Skip the store-bought packets and know EXACTLY what you’re getting with this easy Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix! Makes the equivalent of one packet.
Recreating the convenience foods of days gone by, from scratch, is quickly turning into a personal crusade of mine.
Sure, I wonder what all those unpronounceable ingredients on any given label are, as much as the next person. I roll my eyes at the rising cost of Hidden Valley Ranch packets.
But what I REALLY fear, what keeps me up at night, is stale, artificial tastes.
That condensed cream of chicken soup from my childhood? It’s doesn’t taste as good in real life as it does in my memory.
Those packets of taco seasoning? Equal parts stale and blah.
And as for dry ranch mix…. well, let’s just say I’ll take my Santa Clarita Valley over the Hidden Valley any day.
Powdered Buttermilk
The only potential hurdle you will face to escape the Hidden Valley is: You’ll need powdered buttermilk.
I learned about powdered buttermilk several years ago from Cook’s Illustrated and it’s a really convenient ingredient. These days most grocery stores and even Walmart have it on their shelves.
It keeps indefinitely in the refrigerator and is great for all your cooking and baking needs. I still use real buttermilk if I’m making something fresh such as homemade buttermilk ranch dressing, but the powdered version works for everything else.
Beyond the Buttermilk
Once you’ve located your powdered buttermilk, the rest is just common pantry spices that you probably already have.
Whisk everything together in a small bowl and you’re set! Use your ranch dressing mix immediately or store it in the refrigerator.
Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons powdered buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried chopped onion
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- Pinch black pepper
Instructions
- In small bowl, whisk all ingredients together. Use immediately or store covered in the refrigerator.
Recipe Video
Notes
- 1 ¼ cup powdered buttermilk
- ½ cup dried parsley
- ¼ cup onion powder
- 1 ½ tablespoons dried chopped onion
- 1 ½ tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 ½ teaspoons dried dill weed
- 2 ½ teaspoons salt
Nutrition
Super yummy ! used this recipe as part of my loaded Ranch Bacon potato salad , Thank you !
Sounds great Beth, thanks! Glad you enjoyed! -Meggan
Just wondering. Are you saying the DRY powdered ranch mix (before you add sour cream) has to be stored in the refrigerator? Or am I misreading your instructions? Aren’t all of the ingredients shelf-stable?
Hi Annie, sorry for the confusion! The powdered buttermilk listed in the recipe is NOT shelf-stable at room temperature. It needs to be refrigerated after opening. It lasts indefinitely in the refrigerator, but not at room temp. So that’s the issue here. Thanks for the question and sorry for the confusion. I’ll fix up the post so that is very clear. Thank you! -Meggan
Am I dense? I don’t see what liquid this is added to. Dressing is not powder. Is it milk? Sour cream would be too thick I think. This is a strange recipe. Are we supposed to buy a packet of hidden valley ranch dressing To know what to add it to?
Hi Louise, I have never experimented with turning this into salad dressing. I prefer to just make ranch salad dressing from scratch with buttermilk. Here’s my recipe if you want to see it: https://www.culinaryhill.com/homemade-buttermilk-ranch-dressing/. If I were going to make this into a dressing, I’d add 1 cup of buttermilk and 1 cup of mayonnaise because that’s what you add to Hidden Valley Ranch’s packet to make salad dressing. Thanks! – Meggan
Dont you need some liquid such as milk and also mayo?
Hi Toni, this recipe is just for the dry dressing mix, like you would purchase at the store. If you’re looking to make homemade ranch dressing, here is the link: https://www.culinaryhill.com/homemade-buttermilk-ranch-dressing/
Delicious! I didn’t have buttermilk powder on hand so used dry milk powder and it turned out just fine… wIas using in a slow cooker recipe as a dry powder and it was delicious! Thank you.
Really easy, will never buy those sodium envelopes again.
I’m looking to make homemade Ranch dressing. I guess I don’t understand the powdered buttermilk. I used to be a cook, and when I made Ranch dressing, I would put in the packages of Hidden Valley Ranch mix, then a big bag of mayonnaise and buttermilk. If I’m leaving something out, it’s been a long time. What I’m asking, is this recipe something else, that requires dry buttermilk?
Hi Ron, sorry for the confusion. This is not what you are looking for. This recipe replaces the packet dressing you are thinking of, but you’d use this in stuff like veggie pizza or for taco soup, things that require that packet. If you want to make actually ranch salad dressing, you should make this: https://www.culinaryhill.com/homemade-buttermilk-ranch-dressing/
It’s delicious. This packet replacement will just upset you, LOL. I’m sure of it. Thank you! -Meggan
I just made this and it is THE BEST recipe for the dried Ranch dressing. I don’t like the chemicals in the package ranch sand this taste far better. If I could give it 10 stars I would. I did cut back on the salt by half because the buttermilk has sodium in it. And I need to watch my sodium intake. So very good.