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.
We love dipping pizza in ranch and these spicy chicken bites are awesome with ranch on the side too.
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.
Homemade Ranch Dressing
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 Salad 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.
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
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream and milk until smooth.
- Add the dill, parsley, chives, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine.
- Add the lemon and whisk again. Pour into a jar and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
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.
The Best Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup buttermilk or regular milk
- ¾ – 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!
Notes
Nutrition
{originally published 9/15/11 – recipe notes and photographs updated 7/15/21}
Joel says
Great to find a trusted scratch recipeto work from:
I substituted half a cup of finely minced sorrel for the lemon, used freshly pulled garlic (leaves & bulbs) and fresh dill, omitted the milk because fresh herbs had more liquid, omitted black pepper because fresh garlic is so harsh, and used Japanese style mayonnaise.
Mary Younkin says
That sounds great, Joel. I’m glad you like the recipe!
Kim says
So very very good. So much better that store bought.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you like the dressing, Kim!
Sally Sue says
Kinda mid… it’s really watery and not really that flavorful…
Mary Younkin says
Sorry to hear it wasn’t a hit with you, Sally. If you try it again, I suggest reducing the milk for a thicker dressing if that’s more your style.
Ruby says
This ranch dressing is phenomenal! Made it twice now for my family. Everyone raved. First time was exactly as the recipe said, the second time I tweeked the seasoning a little for our tastes. We have used it for chicken-bacon-ranch wraps, dipping sauce, and for salads, and I will never go back to store-bought now.
I would say that it may help that we have access to fresh local buttermilk, because I couldn’t bring myself to sub regular milk at this point. If you have real buttermilk available, I promise you that is the way to go.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so happy to hear that you love it!
Bridie Ramirez says
Thanks! I didn’t have dried chives so I added dried tarragon and smokey paprika. I also added more aour cream so we could use it as a dip. Cheers!
Mary Younkin says
I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying it, Bridie!
Suzanne says
So yummy!! My family absolutely loved this recipe! I chose to add a little extra of the dill weed. Perfect for salad dressing or dipping veggies! It was better than restaurant ranch dressing!
Mary Younkin says
I’m thrilled it is a hit, Suzanne.
Mo Jones says
Thank you for providing this great recipe! It’s a shame I’ve waited all this time to make my own homemade ranch dressing. The difference between store bought and homemade is astounding. I even had to make some substitutions based on what I had at home. I actually used Greek yogurt, 2% milk, and lime juice instead of the lemon or vinegar. I adjusted the seasonings to taste. Even with the substitutions, I still wanted to lick the bowl 😋😆. Awesome recipe 👏.
Mary Younkin says
I’m thrilled you like it so much!
Kim says
Way too runny !
Mary Younkin says
The beauty of homemade dressings is that you can adjust that to your tastes, Kim. Adding less milk will deliver a thicker dressing.
Dee Reilman says
I lost this recipe a few yrs. ago, but FOUND it today on your site. This Recipe is really great, it pours nicely & isn’t too thin or too thick.. I put it in a Ranch Dressing Bottle I purchased at the store.. Homemade Ranch Dressing is what we prefer now!!!
Mary Younkin says
Thanks so much for taking the time to rate the recipe and let us know you love it, Dee! Homemade Ranch really is hard to beat and it’s so easy to make, too!
Kat says
My boyfriend told me if I could make him a homemade ranch – he is obsessed with ranch – that was the best he’s had then he would propose to me. It’s only been a week so I’ll give him more time to keep that promise but this was the recipe I chose and it was a hit! I wasn’t a ranch fan before trying this but now I am because it is like crack. I also made a spicy version with garlic chilli oil, tapatio, and cholula which is chefs kiss.
Mary Younkin says
What a GREAT story, Kat! Thanks for taking the time to rate the recipe and let me know I made a Ranch believer out of you! Please check back in to let us know if he proposes!
Dave Edward Schipper says
This is my go to to make a great ranch dressing. I tend to tweak it each time and lately I’ve been adding garlic scapes.
Mary Younkin says
mmmmm I LOVE garlic scapes! I bet they’re terrific in this dressing, Dave.