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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 have made this dressing for the second time and it is THE BEST👍👍 loads of flavor and just the right amount of spices. Family Favorite for certain
I’m so glad it’s a favorite!
Is there a specific brand of mayonnaise that I should use for this recipe? I want to make sure that it taste really good.
I use Best Foods, Hellmans, or Duke. I don’t think you’d go wrong with a store-brand though.
I’m going to go ahead and give it 5 stars when initially I was going to give 4. Only because I agree with the other poster (that I read too late) that the mixture comes out much too thin. That being said, I added a little more of everything and it came out tasty and I’m sure will thicken up more once chilled. Maybe you can add about the consistency to your notes at bottom.
I’m glad you like the dressing, Shirley!
Our favorite Ranch recipe!! Makes the perfect amount for our weekly salads.
Note: we never have buttermilk on hand so make our own, super easy! 1/2c milk with 1Tbsp lemon juice (fresh) mix together let sit 5min, should look like lumpy milk or clumps and thick ish.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the dressing, Coley.
I halved the recipe since I’m the only one eating it. It is very thin, should it be? The taste is nice.
Yes, it’s thin and should thicken a bit in the fridge. However, you can add a bit more mayo to it to thicken it as well.
delicious – can’t imagine how I did without this. Use it for salads, coleslaw, as a dip with veggies and wings – so good.
I make it all in one, in a wide mouth mason jar – shaken not stirred, and saves washing up
Sounds delicious, Christine. I’m glad you’re loving the salad dressing.
I will not be making honey mustard any other way. This is definitely the best!!
Thanks, Erica! Enjoy, and happy cooking.
Hello this dressing is amazing! How long, after making it, can I store it in the refrigerator?
I’m so glad you like it, Stephanie. It will keep nicely for a week at least.
How long does it stay good for?
It will last a week or two in the fridge, Elizabeth. (The length of whatever dairy products you used.)
Add another half cup of sour cream and it’s way better! Extremely thin without it.
You can also simply reduce the milk for a thicker dressing. Glad you made it work for you!
This recipe is Perfect! Don’t change a thing! Thank You, Mary!
You’re welcome, Sandie. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the ranch dressing; happy cooking!
Amazing recipe! Thank you!
(for myself, took great fat-reduction liberties with it and it STIll tasted great. For company, the posted recipe is made and gets raves.)
I’m thrilled you like it so much!
Just made. Licked the bowl clean!! Made a 1/2 recipe with heaping spoons of the herbs and spices. Also subbed white wine vinegar for lemon juice, cuz that’s what I had. I wouldn’t change a thing!
Glad to hear that you loved the ranch dressing so much, Anna!
When my husband asks to save a recipe I know it’s good! Such an easy delicious recipe!
I’m glad you’re enjoying the ranch, Cassondra!
This dressing was phenomenal! The flavors were spot on when it was freshly made but after a night in the fridge holy cow…now my family won’t eat any other dressing! I didn’t have dried chives so I finely minced a teaspoon of fresh onion. Mmm mmm mmm. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!
You’re welcome, Tish. It sounds like everyone loved the ranch dressing! Enjoy, and happy cooking.
So much better to make homemade. Grandkids loved it! And adult too.
Glad to hear that the ranch dressing is a hit, Debra. Enjoy!
This really IS the best Ranch Dressing recipe. Easy and deliciours. Comes out perfect every time. I make in extra large batches to feed the homeless in our area. They raved about it!! My family does too. The buttermilk makes it extra special, but have made it without using half and half and it works well also. (P.S.
No offense, but I left off the lemon juice second time and it was better received.) Thank you!!!!
I’m so glad you like it, Buttercup. No offense is ever taken when it comes to food and recipes here. The beauty of cooking your own food is being able to adjust things to your own tastes!
The flavor is very good!!! But the amount of milk is too much. 1/4 cup is more than enough. Unless you like your dressing like running water.
I’m glad you like the dressing, Tee. The beauty of homemade dressings is being able to adjust things like the flavors and the thickness to your own tastes. I’m glad you were able to make it work for you!
I’ve been making something similar for many years. I use equal parts mayo, sour cream and greek yogurt. Then I thin it with buttermilk until I get the consistency I want. I don’t use lemon juice or vinegar, but I do like to stir in some crumbled bleu cheese.
I’m glad you like it, Kristine.
Great recipe! A go-to. How long can the ranch last in the fridge?
It will keep nicely for at least a week, Abby. Homemade ranch is typically good for as long as the dairy products are good.