Ranch Dressing

Learn how to make the best-ever Homemade Ranch Dressing with this quick and easy recipe! Sour cream, mayonnaise, and buttermilk are mixed with fresh herbs for a keto, low-carb dressing that can easily be made vegan and dairy-free. Use this classic ranch as a salad dressing, dip for veggies, or sauce!

Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe

Growing up there was only ONE salad dressing I would ever eat.

Ranch Dressing.

Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing was preferred because it had the best flavor (trust me, I did a taste test), but I would generally take whatever brand you threw my way. We always had a bottle of ranch in the fridge.

I just loved the flavor profiles of this dressing. I used it on big salads, and as a dipping sauce for everything from pizza to French fries to carrot sticks.

But as I got older I started realizing that there was a huge range in quality, and some ranch dressings tasted MUCH better than the store-bought bottled kind.

And it generally meant that those restaurants or friends were making it from scratch!

Initially, I presumed making a homemade dressing meant you would need to spend TONS of time and work.

But boy was I wrong.

After perusing a few recipes I soon discovered that making ranch was so super simple. I’m talking throw some ingredients in a bowl, whisk, and go!

If you’re a ranch lover like me, skip the store-bought ranch dressing and give your taste buds a treat with real buttermilk and fresh herbs.

Once you’ve mastered this recipe, you have to try Avocado Ranch next.

So without further ado, let’s get into how to make the best buttermilk ranch dressing, as well as a few simple swaps to make a vegan and dairy-free version at home, too!

Ingredients

The simple ingredients needed to make the best ranch dressing include:

• Mayo. Duke’s and Hellmans are ideal brands. You can also use a vegan avocado-based mayo if needed.
• Sour cream. Regular sour cream tastes the best, but a really good vegan and dairy-free sub (like Tofutti sour cream!) can also be used. If needed, you can also try a plain Greek yogurt.
• Herbs. Chives, parsley, and fresh dill are the classic herbs used. Fresh herbs will give it the most prominent flavor, but dried herbs can also be substituted. 
• Powders. Both garlic and onion powder are needed. Don’t try to sub one for the other—you really need both to get that classic ranch flavor.
• Buttermilk. This will give you the most authentic-tasting ranch. However, you can also use heavy cream. Or if you’re dairy-free or vegan, a thicker plant-based milk such as unsweetened oat milk works great.
• Lemon juice. This gives a nice tang to the dressing. 

How to Make Ranch Dressing?

Make this easy homemade ranch dressing recipe by following the steps below:

Mix It Up

Whisk together everything except the buttermilk.

This ensures the seasonings are mixed well before thinning out the dressing.

Add the Buttermilk

Pour and stir in a little at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

Refrigerate for a few hours for the best results. This allows the flavors to meld, and for the powdered spices to be absorbed by the liquid. 

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead: This ranch is great for making in advance, as the flavors improve with time. 
• To Store: Keep prepared dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 to 2 weeks. 
• To Freeze: This is not recommended as the texture will change. 

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already gluten-free, vegetarian, low-carb, and keto as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:

• Dairy-Free: Use dairy-free sour cream and a plant or nut-based milk.
• Vegan: Substitute for a vegan mayo, dairy-free sour cream, and plant or nut-based milk.

What is in ranch?

Ranch dressing consists of a creamy base seasoned with herbs, onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper. This recipe uses mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, lemon juice, fresh chives, dill, and parsley, as well as onion and garlic powder.

Who invented ranch dressing?

An Alaskan cowboy names Steve Henson is credited with coming up with this famous recipe. He ultimately moved to California, bought a ranch he named Hidden Valley Ranch, and the rest is history.

How long is homemade ranch dressing good for?

Homemade ranch dressing should keep in the fridge for around 1 to 2 weeks. Just be sure to keep it in an airtight container.

Can you freeze ranch dressing?

You should not freeze ranch dressing. The creamy texture will be drastically different upon thawing.

Is ranch dressing gluten-free?

Usually, ranch dressing is gluten-free. However, always check the label or ingredients.

Is ranch dressing healthy? Keto? Vegan?

This recipe for ranch dressing is keto, but not vegan. Opt for vegan mayo and sour cream instead. Typically, ranch isn’t considered a healthy dressing, but it’s fine in moderation.

Expert Tips

• Fresh is best. Using fresh herbs will deliver the most flavor.
• Use buttermilk if possible. This offers the most authentic taste.
• Slowly pour it in. Avoid dumping all of the buttermilk in at once. Add a little at a time until your desired consistency is reached.
• Let it chill. Allow the dressing to rest in the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours before serving. 
• Make it work. Sub in dairy-free or vegan ingredients as needed.
• Use it up. Ranch salad dressing is perfect as a dip for fresh vegetables, like baby carrots and celery, or buffalo wings.

How to Use Ranch

This ranch dressing recipe is great as a dip, spread, or salad dressing. Here are a few ways you can use this creamy dressing up.

Appetizers, like Air Fryer Pickles, Air Fryer Zucchini Chips, and Air Fryer Pizza Rolls are delicious dunked in ranch.

Top salads like Chicken Cobb Salad and BLT Pasta Salad with it.

Or, use it to cool off Buffalo Chicken Wings. You can’t go wrong with Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets.

More Healthy Dressing Recipes

Once you see how easy it is to whip up your own salad dressings, you may never buy a bottle from the grocery store again!

If you love this recipe, you have to try Avocado Ranch.

Lighter options like Lemon Vinaigrette, Greek Salad Dressing, Apple Cider Vinaigrette, Balsamic Vinaigrette, and Olive Garden Italian Dressing are also incredible.

Or, opt for a creamy variety like Lemon Tahini or Thousand Island.