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GET IT NOWOf all the dressings out there, ranch is my absolute favorite. And to say I’m in love with this homemade ranch dressing recipe is the understatement of the decade. It’s probably the best condiment I’ve ever made from scratch, and I always have a jar in my fridge. It’s the tangy, creamy, dreamy puzzle piece to complete my meals.
But it’s not just me. Ever since I posted my ranch dressing recipe back in 2017 (on the 2nd anniversary of Wholesome Yum!), what I’ve heard from readers has blown me away. Many people have told me that it tastes like Hidden Valley. Others argue that it’s even better. Some just call it the best ranch dressing. My favorite of all is those who say they make it every week. I get it, friends… me, too. If you don’t do that yet, make it with me and you will! 😉
Why You Need My Ranch Dressing Recipe
- Readers say it tastes better than Hidden Valley – And I agree. The flavor and texture will knock your store-bought favorites out of the park. It’s tangy, herby, smooth, rich, and creamy… in all the right ways.
- Make it in 5 minutes – One of the reasons this ranch dressing recipe is a staple in my kitchen is it’s so quick and easy to whip up!
- Clean, simple ingredients – With no sugar, corn, soy, or preservatives, my ranch is your feel-good alternative to store-bought. And for my low carb friends, you’ll be happy to know that this is keto friendly, too. (I even included it in my first keto cookbook.)
- Tastes great on everything – I use it as a dip, dressing, sauce, and even a marinade to enhance meals with its fresh, homemade flavor. It’ll cling perfectly to everything it touches, from crisp veggies to hot wings.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ranch dressing ingredients, what each one does in my recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Mayonnaise – I usually whip up my own homemade mayo using avocado oil, but feel free to grab any store-bought mayo you like. It works just as well!
- Sour Cream & Lemon Juice – Traditional ranch contains buttermilk (or buttermilk powder), but I don’t usually have these on hand, so my homemade ranch dressing recipe uses sour cream and lemon juice to create the same tang. You can also substitute the sour cream for plain Greek yogurt, and the lemon juice for white vinegar.
- Dried Herbs – For that signature ranch flavor, you’ll need dried parsley, dill, and chives. Got only fresh herbs? Simply triply the amount — measure in tablespoons rather than teaspoons to keep things easy. I find it doesn’t last quite as long using fresh herbs, though.
- Spices – A mix of garlic powder, sea salt, onion powder, and black pepper does the trick. Fresh garlic (2 minced cloves) and freshly ground black pepper are amazing if you have them! And you can throw in a pinch of paprika for more flavor if you want.
- Milk Of Your Choice – This thins the dressing to just the right consistency. I usually use store-bought almond milk for here, but it’s amazing with my homemade almond milk, too. If nuts aren’t your thing, any milk will do — regular dairy milk, coconut milk, hemp milk, or even something creamier, like half and half or heavy cream for extra richness.
VARIATION: Want a dry ranch dressing mix?
It’s just as quick and easy to make a dry version with similar ingredients! See my ranch seasoning recipe for instructions.
How To Make Ranch Dressing
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Combine the ingredients. Whisk the ranch dressing ingredients together in a medium bowl. Add the milk last, gradually, until you reach the consistency you like.
- Chill to develop the flavors. This is optional, but enhances the flavor if you have time. Once I’ve made the ranch dressing recipe, I find that refrigerating it for at least an hour makes it taste better. But you can totally enjoy it right away, too!
My Recipe Tips
- Adjust the amount of milk based on how you’ll use it. I like to make my ranch a little thicker for a dip, or thinner for a salad dressing.
- The amount of milk you need can vary depending on your mayo. Some brands are very thick, while others are on the thinner side. So again, just adjust the thickness to your liking.
- Homemade ranch dressing is usually thicker straight from the fridge. This is normal, and not a problem! I don’t usually need to do anything, but if it’s super thick, you can always thin it out with more milk as needed. (Seeing a pattern in my tips yet?)
Storage Instructions
You can store homemade ranch dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
I don’t recommend freezing it, as it will become a separated mess. Just don’t.
I like to store this dressing in a mason jar for easy mixing and just spoon it out, but you could also use a glass salad dressing bottle or a plastic squeeze bottle.
Ways To Use It
I put this stuff on everything! Whether you’re using it as a dip, condiment, casserole enhancer, or you know, an actual salad dressing… I’m willing to bet that my recipe for ranch dressing will quickly become your go-to. Here are some ways I use it:
- Salad – The obvious! It’ll jazz up any salad like no other. It’s amazing on my BLT salad, adds oomph to my hearty chef salad, and is pretty much the champion dressing for a classic Cobb salad.
- Veggie Dip – When I want to use this ranch dressing recipe as a dip, I just make it a little thicker. It’s perfect for dunking fresh vegetables, like carrots, celery, and broccoli. I’ve also enjoyed it with fried zucchini, zucchini chips, and kale chips, and it makes up the base for my crack dip recipe.
- Wings – You’ll spot this dip in dozens of my pictures for wing recipes, because it’s the perfect sidekick for so many of them! Keep it simple with my air fried chicken wings or oven baked wings, or amp them up with different sauces. Try my garlic parmesan wings, lemon pepper wings, or the classic, buffalo wings. I even serve this sauce with my buffalo cauliflower and air fryer chicken tenders!
- Casseroles – My all-time fave is my chicken bacon ranch casserole, but homemade ranch dressing also works well with the buffalo flavors in spaghetti squash casserole.
- Soups – You might not think of ranch for soups, but it adds an extra layer of flavor to my taco soup, or drizzle it on top of buffalo chicken soup.
- Chicken – It’s for more than just wings! I use it to top my buffalo chicken salad or dunk bacon wrapped chicken tenders. And you can’t make my cheesy bacon ranch chicken without it.
- Pizza – Drizzle it on chicken crust pizza, or make a BBQ chicken pizza using your favorite BBQ sauce and ranch on top. Remember those rectangle school pizzas we all used to douse in ranch? This is like the grown-up, way tastier version of that!
Ranch Dressing Recipe (5 Minutes)
Make this creamy, dreamy, tangy homemade ranch dressing recipe in 5 minutes, with common ingredients. It's the best for salads or as a dip!
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayo, sour cream, lemon juice, dried herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
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Add the milk last, gradually, until you reach your desired consistency. (Use a bit less for a thick dip or more for a thinner dressing).
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If you have time, refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors develop.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 2 tablespoons
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best consistency in your homemade ranch dressing.
- Storage: See my storage section above for my recommended storage options.
- Ways to use it: I have so many ways to use this dressing above!
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Easy Keto Cookbook here.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.
Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe
More Easy Homemade Dressings
Tired of store-bought dressings with fake ingredients? Same. If you like my easy ranch dressing recipe, you’ll love some of my others that are just as quick:
488 Comments
Sally Armstrong
3I have used this ranch dressing recipe for several years now. It has spoiled me on store bought dressings. I have several 1/4 cup glass jars (left over from spices I have purchased) and I put one serving of the dry ingredients in each little jar and store them with my spices. Whenever I want to make the ranch dressing the time consuming work is already done. My granddaughter said, “I don’t usually like ranch dressing, but I love this ranch dressing!”
Pam
1I love this dressing. I make a batch of it almost every week. My husband says it’s the best ranch ever. We use it for everything. I even drizzle some on hard boiled eggs. This is a great, easy recipe. Thank you for this!
Amy
1I can’t wait to make this and have it available for my ranch needs. I love how simple it is.
Jessica
1My teen is very picky but actually preferred this over his usual ranch dressing! It taste great and I love knowing what is in it. I will continue to make this as it is a winner in my household!!
Cheri D
1Without a doubt, this is the best ranch dressing I’ve ever had. I dip celery in and get my fat that way, put it on salad and into some veggie recipes. I don’t use almond milk as I don’t care much for the taste, so I use my whipping cream. In your first cookbook you have a recipe for Salted Caramel Pecans. They are so exceptionally good that each time I take a bite I groan. Actually, I haven’t found one recipe of yours that hasn’t been absolutely wonderful, quick, and easy.
Genevieve
0I have made this recipe for years and every time I bring it to a family function it’s gone so fast! Literally the best ranch ever!
Wholesome Yum D
0That’s the best compliment, Genevieve! When it disappears fast at family gatherings, you know it’s a winner. So glad it’s been your go-to for years!
Paulette
0If I use your Homemade Ranch seasoning, how much should I use?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Paulette, My ranch seasoning post has instructions for turning it into a dressing if you want to go that route. Enjoy!
Jen
0I made this ranch dressing to use in Maya’s taco soup recipe. It’s delicious.
Wholesome Yum D
0That’s awesome, Jen! I’m so glad you tried it with the taco soup, such a good combo. Thanks for giving both recipes a try!
Alyssa P
0I make this weekly! I drizzle it over a BBQ Chicken salad or as a dipping sauce for Buffalo Wings. My household loves it!
Wholesome Yum D
0That’s awesome, Alyssa! Love how you’re using it in different ways, over a BBQ chicken salad and as a wing dip sounds perfect. So happy it’s a staple in your house!
Cynthia
0I will never buy ranch dressing again! Delicious
Wholesome Yum D
0That’s great, Cynthia! So happy you’re loving the homemade version.
Linda
0Sounds good. Will have to try this. We eat salad a lot with ranch dressing.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thanks, Linda! Please let me know how it turns out.
Sarah
0I really love this dressing. I feel so much better about eating ranch when I have made it homemade! And I definitely suggest using your homemade mayo recipe with it. Since it is fresh it won’t last forever and can sometimes separate a little. Don’t make a huge batch unless you plan on using it right away.
Wholesome Yum D
0I’m so glad you loved it, Sarah! Totally agree, homemade ranch just hits different, and pairing it with homemade mayo makes it even better. Thanks for sharing your tip about the batch size!
Tammy
0This is amazing. I gave up ranch dressing last year due to blood sugar spikes at work. Thank you!! No spike and amazing flavor. I have missed ranch so much. This will definitely be in the fridge from now on. Thank you again.
Wholesome Yum D
0That makes me so happy to hear, Tammy! I’m thrilled it worked for you and that you can enjoy ranch again.
Bunnie Leeanna
0This Ranch Dressing is perfect! So tasty and so extremely easy to make! Thank you!! ❤️
Wholesome Yum D
0You’re very welcome, Bunnie! I’m so happy you loved it.
Carolyn
0Hi Maya, I can’t find the link for the little salad dressing with lid. Could you please forward to me?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Carolyn, Do you mean like for storage? I use either these glass bottles with lids or just a small mason jar.
Ann
0You are right!! This is an absolutely delicious recipe. I love ranch dressing but live in Europe, so I could only enjoy it when I visited the USA on vacation. Now I enjoy it most days and use it in lots of ways. You have enhanced my life considerably. Thank you💜
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad you agree, Ann! Yes, I had trouble finding ranch when visiting Europe but the tradeoff is you have so much other fresh, delicious food. Anyway, I’m glad my recipe is letting you enjoy ranch where you are!
BeeBee
0This is my go to ranch dressing and dip! It’s so good!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much, BeeBee! I’m so glad my recipe is your go-to.
Mary Kay
0The taste is great, I made it with homemade avocado mayo and whole milk. It’s a bit too salty for me so I added a teaspoon of your besti sweetener to try to cut saltiness. Next time I’ll cut the salt in half.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m glad you liked it, Mary Kay! Feel free to use less salt next time. It’s somewhat a matter of preference, but could also depend on how salty your mayo was to begin with.
tashdonnelly
0Fantastic! I try to always have some of this and a green salad on hand for snacking. I tend to double the dried chives though, because they’re my favorite part.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Tash!
Kristen
0Any idea of sodium level if this homemade ranch recipe?
Thanks so much!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Kristen, Sorry, I don’t have that info because it varies depending on the brands of ingredients you use.
Toni
0Good morning Maya,
I wanted to try the homemade ranch dressing, but wondered if I could use avocado mayo in place of regular mayo.
Mary Kay
0Avocado mayo worked great for me
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Toni, Yes, absolutely! I usually make it with avocado oil mayo, too. I assume that’s what you mean, not mayo made with actual avocados, just the oil.
Lynda
0Delicious! Will never buy store bought again! Had all the ingredients in my fridge/pantry! Thankyou! #healthconscious 🤗
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad you liked it, Lynda! Enjoy!
Deborah Atlins
0Substituted the almond milk for coconut milk. it was delicious… Thanks for a new recipe to add to my favorites
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0You’re very welcome, Deborah! Enjoy!
Renee
0This ranch is absolutely delicious! I will never buy store bought ranch again since it is so easy to whip up this better tasting and healthier version. Is 12 servings 2 tablespoons per serving?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much, Renee! I’m so happy you liked it. Yes, it’s 12 servings at 2 tablespoons per serving, which adds up to 1 1/2 cups total yield.
peggy aubey
0This is amazing!!! I’d give it 20 stars if I could!!!!
Heather
0Help! I made this dip with the exact measurements but it ended up tasting like mayonnaise? I subbed Greek yogurt to make it healthier and I’m wondering if that was the culprit?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Heather, I’m a little confused on what you did — you used Greek yogurt instead of mayo but it tasted like mayo?
Heather
0Hi! I substituted greek yogurt for sour cream as the recipe said that was an option. So I still used mayo. Im wondering if using greek yogurt made the Mayo too powerful of a taste.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Ah, thank you for clarifying! I didn’t think it was super strong when I tried that swap but it might vary depending on your brand of mayo and Greek yogurt, it sounds like your dressing just needs more tang. Try whisking in a splash of lemon juice and see if that helps!
MJ Stockwell
0I made the ranch dressing in less than 10 minutes to go with our chicken wings. It was so amazing! Another hit by Maya
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, MJ! Enjoy!
Jane
0My fella can’t tolerate the junk in bottled dressings, and this has been a game-changer for him! Please share, if you can, how long one recipe will last in the fridge? Thanks, Maya!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jane, So glad this dressing is a game-changer for your family! How long it lasts depends on how fresh your ingredients are, but for me it usually lasts about 10 days in the fridge.
Anne B
0Fantastic recipe! I used heavy cream and I added a clove of fresh garlic. This one’s a keeper!
Karen Murphy
0I made this dressing for lunch today. It was so good! I can’t wait to eat another salad. I also used it as a dip for some chicken and a few extra tomatoes. Very tasty. I have been wanting to try Maya’s dressings and look forward to making others. I have made some of the wholesome yum condiments – sugar-free ketchup and BBQ sauce were great!
Leslie
0We loved this ranch dressing! My daughter is a ranch geek, and she gave it 5 stars, and so did I! Easy and delicious. Can Greek yogurt be used in place of sour cream?
Evala
0I was eager to see your ranch dressing recipe. Unfortunately I don’t like mayonnaise and don’t like sour cream so I didn’t make the dressing. I have never and will never eat either one. I am also lactose intolerant. Do you have a dairy free version of a ranch dressing? That I would be interested in.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Evala, Sorry that the recipe wasn’t what you were expecting. I don’t have a dairy-free version right now, sorry!
Danielle
0Sooo much better than store bought! I am hooked on making my own salad dressings now.
Emily
0I LOVE this dressing and it is perfect for dipping veggies. It is fast and easy to make. Thank you.
Melony Vance
0So easy, so delicious! I didn’t add the extra milk and used it as a veggie dip. My new go to healthy snack. Thank you 🙂
Pam
0Some of my ingredients are freeze dried. Is this consider fresh or dried? Just want to know for amounts.
Thanks
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Pam, I find them to be somewhere in between. You can always start with the same amount like dried and then add more if the flavor isn’t strong enough.
Brian Myers
0If I wanted to use buttermilk instead of sour cream + lemon, how much buttermilk would you recommend? The same 1/2 cup?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Brian, That’s not how I usually do it, but I would recommend starting with 1/4 cup and adjusting the consistency from there.
Sharon Plummer
0It looks easy enough that someone who has not cooked in many many years is going to start. Love the way you put things together.
Lisa
0This has become our favorite “go-to” salad dressing. Everyone who tries it wants the recipe… keto or not keto…
Melissa
0I love this ranch dressing recipe! It has more flavor than anything I’ve ever bought from the store! Thanks so much for another great recipe!
rebecca alms
0This recipe is so good. You’ll never buy ranch again. I make it regularly. At least once a week. Everyone will ask for your amazing dressing. My kids are away in college and when I see them they ask for dressing to take home. I’m not exaggerating.
Pam
0I actually hate store-bought ranch dressing, so I wasn’t going to try this one. However, I did make it and not only do I LOVE it, but so does my whole family. It is fantastic for salad, wings, and veggies and dip. Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
Trishia Mackey
0Delicious recipe, my husband has allegeries and it often times is somewhat difficult to find him foods that he can eat. HE LOVES THIS RANCH DRESSING AND WILL NOT EAT ANY OTHER RANCH DRESSING!
shauna
0Thanks Maya for all your amazing recipes, I am dairy free unfortunately but am finding it super easy to sub non dairy ingredients into your recipes. Your directions are easy to follow and straight forward, thank you I will be back for more!
Charity
0This is similar to other ones I’ve tried. I always find 1 cup of mayonnaise makes it taste too mayo-ee. I changed the proportions to 1/2 cup mayo, 1 cup sour cream (less fat too) and then add a touch more lemon juice for those light tangy notes.
W
0I’m not big on salt so I only added 1/8 tsp salt to this recipe. I used fresh chives one time and added about 1+ tbsp – finely chopped. Another time I doubled the recipe and added 2 cloves of garlic – minced, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp herbs from provence.
I like to play with recipes and Maya’s is really good. I just thought I would share some options to add.
Melissa
0Just made this dressing…and its so delicious. It was so easy and I plan on using it in the crack dip recipe. I kept mine a little thicker.
Dawn
0Is the serving size tbls or what?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Dawn, The serving size is 2 tbsp.
Dorothy Sanchez
0Can I use Ranch Dressing mix instead of the liquid ranch dressing??
rebecca alms
0No mix needed. Just dried herbs spices.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Dorothy, I am not sure which recipe you are asking about.
Rose
0This ranch dressing was creamy and delicious! I love it drizzled on salads and my kids use it as a dip for their veggies.