There are two things that we blaze through at our house: sriracha, and ranch dressing. If you are a ranch dressing fan like us, you know that store-bought ranch dressing does not taste anywhere near as good as ranch dressings that you get at a restaurant. Most restaurants don’t use bottled stuff. Instead, they make their own homemade ranch dressing. This homemade buttermilk ranch dressing is perfect for salads, tacos or your kids’ favorite chicken nuggets. See for yourself how amazing this dressing is.
Homemade Ranch Dressing Ingredients
Making homemade ranch dressing is simple! All you need are a few simple ingredients that you can leave in your pantry and refrigerator to have on hand. Simply mix the ingredients together for a smooth and creamy sauce everyone will be raving about!
Mayonnaise – I recommend using the brands Best Foods or Hellmann’s. It is a rich and flavorful mayo that seems to work best with this dressing recipe. Buttermilk – Easily make your own homemade buttermilk or purchase it at the store. Accent or spike seasoning – Choose the best seasoning that you prefer for the extra flavor boost. This is a seasoning salt. The accent seasoning is one brand and Spike is another. Be forewarned that Accent seasoning contains MSG, which many people are sensitive to. For that reason, we recommend using Spike seasoning. Black Pepper – Balance the flavors with a little hint of spice. Parsley – Dry parsley will give the white creamy texture some speckles of beautiful green and extra flavor. Dill – Dried dill adds just a little more needed extra flavor and color. Garlic Powder – This of course is a garlicky flavor add-in. It is a great seasoning to enhance the flavors together. Onion Powder – Oniony flavor is added using a powder mix. This is dehydrated onions that are crushed and turned into a powder form. Optional: add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or some chopped cooked bacon for a delicious bacon ranch dressing.
Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
We like to make a Ranch Seasoning Mix by combining the dry seasonings ahead of time. I like to double or triple the amount of dry ingredients in this recipe and store it in an airtight container. It will stay good at room temperature for up to 6 months. Combine 3 Tablespoons of ranch seasoning mix with 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup buttermilk.
Make a Lighter Version
Yes, you can make a light homemade ranch dressing! Instead of making this recipe with mayo and buttermilk, use plain Greek yogurt and skim milk. It won’t taste quite as rich as a full buttermilk ranch dressing recipe, but will have less calories and you’ll still have a creamy ranch dressing to enjoy on your salads.
Variations to this Recipe
If you want to make your own accent seasoning from scratch instead of finding it at the store, try this homemade Emeril’s Essence Seasoning recipe. Special thanks to our reader, Vickie, for this flavorful ranch dressing recipe!
Paprika – one tablespoon Sea salt – one tablespoon Garlic powder – one tablespoon Onion powder – one and a half teaspoons Dried oregano – one and a half teaspoons Thyme – also dried, use one and a half teaspoons Black Pepper – one teaspoon Cayenne pepper – one teaspoon or more if you like it extra spicy.
In a small bowl, add all of the above ingredients and mix well to combine. (use the back of a spoon to mash/grind the ingredients together.) Transfer to a 4-ounce mason jar or clean recycled spice jar.
No Salt Seasoning Mix
Vickie also helpfully provided us with a no salt recipe if you want to cut down on sodium and use dried herbs for added flavor. Thanks, Vickie!
Garlic powder – one tablespoon Dried basil – one and a half teaspoons Parsley – dried parsley, about one and a half teaspoons Dried Savory – one and a quarter teaspoons Ground thyme – one and a quarter teaspoons Mace – one teaspoon ground mace Onion powder – one teaspoon Black pepper – one teaspoon Dried sage – one teaspoon Cayenne pepper – a quarter teaspoon
Mix garlic powder, basil, parsley, savory, thyme, mace, onion powder, black pepper, sage, and cayenne pepper in a bowl; store in a sealed jar.
What to Use Homemade Ranch Dressing For
It might be easier to say what you can’t put on because we use it for pretty much everything at our house. Here’s a quick list of what we use homemade ranch dressing with. Get ready to start adding this homemade salad dressing to everything! It truly is the best ranch dressing.
Meals – Chicken tenders, sandwiches, pizza, chicken wings, and tacos are all great ways to add an extra condiment to the food. Sides – Start dipping your french fries, tortilla chips, and carrots into the ranch salad dressing. Veggies – Raw vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, celery, and cucumbers are a perfect combination!
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