Making ranch dressing at home is so easy! Much healthier than store-bought, whip up a batch of this creamy, tangy homemade dressing in less than 5 minutes using pantry staples. Perfect for dipping, salads, and more!
I recently made a short grocery trip to pick up just a few items – black beans, half and half, and a red pepper. But there was actually a fourth item I was looking for: ranch dressing.
However, the ranch never made it out of the store.
As I was reading the labels of all the different brands of ranch, from the store brand to the half-size expensive brands, every single one had hydrogenated oils.
Ever since I read what was in coffee creamer and started to read and understand labels beyond the calorie count, I can’t buy something that I know has hydrogenated oils. That’s one of our top ingredients to avoid in food.
That meant I needed to make my own home made ranch dressing recipe.
WHY MAKE RANCH DRESSING
Aside from avoiding the funky ingredients, we also make our own ranch dressing because it’s:
- Super easy! Once I figured out how to make ranch, I never looked back!
- Convenient. I have everything I need to make a simple ranch sauce regularly in my kitchen.
- Tastes great! Making homemade ranch dressing because it’s healthier is one thing, but it also has to taste good. Luckily, that’s not an issue here – this ranch is amazing!
- Versatile. Even within this simple recipe, you have a couple of options based on the ingredients you have in your kitchen.
- Frugal. Homemade dressing is a big money saver over store-bought dressings!
RANCH DRESSING RECIPE INGREDIENTS
To make this ranch dressing recipe, start by making ranch seasoning with dried herbs and spices from your pantry.
- Dried parsley
- Dried dill weed
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dried basil
- Ground black pepper
- Salt
Psst! Want to kick this up a notch? Try finishing this recipe with a pinch of finishing salt! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!)
You’ll then mix that ranch seasoning with a base of your choosing to make ranch dressing.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSING
Ranch Seasoning Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a glass jar (or small bowl) and mix well. Store in a sealed container.
Use 1 tablespoon at a time when serving. This homemade ranch seasoning mix makes enough for several batches of homemade ranch dressing.
To turn ranch seasoning into dressing:
Combine 1 tablespoon of ranch seasoning with any of the following variations:
- ⅓ cup yogurt (Greek or regular) and ¼ cup milk
- ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sour cream, and 1-2 tablespoons of milk or buttermilk
- ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1-2 tablespoons buttermilk
Add all ingredients to a large bowl and whisk to combine until desired consistency.
You can always substitute dairy-free milk for the regular milk.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week.
BEST RANCH DRESSING RECIPE TIPS
This dressing is delicious right away, but the flavors really meld after at least a couple of hours in the fridge.
You can use the homemade ranch recipe in place of store-bought packets in any recipe as well. A packet contains 2-3 Tablespoons of seasoning.
All the ranch dressing lovers that I’ve met have a particular brand they like best. If that’s you, try the different variations for the base of this ranch dressing recipe until you find the one that’s your favorite!
I love using mason jars for homemade dressing and these lids make it super easy to shake and pour! Having homemade ranch dressing that’s ready to go in the fridge means we’re more likely to use it.
Want to make a homemade ranch dip? Use one of the options with sour cream and start with half the amount of the base ingredients. Add a bit more milk if it’s too thick.
Like spicy ranch? Add a finely chopped jalapeno to the ranch dressing or mix in a bit of sriracha or hot sauce.
SERVE WITH HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSING
Now that you’ve made your own house ranch dressing from scratch, how are you going to use it?
Dip all the things! Ranch salad dressing makes a delicious dipping sauce.
Top your favorite salad.
Spread it on a sandwich.
You can even dip your pizza crusts in ranch or drizzle it on a baked potato!
RANCH SAUCE RECIPE FAQS
How do you make ranch dressing taste like restaurant ranch?
Ranch dressing from restaurants usually tastes as yummy as it does because of the fat in the base, whether from buttermilk, sour cream, or mayonnaise. Starting with high-quality dairy that isn’t fat-free will help you get that creamy restaurant ranch. Bottled ranch usually has more vinegar or lemon juice to help it stay shelf-stable for longer, which competes with the creamy factor.
Does ranch dressing expire?
Since this homemade ranch sauce recipe doesn’t have all of the preservatives that store-bought ranch has, it will go bad more quickly. Plan to use your homemade ranch dressing by the expiration dates on the dairy you use for the base, or within a week of mixing it up.
What is the main flavor of ranch dressing?
Ranch dressing is a combination of a creamy base with herby flavors like dill, parsley, and basil, plus garlic, onion, and black pepper.
Can you make dairy-free ranch dressing?
MORE EASY HOMEMADE DRESSING RECIPES
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Ranch Dressing and Seasoning
Making ranch dressing at home is so easy! Much healthier than store-bought, whip up a batch of this creamy, tangy homemade dressing in less than 5 minutes using pantry staples. Perfect for dipping, salads, and more!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: About 13 Tbsp 1x
- Category: Sauces & Condiments
- Method: Bowl
- Cuisine: American
Instructions
Ranch Seasoning
- Combine all ingredients in a glass jar (or bowl) and mix well. Store in a sealed container. Use 1 tablespoon at a time when serving.
To turn ranch seasoning into dressing:
Combine 1 tablespoon of ranch seasoning with any of the following variations:
- ⅓ cup yogurt (Greek or regular) and ¼ cup milk
- ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sour cream and 1-2 tablespoons of milk or buttermilk
- ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1-2 tablespoons buttermilk
Notes
- You can use the homemade ranch recipe in place of store-bought packets in any recipe as well. A packet contains 2-3 Tablespoons of seasoning.
- Want to make a homemade ranch dip? Use one of the options with sour cream and start with half the amount of the base ingredients. Add a bit more milk if it’s too thick.
- Like spicy ranch? Add a finely chopped jalapeno to the ranch dressing or mix in a bit of sriracha or hot sauce.
