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If you’ve never made a Ranch Dressing Recipe from scratch, you’re in for a treat. This creamy homemade dressing is fresh, flavorful and incredibly easy to make. Our recipe calls for simple ingredients like fresh herbs, tangy sour cream and rich mayonnaise. Homemade Ranch Dressing delivers classic ranch flavor without lots of mystery ingredients.
Homemade Ranch Dressing and Dip
My 10 year old granddaughter inspired this recipe. At one of our monthly sleepovers she wanted to make a salad and homemade dressing to go with it. We used a simple recipe from her favorite “kid-friendly” cookbook. I really loved the simplicity of the recipe along with the bold, herby flavor.
Since then I’ve tweaked the basic recipe adding chives, more vinegar, a pinch of cayenne and additional fresh herbs. It’s so good and you really can’t mess it up.
Ingredients Overview
- sour cream
- mayonnaise
- chives
- parsley
- dill
- distilled plain white vinegar
- garlic
- salt and pepper
- cayenne pepper (optional)
- milk or buttermilk
How to Make Homemade Ranch Dressing
1. Prep the Herbs
Finely chop the fresh parsley, dill, and chives.
2. Combine the Base Ingredients
Whisk together the mayonnaise and sour cream until smooth.
3. Add Herbs and Seasonings
Stir in the herbs, garlic, and seasonings.
4. Adjust the Consistency
Add milk or buttermilk a little at a time until the desired thickness is reached.
5. Chill in the Fridge Before Serving
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing
- Fresh, bright flavor from real herbs
- Thick, creamy texture perfect for dressing or dipping
- Made with simple pantry and refrigerator staples
- Ready in about 10 minutes
- Easy to customize to your taste
- Better than store-bought ranch
Yes, but the dressing will not have the same fresh flavor. Start with 1 teaspoon of dried in place of 1 tablespoon fresh. You can also substitute 1/4 tsp garlic powder for fresh garlic. Taste and adjust as needed.
Use whichever brand is your favorite should be fine. We highly recommend Duke’s or Hellman’s as they are thick and egg-heavy mayonnaises with a velvety consistency that doesn’t thin out too much.
Yes, in fact, ranch dressing is best made at least a few hours ahead and chilled until needed. This gives the garlic time to mellow and all the flavors to blend.
Add either milk or buttermilk until you reach the desired thickness. For dip I use only one tablespoon milk but for dressing you can add more, one tablespoon at a time.
This dressing will keep for up to 5 days well sealed in an airtight container and refrigerated until needed.
Serving Suggestions
Whether you’re drizzling it over a crisp green salad, serving it with fresh vegetables (crudités) or using it as a dip for chicken wings, chips and fries, this homemade version tastes so much better than store-bought. Best of all, it comes together in minutes and can be customized with your favorite fresh herbs and seasonings. Even a little 10 year old can make this easy dressing!
- Wedge salad, tossed salad or pasta salads
- Air Fryer baked potatoes
- Use as a dip for chips, vegetables (crudités), French fries, chicken wings or chicken tenders
- Drizzle over pizza or cooked vegetables
- Spread on sandwiches, wraps or burgers
- Dollop on mashed potatoes or potato cakes
Variations and Add-Ins
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
- Replace some or all of the sour cream with buttermilk for extra tang and a thinner dressing.
Greek Yogurt Ranch
- Swap part of the sour cream with plain Greek yogurt.
Spicy Ranch Dressing
- Add a bigger pinch of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce.
Extra Herby Ranch
- Increase the fresh dill, parsley, and chives for even more garden-fresh flavor.
Ranch Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup sour cream (4oz or 115g)
- ½ cup prepared mayonnaise (3 and 3/4 oz or 107g)
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill minced
- 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
- ½ clove garlic minced or finely grated
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 tablespoon milk plus more to thin as desired
Serving ideas:
- topping for baked potatoes
- dip for chips, vegetables, chicken wings or French fries
- dressing for tossed or wedge salad
- drizzle on pizza
- dip for tempura green beans
Instructions
- Fold all the ingredients together in a small mixing bowl. Check the seasoning and add more salt and/or pepper as desired and milk to thin if needed. Serve immediately or refrigerate well sealed in an airtight container overnight for the best flavor. Stir well before serving. Dressing will keep for up to 5 days.
Recipe Notes
- Dressing will keep for up to 5 days well sealed and stored in the refrigerator.
- Serve immediately or chill for several hours for the best flavor.
- Add milk to thin to dressing consistency or leave thick for a dip
- Recipe is easily doubled
Nutrition
More great dressings to try
Italian Dressing Recipe
Loaded with herbs, a little grated Parmesan cheese, shallots and garlic, this zesty dressing is wonderful drizzled on fresh crispy salads.
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Strawberry Salad with Chicken and Poppy Seed Dressing
Simple and light, and deliciously refreshing ~ Strawberry Salad with Chicken and Poppy Seed Dressing is a great main course salad with an amazing combination of flavors.
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Apple Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing
A super simple salad with mixed garden fresh greens, dried tart cherries, apple slices and spiced or candied toasted walnuts or pecans.
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