Homemade Ranch Dressing

Skip the bottled version at the grocery store and make this flavorful Ranch Dressing from scratch. It’s easier than you might think, and once you make it, you can use it on all your favorite foods. It is THE BEST homemade ranch dressing – EVER!

If you’re a ranch lover, you probably eat it on your salad, on your pizza, with your chicken tenders, and so much more. Most people grab a bottle of Hidden Valley Ranch because that’s what we grew up with.

But, if it’s one condiment that you can’t do without, why not learn how to make your own ranch dressing? This ranch salad dressing is so much better!

Use this Homemade Ranch Dressing recipe to create a flavorful sauce that goes with all kinds of foods. You can eat it on pasta, chicken, pizza, pork, baked potatoes, and dozens of other flavorful foods that you eat at home.

Don’t forget that you can also use it as a dip when eating veggies, such as carrot sticks and celery! So the next time you need a dip- make this instead of the bottled stuff.

best ranch dressing

Here are some commonly asked questions

Which brand of mayo do I need to use?

You don’t need to use a specific brand of mayo. You can use what you already have in the fridge. If you prefer using miracle whip over traditional mayo, you can use it to make the Ranch Dressing.

However, you can expect the dressing to have a slightly sweeter taste than it would if you were to use regular mayo.

Do I use fresh lemon juice?

When preparing the Ranch Dip, it’s always good to use fresh lemon juice. You can use the juice of a single lemon because you don’t need too much of it. Adding lemon juice gives this dressing that perfectly tangy taste.

If you don’t have any lemons to use, refrigerated lemon juice is a great alternative that will go well with the other ingredients.

homemade ranch

Can I use dried parsley instead of fresh parsley?

If you don’t have fresh parsley, feel free to use dried parsley. You can also use dried chives if you don’t have fresh chives. Whether you use dried herbs or fresh herbs, it will still add plenty of flavor to this homemade dressing. While I try to use fresh ingredients as often as possible – sometimes dried herbs are all I have at the time.

What should I do if I don’t have buttermilk?

If you don’t have buttermilk to make the Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, you have two options. You can replace it with traditional milk or make buttermilk at home. Buttermilk is one of the key ingredients, but fortunately, there are some workarounds if you don’t have it.

If you’d like to make buttermilk at home, it’s easy. You’d add a tablespoon of the lemon juice or vinegar or even apple cider vinegar to your cup of regular milk and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. You may then combine it with the other ingredients to create this flavorful ranch sauce.

Be sure to add the lemon juice or vinegar to the measuring cup first – then fill the remaining portion with the milk – that way you don’t have 1 cup + 1 tbsp, you’ll have just the 1 cup measurement and the ratio of milk to the acid is correct.

I always like to keep buttermilk powder on hand as a great buttermilk substitute. It lasts so much longer than buying fresh buttermilk in the refrigerated aisle and I can mix up as much as I need, whenever I need it. (see link for the powder below)

ranch dressing

How many servings will it make?

Once you’ve prepared the Ranch Dressing, you’ll have two cups of it available to use. You can get many servings from two cups, but it all depends on how you plan to use it.

If you’re using it as a dip, you can get more servings. However, if you’re adding it with macaroni to create a pasta salad or pouring it over salad, you’ll get fewer servings because you’re using more of it.

How do I store the Ranch Dressing?

Pour the dressing into a plastic or glass container with a lid and put it in the fridge to keep it fresh. Don’t leave it out to reach room temperature because that’ll cause it to spoil.

You can keep it refrigerated for up to a week or for as long as the milk and sour cream are good for (so be sure to check those dates when mixing this up), but if you use it a lot, it’s probably not going to stay in the fridge that long anyway. It’s the best recipe – so when we make it, it is often gone in less than 24 hours.

buttermilk ranch dressing

Simple Ingredients for Ranch Dressing

• mayonnaise
• sour cream
• lemon juice
• fresh dill minced or dried
• fresh chives minced or dried
• parsley minced or dried
• garlic finely minced or garlic powder
• buttermilk or milk

How long does it take to make the dressing?

It takes five minutes or less to prepare Ranch Dressing from scratch. Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, you can slowly combine them in a mixing bowl before transferring the dressing over to a container of your choice for storage.

I like to whip it up and get it in the fridge. Then I can make the rest of my meal while the dressing chills.

Variations to this easy recipe

• add black pepper
• add onion powder
• a splash of Worcestershire sauce
• regular milk
• double the recipe to include 1 cup buttermilk
• use plain Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream
• add a few blue cheese crumbles
• use whole milk
• use a mixture of fresh and dried spices
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt
• thicker consistency – add another tbsp of sour cream
• use coconut milk
• substitute in lime juice
• add a little bit of olive oil
• use balsamic vinegar
• try low-fat or fat free Greek yogurt

homemade buttermilk ranch dressing recipe

How to make Ranch Dressing

1. Chop the dill, chives, parsley, and garlic finely.
2. Squeeze the lemon juice over the chopped herbs.
3. In a medium bowl, mix together the mayonnaise and sour cream.
4. Add the herbs with the lemon juice.
5. Mix everything together until well combined.
6. Slowly add the milk and mix until you reach the desired consistency.
7. Transfer to a jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

What are some different things to do with this easy ranch dressing recipe?

Besides adding it to salad and using it as a dip, you can get creative with the Ranch Dressing. You might want to use it as the sauce base for a cold or hot pasta dish.

For example, you can make cold pasta salad using this dressing with boiled noodles, chopped tomatoes, black olives, and other tasty ingredients. You can use it as the sauce base on pizza dough to make bacon, chicken, ranch pizza. You might even want to add it as a dressing to your favorite wraps and sandwiches to give them more flavor.

My personal favorite is to dip my French fries in it or use it as a veggie dip. It really is one of the best things ever to make my own salad dressing!

• mayonnaise
• sour cream
• lemon juice
• dill
• chives
• parsley
• garlic or garlic powder
• buttermilk or milk
• cutting board
• bowl
• whisk
• jars
• pour lid for jars
• knives
• measuring cups

If you love this easy dressing recipe, you’re going to love these other homemade dressings too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

ranch dressing recipe without buttermilk

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