This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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}
What a fantastic recipe! My husband absolutely loved the first batch I made. His go to dressing is ranch and he says prefers this recipe over any ranch dressing he has ever used.
Awe! I’m thrilled to hear it.
taste is great..but soooo runny..use less milk next time..
I know, I can’t go back to regular ranch!
Can I use fresh herbs vs dried and raw minced garlic?
You bet. You’ll want to triple the amounts for fresh herbs.
This dressing was dynamite! I made it for the first time tonight and unfortunately I only had vegan sour cream, oat milk and vegan mayo- wow! It dis NOT disappoint! So creamy and perfectly flavored! Delish!
I’m so glad it worked out well for you!
My newest hack for ranch dressing is using equal parts sour cream and mayo, then adding pickle juice (the refrigerated kind like Claussen) instead of milk. It lasts so much longer in the fridge. And I just eyeball it until I’m happy with the consistency.
Mmmmmm I love a dill pickle ranch dressing. I do something similar for many potato salads.
This is the ranch dressing the commercial brands want to be when they grow up. 100% recommend.
Awe! Love that. I’m glad it’s a hit.
Love this recipe! I made so much, how long is it good for in the fridge?
It will be good for the life of the dairy ingredients. I usually assume a week or two, if it lasts that long.
Can i use buttermilk in place of regular?
You bet. That works great.
Lovely, thank you so much
I’m so glad you like it!
So about how long is this good in the fridge for? Like a week? Two weeks?
This will be good for as long as the dairy ingredients are good for, likely about a week or so – if the dressing lasts that long in your house.
I had been looking for a homemade more organic way to
Make my fav dressings as I was tired of all of them
Being soy based or corn syrup and iffy ingredients. I do not buy from the store anymore after finding this. My kids and all who try this are that much more inclined to grab some vegetables as a snack just to dip it in this dressing. It’s amazing. And I like that you can tailor it to your tastes. I also opt to more sour cream and garlic.
I’m happy to hear that you’re enjoying the ranch!
Delicious! I live in Portugal now and salad dressing are non existent except for oil and vinegar. Sour cream is difficult to find so I substitutes crème fraiche and added a pinch more salt and an extra teaspoon of lemon juice. This recipe made my kids happy having missed the ranch dressing in USA 🙂
YAY for ranch options now! I’m glad you like it so much.
Is the nutritional information for 1 tablespoon?
Yes, it is.
This is wonderful! I’ve printed off the recipe in case I can’t find this one again.
I’m so glad you like it!
Tried this recipe and it did not disappoint! I’ll never buy ranch from the grocery again after trying this. Great flavor!
I’m so glad you like it!
I ran out of ranch and didnt know until I went to eat some buffalo chicken tenders so it was a MUST. I scoured the internet in hopes to find a recipe to make ranch and stumbled upon this and had all the ingredients. dare I say I may only ever make my own ranch! this is amazing and so fresh tasting! I was buying the expensive ranch before too. thank you for posting an amazing recipe
I’m so happy to hear the ranch was a hit!
So much better than store bought!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the dressing.
I am a believer! This recipe is so much better than what’s in the green-labeled bottle! A pinch more salt, garlic, pepper and I’m hooked. Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear it! I tend to change it up most times when I make it. I often throw extra dill and chives in too.
This is my go to recipe. Everyone loves it and it’s even better the next day when all the spices really meld in. 5 out of 5.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the ranch!
I AM AMAZED!!!! So kiddo like ranch with cucumbers. We were out of our usual grocery store brand. I looked up this recipe and tried it out, was even missing two ingredients, vinegar and chives. THIS STILL WAS THE BEST RANCH EVER!!!!! Thank you, this will remain my go to!!!
I’m so glad you love it! (And I bet that you’ll like it even more with the tang of the vinegar and the chives added next time.)
How about apple cidar vinegar as a substitute?
That should work, Cara.