Homemade Ranch Dressing
This ranch dressing is better than any store-bought one and will only take a couple of minutes to make. It’s a creamy combination of sour cream, buttermilk, some mayo, fresh dill, fresh parsley, fresh garlic, and cracked peppercorns. Enjoy this dressing on salads or as a dip!
If you love this classic dressing, try our other classics like Caesar Dressing, Italian Dressing, and Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Table of Contents
Ranch is by far, my family’s favorite dressing and I’m sure that’s true for most other people. It’s creamy and tangy with flavor that compliments just about anything. That’s why we always have a jar of homemade ranch dressing in the refrigerator.
What makes my version of this dressing special, in my opinion, is the fresh ingredients like fresh dill weed, fresh parsley, fresh garlic, and cracked peppercorns. Fresh ingredients make this dressing pop with bright and aromatic flavors.
This ranch dressing recipe is also the easiest to make too. All you have to do is mince herbs, press garlic, and mix the ingredients together. You can prepare it in just 5 minutes when needed.
Another reason this homemade ranch dressing is perfect is how easy you can make it into a dip for your wings, fries, and more. All you have to do is use less buttermilk and the dressing will be thicker. It’s a great dip for a veggie tray, chicken tenders, or fries.
Ingredients for Homemade Ranch Dressing
Sour cream – For the creamiest and richest dressing use regular full fat sour cream. If you have to make it lighter ranch, use light sour cream instead.
Mayonnaise – Stick with real mayo like Hellman’s and NOT spreads like Miracle Whip. The latter has added sugar and spices that will alter the overall flavor.
Buttermilk – use low fat, usually 1%, buttermilk.
Garlic – I always recommend using fresh garlic when possible. It really does taste better than jarred.
Worcestershire sauce – Don’t leave this out! Even the tiniest amount makes a huge difference in flavor.
Herbs – dill weed and parsley. It’s best to use fresh herbs if possible. Use leftovers in a salmon dip, potato salad, or chicken marinades.
Peppercorns – Crack your peppercorns right into the dressing mixture for the most aromatic result. If you want to take it even a step further, you can toast your peppercorns.
How To Make Ranch Dressing
Your first and hardest step in this recipe is to mince the herbs and press the garlic clove. After you do that, it’s a cake walk. Just whisk everything together until combined.
Pour the mixture into a spouted serving container (cruet) for drizzling or transfer it to a glass jar with a lid to store.
Feel free to double the recipe to feed a larger crowd!
Tips For The Best Results
Since there isn’t really much to the preparation process, all the secrets lie in the ingredients.
- Fresh herbs will be better than dried! The flavor will be much brighter and stronger with fresh herbs. Although, if you must use dried, use half the amount listed in the recipe.
- Use fresh garlic! Yes, getting a jar of minced garlic or even pre-peeled garlic is much easier. But remember, jarred garlic has a pungent old taste and pre-peel garlic goes bad quite fast. So the flavor will be affected.
- Peppercorns! Use a simple peppermill to crack peppercorns right when you need them.
- Let it chill first. While you can certainly enjoy Ranch dressing right away, the flavors will continue to meld together the longer the mixture has to sit. Make a batch first thing in the morning or even the night before so it’s even better when you’re ready to eat!
- Give it a quick whisk when using leftovers to blend ingredients back together.
- Want to use it as a dip? Simply reduce the amount of buttermilk to create a thicker consistency.
Recipe FAQs
The main difference is the thickness. Use more buttermilk to make the dressing thinner or less buttermilk to keep it thick to be a dip.
There isn’t a limit to where you can use ranch dressing! Salads is the most obvious choice but you can also drizzle it over chicken dinners, add it to wraps, sandwiches and burgers.
Chicken nuggets and fries is the most favorite things to dip into the ranch dip. Serve it with your veggies, whether they are cooked or a fresh veggies tray. Dip your wings and even pizza into this delicious dressing/dip. It’s also great on potato skins, baked potatoes, and any potato side dish.
Storing Instructions
If you’re making the dressing ahead of time or have leftovers, store homemade ranch dressing in the refrigerator. Pour it into a glass jar with an air-tight lid and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
More Delicious Recipes To Try
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE leave a 🌟 star rating! Let me know how you liked it by leaving the 📝 comment below or share and tag me on social media @willcookforsmiles. DON’T FORGET to subscribe to my newsletter!
Ranch Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 1/2-2/3 cup low-fat buttermilk
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp minced fresh dill weed
- 2 tbsp minced fresh parsley
- 1/2 tsp fresh cracked peppercorns more if you like stronger flavor
- salt
Instructions
- Mince the herbs and press the garlic clove. Combine all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl and whisk until smooth and blended.
- Taste to see if you have enough salt. You can add it more zesty by adding more fresh cracked pepper too.
- Pour the mixture into a spouted dressing jar or a gravy boat to serve right away or transfer it to a glass jar with a lid.
Video
Notes
- Storing: If you’re making the dressing ahead of time or have leftovers, store homemade ranch dressing in the refrigerator. Pour it into a glass jar with an air-tight lid and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Make it a dip: Simply reduce the amount of buttermilk to create a thicker consistency.
Nutrition
Categories:
30 Minute Meals, Dip Recipes, Dressing Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, Salad Recipes, Sauce Recipes,All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.
I can never go back to bottled dressing after making this ranch!
the buttermilk ranch dressing was outstanding . I substituted fresh basil for the parsley and it was over the top. Thank you for sharing
Thank you so much, Ellen! Basil sounds great, I’ll have to do it next time 🙂
I really want to try this!
How much salt and peppercorn do you use for this recipe?
Thanks!
Alena, salt and pepper is always to taste. I can’t really tell you how much because you have a different salt tolerance and may like things more or less salty. Add less that you like, taste it, add more as needed!
I hope you enjoy it!!
YUM!!! Homemade dressing is always so much better than store bought – can’t wait to try this out!
It sure it, Kristen! Thank you!