Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe
Updated May 14, 2024
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This cool and creamy homemade ranch dressing recipe is prepared with plain yogurt, sour cream, and buttermilk (no mayo!) and a savory mix of pantry seasonings. It’s delicious as a classic salad dressing or as a dip for crudités, chicken tenders, and, well, just about anything. Bottled ranch, who?
If you love to make from-scratch salad dressings, check out my homemade Italian salad dressing and avocado dressing for more tasty options!
The Best Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing
Friends, it’s time to skip the store-bought variety and know exactly what you’re getting with this easy homemade buttermilk Ranch dressing! With the help of creamy yogurt, this Ranch dressing recipe is lighter but just as delicious. If you have appetizers that need dipping, this recipe is a must-make. From my garlic bread in the air fryer to potato wedges and avocado fries, any food under the sun wants to be dipped in Ranch, ya know? It’s a universal thing!
This dressing has been my go-to for about eight years. I hardly ever buy it from the store. Everyone who tries it falls in love and asks for the recipe. My kids grab this ranch salad dressing to enjoy it with… get this… fresh vegetables!! Like carrots, broccoli, and snap peas. Hallelujah!
Why Make This Ranch Dressing Recipe
- Lighter option. Made with plain or Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise, this homemade ranch dressing is lighter than the store-bought version but fresher, tastier, and just as irresistibly creamy.
- Easy to make. With just a handful of ingredients, you might already have everything you need to make it.
- Use it on everything. Perfect for salads, dips, broccoli slaw, and pinwheel sandwiches, this dressing is incredibly versatile. You can even use just the seasoning blend in the recipe as a stand-in for ranch seasoning mix in ranch pork chops and Mississippi pot roast.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make my ranch dressing, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry and fridge. For the exact measurements, scroll to the printable recipe card.
- Plain Yogurt – Adds creaminess and a tangy flavor. My favorite is the nonfat plain yogurt from Dannon. Substitute sour cream for a thicker texture, especially if you want to serve it as a dip.
- Lite Sour Cream – Contributes to the creamy texture while keeping it light. Full-fat sour cream or crème fraîche can be used for a richer taste.
- Buttermilk – Add less or more buttermilk to adjust the dressing to your desired consistency. No buttermilk in the fridge? Make a homemade substitute from regular milk and white vinegar or lemon juice.
- Seasonings – For that signature ranch flavor, you’ll need garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill weed, dried chives, salt, and pepper.
- Lemon juice – Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
DIY Ranch Seasoning Mix
For a simple and quick homemade ranch seasoning, skip the wet ingredients in the recipe and combine only the garlic powder, onion powder, dill weed, chives, salt, and pepper. You can scale the blend to taste, and it’s a great alternative to store-bought ranch dressing mix in recipes for Mississippi chicken and crack chicken.
Recipe Tips and Variations
- Adjust the consistency. To thicken the dressing, add more sour cream. To thin it out, add more buttermilk or a teaspoon of olive oil or lemon juice until you reach your desired consistency.
- Greek yogurt. If you make this recipe with Greek yogurt, I suggest tasting the dressing before you add the sour cream. The sour cream makes it thicker and tangier, so adjust to taste.
- Flavor adjustment. Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your taste. Add more garlic powder or dill if you like a stronger flavor.
- Buffalo ranch. Mix in Buffalo hot sauce, like Frank’s, to taste and give this homemade ranch a spicy kick.
- Use mayo. If you’d prefer, swap yogurt with mayonnaise for a richer texture and more traditional ranch dressing.
What to Serve With Ranch Dressing
I live in a household of ranch fiends, and we use it as a dip for everything from fresh veggies and zucchini fritters to chicken tenders, hot honey chicken, and sweet potato wedges. These are just some of my other favorite ways to use ranch dressing:
- Salads: Drizzle over your favorite green salad or a 7-layer salad.
- As a spread: Spread it on sandwiches or egg white wraps for an extra layer of flavor.
- Snack platters: Include it on a platter with various dips and sauces, such as roasted garlic aioli, and finger foods for dipping.
- Bowls: You could also use the ranch to make these delicious Ranch chicken fajita bowls or my Ranch chicken and rice.
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Ranch Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill weed
- ½ teaspoon dried chives
- 1 to 3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Combine. Place yogurt, sour cream, and buttermilk in a mixing bowl. Add the garlic powder, onion powder, dill, chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper; whisk and stir until thoroughly combined.
- Adjust. Taste it and adjust the seasonings to your liking. If you want a thinner consistency, add more buttermilk; add more sour cream for a thicker consistency.
- Store. Transfer to a jar or an airtight container; cover and refrigerate. Use it within 7 to 10 days.
Notes
- I like to add more buttermilk when serving it as a dressing for salads, but I will add more sour cream or plain yogurt if serving it as a dip.
- Store the Ranch dressing covered and keep it in the fridge for up to 10 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How to Make Ranch Dressing
This homemade buttermilk ranch dressing comes together quickly with yogurt, sour cream, and simple seasonings to create the perfect, creamy from-scratch version of this classic condiment.
- Mix. Place the yogurt and sour cream in a mixing bowl. Add the seasonings to the mix and stir until thoroughly combined. Mix in the lemon juice.
- Serve or store. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use. I think the flavors get even better after a few hours in the fridge! Just stir the dressing before serving.
Proper Storage
Transfer the dressing to a jar with a lid or an airtight container and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve it. It will stay fresh for about 7 to 10 days.
That broccoli salad looks good. Yes indeed. Dawn White
This is a great recipe. I increased the seasonings a bit and added a few little dashes of Worcestershire. So good!
Thank YOU! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
I thought whole milk yogurt was a substitute for sour cream? Will this work without sour cream?
Hi!
Actually, no. Most homemade ranch dressings are made with mayo and sour cream together, but I opted for yogurt because it provides a healthier base than mayo, and the sour cream adds just the right amount of extra tang to the dressing. If you prefer to use only yogurt, it will still be delicious, just slightly less tangy and thick.
Which yogurt did you use in this recipe?
I always (and for just about everything) use nonfat plain yogurt from Dannon. 😀