Homemade Ranch Dressing - Dinner at the Zoo

This homemade ranch dressing is a rich and creamy blend of mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk and plenty of herbs and seasonings. This dressing is SO much better than the store bought kind and also happens to be super easy to make.

In my opinion, when it comes to salad dressing, homemade is the way to go. Whether it’s Greek salad dressing, Asian salad dressing, Italian dressing, balsamic vinaigrette or ranch, the fresh versions have way more flavor.

One of my daughters is obsessed with restaurant style ranch dressing, so I decided it was time to try making it myself. This homemade ranch dressing is full of zesty flavor, and comes together in just minutes.

Ranch Dressing Ingredients

The ingredients for this ranch dressing recipe start with a base of mayonnaise, sour cream and buttermilk. The creamy base is flavored with a variety of ingredients including garlic, vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and plenty of fresh and dried herbs.

How Do You Make Homemade Ranch Dressing?

Place mayo, sour cream, buttermilk, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, fresh herbs and dried herbs in a bowl or jar. If you’re using a bowl, whisk the mixture until it is well combined. For a jar, seal the jar and shake until blended. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, then serve and enjoy.

Tips For Success

• For the best results, I recommend using full fat mayonnaise and sour cream. The light versions just aren’t quite as creamy so they don’t work as an exact substitute.
• If you don’t have fresh herbs on hand, you can use dried herbs, although I really prefer the flavor of the fresh herbs. Use 1/3 of the amount of dried herbs, as dried herbs are more potent.
• If you want a completely smooth dressing, puree it in a food processor or blender instead of mixing with a whisk.
• This makes a dressing with a thinner, pourable consistency. If you’re looking for a thicker consistency to use as a dip, you’ll want to reduce the amount of buttermilk by half.
• Need ranch to serve a crowd? This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
• No vinegar on hand? Lemon juice will also work well!
• Serve your buttermilk ranch dressing on salads, with veggies such as carrots for dipping, as a sauce for baked chicken wings or as a dip for homemade french fries.

Recipe FAQs

Homemade Ranch Dressing Flavor Variations

I love this dressing as-is, but you can change up the ingredients to add different flavorings to your ranch.

• Bacon Ranch: Add 4 slices of finely diced cooked bacon.
• Chipotle Ranch: Stir in 1-2 minced canned chipotle peppers, along with 1/2 teaspoon chili powder.
• Avocado Ranch: Place all the dressing ingredients along with 1 small diced avocado in a blender or food processor. Puree until smooth.
• Roasted Garlic Ranch: Add 1 tablespoon finely chopped roasted garlic cloves and 1/4 teaspoon onion powder and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.
• Buffalo Ranch: Stir in 2 tablespoons of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce or a similar buffalo wing sauce.

I make a batch of homemade ranch dressing almost every week, and we use it on salads, as a dipping sauce, and even on sandwiches! You simply can’t go wrong with this classic dressing, and you’ll never want to use the store bought bottle again. It tastes as good (if not better) than restaurant ranch!

More Great Recipes For Ranch Lovers