Vegan BBQ Ranch Dressing is a creamy dreamy dressing worth slathering on everything from salads to tacos & burritos! This healthy salad dressing is vegan, oil-free and gluten-free! It also has a nut-free option to make it allergy friendly.
This Creamy Vegan BBQ Ranch Dressing is an old favorite!
It has been with me since the beginning of my vegan journey. It started out as a vegan mayo-based dressing, but that quickly changed as I became more health-conscious. I replaced the mayo with cashews and non-dairy milk, then added a few more seasonings for the perfect dressing.
How to soak cashews?
For an ideal creaminess, this dressing is best with soaked cashews.
You can use one of the 3 methods in my soaking cashews post. Or follow the simple steps below for my favorite way to soak cashews.
- Bring about a cup of water to a boil, then turn off the heat.
- Toss the cashews in and let them soak for 15-20 minutes, or until softened.
- Drain and rinse the softened cashews.
The cashews can also be soaked overnight. Place them in a lidded bowl. Pour in enough fresh water to cover the cashews. The next morning, drain and rinse the softened cashews.
What else can I use this creamy dressing on?
The only way to find out how irresistible this dressing is to give it a taste! After mixing in the parsley and chives, I dare you to give the spoon a lick. It's that good!
It's practically impossible to avoid slathering this stuff on more than just salads! Liven up your tacos, burritos, and tostadas with this healthier dressing.
It's an amazing sauce!
How do I make this dressing allergy-friendly?
I know, I know......
You're probably thinking... "This dressing looks irresistible and I want to try it, but I'm allergic to nuts!"
No problem!
Just replace the cashews with an equal amount of sunflower seeds or hemp seeds to create an allergy-friendly Creamy Vegan BBQ Ranch Dressing!
Now join us in slathering it on everything!
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If you enjoyed this recipe you may also enjoy one of these:
Apple walnut chickpea salad sandwich
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Creamy BBQ Ranch Dressing (vegan, gluten-free, oil-free)
BBQ ranch dressing is worth slathering on everything from salads to tacos & burritos! This healthier dressing is vegan, oil-free and gluten-free! It also has a nut-free option to make it 100% allergy friendly.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked
- 1/2 cup non-dairy milk, or more as needed to thin
- 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce of choice
- 1-2 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoons fresh chives
- 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
- Pepper to taste
- Optional: cayenne pepper or chipotle powder for some added heat
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients (except parsley and chives) into a NutriBullet or high speed blender. Blend until creamy.
- Pour the dressing into a lidded storage container and stir-in the parsley and chives.
- Place the dressing in the fridge to cool for at least 30 min to an hour before serving. If needed, add more non-dairy milk to achieve desired consistency.
- Enjoy this creamy BBQ ranch drizzled over your favorite salads, tacos or burritos.
Notes
- Allergy Friendly Dressing: To create an allergy friendly Creamy BBQ Ranch Dressing, replace the cashews with an equal amount sunflower seeds or hemp seeds. If using sunflower seeds, soak and process them per the cashew instructions.
- For extra dressing double the recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 3 small salads Serving Size: 1 small saladAmount Per Serving: Calories: 149Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 23mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 6g
Updated: May 18, 2019
whitlynmiller
How long will this store in the refridgerator? I would love to make this.
Where you get your protein
It should keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. Enjoy! :)
Nathan
Going to give this a try here in a bit! I'm used to making vegan ranch with vegan mayo, but like you stated, it's just not that great for you (all that dang canola...) And not to mention using vegan mayo just for ranch gets pricey quick. Excited to give this a try.
Stumbled here through your tostada recipe. Can't believe I haven't found your site yet! My mind is still being blown by the carrot hot dog recipe. Gonna have to try that soon. I love your ideas for turning the processed store-bought vegan alternatives into purely plant based meals. Can't way to try some soon!
Where you get your protein
That's awesome! I'm so glad to have you here Nathan! Enjoy the dressing, it's my absolute favorite! I'm also working on a vegan mayo recipe, no canola of course. So keep an eye out for it! :)
Nathan
Perfect! I'm looking forward to it! I have a recipe or two, just haven't had time to try and make it yet. Yours seem relatively simple and straightforward so that's a plus.
I'll need to make the dressing again. I was a bit impatient and didn't speed soak the cashews long enough (I'll blame our 3 month old for consuming all our time!) Too gritty. Although I will say that this is one of the first times I feel I should've added MORE lemon juice. I usually play it cautious with it, but this time I felt I should've added more. I'm curious to experiment with the recipe too, possibly try and make a "plain" ranch. Thanks again for the recipes!
Where you get your protein
Yes, i definitely suggest soaking the cashews until they are soft. Also a high speed blender or nutri bullet works best for a creamy, smooth consistency. I hope you give it another try! Enjoy, Nathan! :)