made this?” moment.
It’s definitely a recipe that catches your attention, Raymund – and it’s so easy to make, too! Plus, it’s fun that you can turn it from a dip into a salad dressing with minimal effort.
Why have I never thought to use goat cheese in a dip. I can see why you asked for the recipe. I’ve had several chefs willing to share a recipe…it is very nice when they do,
It really is so meaningful when a chef shares a favorite recipe. After all, food to meant to be shared and enjoyed – and now we can all enjoy this delicious dip!! Thanks, Karen!