The Best Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe (Classic Flavor!)

If you love ranch dressing and have been looking for the perfect recipe, then you're in the right place! This Ranch Dressing Recipe will give you a delicious homemade salad dressing that's creamy, tangy, and tastes like the store-bought versions if not better!

Making your own ranch dressing is one of the best things I've learned! It allows me to make and serve this delicious sauce to my family without worrying about all the artificial flavors, chemicals, and preservatives store-bought versions have. 

It tastes exactly like the classic flavor of ranch dressing, but even better. And what's best is that by making your own ranch dressing, you can customize the flavor to make it exactly how you and your family like it. 

I've included a ton of variation ideas in the post as well to help you make the ranch dressing of your dreams. I'm sure you're going to absolutely love this recipe!

Want to learn how to make this ranch dressing recipe? Then keep on reading!

Table of Contents

• What is Ranch Dressing?
• Why Is It Called Ranch Dressing?
• What Makes This Ranch Dressing Recipe Special?
• What You Need to Make Ranch Dressing at Home
• How to Make Ranch Dressing (Step-by-Step)
• Tips for Making the Best Ranch Dressing Ever
• Recipe Variation Ideas for Ranch Dressing
• How to Store Leftover Ranch Dressing
• More Homemade Condiment Recipes You'll Love
• Recipe Card
• The Best Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe (Classic Flavor!)
• Comments

What is Ranch Dressing?

Ranch dressing is a popular condiment made from ingredients such as mayonnaise, buttermilk, garlic and dried herbs. It's a creamy and tangy dressing that can be used to dress salads, vegetables, and even tacos.

It's often served with chicken wings as a dip or drizzled over pizza for added flavor. The exact ingredients of ranch dressing vary depending on the recipe, but the main ingredients are usually mayonnaise, buttermilk, garlic and herbs like parsley, dill, and chives.

The unique flavor of ranch dressing with its creamy texture and combination of zesty herbs makes it a great addition to all kinds of dishes as well as an awesome dip for vegetables and other sides. 

Why Is It Called Ranch Dressing?

Homemade creamy ranch dressing is very close to the original recipe developed by Steve Henson, who created it while working and living in Alaska and finding that his friends and family really enjoyed it.

Steve bought a ranch in Santa Barbara and retired there at a young age, renaming it Hidden Valley Ranch. Due to the overwhelming demand for his new dressing, he set up a shop on his ranch to mass-produce and sell it.

For this reason, the dressing is often commonly referred to as 'Hidden Valley Ranch.'

What Makes This Ranch Dressing Recipe Special?

This recipe for ranch dressing is truly the best one out there and will give you that delicious, classic flavor I'm sure you love. Here are some of the top reasons why this recipe is so incredible:

All Natural: This homemade ranch dressing recipe is especially special because it's made with whole foods and doesn't contain any added preservatives or artificial flavors that you would find in store-bought ranch. 

Versatile: You can also use this dressing in a variety of ways. It's great as a dip, sandwich spread, topping for salads, and much more. The combination of herbs and garlic gives it an extra zesty flavor that really makes it stand out from other dressings.

Easy to Make: What's best is that it only takes minutes to whip up so you can enjoy it quickly without compromising on taste! With a prep time of only 10 minutes, and a total time of 20 minutes, this recipe will be ready in no time and can last for up to two weeks!

Healthier: Plus, this ranch dressing is a lot healthier than store-bought versions. In terms of nutrition, you'll get a tasty buttermilk ranch dressing that's also lower in sodium and calories than anything you buy from the stores.

What You Need to Make Ranch Dressing at Home

All you need are some simple, pantry-staple ingredients to make this delicious ranch dressing at home. Here's everything you'll need:

Dry Ingredients for Ranch Dressing: 

• Dried parsley: First of all, we'll be adding some dried herbs to our ranch dressing mix. We'll need some dried parsley which is full of aromatic oils and will give a clean, peppery taste to this dressing.
• Dried chives: We'll also need some dried chives. The mild garlicky onion flavor of dried chives is a very nice compliment to the other spices and dried herbs in this recipe.
• Minced Onion: This ranch dressing recipe just wouldn't be complete without the savory, slightly sweet yet pungent taste of onions. We'll be using some minced dried onion in this recipe, but you can also substitute it with a teaspoon onion powder if that's all you have.
• Sugar: We'll also need some white granulated sugar. Adding a little sugar helps balance the salty flavors of the other herbs while adding just the right amount of sweetness.
• Salt: Salt doesn't just add its naturally salty flavor to this ranch dressing recipe, it also helps reduce any bitterness while enhancing the sweet flavors.
• Garlic powder: You'll also need half teaspoon garlic powder. While more subtle than fresh garlic, garlic powder provides a unique sweet flavor to this recipe.
• Black pepper: Ranch dressing wouldn't be the same without black pepper's slightly piney and citrusy taste.

Wet Ingredients for Ranch Dressing:

• Mayonnaise: For the wet ingredients, first of all we'll need some mayonnaise. Tangy, aromatic, slightly sour, and salty, mayo makes the perfect creamy base for this ranch dressing recipe. I've used homemade mayonnaise for the best results. 
• Buttermilk: Buttermilk helps give this ranch dressing recipe its rich and creamy texture while also balancing out the sweetness with its slightly tangy flavor.
• Greek yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt adds just the right amount of sour to this sweet and tangy ranch dressing. 

How to Make Ranch Dressing (Step-by-Step)

Making this delicious ranch dressing at home is super easy! Here's what you need to do to make it step by step:

First, measure out all the dry seasoning ingredients into a bowl: dried parsley, dried chives, minced dry onion, sugar, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Mix them together with a spoon. 

After that, combine buttermilk, homemade mayonnaise, and Greek yogurt in a medium bowl, whisking the ingredients for one minute. You can add a bit more buttermilk till it reaches your desired consistency.

Then add 2 tablespoons of the dry ranch seasoning mix we set aside earlier. Mix it well with a hand mixer for another minute.

Finally, transfer the mixture into a glass bottle and let it sit in the fridge for at least 4 hours. Shake or mix well before each use.

Your delicious Ranch Dressing is ready to be used!

Tips for Making the Best Ranch Dressing Ever

Use high-quality ingredients: To make the best ranch dressing, it’s important to use the freshest, highest quality ingredients. Look for all natural mayonnaise and buttermilk with no additives or preservatives.

Add more herbs and spices: For an extra zesty flavor, add a little more fresh herbs and spices.

Adjust the sweetness: To make the ranch dressing less sweet, reduce the sugar or take it out completely.

Add a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice: Adding a bit of fresh lemon juice to this ranch dressing recipe gives it an extra zing and helps to balance out the flavors. You can also substitute lemon juice with white vinegar. 

Add cayenne pepper: For an extra kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Recipe Variation Ideas for Ranch Dressing

This delicious ranch dressing recipe is absolutely perfect as is, but here are a few variation ideas you can try to customize it according to your personal preferences: 

Fiesta ranch: For a south-of-the-border twist, add a teaspoon of cumin and a pinch of chili powder to the dry ingredients.

Garlic ranch: Add a clove of garlic or two teaspoons of garlic powder to the wet ingredients for an extra garlicky flavor.

Herbed ranch: For a more herb flavored ranch dressing, add a teaspoon each of dried thyme, oregano and basil to the dry ingredients.

Lemon-dill ranch: To give this recipe an extra zesty flavor, add a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice and two teaspoons of dill weed to the wet ingredients.

Low Calorie: For a lower calorie ranch dressing, use low-calorie mayonnaise. 

Tangier ranch: If you're looking for a tangier flavor, you can also use some sour cream in this recipe along with other wet ingredients. You can also add a teaspoon Worcestershire sauce to add more depth to the flavor

How to Store Leftover Ranch Dressing

Stored in an airtight glass container, this ranch dressing will stay fresh for 2 weeks. Shake well before each use. I don't recommend freezing this dressing as the consistency will entirely change.

More Homemade Condiment Recipes You'll Love

• Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe 
• 4-Ingredient Homemade Mayonnaise
• Homemade Pizza Sauce
• Classic Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe

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This recipe was originally posted on November 17, 2016 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.