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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}
This is fabulous! Easy to throw together and I love having control over the ingredients. I recently developed sensitivities to additives, and condiments/dressings are particularly bothersome. Sometimes buttermilk isn’t in stock at the local grocer, so I got some buttermilk powder to keep on hand just for this ranch dip and dressing. Thanks for the great recipe!
I’m happy to hear that you are enjoying the ranch so much, Heather!
Looks delicious and so easy
I hope you enjoy it!
Fantastic recipe. There are a lot of comments that it’s too runny, and I suspect the problem is using low or no fat dairy or skipping the buttermilk for just plain milk (which, to be fair, is a substitute in the recipe but I wouldn’t do it. Ranch isn’t the same without buttermilk imo). Real, full fat buttermilk makes a super thick dressing. So thick you almost need to dilute it with milk so it’s pourable.
Great flavor, be sure to use quality dried herbs. The older they are, the less flavorful the end result will be. I saw some umami substitution versions in the comments that I’m dying to try from this amazing base recipe as well!
I’m so glad to hear the dressing is a hit for you, Kelly.
Did without strictly measuring and added blue cheese. Awesome.
I’m so glad you like it, Pedro!
My new go to dressing. Love it
I’m thrilled to hear it!
Should I use hellmans Mayo or miracle whip? Scrolling for an answer but I didn’t see one. Which one do you suggest for this recipe to Be best ? 🥰please and thank you for seeing and replying 🥰✨🌞
I use mayo, never Miracle Whip, Kaylee. Happy ranch making!
Dukes mayonnaise if you can get it.
I’m blown away by how good this is. I was in a pickle earlier, we’re having chicken strips and fries salads for dinner but we’re not only out of ranch, but milk also. I DID however have a can of coconut milk in my baking pantry for cakes so I thought I’d check it out, ok-ish ranch is still better than no ranch. I couldn’t believe how stinking good this stuff was, coconut milk was not on my bingo card for ranch dressing. I’ll never use anything else for our dressing.
oh my gosh, this whole comment is awesome. I’m thrilled you’re enjoying the ranch!
ok so just to confirm the coconut milk was delicious?
Thank you! For health reasons I had to quit eating all dairy products. Ranch dressing was one of the few things I really miss. I used your list of herbs and spices with one cup of mayo and 1/2 cup of oat milk and it is perfect.
I’m thrilled to hear that you were able to make it work for you!
Hi Lori, did you also omit the sour cream? Reason I ask is my daughter has a dairy allergy, but I want to make this dressing for her, so I’m going to try it the way you did. I’m assuming you didn’t add the sour cream? Thanks!
Yes, you can make this with just the mayo and an alternative milk.
I’m interested in your series of cookbooks, but I also want to start making all my own salad dressings. Are the dressing recipes included in any of the cookbooks?
There are several dressing recipes in The Weeknight Dinner Cookbook, Bobbi.
This is my go-to ranch. Great on spinach salad.
Thank you
I’m so happy to hear that, Thomas!
Our daughter is pregnant and came home for her baby shower. Her only request was salad with …as she describes… good old runny Midwest ranch dressing the kind no one around here knows how to make.. I made your recipe and she literally had tears of satisfaction as she was eating it. She was so happy it was home made. Now she can make it herself . So anyone reading comments and people who feel it’s too runny evidently it’s the perfect amount of run for the good old Midwest kind.
I’m so glad she loved it!
I started making homemade dressings recently, and it’s a game changer for me. This ranch dressing is my go-to dressing now. It’s simple and delicious. Thank you!!
I’m so happy to hear it!
I don’t know why, but mine came out much too runny.
Maybe because I used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream?
I made a smaller amount and used the scaled down ingredients.
The taste was good, and the texture was thicker after I added a little more mayo and a little cornstarch.
I’m guessing the yogurt affected the results. You can still make it with yogurt, and you prefer a thicker dressing, you can reduce the milk. I recommend starting with half the milk and seeing how you like the consistency at that point.
Made this today I cut the recipe in half because I just don’t need quite that much ranch for two people, but it is delicious. Thank you so much for sharing. I will definitely be making this my new ranch dressing.
I’m thrilled it was a hit!
Easy, quick, stuff usually have in the house. I did cut back on the milk (regular milk) to 1/4 cup. Buttermilk 1/2 cup fine as much thicker. Will use that next time!
No more store bought for me! Delicious!
I’m thrilled you’re enjoying the ranch, Janice.
delicious!! Thank you.
I’m thrilled you like the ranch!
This recipe is exactly what it says, the best ranch recipe I’ve ever tried and my family loves it.
I’m so glad you like it!
So good! Thank you!
I’m thrilled you like it!
Delicious and so easy to throw together
I’m so glad you like it!
This was great!! Thank you for the recipe, I have been wanting to start making my own ranch for a while, happy I finally did it myself. We get all our dairy products from an organic local farm. 👌
I’m so glad you like the ranch, Fatima!