This made-from-scratch Ranch Dressing recipe is thick, creamy, and packed with fresh herbs, just the way you and your vegetables want it. It’s perfect for dipping, dressing, and tossing!
Homemade Ranch is really easy to make! Without a doubt, it’s absolutely the most kid-friendly of all the salad dressings out there.
And it has the power to make everything it touches (except cake) even more delicious.
Recipe ingredients:
The biggest secret is this: Fresh buttermilk.
What is buttermilk?
Just because it’s thicker, doesn’t mean it’s richer! Buttermilk is a pasteurized milk product that is made by introducing a lactic acid culture to low-fat milk, which curdles the protein. That makes it thicker and more acidic. Amazingly, real buttermilk is lower in fat than cream and regular milk.
Dried vs. Fresh Buttermilk. I LOVE the little containers of everlasting, powdered buttermilk
, like Knudsen brand or Baker’s Secret, but please, for the love of ranch, don’t use that here. Use the real buttermilk from the dairy section at your grocery store.
Save the buttermilk powder (in all other ways a totally great, legitimate product!) for all your baking needs.
Step-by-step instructions:
- To fresh buttermilk, add mayonnaise, sour cream, plenty of chopped parsley and dill, lemon juice, red onion, garlic, and some salt and pepper. (I also add a pinch of sugar just to make the flavors pop, but you can leave it out if you’re worried about sugar intake).
- Whisk it up until blended. Let the flavors meld in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes before drinking – I mean, eating. Enjoy this ranch on your favorite garden salad or pepperoni pizza. No judgement!
Recipe tips:
- Lemon juice or vinegar. It’s okay to use plain white vinegar in place of lemon juice. Both are nicely acidic and taste great.
- Storage and shelf life. The dressing should last 4 days in the refrigerator per standard CDC guidelines for leftovers. It’s possible it would last longer, up to a week. If separation occurs you can just shake or stir to recombine.
Good buttermilk substitutes:
These are some common substitutions for buttermilk in recipes.
- Milk and yogurt. Stir 1/4 cup milk into 3/4 cup plain yogurt to create a nicely thick buttermilk substitute.
- Milk and lemon juice. in a liquid measuring cup, add 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Then top the lemon juice with milk. Stir this and let sit for two minutes at room temperature. After two minutes, the milk should be curdled. If you need 2 cups of buttermilk, add 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to the milk. (Two whole tablespoons aren’t necessary.)
Recipe variations:
- Chipotle. Mix adobo sauce to taste for a smoky, spicy flavor (start with a teaspoon or two and go from there!). If you love spicy, you can process the dressing in a blender with 1 or 2 whole chipotle chiles until smooth.
- Vegan. In place of sour cream and buttermilk, you can use a non-dairy sour cream and a plant-based milk, such as coconut milk, almond milk, or oat milk.
- Ranch dip. Mix up a batch of homemade ranch dressing mix and make a dip with mayo, yogurt, or sour cream. Equally delicious with chicken fingers, as it is with onion rings or fried green tomatoes.
More classic salads:
- Easy potato salad
- Broccoli salad with bacon and cheese
- Classic macaroni salad
- Creamy cucumber salad
- Seven layer salad
Did you enjoy this recipe? Please leave a rating and a comment below!
Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 6 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon red onion minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley minced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch of sugar
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate at least 10 minutes to blend flavors. Whisk to recombine before serving.
Hello!
Would homemade buttermilk be ok in this recipe? It’s been so long since I’ve purchased buttermilk I can’t remember if there’s a consistency difference.
Thanks!
Brenda
Hello, I was on your page about the powdered ranch dressing and was quite confused. I want to make homemade ranch, like for salads. Thank You for replying back and this link.
Hello Meggan, Do you happen to have a Delicious Copy Cat Orange Chicken Dressing from Cheese Cake Factory or one that is similar? I love there Orange Chicken Dressing. I order there Chicken Littles and toss them in the Orange Chicken Dressing. It’s Delicious!!! There Chicken Littles are spicy with a Cajun seasoning. Really Yummy!
I’m going to make your Cajun seasoning and your Homemade Ranch Dressing.
Thank you for sharing your recipes.
Have a blessed day.
Peace
Where did you get that jar that looks like it would fit canning lids?
Hi Rachel, is this the one you mean? Target.com:
https://goto.target.com/c/106671/81938/2092?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.target.com%2Fp%2Fbormiloli-rocco-13-5oz-quattro-stagioni-canning-bottle%2F-%2FA-50994901
Hi where did you get that pretty sajeped jar with the lid ? Not the pitcher … which you gave the link for
Hi Hope, here it is on Target.com! $2.99 as of today (2/13/19).
https://goto.target.com/c/106671/81938/2092?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.target.com%2Fp%2Fbormiloli-rocco-13-5oz-quattro-stagioni-canning-bottle%2F-%2FA-50994901
Don’t forget chicken strips.
Is there anyway to make this “LITE” low-cal home made Ranch dressing?
Ok sounds great! Thanks!
How long will this last?
Hi Amy! 4 days in the refrigerator per standard CDC guidelines for leftovers. It’s possible it would last longer, maybe a week, and if separation occurs you can just shake or stir to recombine. However, I feel most comfortable saying 4 days. Thank you!
Can I ask where you got this pitcher? Thanks! :)
Amazon.com of course – that’s where I get everything! :) Here is a link if you want to check it out! http://amzn.to/1T0zft3
This is an affiliate link. If you’d rather not shop through an affiliate link, just search for “Anchor Hocking Cruet” and you should be able to find it! :)