This Creamy Basil Salad Dressing recipe is one of my favorite salad dressings to make. It has all the flavors I love in a good basil pesto and it’s so easy to make.

A clear glass mason jar filled with Creamy Basil Salad Dressing. A tan colored bowl filled with salad sits next to the jar.

This Basil Buttermilk Dressing is made with fresh basil, garlic, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, buttermilk and mayonnaise. It’s super easy to make and the flavor is amazing! If you love the taste of basil pesto, this dressing is for you!

Small clear glass mixing bowls filled with cheese, mayonnaise and fresh herbs sit on a marble cutting board.

I’ve tossed many salads for potlucks with this basil buttermilk dressing and it’s always a crowd pleaser! Be sure to serve warm crusty bread with whatever salad you toss it with. You’ll want something to soak up the last bit of dressing on your plate!

Basil Buttermilk Dressing Recipe

This basil buttermilk salad dressing recipe is a quick and easy one to make and the flavor is amazing!

  • Fresh Basil. Use lots of fresh tender basil leaves.  No dried herbs for this recipe.
  • Buttermilk. Buttermilk gives this dressing a rich flavor.
  • Mayonnaise. Use a good quality mayonnaise like Best Foods or Hellman’s for this dressing. 
  • Garlic. Blending garlic into the mix adds a lot of flavor. We use 1 large clove of garlic for this dressing, but if you want a more mild garlic flavor then start out adding 1/2 teaspoon of fresh garlic. 
  • Lemon Juice. We add just a little lemon juice to the mix.
  • Parmesan Cheese. Finely grate the Parmesan cheese. Don’t use the powered stuff.
  • Seasoning. Just add a little salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.

Find printable recipe with the measurements below.

A clear glass mason jar filled with green sauce. A tan colored bowl filled with salad sits next to the jar.

How To Make Creamy Basil Salad Dressing

  1. Measure the ingredients and add them all to a blender or food processor. Blend until the dressing is smooth and creamy. There should only be tiny specks of basil visible in the dressing. If there are larger pieces of basil, then blend a little longer.

How Long Will It Last?

If properly stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this dressing should last up to 1 week. Be sure to shake or stir well before serving.

A clear glass mason jar filled with Basil Buttermilk Dressing. A tan colored bowl filled with salad sits next to the jar.

Serving Suggestions

This basil buttermilk salad dressing recipe is one of my favorites to make for toss these salads.

A tan colored bowl filled with mixed greens and sliced cherry tomatoes.

Looking For More Salad Dressing Recipes?

A clear glass mason jar filled with Basil Buttermilk Dressing. A tan bowl filled with salad sits next to the jar.
Yield: 8 servings

Creamy Basil Salad Dressing

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

This Creamy Basil Salad Dressing recipe is one of my favorite salad dressings to make. It has all the flavors I love in a good basil pesto and it's so easy to make.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 2/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper

Instructions

  1. Measure the ingredients and add them all to a blender and blend for 30 seconds or until the consistency is nice and smooth. The dressing should not have any large pieces of basil in it.

Notes

  1. Blend in additional mayonnaise 1 tablespoon at a time to achieve the desired consistency (if you want a thicker dressing).
  2. Adjust the amount of garlic to your liking. My family loves garlic, so we always add 1 large clove to this dressing. Give it a good chop before adding it to the blender so it blends well in the dressing.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 159Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 392mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 3g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations. See full disclaimer on About page.