Ranch Dressing Recipe

Are you ready to step up your dressing game? Say goodbye to uninspiring (and bland!) packaged ranch and hello to this incredible homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe! Made with only the best ingredients, including the ultimate combination of fresh herbs, this dressing is a flavor explosion in every bite!

Make Your Own Ranch Dressing!

Homemade Ranch Dressing has a flavor that simply cannot be beaten! The difference in taste between store-bought and homemade is truly night and day.

Here are a few reasons why homemade ranch is so much better:

• Fresh ingredients: When you make your own dressing, you have the option to use the freshest ingredients, including freshly minced herbs, high-quality olive oil, and real lemon juice. This yields a dressing packed with flavor and aroma.
• No artificial flavors: Commercial dressings often contain artificial flavors that can detract from the taste of your food. When you make your own dressing, you know exactly what’s going into it.
• Customization: By making your own dressing, you can easily adjust the flavors and ingredients to suit your preferences. Whether you prefer a tangier, herbier (is that a word?), or creamier dressing, the possibilities are endless when you make your own.
• Health benefits: Store-bought dressings often contain high levels of saturated fats, salt, and sugar, but when you make your own, you can control the amount of each ingredient and optimize for personal dietary needs.

Ranch Dressing Ingredients

Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients that go into this classic homemade Ranch Dressing:

• Sour cream: This is the tangy, creamy base of the dressing. Use full-fat for the most flavor, or fat-free if you’re looking to lighten it up a bit.
• Buttermilk: Buttermilk adds the classic zing and helps to thin out the dressing. Use more for a thinner dressing and less for a thicker dressing (or dip).
• Mayonnaise: Creaminess and a more nuanced flavor come from mayo. Use a good brand; the better the mayo, the better the dressing will taste. We recommend Hellman’s/Best Foods®.
• Fresh herbs: Minced parsley, dill, and chives add fresh flavor and depth to the dressing. We highly recommend the combination of all three, but if you’d prefer to stick to just two, use dill and chives.
• Garlic powder: These bring a nice savory flavor to the dressing.
• White wine vinegar or lemon juice: Use either for a touch of acidity and freshness.
• Olive oil: Adds a subtle richness. Use extra-virgin olive oil here.
• Salt and pepper: Add to taste, ensuring all the flavors are nicely balanced.

By combining these ingredients and adjusting to taste, you can create a delicious and versatile homemade Ranch Dressing that will elevate any dish it touches!

How To Use Ranch Dressing Recipe

Ranch dressing is a versatile and flavorful addition to many dishes. I know several people who put ranch on just about everything! Here are a few ways you can use it:

• Salad dressing: Use as a dressing for green salads, pasta salads, or potato salads.
• Dip: Serve as a dip for vegetables, chips, or crackers.
• Condiment: Spread it on sandwiches or wraps for a tangy and creamy addition.
• Marinade: Mix it with a little bit of oil and lemon juice to marinate chicken or shrimp for a delicious and easy dinner.
• Sauce for vegetables or potatoes: Drizzle it over roasted vegetables or roasted potatoes for a creamy and flavorful addition.
• Pizza topping: Dunk a hot slice of cheesy pizza in this Ranch Dressing!
• Burgers and sandwiches: Use  Ranch Dressing on burgers or sandwiches for a creamy and tangy addition.
• Buffalo wings: Use it as a dipping sauce for Buffalo wings or Buffalo chicken tenders.
• Baked chicken: Mix it with breadcrumbs to create a delicious coating for baked chicken.
• Rice and grain bowls: Drizzle it over rice or Grain Bowls for a creamy and flavorful addition.
• Coleslaw: Use it as a dressing for Coleslaw for a tangy and creamy addition.

Recipe Tips

Here are a few tips to help you make the best homemade Ranch Dressing:

• Use fresh herbs. To achieve the best flavor, it’s crucial to use fresh herbs in your dressing. Using a variety of herbs adds depth and complexity to the flavor profile. Finely mince them to ensure they’re well integrated into the dressing.
• Adjust the consistency. If the dressing is too thick, add more buttermilk until you reach the desired level. If the dressing is too thin, add a little bit of sour cream or mayonnaise.
• Taste and adjust. After you’ve made the dressing, taste it and adjust the seasonings as needed. You can add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to taste.
• Let it rest. If you have time, let the dressing rest for about 30 minutes after you’ve made it. This will give the flavors time to meld and the dressing will taste even better!
• Experiment with flavors. Feel free to experiment with different herbs to find your perfect flavor combination.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to making the best homemade Ranch Dressing you’ve ever tasted!

Use Homemade Ranch In One Of These Recipes:

• Ranch Potato Salad with bacon and Cheddar
• Garden Salad with tomatoes and croutons
• Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps with quinoa
• Wedge Salad with cherry tomatoes
• Turkey Avocado Wraps with bacon

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5 from 2 votes

Ranch Dressing Recipe

By Chelsea Lords

Ready to level up your dressing? This homemade Ranch is a game-changer, packed with fresh herbs and the best ingredients for a flavor burst in every bite!

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings (1 cup)

Equipment

• Medium bowl

Ingredients 

USMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1/2 cup sour cream
• ▢ 1/4 cup buttermilk plus more as desired
• ▢ 1/4 cup mayo see note 1
• ▢ 1 tablespoon fresh dill finely minced, see note 2
• ▢ 1 tablespoon chives finely minced
• ▢ 1 tablespoon parsley finely minced
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar or lemon juice
• ▢ 2 teaspoons olive oil
• ▢ Salt and pepper

Instructions 

• In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper).
• Taste dressing and adjust to preference. If you’d like a thinner dressing, add more buttermilk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it’s the desired consistency. Add more lemon juice for more acidity, more salt/pepper, etc. until flavors are vibrant!
• Cover and chill dressing (it tastes even better after about half an hour!). Use as desired, stirring before using, and returning leftovers to the fridge.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Use a good mayo; the better the mayo, the better the dressing will taste. I love Hellman’s/Best Foods®.

Note 2: I love the blend of all 3 herbs in this dressing best (measured after finely minced), but you can use just 1 or 2 for a more subtle flavor. If one of the herbs listed isn’t your favorite, replace it with cilantro. When it comes to parsley, use flat-leaf Italian parsley, not curly; it’s more flavorful. Finely mince the herbs to ensure they’re well integrated into the dressing.

Storage: Dressing lasts up to a week in an airtight container in the fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 58mg | Potassium: 39mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 233IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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