Easy Ranch Dressing Recipe

Name: Easy Ranch Dressing Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup mayonnaise; ½ cup buttermilk; 1 tablespoon dried parsley; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon dill weed; ½ teaspoon sugar; ½ teaspoon black pepper; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon white vinegar; ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

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This Easy Ranch Dressing Recipe is creamy, tangy, and bursting with flavor! It’s perfect for game-day parties or a simple salad dressing. It will make you wonder why you’ve relied on store-bought ranch dressing for so long.

As a kid and a grown man, ranch dressing is hands down my favorite salad dressing. I vividly remember being judged by my friends in high school for putting it on my pizza. That was until they tried it, too, and realized that this creamy, tangy sauce is the perfect companion for several things other than salads, carrots, and chicken tenders.

I’m going to show you the best homemade ranch recipe online! The only unusual ingredient that you are unlikely to have at home is dill weed but everything else you should have on hand. If not, a quick trip to the store will solve it.

What is ranch dressing made of?

Traditionally you make ranch dressing with buttermilk, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, white vinegar or lemon juice, dill weed, and Worcestershire sauce. The debate is whether to use sour cream or mayonnaise.

I prefer to use mayonnaise because it gives the ranch dressing a creamier and smoother texture and tastes better than sour cream.

Thank you to Steve Henson for creating this delicious condiment called ranch dressing.

Key Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to whip up this easy ranch dressing recipe.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk is a key ingredient in Southern cuisine that gives food the right amount of tang and flavor. For ranch dressing, using full-fat buttermilk will also give it the desired consistency.

Mayonnaise

The right thickness and texture for buttermilk ranch is achieved with mayonnaise. Some people use sour cream instead, which can work as a swap, but mayo tastes better and has a more desirable consistency since the buttermilk provides enough tanginess.

Seasonings

You can find a plethora of herb and spice combinations online, but the key spices you need are garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. Of course, dill weed and parsley add color and the right herb flavor.

Dill Weed

I always add dried dill weed to my ranch because it lasts longer than fresh dill, and I hate wasting food.

Sugar

Sugar helps to balance the acidity of buttermilk, making it more palatable.

Worcestershire Sauce

Just a little splash of this secret ingredient wakes up the flavor!

How to Make A homemade ranch dressing recipe?

I wanted my ranch dressing recipe to be easy with ingredients you find at your local grocery store year-round.

In a medium bowl, whisk mayonnaise, buttermilk, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, dill weed, sugar, ground black pepper, salt, vinegar, and Worcestershire until smooth in a small bowl. Serve immediately or place in the refrigerator for 2 hours before using.

Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks

This ranch dressing is fantastic, and here are a few notes I wrote while making it.

The quality of your mayonnaise matters. I prefer Blue Plate Avocado or Olive Oil; healthier oils make for better mayonnaise.
Ranch tastes better after letting the flavors blend together once it’s been refrigerated for a couple of hours.
If you have the choice, opt for Bulgarian buttermilk over low-fat buttermilk.
For the best flavor, use granulated garlic powder and onion powder. Granulated spices blend with other ingredients.
Add 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning or hot sauce to make a cajun ranch sauce.
If you do not have white vinegar, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or lime juice will do the trick.
Fresh herbs have tons of flavor; feel free to use fresh parsley and fresh dill.

FAQs

Here are the top questions readers have about making ranch dressing at home.

What’s the difference between ranch dressing and ranch dip?

The main difference between ranch dressing and ranch dip is that ranch dressing is thinner with a sauce-like consistency, while ranch dip is thicker. Both are made with the same ingredients, but the proportions are different.

What are some foods to dip in ranch dressing?

You can dip several foods in ranch dressing, fresh vegetables, chicken nuggets, fried chicken wings, or pizza, and depending on the egg roll filling, egg rolls are perfect.

Is ranch dressing the same as sour cream?

No. Sour cream is a condiment used to make homemade ranch dressing from scratch.

What mixes well with ranch?

Ranch dressing is the perfect combination of tangy, sweet herbs and spices. The only thing I like to mix with ranch is Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce to make an awesome Cajun Ranch dressing.

How to store leftover ranch dressing?

Ranch dressing is best 7 days after making but will remain fresh in an airtight container for 30 days in the fridge. I don’t recommend freezing the dressing.

More Sauce Recipes

Here are a few recipes that you can use for dipping or spreading over your favorite foods.

Cajun Ranch Dressing
Honey BBQ Sauce
Sweet Thai Chili Dipping Sauce
Salted Caramel Sauce
Tzatziki Sauce
Hot Fudge Sauce

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Before You Begin

Here are my steps for getting organized before I start anything.

Step 1: Get all ingredients for the ranch dressing on the counter.

Step 2: Measure everything out.

Step 3: Follow the recipe and get ready for the best ranch dressing you’ve ever enjoyed.

I hope you give this easy ranch dressing a try. It’s really delicious and so much better than anything you can buy in the store. Leave a comment below, and let me know how it turns out for you! And don’t forget to rate the recipe once you make it. 5 stars are always appreciated.

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