The Best Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing

The best homemade ranch salad dressing tastes better than anything store-bought and only takes a few minutes to make. Ranch dressing is delicious on salads and as a dip for fresh vegetables.

Homemade Ranch Dressing

There aren’t all that many recipes here on the blog that I label as “the best.” With nearly 1,500 recipes here, there are less than 20 that have truly earned that label.

I figure that everyone’s tastes are different and who knows if someone else’s opinion on the “best recipe ever” is going to match mine? These recipes though? They really are the best of the best.

And this ranch salad dressing? It is hands down the BEST Ranch Salad Dressing that I have ever tasted. Without fail, the people who try it, have all agreed. Just scroll through the comments to see how everyone raves over it.

Ranch Dressing Recipe

Plenty of garlic, dill, and other spices make this a memorable ranch dressing. Just thin enough to pour smoothly, without becoming too liquid or watered down: the creaminess of the dressing is well balanced by the tang of the fresh lemon.

This dressing has had a permanent place in my refrigerator for almost five years now. My kids reach for this ranch dressing or our homemade ranch dip at least once, if not twice, a day to eat with fresh vegetables.

Most nights, I set out our produce boxes and a bowl of this ranch dressing each day as I am getting ready to make dinner. The kids happily snack on vegetables for half an hour or more while we chat and cook dinner.

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Ranch Dressing

This is easily the most popular salad dressing I make. We have friends that insist I bring this Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing along every time we get together for a meal.

Everyone who has tasted this dressing has been convinced at first bite that they need to make it for themselves. This recipe has become not only the most popular salad dressing on this website but one of the most popular recipes overall.

After all, what’s not to love about the BEST ranch dressing you’ll ever taste?

How To Make Ranch Dressing

Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, and milk in a small bowl or jar, and whisk until smooth. Add the dill, parsley, chives, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and fresh lemon juice. Whisk again to combine.

Taste the ranch, I recommend dipping fresh vegetables into it for the perfect taste test. Adjust the spices or add more lemon juice for extra tang. Pour into a jar and refrigerate until ready to serve. This will keep well in the fridge for as long as the dairy ingredients are good, usually at least a week.

Salad Dressing Recipes

For more great dressing recipes to try, Honey Lime Jalapeno Vinaigrette, Creamy Poppyseed Dressing, and these Balsamic Vinaigrettes are a few more of my go-to homemade dressings.

If you love ranch but want to bump it up, Pepper Dill Ranch is packed full of crushed pepper and loaded with fresh dill, this dressing is a great addition to our usual dressings and dips for our raw vegetables.

I have this Avocado Lime Salad Dressing by Inside BruCrew Life and this Green Goddess Salad Dressing by Kalyn’s Kitchen on my future recipes to try list.

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4.75 from 772 votes

The Best Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing

Mary Younkin

Perfectly tangy, creamy homemade ranch dressing tastes better than anything you could buy in a store.

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 minutes mins

Servings: 24 1 tbsp servings (recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups)

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• ▢ 1/2 cup sour cream
• ▢ 1/2 cup buttermilk or regular milk
• ▢ 3/4 – 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• ▢ 1/8 teaspoon finely cracked pepper
• ▢ freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste approximately 1-3 teaspoons, adjust to taste

Instructions 

• Whisk together the mayo, sour cream and milk until smooth. Add the spices and whisk until combined. Add the lemon and whisk again. Pour into a jar and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This dressing will keep nicely in the refrigerator for up to a week. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

I frequently swap plain white vinegar for the fresh lemon juice in this recipe. Both acids work beautifully to provide the perfect amount of tang in the dressing.

Nutrition

Calories: 45 kcal | Carbohydrates: 1 g | Protein: 1 g | Fat: 5 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 5 mg | Sodium: 60 mg | Potassium: 19 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 1 g | Vitamin A: 116 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 13 mg | Iron: 1 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment below!

{originally published 9/15/11 – recipe notes and photographs updated 7/15/21}