Ranch Dressing

Make your own ranch dressing and take your salads to the next level with this creamy recipe.

Table of Contents

Ranch Dressing Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Ranch Dressing Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
Why We Love This Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE
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Tasty and tangy, this homemade ranch dressing is a fantastic way to dress up salads and dip recipes. It only takes a few minutes and a handful of simple ingredients from your pantry to whip up this flavorful homemade version of the popular salad dressing.

close up shot of a mason jar full of Ranch Dressing

Ranch Dressing Ingredients

Ranch Dressing raw ingredients that are labeled

This homemade ranch dressing combines mayonnaise and sour cream, infused with the flavors of parsley, dill, chives, garlic, onion, and a hint of lemon.

Seasoned with sea salt and black pepper, it offers a balanced and savory taste with a touch of tanginess from buttermilk.

Perfect for salads or dipping, it’s a flavorful blend of creamy, herby, and slightly tangy goodness.

You’ll need:

½ cup of mayonnaise
½ cup of sour cream
1 teaspoon of dried parsley
½ teaspoon of dry dill
¼ teaspoon of dried chives (or ½ teaspoon finely chopped fresh chives)
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of onion powder
½ teaspoon of sea salt
⅛ teaspoon of ground black pepper
2 to 3 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
4 to 6 tablespoons of buttermilk

PRO TIP:

If you have pre-made ranch seasoning, add milk, sour cream, and lemon juice to the seasoning. Thin with 2% or whole milk.

Substitutions And Additions

BUTTERMILK: If you do not have buttermilk available, add ⅛ cup of dry buttermilk powder and substitute regular milk for the buttermilk.

If you don’t have buttermilk powder either, just use milk and add a bit of extra lemon juice.

You can also make your own buttermilk using whole or 2% milk and lemon juice or distilled vinegar.

For every one cup of milk, stir in one tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar.

SOUR CREAM: Greek yogurt is a great substitute for sour cream in this ranch recipe.

How To Make This Ranch Dressing Recipe

It will only take a few minutes to whip up this dressing, and after chill time, it will be ready for salads and dipping.

STEP ONE: Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, and seasonings in a mason jar or small mixing bowl. Squeeze lemon juice into the mixture.

ingredients being whisked in a bowl to combine

STEP TWO: Whisk to combine.

STEP THREE: Add buttermilk one tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.

PRO TIP:

With just one to two tablespoons of buttermilk, the mixture will make a nice dip consistency.

buttermilk being whisked into the bowl of dressing

STEP FOUR: Refrigerate for four or more hours before serving to allow flavors to mingle.

PRO TIP:

You can use the ranch dressing right away if you’d like, but it will develop a better flavor after being refrigerated overnight.

How To Serve

Creamy dressings are always handy to have in the fridge to add to salads and other delicious recipes.

Use this buttermilk ranch dressing when you are making our chicken bacon ranch salad and ranch potato salad.

Not only is ranch dressing perfect for salads, but this is also the best ranch dressing for dipping fresh veggies, appetizers, and finger foods.

Serve your ranch dip alongside our fried pickles and buffalo pinwheels for dipping.

MORE RANCH RECIPES

Pork Dinner Ideas

Crockpot Ranch Pork Chops

Casserole Ideas

Chicken Bacon Ranch Bake

Storage

We’ve got you covered with some simple tips to ensure your homemade ranch stays fresh and flavorful.

MAKE AHEAD: If you’re planning ahead or want to save some time in the kitchen, you can absolutely make this ranch dressing ahead of time.

Simply prepare it as per the recipe instructions, and then transfer it to an airtight container.

Pop it into the fridge, and it can happily hang out there for up to a week days. Just give it a good stir before using it to recombine any separated ingredients.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store this easy homemade ranch dressing in an airtight container or glass jar in the refrigerator for up to one week.

IN THE FREEZER: We do not recommend freezing this ranch salad dressing as it may affect the creamy texture.

Why We Love This Recipe

HOMEMADE GOODNESS: There’s something incredibly satisfying about crafting your own ranch dressing from scratch. It’s a homemade touch that elevates any dish, making it taste fresher and more flavorful.

EASY TO MAKE AND STORE: With step-by-step instructions, this recipe is beginner-friendly and designed for convenience. Plus, you can make it ahead and store it for a few days, saving you time in the kitchen.

close up shot of a bowl of Ranch Dressing with a whisk

Never buy the bottled stuff again with this homemade dressing recipe. The lemon juice and buttermilk give the ranch dressing a nice zing, and you will love the extra flavor this recipe brings to all of your dishes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store this dressing?

This popular dressing will keep in the fridge for up to a week. We don’t recommend freezing ranch dressing as it won’t have the creamy texture once thawed.

How do I turn this into ranch dip rather than pourable dressing?

If you want to make this into a dip, follow the above instructions but only add one to two tablespoons of buttermilk for the thicker consistency.

Can I make my own buttermilk?

You can make your own buttermilk using whole or 2% milk and lemon juice or distilled vinegar. For every one cup of milk, stir in one tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar.

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Ranch Dressing

5 from 6 votes

Make your own ranch dressing and take your salads to the next level with this creamy recipe.

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

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Ingredients

½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
1 teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon dry dill
¼ teaspoon dried chives, or ½ teaspoon finely chopped fresh chives
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice
4 to 6 tablespoons buttermilk

Instructions

Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, and seasonings in a mason jar or small mixing bowl. Squeeze lemon juice into the mixture.
Whisk to combine.
Add buttermilk 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
Refrigerate for 4 or more hours before serving to allow flavors to mingle.

Notes

If you have pre-made ranch seasoning, add milk, sour cream, and lemon juice to the seasoning. Thin with 2% or whole milk.
With just 1 to 2 tablespoons of buttermilk, the mixture will make a nice dip consistency.
You can use the ranch dressing right away if you’d like, but it will develop a better flavor after being refrigerated overnight.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!