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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}
Great flavor, well-balanced, and just downright delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipe!! I made it just as written and it was perfect. – LJ from Anchorage, Alaska
Can’t wait to try this. Been trying to get away from processed dressings &artificial fats, and ranch is my husband’s go-to.
DEEElish, I just made some to have for dinner tonight and was tempted to have it for breakfast. This is spot on, why would anyone ever buy pre-made, this takes less time than going to the store
I’m sure it’s good. The reason someone would buy it in a store is is because it will last more than a week I’m the fridge.
A talking refrigerator?!?!
OK, I am going to try this. If it tastes as good as Hidden Valley, which I have always bought, it will save me 41 calories, 1 carb, and 172 mg of sodium, which is the main reason I am going to try it. I grew up with my mom making a lot of homemade stuff, but never ranch dressing. If I post again, you will know of its success.
So worth giving up the poison-laden bottled and sprinkle stuff. After being put on a salt and fluid restricted diet (following heart failure) I began learning A LOT but particularly about spices and the amount of salt in processed foods … this dressing is extraordinary and you have total control over the tartness, the sweetness and the “killer” salt content… contrary to popular belief, salt “substitutes” are not sodium friendly to heart patients. Here your salt can be strictly in the mayo or do it the old-fashioned way and whip up your own outstanding mayo (with eggs, oil, dry mustard and lemon juice or white vinegar and a dash to no salt) believe it or not the other spices will make you forget there is so little salt. A friend of mine drizzles this over tilapia prior to baking … it’s outstanding for dipping, green and pasta salads, drizzle over baked potatoes … let that foodie imagination run wild … I wish I’d learned these lessons about salt BEFORE my heart failed.
Can’t wait to try this! How long will it last in the refrigerator?
This dressing is fabulous and is a keeper ! I am wondering if you have a jalapeño ranch dressing recipe I have been thinking about adding jalapeños to this recipe
I’m thrilled that you are enjoying the dressing. I have this recipe for Jalapeno Ranch Dip and this recipe for Bacon Chipotle Ranch Dressing. Adding jalapeños to the original ranch dressing sounds delicious too.
I wanted to say I am making it today with the jalapeños. I am a somewhat recent multiple stroke survivor and just getting back in too cooking. It has been a real struggle because I am legally blind from my strokes. I consider everyday a blessing and I also consider your site a blessing too ! Keep up the good work and everyone on here have a fantastic day!
Yum!! I made this and forgot to buy sour cream so subbed some Greek yogurt, it came out really delicious. Don’t buy ranch dressing, make this because you won’t regret it.
Followed recipe. Good taste. To watery.
As noted in the refrigerator, the dressing will thicken in the refrigerator. Hopefully you didn’t toss it.
Better than hidden valley store bought ranch, which was my hubby’s favorite. Until now 🙂 He wants me to make this from now on hahaha. I like it alot too. Thanks for the recipe!
He should make it himself
I’ve made several ranch dressings and I have to say this one was my favorite. I had no buttermilk and used regular milk and it was great. I like it a little on the runny side (you use less that way) and it’s easy to add a tad more milk to thin out once it’s been in the fridge. Thanks for the great recipe!
First time I made it, too much Dill for me. Not bad. I like Dill, but it tasted like Dill dressing instead of Ranch. I’ve tweaked it a few times since and really like it with less Dill. Today I left out the Dill and added 1/2 tsp Southwest Seasoning. Haven’t tried all the other variations listed here, but certain they will be delicious! Can’t wait to try them all!
This dressing is the best! Much much better than store bought!
This is my go to base ranch dressing. I eat it with salad. Add clams for a clam dip. Mixed in tuna for a tuna salad. It’s so versatile. I absolutely love it!
Sounds great! However I do not eat animal products (dairy, eggs, etc). Has anyone tried this with vegan mayo, non-dairy sour cream and milk? I’m worried the reports of it being too thin and watery would actually be worse.
IDK about non-dairy sour cream or milk but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND: JUST. mayo. It is a vegan mayo type product, tastes EXACTLY like Hellmann’s Real Mayo (to me) and even my mayo-picky son-in-law likes it.
With the mayo, do you use Real? This is my first time ever trying to make it for my fiance. He is very skeptical lol. Thank you
I do use real mayonnaise.
Is there a recipe that does not contain dill? Just the smell of it gives me a tipping headache. To consume it is worse.
Feel free to skip the dill. It’s still quite tasty without it.