This homemade ranch dressing recipe is so easy to make and tastes so much better than store-bought!

Mayonnaise, sour cream, and a handful of herbs and seasonings are all you need to make your own ranch dressing that has a fresh bright flavor.

jar of Ranch Dressing Recipe with salad in a bowl

Holly’s Recipe Highlights

  • Tangy, creamy, and filled with garden-fresh flavors, this homemade ranch dressing recipe is endlessly versatile!
  • Ranch Dressing: Everyone’s Favorite Flavor!
  • Once you know the ratios for ranch dressing, you can whip up as little or as much as you need anytime!
  • Preservative, sugar-free, and gluten-free, this recipe is a cleaner option than Hidden Valley Ranch bottled or powdered mixes.
ingredients for ranch dressing in a bowl

Ingredients Tips For Ranch Dressing

  • Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise is the base for this recipe. Lighter versions of mayonnaise can be used, but it will change the flavor as the fat is often replaced with sugar.
  • Sour Cream: Sour cream adds a bit of tang—it can be replaced with Greek yogurt.
  • Seasonings: Onion powder and garlic powder add the base of flavor to this dressing.
  • Herbs: This recipe can be made with either fresh or dried herbs. I like to use fresh if possible, but dried herbs make this an easy anytime kind of dressing.

Variations: Ranch dressing is so easy to customize! For a pop of nutrition, turn it into avocado ranch or chipotle ranch for a zesty version. Bacon crumbles turn up the flavor. For a tangier kick, try a splash of pickle juice or chopped jalapenos from a jar.

How to Make Ranch Dressing

  1. Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl except milk (full recipe below).
  2. Add milk a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is achieved.

Chill for 30 minutes before using.

Ranch Dressing Recipe on a spoon

Ways to Use Ranch

Ranch dressing is a favorite float, and the sky’s the limit to the ways to use it!

Storage

Keep leftover ranch dressing in a tightly covered cruet or jar in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Check the expiration date on your dairy ingredients as a guide.

More Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes

Did you make this homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe? Leave a comment and a rating below!

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jar of Ranch Dressing Recipe with salad in a bowl
4.98 from 43 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Ranch Dressing Recipe

This copycat of the Hidden Valley classic is creamy, savory, and always popular as a dip, salad dressing, or spread.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Chill time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 16 tablespoons

Equipment

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Ingredients  

  • cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon dried chives or 1 tablespoon fresh
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley or 1 tablespoon fresh
  • ½ teaspoon dried dill or 2 teaspoons fresh
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup milk or buttermilk, or as needed

Instructions 

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and salt.
  • Add milk or buttermilk, 1 tablespoon at a time, to reach the desired consistency. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if desired.
  • Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

To lighten up calories,  swap sour cream with non-fat Greek yogurt. Reduced fat mayonnaise is sweet, and not recommended for this recipe.
Variations:  cracked black pepper, Italian herbs, Taco seasoning or other spice blends. 
To make a creamy dip: Eliminate the milk or buttermilk.
 
4.98 from 43 votes

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1tablespoons | Calories: 137 | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 134mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 278IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dip, Dressing
Cuisine American

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Ranch Dressing Recipe in the jar and on a spoon with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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4.98 from 43 votes (34 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Awesome recipe, exactly why I search Spend with Pennies’ page when I want to try a new recipe! Easy to make and perfectly balanced. Another hit!5 stars

  2. I’ve had this recipe for a while, but had extra buttermilk from marinating chicken, and made this with the extra. I’m a ranch everything fan and this is absolutely delicious.5 stars

  3. I’m new here but glad I came across to your site . I must spend a hour a day looking through the recipes . I enjoy it very much and plan on making more of your recipes . This Ranch dressing is very best I have ever made and so simple. Thank you for welcoming me here and thank you for your site . And Oh’ , the article on air fryers … wow , you explained it very well . Thank you again .5 stars

    1. Thank you so much for the kind words Peggy, this made my day! I am so glad you are enjoying all the recipes ❤️

  4. This was amazing! I have an MSG sensitivity that’s put in most ranch dressings, so it is nice to find something that I can have. I used it as dip for a veggie tray yesterday and everyone loved it. Super easy to make, I will continue to use this recipe.5 stars

  5. Best ranch dressing ever! I don’t even like the store made ranch dressing, but this one is perfect! I add a little extra dill and herbs for extra punch. Simply devine!5 stars

    1. I add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice if I am adding it. I would use it to make a make shift buttermilk and then add it and have had no issues with it curdling. Enjoy!

    1. Hi Margaret, this dressing should be immediately refrigerated and kept for only 2-3 days.

  6. I want to make this dressing, but I’m the only one in my house that uses Ranch dressing, so I’m wondering how long I can keep it in the fridge. Thanks!

    1. As mentioned in the post, Homemade Ranch Dressing will keep in the refrigerator as long as your dairy is good. Check the dates on your sour cream and milk so you know how long you can keep the dressing. It must be stored in the fridge because of the sour cream, mayo and milk mixture (and it doesn’t freeze well). If using fresh garlic, this dressing will only last 2-3 days and must be stored in the refrigerator.

  7. Absolutely love this dressing, never lasts long in my house. Use for salad, wings, baked potatoes, steak fries, hamburgers, I’m a huge fan of ranch. Made this numerous times. Thanks AGAIN Holly for all of your amazing recipes.5 stars

  8. This is delicious! The ONLY negative I can say is that I might cut back to just 1 T of lemon juice. I could kind of get the twang from it a tad more than I like but other than that this is the best homemade I’ve had! I prefer it over the packet mixes because of the sodium content. Will def make again!5 stars