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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!
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}
Soooooo good. I made and used 3 batches in the first week. We love the kick it has. I did have to thicken it a little.
I like an occasional homemade vinaigrette, but I love ranch dressing. I had no luck finding a low sodium version in the stores, so I turned to recipes on the internet. Made one with Greek yogurt that was terrible. Others didn't appeal to me at all. Then I found your recipe.
I had everything but the chives and lemon juice, so I went ahead and mixed up a half batch. Put it in the fridge for a few hours. Took it out, uncovered the bowl, and the aroma of ranch dressing filled the kitchen. I dipped my finger in and had a taste…and my eyes filled with tears. It tastes like real ranch dressing! I hate sounding overly dramatic, but seriously you have buoyed my spirits! Now that I know I can have a giant salad with real ranch dressing, I know I can do this. I can eat a low sodium diet!
Thank you very much for sharing this recipe that your family loves.
I am SO excited about this recipe!! We love love LOVE ranch (who in Arkansas DOESN'T?!?!) but I don't care for store bought. Definitely trying this!!
I'm tired of everyone on earth telling me that know something is healthy. Medical science reverses itself on what's healthy about every 3 years so shut up about telling me what's healthy because you don't know what's healthy any more than the doctors who keep changing their minds over and over again.
Is there a gluten free was to make this? Trying to find gluten free homemade salad dressings for my Mum, but mayonnaise has gluten in it so she can’t use it. Any ideas/options would be greatly appreciated.
If the gluten in mayonnaise is a concern, you can make your own. Here’s my method: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/quick-and-easy-homemade-mayonnaise-wi/
I hope that helps!
This really is THE best. I used whole milk instead of buttermilk (that’s all I had). Sure, it’s runnier than a store bought bottle, (maybe they use a thickening agent?) but I’ve never had a homemade or restaurant made ranch that was any thicker than this one. It’s delicious. Oh and I used fresh chives instead of dried (also all I had). So good! Thanks for the recipe.
I made this dressing tonight because I was in a pinch and was out of bottled dressing. Let me say, I have no regrets! It was absolutely delicious! Everyone loved it, even the kid who doesn’t like ranch dressing! A few tips: Add the milk gradually, that way you have control over the consistency. I didn’t have buttermilk, so I made “fake buttermilk” by adding vinegar to regular milk. Also taste test often, so you can adjust seasonings if needed. So good! Thanks so much for the recipe, can’t wait to try it with actual buttermilk.
How do you get the receipes
How do you get the recipe?
Replacements to accommodate a dairy allergy? Has anyone tried using an almond milk or coconut milk yogurt instead of the sour cream and almond or coconut milk for the buttermilk/milk?
Thank you so much for a great recipe. We are trying to eat healthier as a family and we are looking for good recipes with good ingredients. This fit the bill. We all thought it was amazing!
So weary of the trendily-overused words “tang” and “tangy” in recipe writeups. I can’t take any recipe seriously containing that wording. (“Satisfying” soup is another one.) Sorry.
I just made this recipe. How was I not doing this all along? I didn’t realize how easy ranch dressing was to make. I followed the recipe, only I used fresh dill and garlic. Delicious!
Made this, this evening with full fat milk, light mayo and daisy sour cream (all other brands I’ve tried are watery). I used 1T lemon juice. Was already pretty thick straight out of the bowl.
Tastes delish!
I am normally not a fan of Ranch dressing but this is a keeper. I made homemade mayonnaise and saw this recipe. I only used 1/4 c of milk because I like my dressing on the thicker side. I have an abundance of lemons and used 3 tsps. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!!
I’m so glad you like the recipe, Mack.
Meant mayo
I am going to make a few of these dressings, thanks!!
This is delicious! In the picture with the dressing being poured onto the salad, what is the ingredient in the very far back part of the plate? Is it a kind of pasta? It is hard to tell, but I’m curious because I think my family would like something like this.
That is my Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad. Here’s the link: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/bacon-ranch-pasta-salad-recipe/ I hope your family loves it as much as mine does!
Omg that sounds amazing!!!