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Real buttermilk, sour cream, and just the right seasonings make this tangy ranch dressing so much better than store bought. Skip the MSG and seed oils; make my healthy version instead.
Store-bought ranch dressing is convenient, but those packets and bottles are loaded with MSG, seed oils, and other ingredients you don't want. I'm here to tell you: you deserve better than that (and so does your family)!
This homemade ranch dressing takes just 5 minutes to whip up, uses real ingredients from your kitchen, and tastes so much better than anything from a packet or bottle.
Once you make this silky, flavorful ranch from scratch, you will wonder why you ever bought the processed stuff.
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Quick Recipe Overview
- Feeds: It makes about 2 cups of ranch - you'll have to decide how many people that will feed. I have a son who just might drink this if I let him 😂
- Prep time/ actual time spent in the kitchen: 5 minutes, and you're outta there!
- Tools needed: A small bowl or large measuring cup with a spout for pouring is ideal, plus a whisk to mix it, and a good quality squeeze bottle to keep the ranch in the fridge.
Here's What you Need
- mayonnaise (homemade is ideal, or look for store brands without additives)
- sour cream
- buttermilk
- apple cider vinegar - best tangy flavor! Much better than white vinegar.
- Dried dill weed (or fresh, finely minced)
- Dried parsley (or fresh, very finely minced)
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder - one of the few times you'll see me use any onion in my recipes 🙂
- Salt - please use table salt, not sea salt for the best flavor
- Black pepper
Let's Talk Squeeze Bottles
Squeeze bottles are my preferred storage method for ranch because they make it so convenient to use. You can drizzle the perfect amount over salads, or squeeze it onto sandwiches. Finding a good quality squeeze bottle that you can refill makes it easy to have ranch ready for your salads, snacks, and other meals. Look for bottles with caps that seal tightly to prevent leaks and keep the dressing fresh. Here's what I use and love:
My Favorites for Ranch
Buy Now → Ranch Dressing - Easy as 1,2,3
This is ranch dressing the way Mom or Grandma used to make it (or still does, in my case), with fresh ingredients and that signature tangy flavor. Don't you love when a recipe only has 3 steps?
Step 1. Add all the ingredients to a small bowl or a large measuring cup with a spout (for easy pouring).
Step 2. Whisk until smooth. I know I should have mixed it in a measuring cup with a spout - I fixed that in step 3 😅
Step 3. Add to a glass jar or funnel it into a large squeeze bottle. Chill for a few hours so the herbs and other seasonings can soften and bloom for the best flavor.
Important: Chill it - (kind of like step 4, but I didn't want to mess up my perfect 1,2,3 )
The herbs need a few hours to hydrate and bloom in the creamy base, which is why chilling time is important if you use dried herbs. Fresh herbs work beautifully too and give you an even more vibrant flavor, but dried herbs are perfectly acceptable and much more convenient for everyday use. Either way, you end up with a 100% flavor bomb that transforms a basic salad into something special.
Bonus tips
🧂The Salt Secret - Regular iodized table salt creates that signature tangy ranch flavor in a way that sea salt, pink salt, and other specialty salts simply cannot replicate. Through multiple rounds of testing, the version made with table salt had noticeably more zing and that classic ranch tanginess. So just stick with plain table salt for this one.
💪 Boost the tang when needed - Sometimes you want just a little more zip in your ranch. Adding a tiny pinch of citric acid, (that same powder used in home canning), kicks up the tanginess without making the dressing taste vinegary. Ascorbic acid (which is just vitamin C powder), works the same way. Start with a tiny pinch, taste, and add more if needed. A little goes a long way.
Healthy Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe - no MSG
Real buttermilk, sour cream, and just the right seasonings make this tangy ranch dressing so much better than store bought. Skip the MSG and seed oils; make my healthy version instead.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
- Category: salad dressing
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Ingredients
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried dill weed ( or 2 teaspoons fresh dill, finely minced)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley (or 2-3 teaspoons fresh parsley, very finely minced)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt - regular table salt (not sea salt)
- A dash of black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a bowl or a large measuring cup with a spout for easy pouring.
- Whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed
- Add to a container with a lid. A glass jar is fine, but a squeeze bottle is the most convenient.
- Chill in the fridge for an hour or two so the herbs can soften and all the seasonings can meld together for the best flavor. The dressing will thicken a little as it chills.
Equipment
Buy Now → Using Fresh Herbs Instead of Dried
Fresh parsley and dill are extra good in this recipe if you have them. Use about twice as much fresh herbs as dried herbs since fresh herbs are less concentrated. Finely mince the fresh herbs so they distribute evenly throughout the dressing. If you think you've chopped them fine enough, go ahead and run your knife through them one more time. You'll be glad you did.
FAQs
Yes, you can swap the sour cream for Greek yogurt to add more protein to your ranch. Full-fat Greek yogurt works best for a creamy texture. The best tangy flavor comes from sour cream, but you may find that you like Greek yogurt better. Some people prefer the lighter, brighter flavor of Greek yogurt ranch.
I have a recipe for egg free ranch dressing that does not contain mayo. It's down at the very end of this post. It uses additional sour cream and Greek yogurt to create the creamy base. The flavor will be just a little different from mayo-based ranch, but it is still delicious and works well if you need to avoid eggs.
Homemade ranch dressing stays fresh in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks when stored in an airtight container. The fresh dairy ingredients limit shelf life compared to store-bought versions. Always check for off smells or appearance changes before using older dressing.
A glass mason jar with an airtight lid works perfectly for storing ranch dressing. I prefer a squeeze bottle for convenience because it makes the dressing so easy to use and dispense. Choose containers that seal tightly to keep the dressing fresh and prevent it from absorbing refrigerator odors.
Homemade ranch tastes fresher and cleaner because it lacks the MSG, preservatives, and artificial flavors found in commercial versions. The real buttermilk and fresh herbs create a brighter, more natural flavor. Your ranch should taste better than store-bought, though it will be different from what you might be used to.
What to Serve with Homemade Ranch
Ranch dressing is incredibly versatile and makes just about everything taste better. Having a bottle of homemade ranch in your fridge opens up so many quick meal and snack possibilities.
Fresh Vegetables
Ranch dressing turns raw vegetables into an irresistible snack. Cucumbers, carrots, celery, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, and cherry tomatoes all become infinitely more appealing when you have creamy, zesty ranch for dipping. Pick anything from the garden, dunk it in this ranch dressing, and it just might become your favorite food all summer 😉
Setting up a simple vegetable platter with ranch dressing makes a healthy snack that kids and adults alike will actually eat. The vegetables provide crunch and nutrition while the ranch makes them fun and delicious.
Salads and Bowls
A drizzle of homemade ranch perks up a boring salad and transforms it into something you actually crave. Ranch works beautifully on simple green salads, chopped salads, wedge salads, and grain bowls.
My Healthy 8 Salad becomes even more delicious with a generous drizzle of this ranch. The dressing complements all the fresh ingredients and ties everything together. Learning how to make a salad bar at home means you always have the fixings ready, and ranch is the perfect dressing to offer. If you prep your salads in advance, knowing how to make salad stay fresh all week ensures you always have healthy meals ready to dress with ranch.
Proteins and Main Dishes
Ranch dressing makes an excellent sauce for all kinds of proteins. We love to dip my low carb chicken meatballs in ranch dressing, and kids love chicken nuggets with a side of homemade ranch. Buffalo wings and ranch are a classic combination for good reason (because it's so good!).
Drizzle ranch over grilled chicken or fish for an instant flavor boost. Use it as a sauce for wraps and sandwiches. Drizzle it over baked potatoes or roasted vegetables.
The possibilities are truly endless.
More Salad Dressings Made From Scratch
Roundup! 🤠🐎
Did you know this recipe is part of my Delicious Easy Recipes with No Sugar roundup? Mosey on by and see what other healthy things you can find there.
Recipe creator: Kristie Winget, who loves gardening, singing, and Fair Isle knitting. Here's a little more about me.
Rancho Man says
I love that there is no seed oils or junk in this recipe. It is hard to find dressings that are on the healthy side.
thank you!