Homemade Ranch Dressing

This Homemade Ranch Dressing is perfect for dipping or topping a salad. It’s so good you may never go back to store-bought ranch again!

If you are anything like me, you love ranch dressing! It is my salad dressing of choice, my veggie dip of choice, and let’s not forget the perfect companion to your slice of pizza! This Homemade Ranch Dressing recipe is the perfect comfort food companion! Pour it over a nice salad and serve it up with a slice of meatloaf and I promise you can’t go wrong!

HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSING
Like this recipe? Pin it to your SIDE DISH board!
Follow Real Housemoms on Pinterest

Any true ranch lover knows that not all ranch dressings are created equal! Homemade buttermilk ranch dressing is the best you will find. I have tried every store-bought ranch option and sampled all the best ranch dressings that restaurants have to offer and this one always takes the cake.

EASY HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSING INGREDIENTS

Buttermilk- Buttermilk in itself is low-fat, so it doesn’t matter whether you select 1% or 2%.

Mayo- If you are trying to cut calories from your dressing, you can definitely substitute regular for low-fat mayonnaise

Sour Cream- This ranch dressing is already pretty low in calories as far as creamy dressings are concerned, but if you were looking for more ways to cut calories you can start here.  Feel free to use a low-fat sour cream or even substitute sour cream entirely with low-fat plain Greek Yogurt.

Fresh Herbs & Spices – Parsley, fresh dill, chives, garlic, black pepper are what give this recipe that classic ranch flavor. Fresh herbs make a big difference over using dried herbs. A little vinegar balances out all the creamy ingredients for the perfect salad dressing!

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSING

The trick to this recipe is in preparing the fresh garlic!

1. First, mince one garlic clove and leave it on the cutting board.
2. Next, sprinkle salt over the garlic and use the side of the knife blade to press the salt into the garlic. Use the edge of your knife to scrape the garlic and salt until it turns into a paste.
3. Add the garlic paste to a medium-sized mixing bowl.
4. Now add the remaining ingredients to the mixing bowl and whisk until it is smooth.
5. Store the dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to develop.

Yes, you can use this dressing immediately, but it’ll taste SO much better if you let it hang out for a little while first.

If you want to make ranch dip instead of dressing, skip the buttermilk and use 1 cup each of the mayonnaise and sour cream. If you’re not a big mayo fan, you can use 1 cup of sour cream or 1/2 cup mayo + 1 1/2 cups sour cream. Whatever works for your family’s taste buds. You may want to add a little lemon juice for some tang but otherwise, you’ll have a nice creamy dip.

HOW LONG DOES RANCH DRESSING LAST

Homemade ranch dressing should be stored in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, and refrigerated. With proper storage, your homemade ranch will last in the fridge for up to two weeks. If the dressing begins to look discolored or develops an odor it is time to throw it out and whip up a new batch!

TRY THESE OTHER DRESSINGS AND DIPS

• Warm Chorizo Beer Cheese Dip
• Jalapeno Ranch Dressing
• Avocado Ranch Dressing
• Buffalo Ranch Dressing
• 25 Cheesy Dips
• More SIDE recipes…

TOOLS USED TO MAKE THIS HOMEMADE BUTTERMILK RANCH DRESSING

Mixing Bowls: Sturdy, stackable, and easy to clean- these bowls are my absolute favorite.

Mason Jars: These jars not only serve their purpose in regards to storage. They score extra points on the presentation too!

*This post originally posted on 08/27/2015.