This homemade ranch dressing recipe is SO much better than store-bought! Creamy, rich, and tangy, it's delicious as a dip, on salads, and more.
Our kiddo loves this homemade ranch dressing…and honestly, I do too! It has a delicious creamy texture and tangy, savory flavor. Keep it on the thicker side to use as a dip with veggies, or thin it out to drizzle over salads and pizzas (if ranch on pizza happens to be your thing).
This ranch dressing recipe calls for simple ingredients, which make it taste SO much better than any store-bought ranch dressing I’ve tried. It has a rich sour cream base (Greek yogurt works too!), and seasonings like dried dill and garlic powder add bold flavor. Fresh lemon juice gives it a perfect bright finish.
In a side-by-side taste test with this dressing and Hidden Valley ranch, I’d pick this recipe as the winner every time. Try it the next time you’re craving ranch dressing. I think you’ll agree!
Ranch Dressing Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this ranch dressing recipe:
- Sour cream, buttermilk, and mayonnaise – They create the dressing’s creamy base.
- Dried dill, garlic powder, and onion powder – These seasonings give the dressing its distinctive savory “ranch” flavor.
- Distilled white vinegar and lemon juice – For tangy flavor! The white vinegar adds an assertive tang. The lemon juice adds a lighter brightness.
- Fresh dill and chives – Optional, but delicious! They add freshness to the dressing and deepen its savory flavor.
- And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors pop!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Substitutions
Don’t have these exact ingredients on hand? Here are a few substitutions that work well in this recipe:
- Sour cream – Whole milk Greek yogurt is a good substitute.
- Buttermilk – Regular milk is also great! For a dairy-free option, see my vegan ranch dressing.
- Fresh chives and dill – Feel free to skip them if you don’t have them on hand. If you’d still like to add something fresh, a little parsley is a nice alternative.
How to Make Ranch Dressing
This recipe is quick and easy to make!
First, make the dressing base. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, lemon juice, vinegar, and dried herbs and seasonings.
Adjust the consistency to your liking. For a thicker dip, add more mayo. For a thinner dressing, stir in more milk.
Then, season to taste. Add more salt and/or pepper, if desired. If you’re using the fresh herbs, fold them in.
Chill until ready to use.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Use Ranch Dressing
If you’re making this recipe, my guess is that you already have a favorite way to use ranch salad dressing. Let me know what it is in the comments!
But if you’re looking for more ideas, you can’t go wrong with these:
- As a salad dressing. Try it on your next green salad or taco salad.
- As a dip. Scoop it up with fresh vegetables like carrots and bell peppers, or use it as a dipping sauce for air fryer French fries or buffalo cauliflower wings.
- On roasted veggies. I love this dressing on roasted broccoli and crispy smashed potatoes.
- On pizza. If you’re a ranch-on-pizza person, drizzle it over slices of veggie pizza or sheet pan pizza.
Storage
This dressing keeps well in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.
We love keeping it on hand to enjoy with veggies as a snack!
More Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes
If you love this recipe, try one of these homemade dressings next:
Homemade Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup sour cream or whole milk Greek yogurt
- ¼ to ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 to 4 tablespoons buttermilk or any milk
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives, optional
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons milk, dried dill, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, and several grinds of pepper. For a thicker dressing, add more mayonnaise. For a thinner dressing, add more milk.
- Season to taste, adding more salt if desired. Fold in the chives and dill, if using.
- Use as a salad dressing or dip, or try one of the serving suggestions in the blog post above. Store dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
