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Home » Recipes » Sauces & Dressings

Homemade Ranch Dressing

By Laura Fuentes Updated Jan 8, 2026

4.99 from 72 votes

Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

This homemade Ranch dressing is easy to make in a couple of minutes and tastes better than anything from a bottle.

Creamy, tangy, and good on everything from salads to fries, this Ranch dressing hits differently. It keeps for a week in the fridge, but it never lasts that long.

homemade ranch dressing being poured out of a jar onto a salad (lettuce, tomatoes, croutons, onions)

Easy Ranch Dressing

I started making this Ranch dressing years ago because my kids were dipping and drizzling the store-bought kind on everything (fries, chicken tenders, wraps, and veggies).

This is the classic version made with simple seasonings (not a packet) with mayo and buttermilk, and it takes almost no time. When I want a lighter option with more protein, I make my cottage cheese Ranch dressing or sometimes this Greek yogurt Ranch. Either way, it’s always a hit.

Ranch Dressing Ingredients

The simple ingredient list is another reason I prefer making my own. Mayonnaise is the base that makes it creamy, and buttermilk (or regular milk) gives it a tangy taste. Herbs and seasonings, including parsley (fresh or dried), dill (fresh or dried), garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

How Do Restaurants Make Ranch Taste So Good

Restaurants make their Ranch like this one, with creamy buttermilk and mayonnaise plus plenty of herbs, all of which make it irresistible.

steps for making homemade ranch in a 4 image collage. Top left has ingredients in bowls, top right has the ingredients in on bowl, bottom left ingredients have been mixed, and bottom right ranch has been transferred into a mason jar for storage

How to Make Ranch Dressing

You’ll find a quick video in the recipe that proves this homemade Ranch can be made quickly. You’ll essentially:

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a jar or medium bowl with a whisk.
  2. Use it immediately or refrigerate it for up to a week.
homemade ranch dressing stored in a mason jar. A spoon is lifting some of the ranch dressing to show the thickness

How to Store Homemade Ranch

Store the dressing in a lidded jar, glass dressing bottle, or airtight container, and keep it refrigerated for up to a week. Shake well before using it again.

Best Salads to Use Homemade Ranch

This Ranch goes with everything, from fresh veggies to a simple BLT salad or to make a chicken Cobb salad an epic meal.

Easy Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe

jar of ranch dressing with a spoon
Servings: 6
Prep Time: 3 minutes mins
Total Time: 3 minutes mins
This homemade Ranch dressing is easy to make in a couple of minutes and tastes better than anything from a bottle.
4.99 from 72 votes
Print Pin

Watch how it’s made:

Ingredients

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup buttermilk, or whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 2 teaspoons dried
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, 1 teaspoon dried
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Pinch of salt and pepper

Instructions

Make it

  • In a medium bowl or directly inside a jar, combine all the ingredients. Whisk the contents in the bowl or seal tightly and shake to combine. This dressing can be used immediately or chilled until ready to serve.

Store it

  • Store this Ranch dressing in a lidded jar, glass bottle, or airtight container, and keep it refrigerated for up to a week. Shake well before using.

Equipment

Dressing Bottle
Salad Dressing Twist Jar
packed lunches ebook on a tablet
101 Packed Lunches eBook
Salad Spinner

Nutrition

Serving: 2 tablespoons | Calories: 53kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 110mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 152IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 0.2mg

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    Fruit Salad Dressing
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    Cottage Cheese Dip
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    Whipped Cottage Cheese

Comments

    4.99 from 72 votes (29 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Ebony says

    March 05, 2026 at 10:28 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for the first time and it was sooo good! way better than the store-bought dressing. Can’t wait to make this again!

    Reply
  2. Sonia Seivwright says

    March 05, 2026 at 5:57 am

    5 stars
    Funny thing is, I mostly think of ranch as a dip, but using it as a salad dressing with that balance of buttermilk and lemon juice makes a lot of sense. I also liked the note about adjusting the thickness depending on whether you want it for veggies or salad. Might try this next time instead of grabbing a bottle from the shop.

    Reply
  3. Beth says

    March 04, 2026 at 4:14 pm

    5 stars
    This is crazy good! I can’t believe this only took two ingredients. So good.

    Reply
  4. Emily says

    March 04, 2026 at 7:37 am

    I’m going to try making this with buttermilk! I’ve been making my own butter too, and trying to find uses for the buttermilk that’s been left over. Thank you so much for sharing!!

    Reply
  5. Taylor says

    February 05, 2026 at 9:16 am

    5 stars
    The creamiest homemade ranch! Just like my restaurant fave.

    Reply
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Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, mom of three, and the woman behind the world’s best pancakes—here to help you ditch the mealtime drama with recipes your family will actually eat.

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