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}
April says
Excellent ranch recipe! I did use more of the herbs, and I also add horseradish. A local restaurant used to have a horseradish ranch dressing, but stopped making it YEARS ago. Now I can have the awesome horseradish ranch dressing at home!
Mary Younkin says
That is awesome, April.
Tiffany S. says
I made this in Tbilisi, GE, where Ranch dressing is not commonly available, and got great results. I don´t have access to dried dill, parsley, or chives, so I had to use everything fresh. I made my own “buttermilk” since it´s not available normally in this country. I added 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar to cream, and it worked out great. I followed the rest of the recipe except I did not add onion or garlic, as I try to restrict FODMAPS in my diet. I noticed that the lemon juice really is magic. I left it out initially and the flavor was good. However, once I added the lemon juice, the flavor popped. I also can´t have black pepper, so I subbed white pepper. I added a tsp of soy sauce to increase the savory flavor of the dressing. A lot of modifications, but that´s what makes this a great recipe. It can be modified and still produce a good thick, creamy, flavorful ranch.
Mary Younkin says
I love that you understand a good recipe and to take chances to make it your own. I will have to try soy sauce sometime, thank you for the suggestion, Tiffany.
John-bobby Jenkins says
I smoke crack all the time so often not very hungry but I made a big batch of this and covered my entire body with it then let my dogs lick it off. I have 16 chihuahuas that have very little tongues!! It tickles so much and can’t wait to do it again. Thanks for sharing the recipe
Mary Younkin says
That is quite a picture you have painted with words, I mean ranch dressing, John. I am glad you enjoyed the recipe, and your chihuahuas too!
Robin says
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Erica says
Bruh!😆😆😆
Reece says
I laughed entirety too hard at this, but I loved it
Carisa Bell says
Love you recipes! Delicious!!!
Mary Younkin says
Thank you, Carisa!
CJ LaChapelle says
The Best Ranch is Kens!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mary Younkin says
There are so many delicious options, CJ. Thank you for stopping by to comment.
Mel says
Bottled dressing has so many preservatives. Thank you Mary for giving us a way better EASY option.
Mary Younkin says
You are most welcome, Mel.
Eryckakayne says
Way too runny, maybe cut milk in half?
Mary Younkin says
That would be your call. We enjoy it as is, Erycka.
sarah says
very dill heavy. if you don’t love dill, cut that in 1/2.
admittedly, i didn’t have buttermilk so i did the milk/vinegar thing, but this ranch recipe is mid.
Mary Younkin says
Real buttermilk is key to the flavor on this one, Sarah.
Jay says
I live in Germany and haven’t had any ranch since I worked in the US for the last time. That’s over 15 years ago! Today I made your recipe out of a whim when some horrible midnight cravings hit. The result was awesome!
Thanks for bringing back some of the best memories of my life. 🙂
Mary Younkin says
Thank you, Jay! I am so happy you enjoyed it and brought back some good memories.
Tracy says
I make my own butter & compound butters. I do the usual with the buttermilk. This time, I decided to spread my wings and do something different and found this recipe. I pressed roasted garlic and roasted shallots, and used fresh dill and chives (I don’t use very many powders). Added a touch of lime with the lemon and a very small amount of Meyer lemon zest. Oh my goodness, I was going to put in some Italian parsley, but it surely didn’t need it. It was delicious enough where this will be jarred and given to friends and family. Thank you!
Mary Younkin says
I love those suggestions and will have to try them. Thank you, Tracy.
Kayla says
This taste really good but is there a way 2 thicken it up a little its a bit too runny
Mary Younkin says
If you want it thicker, I suggest less buttermilk, Kayla.
Cla1958 says
Delicious! I’ve made this multiple times and it’s better than any store bought and as good as a restaurant. Making your own allows you to control how much you put in according to your taste and dietary needs. My husband said he doesn’t want to see another bottle of store bought dressing in our house.
Mary Younkin says
I couldn’t agree with you and your husband more!
Laurie says
Very close to restaurant house ranch! Much better than the bottled or ranch packets. I did add a tid bit more garlic and pepper (my preference, it was good before I added in extra). I also added in Bardia “Complete” seasoning as I have started adding that stuff to everything I cook! Keeping this recipe bookmarked for future reference 😀
Mary Younkin says
Thank you, Laurie. I love hearing how people “doctor” it up to make it their own.
Debra Carpenter says
This ranch dressing is hands down the best dressing. It beats out any store bought dressings. I did a few tricks of my own. I used the lemon juice, but I also added lime juice. The two together was just perfect. I love bacon in my ranch dressing. Store bought never has enough in it for my taste. So I added crumbled bacon too. It made the dressing to die for.
Mary Younkin says
That sounds amazing, Debra!
Christina says
How could you store this for it to last longer? My husband is a big ranch lover but we just don’t go through enough in a week for it to get used before it would go bad
Mary Younkin says
The beauty of this dressing is that it is fresh, maybe try cutting the quantities of each ingredient in half, Christina.
Darcy says
How long will this keep in the fridge?
Mary Younkin says
Since it is all fresh ingredients without preservatives I usually plan for about a week.
Maggie says
Wow this is delicious. I made as is. My husband raves about it . As do my grandchildren and daughter in law . It is definitely a winner. Thank you for sharing it
Mary Younkin says
Thank you, Maggie.