Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe

Name: Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe (The BEST)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup Mayonnaise; 1/2 cup Sour cream; 2 tsp Lemon juice; 2 tsp Dried parsley; 1 tsp Dried dill; 1 tsp Dried chives; 1/2 tsp Garlic powder; 1/2 tsp Onion powder; 1/2 tsp Sea salt; 1/4 tsp Black pepper; 1/4 cup Unsweetened almond milk ((or for a nut-free version, use coconut milk beverage or watered down heavy cream))

Make the BEST homemade ranch dressing recipe in just 5 minutes, with common ingredients. Use it as a salad dressing or dip!

By Maya Krampf
Published August 21, 2017
Updated April 21, 2023

422 Comments

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Ranch dressing recipe in a mason jar with a spoon.

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Of all the dressings out there, ranch is my absolute favorite. And ever since I posted this homemade ranch dressing recipe (on the 2nd anniversary of Wholesome Yum!), it has been crazy popular with readers, too. Many people have told me that it tastes like Hidden Valley Ranch. Others argue that it’s even better. After so many rave reviews, I can confidently say that this is the best ranch dressing… all with natural ingredients!

For my keto friends, you’ll be happy to know that this is a keto ranch dressing. (I even included it in my first keto cookbook.) But, it doesn’t use any specialty ingredients and “regular” would be exactly the same… it’s simply the best ranch dressing, no matter your eating lifestyle.

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe

Tangy, herby flavor
Cool and creamy texture
Easy to make in just 5 minutes
Natural, common ingredients
No sugar, corn, soy, fillers, or preservatives – much healthier than store-bought ranch!
Tastes great on everything!

Ranch dressing recipe dripping from a spoon.

What Is In Ranch Dressing?

This section explains how to choose the best ranch dressing ingredients, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

Mayonnaise – I often use homemade avocado oil mayo, but you could also use a store-bought variety.
Sour Cream & Lemon Juice – Traditional ranch contains buttermilk (or buttermilk powder), but I don’t usually have these on hand, so this homemade ranch dressing recipe uses sour cream and lemon juice to create the same tang as store-bought buttermilk ranch dressing. You could also substitute the sour cream for plain Greek yogurt, and the lemon juice for white vinegar.
Dried Herbs – To get that classic ranch flavor, you will need dried parsley (or fresh parsley), dried dill (or fresh dill), and dried chives (or fresh chives). If using fresh herbs, triple the amounts — just use the same measurements in tablespoons instead of teaspoons.
Spices – Garlic powder (or 2 cloves of fresh garlic), sea salt, onion powder, and black pepper add just the right flavor. Use freshly ground black pepper if you can. You could also add paprika for a more complex flavor.
Unsweetened Almond Milk – This helps to thin out the dressing. For a nut-free version, you can replace this with any kind of milk, such as coconut milk, hemp milk, regular dairy milk (if it fits your lifestyle), half and half, or heavy cream.

VARIATION: Want a dry ranch dressing mix?

It’s just as quick and easy to make a dry version with similar ingredients! See my homemade ranch seasoning recipe for instructions.

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How To Make Ranch Dressing

This section shows how to make homemade ranch dressing, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

Combine. Whisk the ranch dressing ingredients together in a medium bowl. Add almond milk last, gradually, until you reach desired consistency.

TIP: Adjust the amount of milk to get the thickness you like.

I like to make it a little thicker for a dip, or thinner for a dressing.

Chill. This is optional, but enhances the taste if you have time. Once you’ve made the ranch dressing recipe, refrigerate it for at least 1 hour to let flavors develop.

Homemade ranch dressing whisked in a bowl.

Storage Instructions

Store homemade ranch dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. (Note that it may be thicker straight from the fridge — you can always thin it out with more milk as needed.)

I like to store this dressing in a salad dressing shaker or mason jar for easy mixing, but you could also use a glass salad dressing bottle or a plastic squeeze bottle.

Can You Freeze Ranch Dressing?

No, you can’t freeze ranch dressing recipes. The main ingredients, mayonnaise and sour cream, don’t freeze well.

Best Ways To Use Homemade Ranch Dressing

You’ll want to put this stuff everything! Whether you’re using it as a dip, condiment, or casserole enhancer, this homemade version of ranch will quickly become your go-to. Here are some ideas:

Salad – Ranch is a staple for all kinds of salad recipes. It goes particularly well ona BLT salad, hearty chef salad, or probably the most popular option, cobb salad.
Dip – This easy, creamy ranch dressing recipe also works well as a dip for veggies such as carrots, celery, broccoli, or cauliflower. Fresh ones are always good, but it’s also delicious with fried zucchini or zesty buffalo cauliflower. You can also mix it into an excellent crack dip, or dunk zucchini chips or kale chips in it.
Wings – Serve this dish with air fryer chicken wings, crispy garlic parmesan wings, zesty lemon pepper wings, or baked buffalo chicken wings.
Casseroles – Use it in chicken bacon ranch casserole, or try it in other casseroles like spaghetti squash casserole.
Soups – This dressing is even delicious in soups. Mix it into taco soup or drizzle on top of buffalo chicken soup.
Chicken – Use it in cheesy bacon ranch chicken, spicy buffalo chicken salad, or as a dip for bacon wrapped chicken tenders.
Pizza – Drizzle it on chicken crust pizza, or make a BBQ chicken pizza using your favorite BBQ sauce and drizzle ranch on top.

More Easy Homemade Dressings

Tired of store-bought dressings with fake ingredients? If you like this easy ranch dressing recipe, you’ll love these, too: