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
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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.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I LOVE homemade dressing! All of these looks so yummy! Pinned and shared on FB 🙂
lyuba says
Thank you so much, Trish! Hope you are feeling better 😉
Laurie says
This is a great collection of recipes.Thanks for linking up to Tip Me Tuesday linky party this week. {knuckle bumps}
Did you know that I can “lend” your blog posts my Google page rank for better search engine traffic?
{fabulous}
If you upload at least 2 images, 2 steps, and blog post URL into your Tip Junkie craft room, you’ll be in business!
{wink} ~ Laurie {a.k.a. the Tip Junkie}
http://www.tipjunkie.com/post/how-to-add-a-craft-room-project-on-tip-junkie/
lyuba says
Thank you, Laurie 🙂
kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says
Buttermilk Ranch is my favorite flavor of dressing!! This looks so good…where’s a big salad when you need one?
lyuba says
Right! Thank you, Kristi!
Rattlebridge Farm says
A fantastic collection of homemade recipes!
lyuba says
Thank you, Michael!
Carol says
Wow, this is great! Thanks so much!
lyuba says
Of course! Thank you, Carol!
Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says
Yumm! I love homemade dressing…especially when it looks as tasty as this buttermilk ranch! Thanks for this great collection!
lyuba says
Aww, thank you, Cathy!
Sarah Barker says
I love homemade dressing, thank you so much for rounding up all these recipes in one place – can’t wait for “salad season” now!
lyuba says
Thank you, Sarah!
Marion@Life Tastes Good says
Wow! There are so many I want to try!! Thanks for including me :o) pinning and sharing!
lyuba says
Of course! Thank you, Marion!
Erin says
Hi Lyuba! Stopping by from Show Stopper Saturday, and defintely wanted to check out these dressings. I’ve been trying to get more in the habbit of making my own dressings instead of the bottled stuff. Homemade always tastes better, and you never know what’s in that bottled stuff. Thanks for a great collection!! ~Erin
lyuba says
Oh, it’s so much better, Erin! Thank you 🙂
Jenna says
Thanks for this great collection Lyuba, I have been pinning away~
lyuba says
Thank you, Jenna!
Marisa Franca says
I agree with your take on fresh herbs –they take the recipe to another level. I can hardly stand bought dressings. There is something about them that sticks in my throat, especially the Italian dressing! My hubby likes the Honey Mustard but the ones I’ve tasted have not done anything for me. Like I mentioned in my blog, the first thing we do when we arrive in Florida for our three month say is to find fresh basil and rosemary. I would buy a few more but we then would have to worry about taking them home with us. I wouldn’t have the heart to just leave them to chance. Thank you for your sauces — I do plan on trying them and I’m sure as with your other recipes they will be delicious.
lyuba says
I find store-bought ones way too vinegary.
Thank you, Marisa!
Gloria // Simply Gloria says
Yep, you were right… I’m in heaven! I’m such a saucy kind of gal. So, I’m all about this homemade buttermilk(!) ranch.
lyuba says
I’m so glad you like it 🙂
Thank you, Gloria!