Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our affiliate policy.

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.

A dish of homemade ranch dressing mix ingredients.


 

Recipe ingredients

A dish of homemade ranch dressing mix ingredients.

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Ingredient notes

  • Powdered buttermilk: This ultra-convenient dry milk product keeps indefinitely in the refrigerator. You can find it at nearly all grocery stores, Walmart, and Amazon (Culinary Hill may earn money if you buy through this link).

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together powdered buttermilk, dried parsley, dried minced onion, garlic powder, onion powder, dill weed, and salt (I like ¼ teaspoon). Use immediately or store covered in the refrigerator.
A dish of homemade ranch dressing mix.

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield: This recipe makes ¼ cup dry ranch dressing mix or the equivalent of 1 store-bought packet.
  • Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator or freezer indefinitely.
  • To make salad dressing from the mix: Whisk together 1 cup milk, 1 cup mayonnaise, and the full recipe of dry ranch mix. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to chill and blend flavors.
  • To make ranch dip from the mix: Whisk together 2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream and the full recipe of dry ranch mix. Cover and refrigerate for 60 minutes to thicken and blend flavors.
  • Standard salad dressing: Looking for the real thing? Try my Ranch Dressing made from buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, red onion, and fresh herbs.
  • Recipes that use ranch dressing mix: Try this ranch mix in Veggie Pizza, Vegetable Tortilla Roll Ups, Taco Soup, Cucumber Sandwiches, Beer Cheese Dip, and Ranch Oyster Crackers.

Ranch Oyster Crackers

At my house, the Best Snack Award goes to Ranch Oyster Crackers. This easy, no-bake recipe is little more than crispy crackers tossed in butter, herbs, and spices, but even a big bowl disappears in minutes.

3 hours 5 minutes
View Recipe

Put your ranch dressing mix to use

Join Us

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow along on FacebookPinterest, and Instagram for our latest recipes! Tag all your glorious creations #culinaryhill so we can eat vicariously through you.
A dish of homemade ranch dressing mix ingredients.

Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix

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.
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 2 minutes
Servings 12 servings (1 tsp each)
Course Pantry
Cuisine American
Calories 7
5 from 65 votes

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, whisk together powdered buttermilk, dried parsley, dried minced onion, garlic powder, onion powder, dill weed, and salt (I like ¼ teaspoon). Use immediately or store covered in the refrigerator.

Recipe Video

Notes

  1. Powdered buttermilk: This ultra-convenient dry milk product keeps indefinitely in the refrigerator. You can find it at nearly all grocery stores, Walmart, and on Amazon (Culinary Hill may earn money if you buy through this link).
  2. Yield: This recipe makes ¼ cup dry ranch dressing mix or the equivalent of 1 store-bought packet.
  3. Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator or freezer indefinitely.
  4. To make salad dressing from the mix: Whisk together 1 cup milk, 1 cup mayonnaise, and the full recipe of dry ranch mix. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to chill and blend flavors.
  5. To make ranch dip from the mix: Whisk together 2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream and the full recipe of dry ranch mix. Cover and refrigerate for 60 minutes to thicken and blend flavors.
  6. Standard salad dressing: Looking for the real thing? Try my Ranch Dressing made from buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, red onion, and fresh herbs.
  7. Recipes that use ranch dressing mix: Try this ranch mix in Veggie Pizza, Vegetable Tortilla Roll Ups, Taco Soup, Cucumber Sandwiches, Beer Cheese Dip, and Ranch Oyster Crackers.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tspCalories: 7kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 6mgPotassium: 28mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
Website | + posts

Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

Quick & Easy Meals in Under 30 Minutes!
15 simple recipes for busy weeknights.

You May Also Like

Questions and Comments

Thank you for your comments! Please allow 1-2 business days for a reply. Our business hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am PST to 5:00 pm PST, excluding holidays. Comments are moderated to prevent spam and profanity.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. I am confused by this updated version of your recipe. I have a version dated 9/2/17 which has slightly different amounts of the ingredients. It also has a large batch recipe, which I keep in a jar, and then the instructions on making the dressing taped to the jar. (4T mix with 1 cup mayo, 1/2 c sour cream, and 1/2 c milk). I have your link on the saved document.

    When was the recipe updated, and why? The original was very good! The original even made reference to Hidden Valley which this one above does not.5 stars

    1. Hi Robin, thank you for your comment and taking the time to write. The recipe was updated in 2021. I used to write the recipes directly in the post, but was able to do an update which allows for serving sizes to be decreased and increased. Also, I updated the recipe to more closely match the packet. I’m sorry for any confusion this may have caused. I’m so glad to hear you love the original and have it saved. If you happen to need it again, please let me know. Take care and thank you again! – Meggan

    2. Hi Robin and Megan,
      I would like the original as well. Do you think this new updated one tastes less like hidden valley? I’m not a fan of bottles ranch and my son is kinda a ranch snob.
      Thank you,
      Maria

    3. Hi Maria, thank you for writing! Here are the measurements from the previous recipe:
      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

      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/. Take care!
      – Meggan

    1. Hi Dawn, sorry for the confusion. The amounts are listed in the recipe card, there is a “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page you can use, or scroll up from the comments section. Hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any questions! – Meggan

  2. Hi Meggan, looking forward to making this Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix! Question, I understand the cultured buttermilk mix needs to be stored after opening. But is the actual Ranch Dressing Mix need to he stored in the fridge as well?
    Thanks!

    1. Hi Londa, I hope you love it! Yes, the dressing mix has to be stored in the refrigerator or freezer since the buttermilk powder is not shelf stable. Hope this helps! Take care, Meggan

  3. This recipe is PERFECT! I thought you had a bulk version listed somewhere??? It was a large batch with about 10 servings and you listed how much to scoop out per serving. Maybe I dreamt it, lol!! Thank you for sharing5 stars

    1. Hi Sheila, I’m so glad you love this! I used to have the build on the site before the recipe cards would allow us to slide to more or less servings. Here it is, though!
      To make a large batch of Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix (equivalent to 10 packets), combine the following:
      1 1/4 cup powdered buttermilk
      1/2 cup dried parsley
      1/4 cup onion powder
      1 1/2 tablespoons dried chopped onion
      1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder
      2 1/2 teaspoons dried dill weed
      2 1/2 teaspoons salt

      Enjoy! Take care! – Meggan

  4. Super yummy ! used this recipe as part of my loaded Ranch Bacon potato salad , Thank you !5 stars

  5. 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?

    1. 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

  6. 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?

    1. 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

  7. 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.5 stars

  8. 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?

    1. 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

  9. 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.

    1. Hi Spring, I don’t know for sure but I compared the ingredient labels of the dressing packet vs. the dip packet and the main difference I see is powdered buttermilk. So my best guess is that to make the dip, you would leave out the powdered buttermilk and keep everything else. The dip packet is supposed to be mixed with 16 ounces sour cream. You’d have to see if my recipe also works with that amount. It probably does, but if it doesn’t, maybe be prepared to double the mix if necessary? I hope this helps. It’s all a guess but probably isn’t too far off (I hope). Good luck! -Meggan

    1. Hi Kelly! It should be in the baking aisle at your grocery store, by the evaporated milk and regular dry milk. I will also link it on the recipe card in case buying it online is easier! :D -Meggan

  10. I was wondering if you can make this without black pepper I just found out im allergic. Also I read recipe for dressing can you make that withoit lemon juice as im also allergic to lemons. Also id you know of a great italian dressing without black pepper that would be much appreciated. Thanks

  11. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a
    doubt donate to this outstanding blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your
    RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and
    will talk about this blog with my Facebook group.
    Chat soon!

  12. I work as a rn for hospice care and I’m always looking for quick and easy dinners to fix for my clients! Thank you tons this is a very easy and simple recipe that will go over great! 5 stars

    1. I’d like to know this too. I don’t want to make dressing, I want it to add to Greek yogurt for veggie dip. I’m out of the bulk HVR mix and thought I’d make my own. The last time I tried this, I wasn’t able to find powered buttermilk at my local walmart.

    1. Typo! Should be 1 1/4 tsp. Pepper for bulk. Sorry about that. A pinch is defined as 1/8 so 1/8*10=1 tsp. + 1/4 tsp. I do a lot of culinary math in culinary school. Thank you and sorry!

  13. I’m certainly going to try theses rollups but wanted to say thanks for the ranch dressing recipe also. I’ve been making my own mixes and dressings for a while now also such as taco, chipotle and tarter sauce so i appreciate seeing another one i can add to my list.5 stars

    1. Hi Sheri, you are SO WELCOME! Thank you for the lovely, kind comment. It’s so great when you can make these spice blends on your own. I have a cajun seasoning blend on the blog too if that sounds like something you’d enjoy! Take care and thanks again.

    1. Hi Jeri, 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/

      But, if I were going to make this into 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!

  14. Now I need to go hunt that powdered buttermilk down. I can think of so many uses! Thanks Meggan. 5 stars