Apr 25, 2020
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An all-purpose Homemade Ranch dressing made with simple ingredients and so good you’ll never want to go back to the store-bought version. Use it for salads, as a dip, or with pizza- if that’s your thing!
If there is one dressing everyone in my house loves and use on a consistent basis, it’s Ranch. Creamy, herby, and slightly tangy, Ranch covers a broad spectrum of flavors and it’s easy to pair with some popular foods like Buffalo chicken, wraps, chicken tenders, french fries, in potato salad, and some argue- pizza, but we won’t go there. That’s another debate for another day.
Without a doubt, homemade Ranch dressing is a 1,000 times better than the gloopy storebought version, and it’s really easy to make- 3 minutes max!
Ranch Dressing Ingredients
Aside from the better flavor and consistency, the simple ingredient list is another reason I prefer homemade Ranch over storebought. Give your fridge and pantry a quick check and I guarantee you’ll find each of these items:
Mayo
Ranch dressing wouldn’t have that creamy consistency without mayonnaise! If you’d like to cut down on the fat, you can use half mayonnaise and half plain Greek yogurt, but mayo is still a MUST for this recipe.
Milk
You can use regular whole milk as I do in this recipe, but if you like a little more tang, try it with buttermilk. In case you need this to be dairy-free, you can use any of your favorite nut-milks such as unsweetened almond or full-fat coconut.
Parsley
For fresh flavor, parsley is the herb of choice. In realize some people can’t handle the taste of parsley, and my solution for you: cilantro, IT’S SO GOOD! If you don’t have fresh parsley a teaspoon of dried will work.
Dried Dill
Is it even Ranch dressing without dill? In my opinion- absolutely not! It has a lemony, fresh flavor that brightens the dressing.
Garlic Powder
Garlic makes everything better, including this homemade dressing, but in this case we are using the powder form. It’s easier than chopping garlic and packs a ton of flavor, so a little goes a long way.
Salt n Peppa
Obviously!
How to Make Ranch Dressing
In a small bowl or jar, combine the mayonnaise, milk, seasonings, and herbs. Whisk to combine, or if you use the jar method, top with the lid, seal, and shake to combine.
For best results, let the dressing chill in the fridge at least 30 minutes before serving with your favorite salad or fresh cut veggies.
Best Salads to Use Homemade Ranch
Now that we’ve mastered this homemade Ranch, let’s use this stuff!
I most often use Ranch to pack with salads for lunch like the ones below. Unless you make the Cobb Pasta Salad, I recommend that you pack this in a lidded sauce container, like this one, so the salad stays fresh for lunchtime.
Best Buffalo Chicken Recipes Using Ranch
Some swear by Blue Cheese dressing for Buffalo Chicken but I beg to differ, Ranch is where it’s at!
Don’t worry, there’s still Blue cheese included in these Buffalo Chicken Recipes but the drizzle and sauce of choice is Homemade Ranch Dressing.
- Buffalo Chicken Power Bowls
- Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
- Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Cups
Easy Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup milk or buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a lidded jar, combine the mayonnaise, milk, parsley, dill, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Cover with lid, seal, and shake to combine.
- Refrigerate and use for up to a week.
Nutrition
How will you use this homemade ranch dressing first?
Diane
OMG thank you so much for sharing I left the dill out and my boyfriend thought it was really good refrigerated store-bought Ranch dressing lol. I will definitely make it again and share it.
Laura Fuentes
I’m so glad you liked it Diane!
Sherry
We can use this in salads,rt Laura?
Thx
Laura Fuentes
Yes.
Val Canfield
Love it. Way better than store-bought.. very easy to make thank you so much
Laura Fuentes
Thank you for sharing that you enjoyed this homemade ranch dressing!
Shannon Clifford
I love it thankyou so much Laura and you bacon ranch
Laura Fuentes
I’m glad you enjoyed this easy homemade Ranch dressing recipe!