This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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.
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.
The Best Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 9/15/11 – recipe notes and photographs updated 7/15/21}
How about using fresh herbs versus dried? What differences do you think that would make?
I love making this with fresh herbs when I have them on hand. I typically adjust to taste, but a good rule of thumb is about 3x the amount for fresh vs dried herbs.
i cant wait to try this recipe
if i may ask, what kind of mayo did you use,
because there is a lot of varieties of mayo been sell in the supermarket
thank you
forgive my bad english, i’m from indonesia
I typically use Best Foods, Hellmans, or Duke brand, but it really should work with any mayonnaise. I’m not a fan of the results with Miracle Whip though.
This is delicious! And worth taking 15 minutes max to make. I used homemade mayonnaise that was a little thinner than store bought, so I only used 1/4 cup of the buttermilk. My sea salt was coarse, so used kosher. Also substituted fresh herbs instead of dried. I’ll never purchase ranch dressing at the grocery again! Thanks for the great recipe!
I’m so glad that you love the dressing, Laura!
Pretty good just not thick enough
You can make it thicker by reducing the milk in the recipe, Elsie. I’m glad you like it!
HI. I just tried this and while it looks good, mine seems too runny. I blame myself because I just eyed the sour cream and mayo but I am wondering if you have any ideas on how to thicken it up a bit. I’ve added more sour cream but that isn’t helping. I am guessing I need more mayo? Unfortunately, I am out. Any help you can give would be much appreciated. Have a great day!
My guess is that something was a little off in eyeballing the ingredients. (It happens to me as well.) In the future, if you want a thicker dressing, reducing the milk will work (or increasing both the mayo and the sour cream).
This sounds super tasty and i cant wait to try it. Do you know if it freezes well if i were to make a few batches?
I don’t think this will freeze well, Jess. Typically, dairy products break down and don’t recombine nicely after freezing.
I’m thinking just make the spice mix in pouches?
Wanted a ranch dip for french fries & chicken wings and whipped this recipe up in one minute. Tasted fabulous right away, and better yet the next day. So much better than store bought. I used the 3 teaspoons of lemon juice. Everyone loved it! Thank you
I’m so happy to hear that you’re enjoying it, Betsy!
I made this as we are having a pizza party tomorrow and didn’t have any more of the brand that I normally buy. My husband and I both agree that there will be no more store bought dressing in this house. It is delicious! Thank you the recipe. By the way, we are also having onion rings with the pizza:)
oh, I love hearing this, Carole! I’m so glad you are enjoying the ranch dressing.
This is delicious …. but I’m finding it’s pretty runny. Will it get less runny in the fridge? Can I add more sour cream or mayo to make it less runny?
The dressing should be very liquid and pourable when you make it. It will thicken a bit in the fridge though. For a more solid dip, you might want to try this homemade ranch dip recipe: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/quick-and-easy-homemade-ranch-dressing/
What is the Best Before date? How long is it good for?
This will last at least a week in the fridge, Lisa.
My kids LOVE this ranch and won’t eat any store bought after having this. To be honest, they could make a meal out of it alone. LOL!
I’m so glad that your family loves the ranch so much, Annie!
better than packet
I’m so glad that you like the ranch, Michelle!
I cant wait to try! Could I omit the mayo?
You can make it with extra sour cream, Mia, but the result will definitely not be the same without mayo. It will be much more watery and the flavor will be off.
Omg!! The best ranch dressing!
I’m thrilled that you love it, Catherine.
Can vegenaise be used in place of regular mayonnaise for those allergic to eggs??
I’ve never tried that myself, Renee, but I’m guessing that if you typically are able to substitute that for regular mayo it will work fine.
can you use plain greek yogurt insread of mayonnaise? i really dont like mayo
If you prefer yogurt, it will work, Louis. Personally, I prefer mayo.
Hello Mary ! Tthanks for such a wonderful recipe.
I love cooking. I’m using google translator to help me, since i don’t speak so good english.
I am Brazilian. (I subriscrebed).
I am thrilled that you found this site. Thanks for saying hello!
I really like this dressing & my boys do too! I used fresh herbs & it turned out superb! Thank you for sharing!!
I’m so happy to hear it, Jamie. Fresh herbs do make everything better, don’t they?
This recipe is excellent! Tastes very original. I used olive oil instead of milk, less than a teaspoon. I like to cut up a boiled egg, finely chopped, to add texture. Great recipe!
I’m so glad that you like the dressing, Laura!
What brand of mayo do you use in this?
I use Best Foods, Hellmans, or Duke most of the time, Amy.
This ranch is flavorless and so runny it sits at the bottom of your salad bowl. Save yourself the time and effort and use water.
I can’t even imagine what went wrong with your attempt at this recipe, Sam. By any chance, did you substitute any ingredients? This recipe is much loved by many people and it’s full of flavor. It thickens even more after chilling in the fridge.