The Best Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing

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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.

Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

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.

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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.

The BEST Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

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

  1. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream and milk until smooth.
  2. Add the dill, parsley, chives, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine.
  3. Add the lemon and whisk again. Pour into a jar and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing tastes better than anything store-bought and only takes a few minutes to make! - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

Salad Dressing Recipes

For more great dressing recipes to try, Honey Lime Jalapeno VinaigretteCreamy 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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Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing

The Best Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing

4.76 from 581 votes
Perfectly tangy, creamy homemade ranch dressing tastes better than anything you could buy in a store.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 24 1 tbsp servings (recipe makes about 1 ½ cups)

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

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: 45kcal · Carbohydrates: 1g · Protein: 1g · Fat: 5g · Saturated Fat: 1g · Cholesterol: 5mg · Sodium: 60mg · Potassium: 19mg · Fiber: 1g · Sugar: 1g · Vitamin A: 116IU · Vitamin C: 1mg · Calcium: 13mg · Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!

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

The BEST Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing Recipe #ranchdressing #ranch #saladdressing #salad

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Mary Younkin

Mary Younkin

Hi, I’m Mary. I’m the author, cook, photographer, and travel lover behind the scenes here at Barefeet In The Kitchen. I'm also the author of three cookbooks dedicated to making cooking from scratch as simple as possible.

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  1. Sarah says

    The taste is fantastic but I found it was very liquidy with the 1/2 of milk stirred in. I did have to add almost another 1/2 cup of sour cream and 1/4 cup of mayo (all that was left in the jar) to get it thicker.
    I’m excited to serve it to my family tonight over a mixed salad!
    Thanks for a great recipe.5 stars

  2. Taylor says

    Have made this twice now and it is now my go to. I will never BUY ranch dressing again. I added a little more pepper (I like peppery ranch) and a tad more salt. But this recipe is spot on for a great dressing. and do yourself a favor, use the buttermilk.5 stars

  3. Cindy says

    OMG!!! This is the BEST stuff ever!!! Gimme a straw! I will not ever buy the dry packs again! You have got to try this just once! Thanks Mary!5 stars

  4. Nattimom says

    I used fresh dill, parsley, and chives from the garden. Great flavor and fresh herbs always enhance the taste.5 stars

  5. Anke says

    I need to switch the powdered onion and garlic for the real stuff as I can’get them in Germany- how much of each should I use?
    Love to try the recipe soon it sounds delicious!

    • Mary Younkin says

      I’d mince very fine, almost to a paste if possible, and add about a tablespoon of onion and maybe a teaspoon of garlic. You can definitely adjust to taste though!

    • Julie Coon says

      Hi, Anke, I live in Germany, too, and you can get these ingredients: Knoblauch granuliert and Zwiebeln granuliert. The nicer supermarkets like Hit and Rewe should have these.

    • Anke says

      Thank you I remember having seen those. I could also try Metro but they only sell huge packages.

  6. Lauri Robinson says

    This is FANTASTIC! I can’t thank you enough for sharing this recipe with the world. LOL I’d been wanting for YEARS to find a Ranch dressing recipe which is not thick, bland, or sweet, and which has no “weird” additives, AND which I can make from ingredients already on hand at home. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.5 stars

  7. Amber says

    Delicious!! Exactly what I was looking for! I accidentally left out the lemon, and it was still great. I added a touch more salt and it was just right for me. Thank you!5 stars

  8. Marcia Deans says

    This really is the best ranch recipe! I substituted Greek yogurt for sour cream and it is delicious.5 stars

  9. Benedikte Sjursen says

    Hi
    I found your recipe by accident, made it and wow you are absolutely right! Can’t find a better ranch dressing at any store!
    It delicious. Thank you so much for sharing

    A big fan! 😉5 stars

  10. Carole Wyatt says

    I made this but the dressing never thickened. I used powered buttermilk mixed with water per the recipe on the powered box. Is this why it was so runny?

    Thanks, Carole

    • Mary Younkin says

      That might have affected the end result, Carole. I have never used powdered buttermilk, so I can’t speak to that as a substitution. It definitely should thicken in the refrigerator.