This blue cheese dressing is thick, creamy, and tangy, with a delicious, savory, smoky taste. Quick and easy to make, it’s better than store-bought and is my favorite way to add flavor to all my meals!
Blue cheese dressing can be a bit of a polarizing condiment. You either love it or hate it, and I definitely love it! However, store-bought options can be a hit or miss for me.
So, I decided to try my hand at making my own, and it’s by far the best version I’ve ever tasted!
Why you’ll love this recipe
You won’t regret trying this versatile homemade dressing!
- Better than store-bought – Bright, savory, tangy, and cheesy with lots of depth, this dressing has it all!
- 5-minute recipe – No need for fancy equipment or complicated steps. Just combine the ingredients and chill.
- Make-ahead – One batch makes 1.5 cups and can easily be doubled or even tripled if you’re feeding a large crowd or want to save leftovers for meal prep.
Drizzle this homemade blue cheese dressing over a chicken Caesar salad or sweet potato salad. Or, enjoy it as a dip with hot honey chicken wings!
Key Ingredient Notes
- Sour cream forms the base of the dressing. For a lighter option, you could try Greek yogurt instead, but I prefer a sour cream base.
- Mayonnaise contributes to the tangy flavor and thick, creamy consistency.
- Fresh lemon juice cuts through the richness, adding a pleasant tang. You can substitute white vinegar if preferred.
- Worcestershire sauce adds depth to the flavor, creating a slightly smoky taste.
- Seasonings – Garlic powder, black pepper, and kosher salt enhance the savoriness.
- Blue cheese – Choose a strong blue cheese like Gorgonzola or Roquefort.
- Buttermilk – The tangy taste pairs well with the sour cream and mayo and helps create a smoother, pourable consistency. If you can’t find buttermilk at your local grocery store, you can easily make a buttermilk substitute with items you likely have on hand.
- Fresh herbs – Use parsley, dill, or chives for a bright flavor that balances some of the heaviness of the other ingredients.
Switch up the flavor
I love adding fresh herbs to this dressing and change which ones I include, depending on the occasion.
- Parsley adds a milder, slightly peppery freshness without overpowering the blue cheese. It’s a good choice if you want to stick with a classic blue cheese taste.
- Dill is a great option if you want a fresh, slightly tangy, herbaceous kick. It pairs beautifully with blue cheese and gives the dressing a more vibrant taste.
- Chives add a mild, oniony flavor that’s less sharp than raw onions but still adds a subtle, fresh bite. If you like ranch dressing, chives will give your blue cheese dressing a similar herby, garlicky depth without overpowering it.
How to make blue cheese dressing
- Mix the sour cream, mayo, lemon juice, Worcestershire, and seasonings in a medium bowl.
- Fold in the crumbled blue cheese. I like to mash a few pieces with a spoon for extra flavor!
- Stir in the buttermilk.
- Chill the dressing for at least 15-30 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors blend!
- Add fresh herbs, if using, right before serving.
Adjust the consistency
If your dressing is too thick for your liking, add more buttermilk as needed to achieve your desired consistency.
Serving Suggestions
Homemade blue cheese dressing is versatile! Here are a few ways you can serve it:
- Salad dressing – especially wedge salad with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and bacon
- Dip – cool, creamy contrast to spicy wings, or perfect for celery, carrots, cucumbers, etc. Baked steak fries would be amazing too!
- Burger topping – slathered onto grilled burgers for bold flavor
- Steak sauce – a rich drizzle over grilled steaks 👌🏻
- Sandwich spread – in wraps, club sandwiches, or roast beef sandwiches
- Game day snack board – part of a platter with wings, chips, veggies, and sliders
Storing Tips
Store leftover blue cheese dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. Give it a good shake or stir before using to redistribute the ingredients!
FAQs
Most restaurant dressings have a higher concentration of blue cheese and buttermilk or sour cream than store-bought bottles, which creates a richer, tangier flavor. That said, you can adjust the ingredients in this recipe to suit your preferences, making it even better than restaurant varieties!
If your dressing is runny, it’s likely because the ingredients are too warm, or too much buttermilk was included.
Use this recipe as a dressing, dip, or condiment. I love to pair it with options like fresh veggies, sweet potato salad, broccoli salad, cucumber edamame salad, bacon chicken meatballs, or cheesy chicken quesadillas.
More Homemade Sauces and Dressings
Blue Cheese Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup (120 g) sour cream Note 1
- ¼ cup (55 g) mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lemon juice Note 2
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt more to taste
- ½ cup (56 g) crumbled blue cheese Note 3
- 2-3 tablespoons buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or chives or 1 teaspoon fresh dill
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix sour cream, mayo, lemon juice, Worcestershire, garlic powder, and seasonings.
- Fold in crumbled blue cheese and mash some pieces with a spoon for extra flavor.
- Add the buttermilk in small amounts until the desired consistency.
- Chill for at least 15-30 minutes before serving. This helps flavors blend.
- Add fresh herbs, if using, right before serving.
⭐️ Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a review and let us know how you liked it!
Tips & Notes
· Parsley adds a milder, slightly peppery freshness that complements the blue cheese without overpowering it. It’s a good choice if you want the dressing to stay classic.
· Add dill for a fresh, slightly tangy, and herby kick. It pairs beautifully with blue cheese, adding a more vibrant taste to the dressing.
· Chives are another great option, as they add a mild, oniony flavor that’s less sharp than raw onions but still gives a subtle, fresh bite. If you like ranch dressing, chives will give your blue cheese dressing a similar herby, slightly garlicky depth without overpowering it. Storing Tips:
– Store leftover blue cheese dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. Give it a good shake or stir before using to redistribute the ingredients!
Nutrition
