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.
We love dipping pizza in ranch and these spicy chicken bites are awesome with ranch on the side too.
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.
Homemade Ranch Dressing
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 Salad 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.
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
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream and milk until smooth.
- Add the dill, parsley, chives, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine.
- Add the lemon and whisk again. Pour into a jar and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
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
- ¾ – 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
{originally published 9/15/11 – recipe notes and photographs updated 7/15/21}
Puckles says
Hello. Can you use Avacado mayo in this recipe? I can’t eat regular.
Mary says
That should work fine.
Mea says
Yes, I made mine with avo mayo and it was delicious.
Summer De La Garza says
BEST. RANCH. DRESSING .EVER!!!!
Rachel says
How long can this keep in the fridge?
Mary says
The dressing will keep in the fridge for a week or two.
Linda Bowen says
I made this ranch dressing this morning and did not have fresh lemon juice so I used lemon juice and it turned out great. Will never buy store brands again. This is a keeper
Elisa Vassallo says
Hello and good morning.
Can I replace the ammount of mayo and sour cream with greek yoghurt for a healthier version?
Thanks loads and good day
Mary says
I’ve made this in countless different variations. Mayo and sour cream are my favorites, but it does work with yoghurt. You will probably want to reduce the milk a bit, to compensate for the more liquid yoghurt. And it will definitely have a yoghurt taste. It isn’t bad with yoghurt, it’s just different. Enjoy!
yuppicide says
This recipe was average at best. Not that great.
Rita says
This was the best ranch ever!!! I love that I didnt need to use fresh herbs and it was so easy. I will never buy store bought again
Laurel says
Can kifer be used in place of milk
Mary says
I’ve been told by people who’ve done that, that it can be used, but I’ve never tried it myself. I can’t speak personally to how it works or tastes.
Juanita Loflin says
Used Greek plain yogurt instead of sour cream, no parsley. Also used Miracle Whip mayo. It’s our fav dressing recipe.🥗. My husband loved it.
Michele says
I haven’t read all the comments, but I’m wondering if you can use Half and Half or heavy cream in place of the milk? Maybe a smaller amount? Thank you.
Mary says
It should work fine. However, the heavy cream is likely to thicken the dressing. I can’t see any reason why you can’t use half and half or cream, but truthfully, I don’t see a benefit either.
Stacy says
I’m going to use watered down heavy cream to make it. Less carbs is one reason people might want to make this switch. Thanks for the recipe.
Hila says
Perfect. Easier to make than to run out to buy a bottle of the preprepared stuff! I made it for a dinner party and my husband’s response was classic. He seriously couldn’t believe it was “just” ranch dressing. I had to show him the recipe 🙂
My only alterations were that I used rice milk and I did not have any onion powder. But it still came out fantastic! Thank you for the recipe!Debra says
Wow I had no idea ranch dressing was so easy to make! I Don’t think I will ever buy it again. My only alterations were that I used rice milk and I did not have any onion powder. But it still came out fantastic! Thank you for the recipe!
Kiri says
I made this as-is and thought it was pretty good! The dill took over everything and made me feel like I was eating salad with watered-down veggie dip. I put the full teaspoon in and will reduce that a bit next time! I made this using dry milk and added a bit extra powder as I like my ranch thick! I used bottled lemon juice as it was all I had on hand.
This dressing truly is so easy and wonderful! I can’t wait to try some variations!
Lea says
thank you for sharing this is a great recipe although I use the ingredients that you put I just use different amounts. . Everybody loves it again thank you so much.
Angela Wilhoite says
How long do you mix together the ingredients and how long do you chill the dressings?
Mary says
Just mix until everything is combined. You can serve immediately or chill until ready to serve.
Yvette says
What brand of mayo did you use???
Mary says
I use Best Foods / Hellmans most of the time.
Lisa Updyke says
I have made this delicious ranch dressing four times in a row, and I never plan to buy bottled ranch dressing again! This recipe is so easy and delicious! The sour cream gives it a wonderful tang. I used two pressed garlic cloves in it, plus a little bit of finely minced onion in place of the garlic powder and onion powder. I sprinkled a bit of dry Italian seasoning into it as well. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Peggy says
I am looking forward to making these recipes
They sound delicious and seem to be easy to make. Yum, yum
Vera says
I can wait to try this. How long does it keep in the fridge?
Mary says
This will keep for at least a week in the fridge.