Delightfully fresh, aromatic and flavor-packed, this delicious homemade ranch dressing recipe will be your go-to from now on for a variety of meals and snacks!
A couple of years ago a poll revealed that 40% of all Americans claim ranch dressing as their favorite and it remains the #1 best-selling dressing in the U.S.. While I love a lot of different salad dressings, I agree that ranch is fabulous. Especially a truly good homemade ranch dressing.
How to Make the BEST Ranch Dressing:Â Key Ingredients
The challenge with homemade ranch dressing is that it too often lacks flavor or that certain “something”. The store-bought stuff “cheats” by being packed full of additives, “natural flavors” (whatever those are), and flavor enhancers. But homemade dressing relies on natural ingredients to do the job and in order to maximize the flavor some key elements need to be followed.
First off, most store-bought ranch dressing uses MSG which adds the umami element that most homemade ranch dressings lack. Without that umami dimension the dressing lacks depth and complexity.
Can You Say “Umami”? Â
We’re going to mitigate that problem by using a flavorful substitute: Worcestershire sauce. This fermented condiment is a umami powerhouse and a great ingredient to add to a lot of foods, including this dressing, to get that extra depth of flavor.
Fresh Herbs
The second key is using fresh herbs wherever possible. Nothing beats fresh herbs in ranch salad dressing. Dried herbs can be used in a pinch when fresh herbs are lacking, but the flavor will suffer.
Here’s why: Dried herbs are a great choice for long and slow-cooked dishes where time enables the flavors to be coaxed out of the herbs. But for non-cooked “raw” dishes (like this dressing) or dishes that are cooked only briefly, fresh herbs are always the best choice because their flavors and oils are immediately present and can penetrate the dish quickly.
So be good to yourself and use fresh herbs for your dressing and you will be duly rewarded!
That Magical Touch of Sweetness
Lastly, we’re adding a touch of cane sugar. Food science explains that salt and sugar in combination provide a far greater taste enjoyment than either one on its own (think salted caramel, chocolate covered pretzels, and the reason salt is added to sweet baked goods).
And as the food scientists behind a University of Minnesota study observed, “Sugar plays an important role in contributing to the flavor profile of foods by interacting with other ingredients to enhance or lessen certain flavors.”
And here are a few ideas to put this ranch dressing to delicious use! Simply adjust the thickness of the dressing by reducing or increasing the buttermilk.
How to Use Ranch Dressing
Ranch dressing is deliciously versatile. Here are a few ways to enjoy it.
- Leafy salads
- Pasta salads
- Potato salads
- Coleslaw
- Baked potatoes
- Potato skins
- Ranch pizza
- A dip for veggies, potato chips and French fries
- Dunk chicken in it before breading and frying
- Sandwiches, wraps and burgers
- Dipping chicken nuggets
- Dipping buffalo cauliflower and broccoli tots
- Buffalo chicken wings
- Foil packet meals
- Mashed potatoes
- and more…your imagination is the limit!
Ranch Dressing Recipe
Let’s get started!
Place everything in a blender and pulse until smooth and the herbs are broken down (but do not liquify the herbs, just break down the herbs until they’re small green flecks in the dressing). Taste and add more seasonings according to preference.
Pour the dressing in an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before using, preferably overnight.
Will keep in the fridge for up to a week.
Makes about 1 1/2 cups of ranch dressing.
Serve however your heart desires (see suggestions above)!
Enjoy!
For more phenomenal homemade dressings be sure to try our:
- Italian Dressing
- French Dressing
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Thousand Island Dressing
- Russian Dressing
- Asian Salad Dressing
- Creamy Cilantro Dressing
- Strawberry Poppy Seed Dressing
- Orange Poppy Seed Dressing
- Lemon Dill Mustard Dressing
BEST Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- **We strongly recommend using fresh herbs for maximum flavor**
- 1/2 cup quality mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream (full fat)
- 1/2 cup buttermilk* (*use less if you want a thicker dressing or dip)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill weed (or 2 teaspoons dried dill weed)
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley (or 3 teaspoons dried parsley)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives (or 2 teaspoons dried chives)
- 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons finely minced fresh garlic
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon cane sugar (see blog post for explanation)
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Place everything in a blender and pulse until smooth and the herbs are broken down (but do not liquify the herbs, just break down the herbs until they're small green flecks in the dressing). Taste and add more seasonings according to preference. Pour the dressing in an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before using, preferably overnight. Will keep in the fridge for up to a week.Makes about 1 1/2 cups of ranch dressing.
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet July 8, 2019
Patricia says
Hello Kimberly,
Haven’t yet made this recipe, and I have a few questions:
1) Is the mayonnaise flavor noticeable or is it well covered from the other ingredients?
2) What type of buttermilk do you recommend? low-fat or whole
3) What type of mayos can be used other than “regular/conventional”? light mayo, avocado mayo, etc.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Patricia, it depends on how sensitive you are to the flavor of mayo but I would say it’s not overly pronounced because of all the other flavors.
I always try to avoid low-fat/non-fat dairy products but I can’t remember the last time I saw full-fat buttermilk in stores. If you can find it that’s what I would recommend, if not go with low-fat. You can use any mayo you like, the important thing is just to use one that you think tastes good.
Patricia Louderman says
Thanks so much for quick reply and the information. Regarding whole/full-fat buttermilk, I saw it at a local grocery store recently and decided to try and compare to the low-fat I’d been using for many decades; omgosh, I was quite surprised that it was less sour, in fact somewhat sweet….absolute deliciousness! I look forward to using it in recipes and taste the difference.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I agree, Patricia, whole fat buttermilk is SO much better, no comparison. I regularly bought it in Europe but have found it nearly impossible to buy since moving to the U.S. I really just need to start making my own cultured buttermilk!
SUZANNE says
Hi there,
I have not yet made your recipe. However, I will give it a try. I always make my Ranch Dressing from the mix by Hidden Valley using buttermilk and mayo. This is the ONLY flavor that my family likes. I’ve tried the bottled ranch dressing and nobody would eat their salad after one bite.
My question is this, does your recipe most resemble the store bottled dressing or the kind made from the Hidden Valley one as I described above? I know that this is probably an unfair question, since you have worked hard to perfect your own recipe. However, if you could give me a fair guestimate, I’d be greatful.
I’m 81 and have cooked since I was 8 years old, so have tried just about everything in the culinary world. I love to try new recipes, but find that some of them are a waste of ingredients and money.
I’ve just discovered your site through Pinterest and hope to keep following you for your yummy recipes.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Suzanne, that’s a perfectly fair question, thanks for asking it. Truthfully, this ranch dressing really doesn’t taste like either. For one, this recipe uses mostly fresh ingredients so that in and of itself will yield a different flavor than either the packet mix or the bottled stuff. But if I had to choose which one it comes even remotely closest to resembling it would be the packet mix since it has a “fresher” taste with the addition of buttermilk and mayo. The bottled stuff doesn’t have any fresh ingredients in it, it’s mostly flavored soybean oil.
I’m so glad you found our site and hope you enjoy some of the recipes you try! Kind regards, Kimberly
karen krause says
Can I substitute yoghurt for the buttermilk? and use lactose-free sour creme to make this more lactose-intolerance friendly? Would love for both my husband and me to enjoy this!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Karen, you sure can. It will alter the flavor a little but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Since yoghurt is generally thicker than buttermilk you may need to add just a small touch of liquid to thin it out if the dressing is too thick.
Kathleen Young says
I’m wondering why you used onion powder instead of fresh sweet onions? Just a question, not critiquing.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Kathleen, even if you were critiquing that would be totally okay! :) Yes, that’s a great question. In this particular instance I just find that the powdered version has a more impactful flavor. But that’s just personal preference and you are more than welcome to use fresh onions instead.
Sara Welch says
What a quick and easy recipe for a must-have item in our home! Looking forward to giving this a try!
Krista says
This is perfect! Especially for a ranch eating family like mine!
Catalina says
This is my favorite dressing! I am so glad to make it at home now!
Chrissie Baker says
Homemade dressing is the BEST. It’s always so much better than the bottled stuff. It’s so easy too – great recipe!
Beth Pierce says
Love that I can make this on my own versus buying the a store brand recipe! Perfect for my salad tomorrow!
Dorothy Reinhold says
Homemade really does make all of the difference! I love that you used fresh herbs!
Anna says
Homemade dressing is the best! I could pour this on everything!
Katerina says
Ranch dressing is my favorite!! I can’t wait to try this!! Sounds amaaazing!
Echo says
this ranch dressing was so good! I’m never getting store bought again!
Tanya Schroeder says
I can’t wait to try this, my family loves ranch dressing!
Beth Pierce says
This was such a quick and easy recipe and delicious too! Love that I can make this anytime and always have it on hand!