Finally, a restaurant-style buttermilk Ranch Dressing that everyone in the family loves. This cool and creamy homemade ranch recipe comes together in seconds with simple ingredients. It’s so quick, simple, inexpensive, and tastes way better than bottled store-bought dressings or dry packet mixes.
This recipe works great as a buttermilk ranch salad dressing or as a ranch dip for veggies and Buffalo Chicken Wings. If you love the flavor of restaurant ranch, this homemade ranch dressing is a must-try.
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Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Recipe
Over the years we’ve bought MANY brands of ranch dressing, but few have been kid-approved. The only one that my little ranch connoisseurs actually liked had some pretty awful ingredients in it, and I couldn’t bring myself to buy it again.
I’ve been working on this buttermilk ranch recipe ever since, and I’ve finally perfected it. And as a bonus, my kids LOVE it. They tell me it tastes just like their favorite restaurant ranch dip. High praise.
This homemade ranch dressing is rich and creamy, perfect for drizzling over salads (try it on a Garden Salad), or serving as a dip with, well, just about everything. Plus, the ingredients are super simple and you probably already have everything you need in your refrigerator and spice drawer.
Ranch Dressing Video
Watch Natasha make restaurant-style buttermilk ranch in seconds with just a handful of easy ingredients. Trust us, you’ll want to smother this dressing over everything.
What is Ranch Dressing?
Ranch is cool and creamy, with a flavor that’s irresistibly tangy and garlicky. There’s a reason it’s the most popular dressing in the US! Ranch is a favorite condiment and dipping sauce, used on salads, veggies (like Roasted Broccoli), chips, Pizza, and just about anything else.
Ranch dressing is made with a creamy base and when you use buttermilk as the main ingredient, it becomes a Buttermilk Ranch. We love combining buttermilk, sour cream and mayo for the ultimate creamy consistency that makes it creamy enough to drizzle as a dressing and thick enough to serve as a dip.
Ingredients
If you’ve ever wondered, “Why is restaurant ranch dressing so good?” The answer is simple: the right combination of ingredients and store-bought packet mixes aren’t as good. Below is a quick look at what makes the best ranch dressing, with the full recipe available in the recipe card.
- Buttermilk – Buttermilk makes ranch dressing ultra creamy and tangy. Alternatively, you can use kefir, which is a fermented milk drink. You can also make an easy buttermilk substitute, see the section below for details.
- Sour Cream – Either full-fat or low-fat sour cream.
- Mayonnaise – Use your favorite brand of real mayo.
- Vinegar – Plain white vinegar is perfect, otherwise, apple cider vinegar also works.
- Herbs and Seasonings – This dressing is flavored with a combination of onion, parsley, dill, garlic, plus salt and pepper. You can use fresh or dried herbs (see tip).
Pro Tip: If you are serving this dressing to kids, you may want to use dry herbs. Fresh herbs are lovely but the garlic and chives can seem a little spicy and overpowering for little ones. Otherwise, the sharp flavors do tend to mellow out a bit after a couple of days in the fridge.
Can I Substitute Buttermilk?
As mentioned, if you don’t have buttermilk, you can use kefir instead. Or, in a pinch, you can make your own homemade buttermilk substitute with regular milk and white vinegar. This is very easy to do:
- Combine 1 tablespoon of white vinegar (or lemon juice) with enough milk to make 1 cup.
- Stir, then leave the mixture to sit and curdle for 5-10 minutes and stir again.
Tada, homemade buttermilk. This is a handy substitute that you can use not just in this ranch recipe, but in baking as well.
How to Make Ranch Dressing
Making buttermilk ranch dressing from scratch couldn’t be easier. Simply combine all the ranch ingredients in a bowl and give it a good whisk to combine.
You can adjust the seasoning to taste. I prefer to use a little more salt when I’m making this ranch recipe as a dressing, and a little less when serving it as a dip.
Pro Tip: Let the dressing sit covered in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight, to give the flavors time to meld.
Common Questions
Both are ranch dressings made with a base of sour cream and mayo. This recipe includes buttermilk, which makes the texture a little creamier.
Fun fact: The original dressing was invented by a plumber in the 1950s. He owned Hidden Valley Ranch in California, which is where the name (and famous ranch brand) comes from. Here’s more info on the history of ranch dressing.
Absolutely. If you’re making enough ranch for a party, go ahead and double the ingredients. The more the merrier and it keeps well in the refrigerator.
Ways to Use Buttermilk Ranch
This homemade ranch dressing recipe serves 6 as a salad dressing or 8-10 as a dip. Here are some easy ways to use it:
Make-Ahead
We love having mason jars of fresh homemade salad dressing in the fridge, ready for any occasion. Here’s how easy it is to store your buttermilk ranch:
- To Refrigerate: Store your ranch dressing covered in a jar or airtight container and refrigerate it for up to a week. Give it a stir or a shake before you use it in case some separation occurs. Add additional salt to taste if needed.
- To Freeze: Freezing homemade ranch isn’t recommended since the taste and texture tends to change once it’s thawed. I always prefer to whip up a fresh batch.
We hope you’ll also be foregoing store-bought ranch dressing after trying this easy homemade recipe. If you love the flavor of ranch as much as we do, try our Jalapeño Ranch and Avocado Ranch Dressing, too.
More Homemade Dressings and Dips
I’ll be the first to admit some things are easier to buy at the store, but these homemade dressings and dips are absolutely worth making from scratch. They taste better and often have better ingredients than storebought. Here are more tasty dip recipes and condiments to make at home:
Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Cool and creamy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing comes together in seconds with simple ingredients. This homemade ranch recipe serves 6 as a salad dressing or 8-10 as a dip.
Course:
Dip, Dressing
Cuisine:
American
Keyword:
buttermilk ranch, homemade ranch, how to make ranch dressing, ranch dressing recipe
Skill Level:
Easy
Cost to Make:
$2-$3
Calories: 168
Servings: 6 servings
-
1/2
cup
cold buttermilk, or kefir -
1/2
cup
cold sour cream -
1/2
cup
real mayonnaise -
1
tsp
white vinegar -
1
tsp
onion powder, or 2 Tbsp finely chopped chives -
1
tsp
dried parsley leaves, or 2 Tbsp finest chopped Italian parsley leaves -
1/2
tsp
dried dill, or 1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill -
1/2
tsp
garlic powder, or 3 medium garlic cloves (1 Tbsp finely grated garlic) -
1/2
tsp
fine sea salt, plus more to taste -
1/2
tsp
freshly cracked black pepper, or to taste
-
In a bowl, combine all of your ranch ingredients and whisk together to combine. Add more salt to taste. As a dressing, 3/4 tsp salt is nice and as a dip, you can get by with 1/2 tsp salt. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
*Store in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 168
Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Trans Fat 0.03g
Polyunsaturated Fat 8g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 17mg6%
Sodium 350mg15%
Potassium 83mg2%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Fiber 0.1g0%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 114IU2%
Vitamin C 0.3mg0%
Calcium 56mg6%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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