If you're a fan of creamy, tangy, and herb-packed dressings, this homemade ranch dressing recipe is about to become your new favorite.
Made with simple pantry staples, it's perfect for dipping crispy tenders or onion rings, drizzling over salads, or using as a sauce for wraps and sandwiches. This post contains affiliate links.
I've always loved the flavor and consistency of restaurant-style ranch. I worked at a restaurant for years, and there really is something different about it. I'd order a side of fries just to get a cup of that delicious dressing. They made it in-house and stored it in large containers in the walk-in refrigerator. The texture is thinner than bottled dressing, which I like, and the flavor is so much bolder. If you like the homemade ranch made with packets, buttermilk, and mayonnaise, you'll love this version. It's better!
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Here's Why This Recipe Works
- Quick and easy – Ready in under 5 minutes (although best after chilling for a bit)
- Customizable – Adjust herbs and spices to your taste. You probably have most in your pantry already!
- Restaurant-quality flavor – Better than anything store-bought!
🥣 Ingredients
If you can remember "½" you can easily memorize this recipe! I use ½ cup of the following ingredients for a creamy base. Use full-fat sour cream and mayo for the creamiest texture.
- Buttermilk
- Sour cream
- Mayonnaise
I also use ½ teaspoon of the following herbs and spices for a bold and flavorful ranch dressing. Feel free to adjust to your taste.
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dried dill weed
- Dried chives
- Dried parsley
- Salt
- Black pepper
👩🍳 How To Make Ranch Dressing
Combine all ingredients into a bowl and whisk until smooth and creamy. Pour into an airtight container and chill until ready to serve. You can enjoy the ranch dressing right away, but I recommend waiting at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld.
🧊 Storage Tips
Store homemade ranch dressing in a 16-ounce airtight jar or container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Give it a good stir before each use. I store mine in a mason jar with screw on lid. These will fit all regular mouth jars.
🥒 Pairings
This homemade ranch dressing is delicious as a dip for chips, onion rings, and veggies. It's also the perfect consistency to drizzle over a green salad or sandwich.
Common Questions
Absolutely. If you have fresh herbs to use up, like excess dill and chives from your garden, this is a great way to boost the flavor of your ranch. It is not necessary, however. Dried herbs add great flavor and are easily accessible. The choice is yours!
Buttermilk adds the tang that you expect from classic ranch dressing, and I highly suggest grabbing a bottle the next time you are at the store. After making a batch of ranch, you can use the leftover buttermilk to make buttermilk onion rings! You can also use a buttermilk substitute. For this recipe, you would use a scant ½ cup of milk and 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar. You can also omit buttermilk and use ¼ cup more sour cream and ¼ cup mayonnaise, then thin it out slightly with milk.
Feel free to use low-fat sour cream and low-fat mayonnaise. You can also use plain Greek yogurt in place of sour cream, mayonnaise or buttermilk and then thin it out with a splash of skim milk.
Once you try this homemade ranch dressing recipe, you might never go back to the bottled kind again. It’s creamy, tangy, and packed with classic ranch flavor from herbs and spices you probably already have in your pantry. Here is a printable version of the recipe!
Homemade Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill weed
- ½ teaspoon dried chives
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl.
- Transfer dressing to an airtight jar or container and chill until ready to serve, at least 1 hour.
Brandy says
Hey everyone, Brandy here! This is my favorite ranch dressing for dipping and salads. If you like a bold ranch, you'll love it; if you want a milder ranch, drop the garlic and onion to 1/4 teaspoon each. I've found that it keeps for up to 2 weeks, but a week is a safe bet.