Creamy, fresh, and just crying out to be poured over a fresh salad or be used as a dip, our homemade ranch dressing is so much better than any store-bought version! Summer or winter, we love ranch dressing, and our recipe uses simple fresh ingredients that really do make all the difference!
Why you’ll love this delicious recipe
Stop. Don’t ever buy ranch dressing again. Seriously. Once you try this 10-minute recipe, you’ll be spoilt. Forever.
Where does ranch dressing get its name from?
Apparently, it’s all down to a man called Steve Henson who worked as a plumber in Alaska, he and his wife moved to Nebraska for work, and he started developing a dressing recipe made from buttermilk.
They then moved to California and open a large ranch which was called The Hidden Valley Ranch, where his buttermilk dressing was served at dinner times to guests.
It was so popular that they started selling it to guests, it was so much in demand that they branched out and sold it to supermarkets throughout the whole of America.
They sold it in the early ’70s for millions of dollars – pretty good for a humble dressing recipe!
So, this is how the dressing we know as ranch dressing was born!
Do I have to use fresh herbs?
Fresh herbs are always going to taste better, the flavor you get from them just can’t be beaten.
But we’re realists and know that sometimes you just don’t have them at home.
So, use dried herbs instead.
Garlic powder, dried parsley, dried cilantro, and dried dill can all be used to make this a very convenient dressing.
If you’re using dried herbs, then add in onion powder also for extra taste.
Sure, it won’t taste as good as fresh, but it will still be good!
The same goes for lemon juice, if you don’t have fresh lemon juice, then use bottled.
Isn’t it easier to buy a bottle?
Sure it is, but seriously, this homemade ranch dressing will take 10 minutes to make.
When you taste the difference between homemade dressing and store-bought, you’ll never buy it again.
Chalk and cheese.
What do you serve it with?
There’s nothing quite like ranch salad dressing; drizzled over a freshly made salad, it becomes its crowning glory, and there is nothing like homemade salad dressings.
Ranch dressing is perfect to be used as a dipping sauce, dip fresh veggies, tortilla chips, pita bread, or keto crackers.
And this spicy ranch is also awesome!
And if you’re following a keto diet, try this keto ranch dressing recipe!
How do I store it?
We don’t recommend freezing our homemade ranch dressing as it contains buttermilk.
While it will freeze, once thawed it will be tasteless with an unattractive consistency.
It will, however, keep for up to a week when stored covered in the fridge.
Recipe notes and expert tips
More dip recipes you’ll love
If you like our easy homemade ranch dressing then why not check these recipes out?
Check out this awesome jalapeno ranch dressing from our friends at Big Alaska, Little House!
How to make ranch dressing with step-by-step instructions
Making our ranch dressing recipe is easy if you follow our simple instructions.
In a bowl add buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, chopped cilantro, fresh dill weed, fresh parsley, fresh chives, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
Mix to combine and taste, if it needs any more lemon juice, fresh herbs, salt, or freshly ground black pepper, just add more to suit your taste.
If you like it thinner, then add more buttermilk.
Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to a week.
We hope you enjoy making and eating our homemade ranch dressing recipe and would love to hear how you got on with making it.
Please leave a comment below or feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Homemade ranch dressing recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup Buttermilk
- 1 cup Sour cream
- 4 tbsp Mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp Cilantro chopped
- 1 tbsp Dill chopped
- 2 tbsp Parsley chopped
- 2 tbsp Chives chopped
- 1 Clove Garlic minced
- 3 tbsp Lemon juice fresh
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl add buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, chopped cilantro, fresh dill weed, fresh parsley, fresh chives, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper½ cup Buttermilk, 1 cup Sour cream, 4 tbsp Mayonnaise, 1 tbsp Cilantro, 1 tbsp Dill, 2 tbsp Parsley, 2 tbsp Chives, 1 Clove Garlic, 3 tbsp Lemon juice, Salt and black pepper
- Mix to combine and taste, if it needs any more lemon juice, fresh herbs, salt, or freshly ground black pepper, just add more to suit your taste. If you like it thinner, then add more buttermilk. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to a week
Notes
- Use fresh sour cream and buttermilk
Using fresh sour cream and buttermilk will prolong the life of your ranch dressing. - Worcestershire sauce?
Add extra flavor with a couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce but remember to use the vegetarian version - Out of sour cream?
You could try plain no-fat Greek yogurt, it’ll taste a little different, but it’ll still work - Tempted to use regular milk?
We’d recommend that you don’t use regular milk as it has a tendency to make the ranch dressing very runny - No fresh garlic?
You can use a combination of garlic powder and onion powder - Storage
Store our homemade ranch dressing for up to a week in the fridge, but we don’t recommend freezing
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
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Patrice says
I love anything using fresh ingredients and this is one that I will for sure make. I can already see this on my table when we have our wing nights. Thank you for sharing.
lynn polito says
I’ve been looking for a homemade ranch dressing recipe and this one hit the spot!
Rachel says
Delicious recipe and perfect for the upcoming summer season! Thanks for the recipe.
Linda says
This looks so creamy delicious and perfect as a dip!
Sherry Ronning says
I was so intimidated to make my own homemade ranch dressing until I made your recipe. What a great and easy dressing recipe.
Jenn says
I love ALL the herbs in this and the garlic really made it pop! Fabulous!
Susannah says
I love making my own ranch for… everything! Salads (of course), potatoes, chicken — the options are endless. I just really love this recipe and I think it’s going to be my go-to recipe to keep in my fridge all week.
Eileen Kelly says
I made a batch and I’ve got to tell you, next time, doubling the recipe. This ranch dressing blows away any store made or any other recipe I’ve made before. My family just loved the freshness of the dressing and it created a fabulous salad for us.
Rupali says
This ranch tastes so good! I made as a side for potato wedges and it was heaven!!!
Angela Runyan says
I love a good homemade ranch! Delicious!
Donna says
Love this! I miss having ranch in restaurants from my time in the US, and the bottled stuff they have available here just isn’t the same. This version curbed my cravings perfectly!