The Best Homemade Bleu Cheese Dressing Recipe: Creamy, Flavorful, and Easy to Make!

There’s nothing quite like the rich, tangy, and utterly delicious flavor of a truly great Bleu Cheese Dressing. While many store-bought options exist, creating your own from scratch elevates this classic condiment to an entirely new level. The difference in taste, texture, and freshness is simply incomparable, making homemade blue cheese dressing a staple you’ll wonder how you ever lived without!

Why Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing is Always Better

Imagine a dressing that’s perfectly balanced, where the pungent notes of the blue cheese are harmoniously blended with a creamy base, a hint of tang, and just the right amount of seasoning. That’s what you get when you make it yourself. Beyond the superior taste, homemade dressing offers several advantages:

Unmatched Freshness: You control the quality of every ingredient, ensuring peak flavor.
Customizable Flavor: Adjust the amount and type of blue cheese, the tanginess, and the seasoning to suit your exact preference.
No Preservatives or Artificial Ingredients: Enjoy a clean, wholesome dressing free from unwanted additives.
Economical: Often, making dressing from scratch can be more cost-effective than buying premium store brands.

This particular recipe holds a special place in our home. It’s actually my husband’s creation, a recipe he perfected long before we even met. If my memory serves me right, the very first time he cooked for me, he served this amazing dressing alongside a beautiful grilled salmon and asparagus. While the salmon was delicious, it was the dressing that truly stole the show, and it’s a dish he continues to make for us to this day. It’s a testament to how truly simple and impactful a great homemade dressing can be.

Understanding Bleu Cheese: The Star of Our Dressing

Whether you spell it Bleu Cheese or Blue Cheese, this distinctively flavored cheese is the heart and soul of our dressing. Blue cheese varieties are characterized by their unique blue or green mold veins, which contribute to their sharp, salty, and sometimes sweet flavor profile. When choosing your blue cheese for this recipe, consider these popular types:

Roquefort: A sheep’s milk cheese from France, known for its intense, tangy, and crumbly texture. It will give your dressing a robust flavor.
Gorgonzola: An Italian cow’s milk cheese, available in dolce (sweeter, milder) or piccante (sharper, firmer) varieties. Gorgonzola Dolce offers a creamier, slightly milder dressing.
Stilton: A cow’s milk cheese from England, often described as rich and creamy with a sharp, earthy flavor.
Danish Blue (Danablu): A milder, creamier, and saltier blue cheese, great for those who prefer a less aggressive blue cheese flavor.

The choice is yours! A milder blue cheese will result in a more universally appealing dressing, while a stronger one will create a bold, unforgettable flavor. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different varieties to find your personal favorite.

Crafting Your Perfect Bleu Cheese Dressing: The Ingredients

Our homemade blue cheese dressing recipe relies on a simple yet powerful combination of ingredients that work together to create a symphony of flavors and textures. Each component plays a crucial role:

2 cups (1 pint) sour cream: This forms the creamy base of our dressing, providing a rich, smooth texture and a subtle tang that balances the sharpness of the blue cheese. Full-fat sour cream is recommended for the best flavor and consistency.
2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise: Mayonnaise adds a layer of richness and helps to emulsify the dressing, giving it a velvety mouthfeel. It also contributes to the overall stability and creamy texture. Adjust the amount based on your preference for richness.
2 tablespoons white vinegar: The vinegar is essential for adding a bright, acidic kick that cuts through the richness of the dairy and enhances the flavor of the blue cheese. White vinegar provides a clean, neutral tartness.
1 teaspoon salt: A fundamental seasoning that brings out all the other flavors.
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt: This ingredient provides a savory depth and a hint of garlic without needing fresh garlic, making the preparation even simpler.
1/2 teaspoon celery salt: A secret weapon for many classic dressings, celery salt adds a unique, earthy, and slightly herbaceous note that complements the blue cheese beautifully.
1/2 teaspoon pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a mild spice and aromatic warmth.
1/2 teaspoon paprika: Paprika contributes a subtle sweet and peppery flavor, as well as a lovely hint of color to the dressing.
4 to 8 ounces crumbled bleu cheese: This is the star! The amount you use depends on how intense you want the blue cheese flavor to be. For a milder dressing, start with 4 ounces; for a more assertive flavor, go up to 8 ounces or even a bit more. Crumbled blue cheese ensures a chunky texture and pockets of intense flavor.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Homemade Bleu Cheese Dressing

Making this incredible dressing is incredibly simple and takes just minutes of active prep time. The hardest part is waiting for it to chill!

Bleu Cheese Dressing Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Yields: Approx. 2.5 cups

Ingredients

2 cups (1 pint) sour cream
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
4 to 8 ounces crumbled bleu cheese

Instructions

Combine Base Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the sour cream, white vinegar, mayonnaise, salt, garlic salt, celery salt, pepper, and paprika. Whisk these ingredients together thoroughly until they are well combined and smooth. Ensure there are no lumps from the sour cream.
Fold in Bleu Cheese: Gently fold in the crumbled bleu cheese. You want to incorporate it without completely mashing it, so you retain some delightful chunks of cheese in the dressing. This provides bursts of intense flavor and a pleasing texture.
Refrigerate: For the best flavor development, cover the bowl and refrigerate the dressing for at least 2 hours before serving. This chilling period allows the flavors to meld and deepen, resulting in a much richer and more complex dressing.

Notes

For an extra creamy dressing, you can lightly mash some of the blue cheese before folding it in, or even blend a small portion of it into the sour cream base for a smoother consistency before adding the remaining crumbles.

Recipe inspired by ChocolateChocolateandmore.com

Tips for the Ultimate Bleu Cheese Dressing

While the recipe itself is straightforward, a few tips can elevate your homemade blue cheese dressing from good to absolutely phenomenal:

Choose Your Cheese Wisely: As mentioned, the type of blue cheese significantly impacts the final flavor. If you’re new to blue cheese, start with a milder variety like Danish Blue or a dolce Gorgonzola. For a bolder, more assertive dressing, opt for Roquefort or a strong Stilton.
Don’t Skimp on Chilling Time: This is perhaps the most crucial step. Refrigerating for at least two hours (and ideally longer, even overnight) allows all the flavors to marry and deepen. The dressing will taste significantly better after it has had time to rest.
Adjust Consistency: If you prefer a thinner dressing for pouring over salads, you can add a tablespoon or two of milk or buttermilk until you reach your desired consistency. For a thicker dip, reduce the amount of mayonnaise slightly or add a bit more sour cream.
Crumbles vs. Smooth: The recipe calls for folding in crumbled cheese for texture. If you prefer a smoother dressing, you can mash a portion of the blue cheese with a fork before adding it, or even blend a small amount with the sour cream before adding the rest of the ingredients.
Taste and Adjust: Always taste your dressing before serving. Blue cheeses vary in saltiness, so you might need to add a pinch more salt, a dash more vinegar for tang, or a little more pepper to suit your palate.

Creative Ways to Enjoy Your Bleu Cheese Dressing

While this dressing is a classic companion to a fresh green salad or a vibrant veggie platter, its versatility extends far beyond. Here are some delicious ways to incorporate your homemade blue cheese dressing into your meals:

Classic Salad Topping: The obvious choice! It transforms a simple wedge salad or mixed greens into a gourmet experience.
Dip for Wings: The ultimate pairing for spicy buffalo wings. The cool, creamy tang of the dressing perfectly complements the heat of the wings.
Burger Topping: Spoon a generous dollop onto grilled burgers for a gourmet touch.
Steak Sauce: Drizzle over a perfectly seared steak or use it as a dipping sauce for steak bites.
Baked Potato Topping: A spoonful over a hot baked potato with chives is pure comfort food.
Sandwich Spread: Spread it on wraps or sandwiches for an added punch of flavor.
With Roasted Vegetables: Drizzle over roasted broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts.
On Tacos or Nachos: A surprising but delicious addition to add a creamy, savory element.

Storage and Shelf Life

One of the best things about homemade dressings is their freshness, and this blue cheese dressing is no exception. Stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it will keep for up to 2-3 weeks. However, in our house, it rarely lasts more than a few days because it’s so frequently enjoyed!

Variations to Personalize Your Dressing

Feel free to get creative and customize this recipe to your liking. A few simple additions can dramatically change the flavor profile:

Herbs: Fresh chives, parsley, or dill can add a bright, herbaceous note.
Heat: A dash of hot sauce (like Worcestershire or Tabasco) can add a subtle kick.
Extra Tang: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice can further brighten the flavors.
Onion: Finely minced red onion or shallots can provide a sharper, more pungent flavor.
Worcestershire Sauce: A few drops can add an umami depth that complements the savory notes.

The Legacy of a Beloved Recipe

This homemade bleu cheese dressing isn’t just a recipe; it’s a part of our family’s story, a dish that signifies comfort, togetherness, and delicious memories. It’s a prime example of how simple, scratch-made food can truly elevate an everyday meal. We hope you’ll try it and make it a staple in your own kitchen!

More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love

Explore other fantastic recipes that pair wonderfully with this dressing or offer a delightful contrast of flavors and textures.

Cucumber and Onion Salad

Deep Fried Beer Battered Onion Rings

Easy Mac and Cheese

Zucchini Bites

Double Chocolate Fudge Tart

Chocolate Fondue

Cream Cheese Chocolate Croissant Cookies

Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream

Post script: Joan passed away in her sleep on October 22, 2015. She went to bed feeling nauseous (which is one of the signs of heart attacks in women) and never woke up. Please learn the signs of heart attack in women (they are different than for men) and if you have high blood pressure or family history of heart disease, don’t brush off nausea as just the flu. Joan made it very clear that she wanted her work to continue in the event of her death so her family is working to keep Joan’s dream alive. In the days following her death, Joan’s fellow bloggers started a twitter campaign #ChocolateForJoan and #chocolateeverydamnday. We hope you’ll join us in honoring Joan’s memory by having chocolate every day.