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This copycat Panera Green Goddess Dressing is creamy, herby, and packed with fresh basil flavor. It comes together in under five minutes and tastes just like the version Panera serves with their Green Goddess Cobb Salad.
My Panera Green Goddess Salad is the perfect place to use it. My Olive Garden Italian Dressing and Balsamic Dressing are two more easy homemade favorites.
3 Tips That Really Matter For This Recipe
- Don’t skip the pesto. It’s what makes this taste like Panera’s version — store-bought basil pesto works perfectly, or use my Nut-Free Pesto.
- Use a food processor for the deepest green color. Whisking by hand leaves visible herb flecks; blending gives you a smooth, vibrant finish closer to the Panera original.
- Make it ahead. The flavors come together after a few hours in the fridge, so this is a great recipe to prep the day before.
RECIPE WALK-THROUGH
How to Make Panera Green Goddess Dressing
See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions
This dressing comes together in one bowl with no cooking required.
Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients
You’ll need mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt, fresh basil, yellow onion, basil pesto, white wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
Fresh basil is a must: dried won’t give you the same flavor or color. Want a more herb-forward dressing? Add a small handful of fresh parsley or chives.
Step 2: Mix or Blend
Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and whisk until smooth and well combined.
Have a food processor? Add everything and pulse until the dressing is fully blended and bright green.
The food processor gives you a smoother texture and a more vibrant color; whisking by hand gives you a chunkier, more rustic finish with visible herb flecks. Both are delicious.
Step 3: Taste and Adjust
Give it a taste before storing.
Add a splash more vinegar for extra tang, more pesto for deeper herb flavor, or salt and pepper as needed.
Step 4: Store or Serve
Use the dressing right away, or transfer it to a jar or airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use. It thickens slightly as it chills, which is normal. Just give it a stir before serving.
Serving Suggestions
This dressing is more versatile than it looks. The obvious move is pouring it over a Panera Green Goddess Salad, but it doesn’t stop there.
It works beautifully as a dip for raw veggies, pita chips, or crackers. It’s creamy enough to hold up without being too thick. Drizzle it over grilled or pan-seared chicken, salmon, or shrimp for an easy weeknight upgrade. It also makes a great spread on wraps and sandwiches in place of plain mayo.
If you want to try it on other salads, it pairs especially well with anything that has bacon, avocado, or hard boiled eggs. My BBQ Chicken Salad and Wedge Salad are both good starting points if you’re looking for ideas.
Storage Tips
Storage and Make Ahead
Store the dressing in an airtight container or sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Give it a stir before using. It may separate slightly or thicken after sitting, which is completely normal.
This dressing is not freezer-friendly. The mayo and Greek yogurt base doesn’t hold up well once thawed, so make only what you’ll use within the week.
Make Ahead: This dressing is a great candidate for meal prep. Make a batch at the start of the week and use it on salads, as a dip, or drizzled over proteins all week long.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use sour cream instead of Greek yogurt?
Yes. Sour cream swaps in 1:1 for the Greek yogurt and gives the dressing a slightly richer, tangier flavor. The texture will be very similar.
Can I make this without a food processor?
Absolutely. Just whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth. The texture will be a little chunkier with visible herb flecks, but the flavor is the same. If you want a smoother result without a food processor, finely mince the basil and onion before whisking.
What can I substitute for white wine vinegar?
Fresh lemon juice or champagne vinegar both work well as a swap. They keep the bright, tangy balance without changing the overall flavor much.
Can I use this dressing as a dip or marinade?
Yes to both. It’s thick enough to work as a veggie or chip dip, and it makes a nice marinade for chicken or shrimp before grilling or pan-searing.
More Salads You’ll Love
Panera Green Goddess Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 3/4 cup fresh basil leaves finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tablespoons yellow onion finely minced
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl and whisk until smooth and well combined.
- Taste and adjust seasoning — add more vinegar for tang, more pesto for herb flavor, or salt and pepper as needed.
- For a smoother, more vibrant green dressing, pulse all ingredients in a food processor until fully blended.
- Use immediately or transfer to an airtight jar and refrigerate for up to 1 week. Stir before serving.
Notes
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Stir before serving — the dressing may thicken or separate slightly after chilling.
- Food processor method: For a brighter green color and smoother texture, blend all ingredients in a food processor instead of whisking by hand.
- Herb add-ins: For more green flavor, add a small handful of fresh parsley or chives alongside the basil.
- Substitutions: Swap Greek yogurt for sour cream, white wine vinegar for lemon juice or champagne vinegar, or use more fresh basil plus a drizzle of olive oil in place of the pesto.
- Make ahead: The dressing tastes even better after a few hours in the fridge as the flavors come together. Great for meal prep.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
A pleasure to read. I had the same question and your post answered it. Already following your blog.
Excellent write-up. Found it genuinely valuable. Not often you find this level of depth online. Much appreciated.
Green Goddess is my favorite dressing in the world and this one looks amazingly delicious!
Cannot wait to make this. Thank you, Kristin.
You are so welcome Deborah! Thanks for stopping by.