This homemade Ranch Dressing recipe is easy to make and better than store-bought! Your family will love using it as a salad dressing and dip.
Although we like many different salad dressings, ranch dressing remains our favorite! Besides being delicious on a large variety of salads, it can be used as a dip for anything from chicken nuggets to pizza.
Ingredients and Substitutions
The ingredients needed for this ranch dressing recipe are actually pretty basic and you probably have them in your kitchen already. So, you can easily whip it up anytime you want!
- Milk: This recipe uses whole milk to thin the dressing while maintaining the creaminess. You can use lighter milk if you prefer but the dressing will be thinner.
- Vinegar: We added vinegar to the milk to make buttermilk. You could also use lemon juice if you prefer.
- Mayonnaise: We used full-fat, original mayonnaise because it adds flavor and creaminess. Other alternatives include a light mayo or Miracle Whip but keep in mind that any substitutions may change the flavor and creaminess of the dressing.
- Sour Cream: We also added sour cream for extra creaminess and a little tanginess. Again, you can try using light sour cream or even Greek yogurt but it may change the flavor and texture.
- Herbs: We used dried chives, parsley, and dill weed to make this ranch dressing. You can substitute the dried herbs with fresh ones if you prefer but you will need two to three times as much fresh as dried.
- Garlic Powder: We chose garlic powder but minced garlic would also work in this recipe. Also, you can add more or less garlic powder depending on your preferences.
- Onion Powder: The onion powder adds flavor to the dressing.
- Black Pepper: A little black pepper adds a spicy flavor and flecks of color.
- Salt: We added a little salt to help bring out the flavors of the dressing.
How To Make Ranch Dressing
There are only three easy steps in this recipe! Make the buttermilk, whisk everything together, and refrigerate to thicken. Kids would love to help make this dressing.
- Prep: Mix together the milk and vinegar to make buttermilk. You can also use lemon juice instead of vinegar if you prefer.
- Whisk: Add the buttermilk to the remaining ingredients and whisk until combined.
- Chill: Transfer the ranch dressing to a mason jar and add the cover. Place it in the refrigerator to allow the flavor to combine and the dressing to thicken.
Variations
Salsa Ranch
To make salsa ranch, add skip the buttermilk (milk and vinegar in this recipe) and add one cup of salsa instead. This dressing is perfect for taco salad and chicken fajita salad.
Spicy Ranch Dressing
If you want to make the dressing spicy, add a little hot sauce and some dried peppers such as cayenne, ancho chili, or crushed red peppers. Start with only a 1/8 or 1/4 teaspoon and add more as needed.
Storage
Store homemade ranch dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. It does not freeze well so only make as much as you plan to use within a week.
Ranch Dressing Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
You can use skim milk, light mayonnaise, and light sour cream but the dressing won’t be as creamy or thick. Try adding less skim milk to start and only add more as needed.
Restaurant ranch dressing is so good because it is freshly made with full-fat ingredients just like this recipe!
The flavor is a combination of tangy creaminess (buttermilk, mayo, and sour cream), herbs (chives, parsley, and dill), and a little bite/spice (garlic, onion, and black pepper).
Try it on these salad recipes:
This Apple Cranberry Salad is sweet and crunchy, crisp and tart! It’s simple enough for a weekday lunch yet fancy enough for holiday dinners!
Always a crowd favorite, this Taco Salad recipe is topped with tomatoes, corn, beans, taco meat, onions, and cheese!
This Corn Salad recipe is a creamy combination of fresh sweet corn, colorful peppers, and ripe tomatoes! It is the perfect summer salad for potlucks, picnics, and barbecues.
Ranch Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried dill weed
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Whisk together the whole milk and vinegar. Set aside for 5 minutes.
- Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, dried chives dried parsley, dried dill weed, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. Whisk to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Ronald says
Most of the goodies I’ve seen you present sound delicious, & are added to my recipe collection. The name of your site attracted me. (Not many folk know gunny stack.) When new-to-me recipes loom on the horizon, investigation is required. There in so far, 2 excellent recipes for dry ranch dressing mix are constantly in use here. Making it nearly fills a 2 cup container that resides top shelf of my reefer, ready to use dry or mix with salad dressing, the proper spread to smear on sandwiches. Mere mayo goes down the road with folks who tolerate drinking 2% milk. Tasting a new grocery chain’s housebrand 2 years ago has me watching for potato salad recipes. They showed me potato salad can be flavorful, instead of bland. Hates bland food. Likes eating well. I often say eating should be a celebration for the tastebuds. Until Zuckerberg killed it after 7 years, I had an F’book page named No Excuse for Bad Cookin’. Seeya.