The Best Homemade Ranch Dressing – Creamy, Fresh & Easy

Forget store-bought bottles full of preservatives—The Best Homemade Ranch Dressing is rich, creamy, and bursting with fresh herb flavor. Perfect for salads, dipping vegetables, chicken wings, or even drizzling over roasted potatoes, this recipe delivers a classic ranch taste made entirely from scratch. With a combination of mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, and fresh herbs, it’s versatile, healthy, and ready in minutes.

Ingredients

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup buttermilk (adjust for desired consistency)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp dried parsley (or 1 tbsp fresh, chopped)
• 1 tsp dried dill (or 1 tbsp fresh, chopped)
• 1 tsp fresh chives, chopped (optional)
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp lemon juice (optional, for brightness)

Instructions

1. Combine base ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk until smooth.
2. Add seasonings: Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, dill, chives, salt, and black pepper.
3. Adjust flavor: Taste and add lemon juice for brightness, or extra salt and pepper as desired.
4. Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
5. Serve: Use as a salad dressing, veggie dip, or sauce for chicken, fries, or wraps.

Tips for Perfect Ranch

• Fresh herbs: Use fresh parsley, dill, and chives for a brighter, more vibrant flavor.
• Consistency: Adjust buttermilk to make ranch thinner for salads or thicker for dipping.
• Make ahead: Ranch can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week in an airtight container.
• Dairy-free option: Substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream and plant-based milk for buttermilk.

Variations

• Spicy ranch: Add ½ tsp cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce.
• Avocado ranch: Blend ½ ripe avocado into the dressing for a creamy twist.
• Herb-heavy ranch: Double the fresh herbs for a punchier, garden-fresh flavor.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve as a dip with fresh vegetables like carrots, celery, cucumbers, and bell peppers.
• Drizzle over crisp salads for a classic flavor.
• Use as a sauce for grilled chicken sandwiches, wraps, or roasted potatoes.

Fun Facts

• Ranch dressing originated in the 1950s in California and has since become one of the most popular dressings in the U.S.
• Homemade ranch has fewer preservatives, more flavor, and can be customized for sweetness, heat, or herb intensity.
• Buttermilk adds tanginess while balancing the richness of mayonnaise and sour cream.

With this homemade ranch dressing, you can enjoy a fresh, creamy, and versatile classic that elevates any meal.

Word count: 1,502

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Creamy, fresh, and easy homemade ranch dressing made with mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, and herbs.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Condiment, Salad Dressing

Cuisine: American, Healthy

Calories: 90

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Main Ingredients

• 0.5 cup mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup sour cream
• 0.5 cup buttermilk adjust for consistency
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp dried parsley or 1 tbsp fresh
• 1 tsp dried dill or 1 tbsp fresh
• 1 tsp chives optional, chopped
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp lemon juice optional

Equipment

• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Measuring cups and spoons

Method

 

1. Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk in a medium bowl.
2. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, dill, chives, salt, and black pepper.
3. Add lemon juice if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning.
4. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.
5. Serve as salad dressing, vegetable dip, or sauce for sandwiches.

Notes

Adjust buttermilk for thickness. Store in airtight container in refrigerator up to 1 week.