Homemade Ranch Dressing
Published 4/6/2023
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Our homemade ranch recipe is smooth and creamy and made with buttermilk, Greek yogurt, lemon zest, vinegar, and classic ranch spices.
Favorite Homemade Ranch Dressing
That creamy, slightly tangy dressing that’s also a dip is an American hero, ranch. When in doubt, get a side of ranch dressing.
Did you know that midwesterners put ranch on pretty much everything? Salad –> ranch. Chicken wings –> ranch. Chicken nuggets –> ranch. Pizza –> ranch. Yes, we eat ranch on pizza.
In this post, we’ll teach you how to make ranch dressing + we’re sharing recipes for what to serve it with.
What is in ranch dressing?
Classic ranch is made from the base of buttermilk (or buttermilk powder) and mayonnaise with the addition of dried herbs such as parsley, chives, dill, and garlic powder.
Our recipe features Greek yogurt in place of mayo for a creamy, tangy ranch dressing.
Spices in Ranch Dressing
This homemade ranch calls for a handful of dried herbs and spices. Here’s what you need:
- parsley
- chives
- dill
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- salt and pepper.
So, is ranch basically mayo?
While some ranch dressing recipes are heavy on the mayo, ranch is typically made from a buttermilk base, not a mayonnaise base.
Latest Salad Dressing Recipes
How to Make Ranch Dressing in 1, 2, 3
- Whisk together base: combine Greek yogurt, buttermilk, and mayo.
- Add flavors: add the dried spices, salt, lemon zest, and vinegar, and whisk again.
- Store in Fridge: transfer the dressing into an airtight container or jar and store in fridge.
Is there a difference between ranch and ranch dressing?
There is no difference between ranch and ranch dressing. However, some people may serve their dressing a bit thinner than the dip.
What is ranch sauce made of?
Ranch sauce and dressing is made from the base of buttermilk (either the actual milk or powder), mayonnaise, and dried spices.
What to Serve Ranch With
Buffalo Chicken: buffalo chicken is a classic meal to serve with ranch. We have tons of buffalo chicken recipes on Fit Foodie. Check out our favorites:
- Buffalo Chicken Wrap
- Healthy Buffalo Chicken
- Buffalo Chicken Thighs
- Grilled Buffalo Chicken Salad
- Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Pizza: any kind of pizza dips perfectly in ranch. Try our BBQ Chicken Pizza or Grandma Marie’s Pizza Crust!
Raw Veggies: if you’re looking for a healthy snack, any wrap veggie is perfect with ranch dressing. Try broccoli, celery, or carrots.
Salad: When in doubt, order ranch dressing with your salad. Some of our favorite salad recipes are below!
Storage
Store ranch dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Homemade Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, any % works
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
Instructions
- Whisk together the Greek yogurt, buttermilk, and mayo in a large bow until smooth.
- Add the remaining ingredients and whisk until combined.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Ashley McGlaughlin from The Edible Perspective.
Might there be a substitute for the chives? I dont have any
And would sour cream work in place of greek yogurt?
Made a chicken chili recipe that called for a ranch packet. Made this recipe instead and worked out perfect. Made another batch for plain salad dressing. Measurements are great for one person.
The dressing was very tart and to much pepper for me. Let is sit for a while thinking the flavors of the dried herbs would mellow the tartness but that didn’t happen. This dressing was a miss for me.
same. I feel like it needs some adjustments next time. maybe less garlic and pepper. not sure.
Overall, it’s very good. Initially, it was a bit too tangy for me so I cut back on the lemon juice and now it’s perfect!
I’m not sure of fairness for this recipe, i can barely eat it the greek yogurt tang is sooo strong, i can’t take it – hated it on salad, but I think it could be better with raw veggies dipped in, so I will try that with the remainder. I’m sure this dressing is fine if you like the greek yogurt, i wish there was a way to tame it down though. I used Fage 2% which i thought was supposed to be one of the least tangy of the greeks, sooo, I can’t imagine with another brand.
You can use raw cashews and unsweetened almond milk instead of Greek yogurt.