This creamy pesto salad dressing recipe brings vibrant flavors to your table in minutes. It combines the richness of basil pesto with tangy buttermilk for a restaurant-quality taste perfect for salads, sandwiches, or as a dipping sauce for vegetables.
Fresh basil is one of my favorite summer flavors, and that's one of the reasons I am so in love with Arizona's famous Stetson salad. The first time I ate it, I wanted to bottle up the pesto dressing and take it home. Instead, I made my own version!
I am usually a Ranch dressing girl. This basil pesto dressing combines the creaminess of Ranch with the flavors of a good pesto sauce. It's truly perfection!
While you can certainly use homemade pesto, jarred pesto is a great shortcut that saves you time. You can whip this dressing together in minutes without getting out clunky appliances. (Best of all, there are hardly any dishes to wash!)
Dressing Ingredients
Looking for the full recipe? The recipe card at the bottom of this post includes the complete list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions.
Mayonnaise - I recommend using real mayo, like Hellman's, rather than Miracle Whip. Greek yogurt can also be used but will result in a thinner dressing.
Buttermilk - Buttermilk's natural tanginess adds a refreshing flavor to the dressing. If you do not have buttermilk, add a half tablespoon of white vinegar to your measuring cup, and then measure regular milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes before adding to the dressing.
Pesto - Use your favorite jar of basil pesto, or make your own from scratch. Homemade pesto has the best flavor, and you can replace the pine nuts with whatever you have. My favorite is this cashew pesto recipe.
Lemon Juice - Fresh lemon juice enhances the flavors of the other ingredients, making this dressing vibrant and balanced.
Flavor Twist: Replace the basil pesto with sundried tomato pesto for a rich and robust dressing.
How to Make Creamy Pesto Dressing
- There's no magic here! Simply put the dressing ingredients into a medium bowl or a large mason jar and whisk vigorously until smooth.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving, allowing the flavors to meld.
Ways to Use Basil Pesto Dressing
- Drizzle this over any leafy green salad. It works with a basic house salad and is also fantastic over a Caprese salad.
- Serve this as a dip for a crudite platter. Bell peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, and tomatoes all taste delicious with this dressing.
- Toss it with cold pasta, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese for a tasty Caprese pasta.
- Marinate chicken, shrimp, or fish before grilling.
- Spread on sandwiches instead of mayonnaise and mustard.
Storage Guidelines
Mason jars work great for storing dressing, but any airtight container will do. Store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. (Note the expiration date of your buttermilk, and do not keep it past that date.)
More Recipes Using Pesto
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Recipe
Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing
Recipe by:Ingredients
- ½ cup (118 ml) mayonnaise
- ½ cup (118 ml) buttermilk
- ¼ cup (62 grams) basil pesto
- 1 tablespoon (14.79 ml) lemon juice
- 1 (3 grams) small garlic clove ½ teaspoon minced
- ¼ teaspoon (1.5 grams) salt
- ¼ teaspoon (0.5 grams) black pepper
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until fully combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.½ cup mayonnaise, ½ cup buttermilk, ¼ cup basil pesto, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 small garlic clove, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional facts provided are only estimates. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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