Green Goddess Dressing (the classic recipe)

This green goddess dressing is creamy, vibrant, and packed with fresh herbs. Inspired by the classic 1927 recipe, my version adds yogurt, extra herbs, and a squeeze of lemon for a bright, flavorful twist.

Green goddess dressing has been around for nearly a century, first published in 1927 by the Oakland Tribune – see below the recipe card for the original! My version stays true to the spirit of the original while tweaking a few things to make it even brighter and more herb-forward. I swap part of the mayonnaise for yogurt, which lightens the dressing and adds a tangy freshness that works beautifully with all the herbs.

The result is creamy, tangy, and wonderfully herbaceous. It’s especially good drizzled over crisp greens like butter lettuce, but once you have a jar in the fridge, you’ll likely find yourself using it on everything from vegetables to grain bowls.

I also like my green goddess very green, so I bump up the herbs to give the dressing that vibrant color and fresh flavor. Tarragon is the star here — it gives green goddess its signature taste, though you can absolutely play with the mix and add a little basil or other soft herbs if you like. Anchovies stay in the recipe because they add incredible depth and umami (much like in Caesar dressing), but I use just enough to enhance the flavor without any fishiness. A squeeze of lemon ties everything together and keeps the dressing tasting bright.

The first time I tried green goddess dressing was actually my mother-in-law’s version. She makes a fantastic dairy-free green goddess that’s packed with herbs and big, fresh flavor. It’s bright, vibrant, and completely delicious.

But I have to admit, I’ve always had a soft spot for creamy salad dressings. There’s something about that rich, silky texture that makes a salad feel a little more special, which is why I love this yogurt-and-mayo version so much. It keeps all that fresh herb flavor while adding the kind of creaminess I can never resist.

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Green Goddess Dressing (the classic recipe)

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

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This green goddess dressing is made with fresh herbs, yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon, and anchovies for a creamy, tangy dressing with plenty of herb flavor. It’s perfect tossed with crisp greens or drizzled over vegetables and grain bowls.

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Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup parsley
• ▢ 2 tablespoons tarragon
• ▢ 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ▢ 1 green onion
• ▢ 1 small garlic clove
• ▢ 2 fillets anchovies (or 2 teaspoons capers)
• ▢ ¼ cup mayonnaise
• ▢ ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
• ▢ salt

Instructions 

• Add the parsley, tarragon, lemon juice, green onion, garlic, and anchovies to your food processor and blend until smooth.
  1 cup parsley, 2 tablespoons tarragon, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 green onion, 1 small garlic clove, 2 fillets anchovies
  
• Add the yogurt, mayonnaise, and salt, and blend briefly.
  ¼ cup mayonnaise, ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, salt
  
• Transfer to a jar and, ideally, let the dressing rest in your fridge for 15 minutes for the flavors to meld.
  

Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 1 tablespoon, Calories: 33kcal (2%), Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g (2%), Fat: 3g (5%), Saturated Fat: 0.4g (3%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 2mg (1%), Sodium: 28mg (1%), Potassium: 63mg (2%), Fiber: 0.2g (1%), Sugar: 0.3g, Vitamin A: 363IU (7%), Vitamin C: 6mg (7%), Calcium: 24mg (2%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

© Author Kristen Stevens

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.

The OG Green Goddess Recipe