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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}
I was diagnose having a gout that alarms me to take caution; i have to take out red meat like beef and pork. I am a bit old 55 years old and eat what it takes usually not healthy. I decided to do my own food.
I appreciate you ll give me healthy recipes less salt and starchy, thank you.
LOVE this dressing. Used apple cider vinegar in place of lemon juice because that’s what I had on hand.
Used this recipe to make dairy free ranch. Didnt have dill so left that out, used soy milk and vegan sour cream so it was watery. But the flavor was perfect, thank you!
I don’t eat ranch dressing because I don’t like the bottled stuff, even though my husband and Son do. I’m old enough that I remember when ranch used to be semi homemade, you bought the package of seasoning and buttermilk. 40 years ago when I believe it became a popular dressing. Well I had some buttermilk in my fridge that needed to be used so I found this recipe, I can eat this! I told my Son to try it it since he is a ranch fan and he gave it a thumbs up! So thanks and I’m going to try some of your other dressings.
Made this for a large group doing volunteer work on a Kingdom Hall Construction site and got rave reviews all week long from workers and also from my family! This recipe went into my permanent file of favorites. Did thin a little and shake before each use to get the pourability I wanted but it’s a keeper.
I’m in the UK, and we don’t really have anything called Ranch over here. I’m not saying it is not available, but I’ve never seen it or heard anyone refer to it.
We do have salad dressings that look like it it, but I don’t know if they are the same.
So I made this.
I didn’t have any sour cream or crème fraȋche, but I did have mayo and Greek yogurt
Absolutely delicious, I shall have this as my regular salad dressing now instead of oil and vinegar. Really good.
I think I’m becoming American.
Ranch dressing is a pretty delicious way to become an American.
This is by far our favorite ranch dressing. We have done away with the bottle stuff. Thanks for a great recipe!
I made it and I really liked it and it was the first time I ever made it
I really liked it and it was the first time I ever made it
This is soo good. Best ranch! Who knew it was so simple to make! Thanks!
I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t expect this to taste exactly like ranch dressing, but it does.
Love this. Goes great on chicken taco salad!!
Thank you.
It’s a good recipe but we tripled all the spices except the garlic and onion powder (doubled) and took it to another level!
I tried this recipe as I prefer homemade ranch dressing over store bought. I am not too pleased, mine also (as I noted another reviewer have the same problem) came out very runny. I am talkong like milk runny. I followed your recipe to a T.
Alas, i shall keep searching recipes.
Hi Maria,
I’m sorry to hear that. It should not be runny as milk with the measurements listed above. By any chance, were you using low-fat or fat-free sour cream or mayonnaise? If so, it will certainly be thinner than desired. I recommend adding the milk last if you want a lower fat recipe. That way you can adjust the thickness to taste. It will thicken slightly in the refrigerator, but at no point should it pour as thin as milk.
All the best,
Mary
I have to agree with the OP on this: mine came out 100% milky (I used whole milk, original mayonnaise, and original sour cream) and ran like milk after a day in a (perfectly working) refrigerator. Even the flavor of the seasonings tasted watered down after that day in the refrigerator. I’m thinking of just dropping the milk or reducing the portion considerably to make it actually creamy.
That’s simply bizarre. I use whole milk, whole fat mayo, and sour cream. And mine consistently thickens overnight. Maybe try reducing the milk by half and see if you get the desired thickness. If you skip all of the milk, it will work fine. You’ll just get a ranch dip instead of a pourable dressing. See the recipe here: Homemade Ranch Dip.
This is delicious! I used buttermilk and all the spices AND added a teaspoon of Hidden Valley Ranch dip powder. Yummy!!!
I made this in a pinch when I realized we had chicken wings but no ranch. My husband says it’s the best ranch he’s ever had!
This recipe is delicious!! One question. How long does is stay good? Wasn’t sure of the expiration time frame. 🙂
I’d recommend using it within a week or two. You’re only limited by the expiration dates on the dairy. In our house, it rarely lasts more than a few days. I’m glad you like the recipe!
How long does this dressing keep?