Ranch Dressing {FAMILY FAVORITE}

Ranch dressing is easy to make from home with this simple method. It is the BEST RECIPE and EVERYONE will want it!

Ranch Dressing always seems about a billion times better when you get in a restaurant than when you buy a bottle. I recently decided enough was enough and set out to make my own homemade version. This recipe comes together in minutes! We like it on salad recipes, of course, but homemade ranch dressing really shines as a dip for southwestern egg rolls, fried pickles, and taquitos!

Ranch Dressing

Ranch Dressing Ingredients

• Mayonnaise – Please, use real mayonnaise! This is not the place for Miracle Whip!
• Sour Cream – This is what adds that luscious tang in the dressing.
• Buttermilk – This ranch dressing recipe calls for a small amount of buttermilk – but did you know, buttermilk can be frozen so you always have some around when you need it! Or, if you just want to use it all up at once – check out my awesome collection of Buttermilk Recipes! You’ll have treats for days!
• Olive Oil – You may want to go with a lighter olive oil so that it doesn’t impart an olive taste to the finished product.
• Lemon Juice – Did you know that microwaving a lemon for 20 seconds will release the juice better!?
• Garlic Salt – Using the garlic salt adds just enough salt with a great garlic flavor.
• Dried Chives – Dried chives give the dressing those special green flecks!
• Onion Powder – Like the garlic salt, the powder imparts flavor without chunks of vegetable, so you keep that smooth, creamy consistency.
• Pepper – You could use white pepper if you don’t want the black pepper flecks. Personally, I think the black specks add a nice touch.

How do you make ranch dressing at home? (Step-by-step)

⭐ First, combine ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend well. You can also use an immersion blender (my personal choice).

⭐ Then, refrigerate overnight

⭐ Finally, enjoy!

Tips and tricks

📆 Make sure to check the dates on all your ingredients and make a note on your dressing jar so you know when it expires.

🥛 Always use full fat mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk for the creamiest and best tasting dressing.

🍋 If you don’t have buttermilk, make some by combining 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice plus enough milk to measure 1 cup.

What Is Ranch Dressing

Ranch dressing is an emulsion of mayonnaise, oils, and spices.  It is commonly used as a dressing on salads, as a dip for vegetables, and even as a drizzle on pizza and casseroles.

Preparation

How do you make ranch dressing thicker?

To make ranch dressing thicker you can stir in additional mayonnaise until you get the consistency you prefer.

For the thickest ranch dressing make sure to always use full fat ingredients as low fat and fat free mayonnaise and sour cream tend to be runnier in texture.

Does ranch dressing have eggs?

Ranch dressing sometimes contains eggs in the ingredients, but our recipe does not call for eggs.  This recipe calls for mayonnaise, which is the combination of oil and eggs.

Storage

How long does homemade ranch dressing keep in the refrigerator?

Homemade Ranch Dressing can be kept in the refrigerator for as long as 3 – 4 weeks. Check the labels on your individual ingredients to confirm how long they are good.  Your dressing will expire when the earliest ingredient expires.

Do not leave at room temperature and always store in a sealed air tight container.

Can you freeze ranch dressing?

We do not suggest freezing this recipe as the texture will not be the same when thawed.

Can ranch dressing be heated?

Ranch dressing can be heated in the microwave and mixed with vegetables or salads (it is delicious in a warm noodle tuna salad!). It is not safe to warm it by leaving at room temperature though! Always keep unused dressing refrigerated.

Nutrition

Is ranch dressing a carb?

Ranch dressing has some carbs, typically in the area of 2 grams per serving. Most bottled dressings contain sugar which increases the carb count.

My homemade version contains no sugar so the carbs are coming from the natural sugars in the dairy products as opposed to added refined sugars.

Is ranch dressing keto?

Ranch dressing can be considered keto when made with whole fat dairy. Fat-free versions of store bought dressings are fairly high carb so avoid those! This is because when fat is removed from a product, sugars are often used to try to replicate the richness of the recipe. My recipe is made without sugars so a small amount should be fine for keto dieters.

Is ranch dressing ok in pregnancy?

Ranch dressing should be fine in pregnancy (always confirm with your OB as your particular situation may differ). Caesar dressing, which often contains raw egg, is usually restricted.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called ranch dressing?

Ranch dressing is called Ranch because it was actually created on a ranch! Steve (Kenneth) Henson perfected his buttermilk dressing with the addition of various herbs and spices until he came up with a recipe he liked. Mr. Henson served his dressing to visitors to his dude ranch, Hidden Valley Ranch (ya see where this is goin’!) in California.

Eventually, the dressing made more money than the dude ranch, and Mr. and Mrs. Henson perfected a dried mix that was sold all over the country. Since the 1950’s, this dressing has become America’s favorite dressing flavor. Thanks, Mr. Henson!

Can dogs eat ranch dressing?

Dogs should not eat ranch dressing due to the garlic and onion in the recipe. A small amount can give them an upset stomach, and a large amount could cause more serious distress.

Is buttermilk dressing the same as ranch dressing?

Buttermilk dressing is not the same; most ranch dressing recipes have some buttermilk added, but the taste is changed by the herbs and spices that are combined into the recipe.

For my food geek friends, Ranch dressing is a subset of buttermilk dressing. Class dismissed.

What To Serve With Ranch Dressing

• Ham and Cheese Crescent Rolls
• Chicken Salad Wrap
• Hamburger Salad
• Cobb Salad
• Cheese Board

More great dressing recipes

• Blue Cheese Dressing
• Easy Citrus Vinaigrette
• Apple Cider Vinaigrette
• Balsamic Dijon Dressing
• Bacon Maple Dijon Dressing
• Honey Mustard Recipe
• Chimichurri
• Creamy Italian Dressing (NO Dairy!)

Tools we love

• Stick blender – Possibly the most used gadget in my entire kitchen.  The key to making a hand blender useful versus a giant pain in the butt is to rinse it immediately after using.  That way you’re never trying to get crusty dried goop out from under the blades.
• Ninja blender – We. Love. This. Blender. It blends all the things!  Beautifully!  No scraping the sides like I did in my old blender.  And for a super reasonable price.  My favorite thing to blend is Strawberry Lime Slushes!