We LOVE ranch dressing in our house, I mean Hidden Valley Ranch is America’s favorite dressing and a bestseller since 1992 for a good reason! And my favorite way to have ranch is, of course, with pizza! I especially love to drizzle homemade ranch over Buffalo Chicken Pizza. Ranch also makes an excellent dip for fresh vegetables such as cucumbers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, celery, and broccoli. It also pairs well with chips, french fries, and chicken wings.
What is Ranch Dressing and How is it Different from Ranch Seasoning?
Ranch dressing is an American staple. It’s a creamy, tangy sauce made with simple ingredients like mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream, and a blend of herbs and spices such as dill, parsley, and chives. It’s perfect for salads, dipping veggies, or adding flavor to various dishes. On the other hand, ranch seasoning is a dry mix of similar herbs and spices without a creamy base; however, it contains dried buttermilk powder. It’s versatile and can be used to season meats, sprinkle on popcorn, or mix into recipes for that classic ranch flavor without the added creaminess.
Ranch Dressing Recipe Ingredients
To make a delicious homemade ranch, here’s what you’ll need: Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Mayonnaise: Great dips always start with mayonnaise! Use store-bought mayo, or try my homemade mayonnaise recipe – it’s so easy. For a dairy-free version, try my vegan mayo recipe. Sour Cream and Buttermilk: OR just sour cream, OR sour cream with milk, OR just Greek yogurt. Use whatever you have available! Fresh Herbs: You will need a mix of fresh dill, parsley, and chives. If you’re using dried herbs, you will need smaller quantities as dried herbs are more concentrated in flavor.
How to Make best Ranch Dressing
Gather the ingredients in a bowl, and whisk the ingredients together until well combined. You can thin the ranch dressing out by adding more buttermilk/milk/water if you’re using it for salads, that way, you can pour it smoothly over salads. If I’m using it for chicken wraps, and pizza, then I like to keep it thick. Test-taste your ranch dressing and adjust any seasonings to your preference. Need more salt? Garlic powder? Fresh lemon juice (or white vinegar)? Add them! And don’t forget to check for the desired consistency depending on what you’re using the Ranch for, i.e., thicker Ranch when served as a dip and thinner Ranch for a salad dressing.
Ranch Variations
Spicy Ranch: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few drops of hot sauce. Avocado Ranch: Blend in half an avocado for a creamy twist. Vegan Ranch: Use vegan mayo and dairy-free milk. Pickle Juice Ranch: Add a splash of pickle juice for extra tang. Jalapeno Ranch: Add finely diced pickled jalapenos to the mixture. Cheesy Ranch: Mix in shredded cheeses. Bacon Ranch: Add crumbled bacon for a savory touch.
Storing Tips
Refrigeration: Store in an airtight container or sealed glass jar in the fridge for up to one week. Freezing: Not recommended as the texture may change.
Serving Suggestions
Salads: Use as a dressing for garden salads, pasta salads like my BLT Pasta Salad, or coleslaw. You can also try my Tex Mex Ranch to for this Tex Mex Salad. Wraps: Ranch is perfect in wraps and sandwiches! Try it in my Grilled Chicken Wraps, or Dips: Perfect for dipping veggies, French Fries, or Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings. Toppings: Great on Twice Baked Potatoes, Buffalo Chicken Burgers, Buffalo Chicken Sliders, and Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers.
For more awesome salad dressings, check out my easy Caesar dressing, lime crema, raspberry vinaigrette for a fruity dressing, bang bang sauce, and yum yum sauce. I can’t wait to hear about your experience with homemade Ranch dressing! Once you try the recipe, be sure to come back and leave a review in the comments section below with a star rating. Make sure to pin this recipe for more people to enjoy! This recipe was first shared on Little Sunny Kitchen in July 2020, and updated in July 2024 with new images and additional helpful information. The recipe remained the same. © Little Sunny Kitchen
