Light Green Dressing with Avocado and Fresh Herbs

This creamy green dressing is made with Greek yogurt, avocado, fresh herbs, and lime for a light, tangy sauce you can drizzle over just about anything.

I originally made this light green dressing during a day of high protein meal prep. I wanted one simple sauce that I could use across several different meals throughout the week, and this ended up being exactly that.

It is creamy without being heavy, thanks to a mixture of sour cream, Greek yogurt, and a small amount of avocado. Fresh cilantro, parsley, green onion, garlic, and lime give it plenty of bright flavor, while a little cumin makes it especially good with chicken, tacos, and roasted vegetables.

We used it to make kale slaw for my skillet chili lime chicken tacos, but I also drizzled it over leftover roasted potatoes and taco meat. That combination was so simple and so good. This is the kind of dressing that makes random leftovers feel like an actual meal.

Main Ingredients and Swaps

• Sour cream – Sour cream gives the dressing a creamy texture and a little tang. Full fat or light sour cream will both work.
• Greek yogurt – Plain Greek yogurt adds extra creaminess and a little protein without making the dressing feel too rich. I prefer whole milk Greek yogurt, but you can use whatever you normally keep on hand.
• Avocado – You only need about a quarter of an avocado. It helps thicken the dressing and gives it a smooth, creamy texture without overpowering the fresh herbs.
• Fresh cilantro – I use a small handful of cilantro, stems included. Cilantro stems are tender and flavorful, so there is no reason to remove them before blending.
• Fresh parsley – Parsley adds another layer of fresh flavor and balances the cilantro. I remove the thicker stems and use mostly the leaves.
• Green onions – The green portions of two green onions add a mild onion flavor. You can include some of the white portions if you prefer a stronger flavor.
• Fresh lime juice – Lime juice keeps the dressing bright and tangy. Lemon juice can work in a pinch, although lime is especially good when serving the dressing with tacos.
• White vinegar – A small splash of white vinegar adds just enough acidity to wake up all the other flavors. Apple cider vinegar would also work.
• Garlic and cumin – Fresh garlic and cumin add a savory flavor that works especially well with chicken, taco bowls, and roasted potatoes.

How I Make It

Add the sour cream and Greek yogurt to a tall jar or blender. Add the cilantro, parsley, green onions, lime juice, white vinegar, salt, cumin, garlic, avocado, and olive oil.

Pour in about half a cup of water. The water helps the herbs blend smoothly and turns the mixture into a pourable dressing.

Use an immersion blender to blend everything directly in the jar until it is smooth and creamy. You can also make this in a traditional blender or small food processor.

Check the consistency and add another small splash of water if you would like a thinner dressing. Taste it and add more salt or lime juice as needed.

The flavor will depend slightly on the size of your handfuls of herbs and the ripeness of your avocado, so do not be afraid to adjust it at the end.

Ways to Use It

• I first used this dressing to make a simple kale slaw. Just add about ¼ cup of dressing to 2 cups of finely chopped kale and massage it together with your hands until the kale softens.
• It is also delicious drizzled over chicken tacos, taco bowls, Cobb salads, grilled meat, roasted vegetables, rice bowls, or crispy potatoes.
• You can use it as a dip for fresh vegetables, spread it inside wraps and sandwiches, or spoon it over scrambled eggs for an easy breakfast.
• It is especially helpful during meal prep because one jar of dressing can make several completely different meals taste fresh and finished.

Tips and Storage

• Use tender cilantro stems in the dressing because they contain plenty of flavor and blend easily.
• Store the dressing in a covered jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Some darkening is normal because the recipe contains fresh avocado, but the lime juice helps slow that down.
• Give the dressing a good stir or shake before using it again.

Watch my YouTube video below to see me make this light green dressing as part of a high protein meal prep day and use it throughout several easy meals.

Having a flavorful homemade sauce waiting in the refrigerator makes it so much easier to turn simple ingredients into a meal. This light green dressing is fresh, creamy, and flexible enough to use all week. I especially love it with chicken and roasted potatoes, but honestly, I keep finding new things to pour it over.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting me and my family!