Whip up a creamy, tangy homemade buttermilk ranch dressing in minutes! This easy recipe blends mayonnaise, buttermilk, and a mix of dried herbs and spices for a fresh, flavorful dressing that beats anything store-bought. Use it on salads, as a marinade, or mix in sour cream for a rich and dippable version. Perfect for drizzling, dunking, and devouring!
Homemade buttermilk ranch dressing is the perfect addition to any green salad and makes a great dip, too. All you need are a handful of ingredients and 5 minutes!
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Homemade salad dressings are super easy to make and taste so much better than bottled ranch dressings. Don't let the idea of making it from scratch intimidate you this is a super easy recipe.
If you're a fan of ranch salad dressing, you have to try this homemade version—it's so good!
Ingredients
This is meant to be a brief overview of this garlic and herb ranch dressing recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.
- Buttermilk: This is where ranch gets its signature tang! Buttermilk keeps things light and creamy while balancing out the richness of the mayo. It also helps the flavors blend beautifully.
- Mayonnaise: This is the secret to that ultra-smooth, velvety texture. Mayo adds richness and helps everything come together. A good-quality mayo makes a big difference so this is a good time to splurge a little.
Seasonings: These add the classic ranch dressing flavors you love! Raid the pantry for dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, kosher salt, and black pepper.
Easy Homemade Ranch Dip: To make a yummy dip for fresh veggies, potato chips, French fries, chicken fingers, or buffalo wings, combine 1 cup sour cream or 1 cup fat-free Greek yogurt with 1 cup ranch dressing.
Variations
- Add Freshness. Add a little bit of fresh garlic or fresh chives to the dressing for a brighter and more vibrant flavor.
- Make Your Own. You can make your own buttermilk by combining regular milk with lemon juice or white vinegar. Check out our free ingredient substitutions printable for the exact measurements.
- Customize your ranch. Try one of these variations:
- Spicy Ranch – Add hot sauce, cayenne, or chipotle powder
- Cheesy Ranch – Stir in a little Parmesan or blue cheese
- BBQ Ranch – Mix in a little BBQ sauce for a smoky twist
Ang's Recipe Tips
Use Full-Fat Ingredients: For the richest, creamiest texture, use full-fat mayonnaise and buttermilk. Low-fat alternatives work but may result in a thinner consistency and less depth of flavor.
Fresh vs. Dried Herbs: For more freshness in your homemade dressing, use fresh herbs instead of dry herbs. Fresh parsley and fresh dill really add something special.
Balance the Tang: Buttermilk provides natural tanginess, but if you want to enhance it further, add a splash of fresh lemon juice or white vinegar. If it's too tart, balance it with a pinch of sugar.
Let It Rest. For the best flavor, let the dressing sit for at least 30 minutes (or overnight) before serving. This allows the herbs and seasonings to meld together, creating a deeper, more complex flavor.
Adjust Thickness as Needed: If your ranch is too thick, thin it out with a little more buttermilk. If it’s too runny, stir in extra mayonnaise or some sour cream until you reach the perfect consistency.
How to Use Leftover Buttermilk
Let's face it: buttermilk is not an ingredient most have on hand all the time. It's a great addition to this recipe, and you can also use it to make butter swim biscuits, lemon poppyseed pancakes, and breaded onion rings.
Storage
To Store: Homemade ranch dressing can be kept in the fridge for up to 1 week. Store in an airtight container. (These are my favorite airtight containers.)
Serving Suggestions
Dip it! Everyone knows this is great with veggies, but it's also perfect for dipping wings, pizza crust, tater tots, and chicken nuggets.
Drizzle it! Of course, ranch salad dressing is tasty on salad, but try it on tacos, burritos, and baked potatoes instead of sour cream. It's great on burgers and sandwiches instead of mayo, too.
Sauce it Up! Add it to Buffalo chicken wraps or use it instead of mayo for pasta salad and cole slaw.
Marinade Magic! Ranch dressing makes a great marinade for chicken, steak, and pork. Pour it over your favorite protein and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes before grilling or baking.
Similar Recipes
Next time, try one of these easy homemade dressings:
- Caesar dressing without anchovies
- avocado ranch dressing
- lemon vinaigrette dressing
- pomegranate vinaigrette
If you love making your own salad dressings, check out this collection of homemade condiments. Plus, you'll find even more salad dressing recipes here.
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Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
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Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- kosher salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the mayonnaise and buttermilk until smooth and creamy,1 cup mayonnaise, 1 cup buttermilk
- Stir in the seasonings and dried herbs.2 teaspoons dried parsley, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried chives, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon dried dill, kosher salt
- Transfer the ranch dressing mixture to a mason jar or other airtight container.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes.
Notes
- Spicy Ranch – Add hot sauce, cayenne, or chipotle powder
- Cheesy Ranch – Stir in a little Parmesan or blue cheese
- BBQ Ranch – Mix in a little BBQ sauce for a smoky twist
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If you love a good fresh salad, you have to try one of these delicious recipes:
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