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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.
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!
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}
I make this recipe every week now instead of store bought! My family and guests love it. It tastes fresh! It’s simple and quick. I have tried both vinegar and lemon and both are great!
I’m thrilled that you love it as much as we do, Andrea!
what kind of mayo is used; a miracle whip or a hellmanns? thanks!
I use Best Foods, Hellmans, or Duke’s most of the time, Morgan. I’ve never tried this with Miracle Whip.
I used Hellman’s Mayo, aldis sour cream and used dill pickle juice instead of seasoning. I skipped on the lemon juice this is the best. Ranch. Ever.
I’m so glad that you like it, Lexie!
Good recipes
Its good but missing something. I followed everything EXACTLY to a T and it turned out not bad. My husband and I cant put our finger on it..maybe it needs more zest? more salt? More garlic? Its so close but its just slightly off. We wanted a more restaurant style “house made ranch”. This isnt quite that.
We used the Hellmans Mayonnaise, Daisy sour cream and whole milk. I ended up adding an entire small squeezed lemon and it still lacking something
Hi Morgan! Ranch dressing can vary quite a bit in different restaurants. My family loves it with extra lemon, dill, and garlic. But it tends to be most popular exactly as written. You might try adding a pinch more salt too. I’m glad you like it. Hopefully, you can tweak it to your tastes.
Crushed saltines… I had a recipe a long time ago, that I cannot find anymore, and it had crushed saltines. That is why some house made ranch looks a little lumpy, but really doesn’t feel lumpy in your mouth.
That’s interesting, Ardera. I’ve never heard of doing that.
Maybe you should try a pinch of dry mustard?!
Maybe you needed buttermilk? I made it with some and it’s amazing. I can’t stop eating the dressing. I just made some for my friends! I changed nothing 🤷♀️
I didn’t try the full original recipe because I was missing ingredients. The first time it was a bit too runny and not salty enough. The second time I didn’t measure the milk, but added small amounts until it was the thick, creamy consistency we like. I also doubled the salt. I used chopped fresh green onions and a pressed garlic clove, the parsley but no dill or chives or onion/garlic powders. I look forward to trying it with the dill and chives in the future. If you can, try using fresh herbs! It was delicious, so creamy, and really easy to make!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipe, Heidi.
This dressing was wonderful! We used it as a dip for fresh carrots and celery and on our salads. Personally liked about 2 tsp. Lemon juice and added a tad more dried chives. Thanks for a terrific recipe!
I’m thrilled that you like the ranch, Charlotte!
Tasted great! I substituted buttermilk for plain yogurt and it worked out very well. Thanks!
I’m thrilled that you liked it, Catelyn!
This taste more like french onion dip to me. Tasty, but not the homemade ranch dressing I was hoping it would be. A great recipe for a French onion dip.
Did you by chance swap some ingredients? This really shouldn’t taste all that onion-y.
Might be a stupid question, but can this be canned to save?
Hi Amanda! I’m glad you like the dressing. This will keep nicely in the fridge for a couple of weeks, but the dairy ingredients can not be canned or made shelf stable.
I didn’t have dill and it still came out delish! My boyfriend loves it. No preservatives for me!
I’m so glad you liked it, Lisa!
Mary,
Another 👍👍👍👍👍,s up.
Thanks, 🤗
I’m thrilled that you like the dressing, Roger!
I just made this recipe, and it’s great! In the interest of full disclosure, I did make a couple of modifications. I used full fat Greek yogurt because I don’t keep sour cream, and I used 2% milk, not buttermilk. I also used dried basil because I didn’t have parsley. I went a little heavy on all of the seasonings and squeezed in half a lemon. It was a little thicker than I wanted (probably because of the Greek yogurt), so I added a bit more milk. I don’t think that any of these modifications changed the recipe in any substantive way. I’m an experienced cook so I pretty much know if a substitution will affect the flavor. I’m confident that the original recipe is delicious, but it also worked beautifully with my modifications so don’t hesitate to try it either way.
I’m thrilled you liked it and that it was so adaptable.
I also make this every week. My granddaughters love it with their chicken nuggets. The rest of the family always wants the ranch with their salad when they come for dinner. This is the best ranch salad dressing. I will never buy the bottled again.
I’m so glad you are enjoying the ranch dressing, Patty.
I don’t think I will ever buy Ranch dressing again! I actually had all the ingredients in my kitchen so figured I had no excuse to not try it. I did go heavy on the dill, parsley, and chives. I added 2 tsp of lemon juice and it is divine! Thanks for the awesome recipe!!
I’m so happy to hear that you like it, Naomi!
My favorite ranch recipe. It’s SO easy to make. I don’t have time for anything these days and was trying to use up a bunch of left over Buffalo wings and make wraps with them.. only problem was, no ranch in the fridge! I’ve been making this exact same style for years.. I don’t even measure it, I just throw it all together in under five minutes and tweak to my preference. Dinner will be great tonight! I’ve used both lemon juice and vinegar and either or are still turn out delicious!
I’m so happy to hear it’s become a favorite, Anne!
How do I make this sauce thicker?
Yes, if you make the dressing with less milk that with make it thicker. If you’re looking for more of a dip than a pourable dressing, this dip recipe is a staple in our home: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/quick-and-easy-homemade-ranch-dressing/
Hi would you use fresh herbs in this instead? If so what quantities
You’ll use triple the amounts for fresh herbs, Nikki.
Delicious! I have always wanted to make my own ranch dressing from scratch. This is the first homemade ranch dressing recipe I have tried and no need to look any further. This recipe is creamy and flavorful! Never going to guy the dressing packet again. I used whole milk and added a little fresh lemon juice to it before mixing it with the sour cream and mayo. I used all full fat ingredients. I did add more chives than called for, because I love them.
I’m thrilled you like the dressing, Lisa!
Amazing recipe my family loves it and it is not processed I wanted to share that I used Greek yogurt and milk and came out perfect!
I’m happy to hear that you’re enjoying the dressing, Jenn.
I just had some today! I ate with raw broccoli carrots mushrooms and scallion sprigs.
I will never buy the store bottled ones ever again! I use a Hellman’s light Mayo and light sour cream it’s still really good! I love that I can tweak it but no need it’s perfect! This is my go too! ❤️
I’m so glad to hear that it’s a hit!