Buttermilk Ranch is made with just 3 base ingredients and a handful of seasonings and herbs. This is so good I could literally drink it!
It’s so much more than just a salad dressing, it can serve as a dip or a great all-purpose condiment to enhance vegetables, chicken wings, sandwiches, or even pizza crust!
Honestly the Best Buttermilk Ranch Ever
- This recipe is so versatile, ranch can be used as a dressing or a dip (add more or less buttermilk)!
- A handful of simple ingredients are mixed together in a bowl, then it’s ready to enjoy!
- Use fresh herbs or dry.
- With under 100 calories per serving, this dressing can be enjoyed with so many foods!
Ingredients/Variations
BASE: Ranch dressing is made with a base of mayonnaise and sour cream, milk, or buttermilk is added to thin it out to the right consistency.
SEASONINGS: Onion powder and garlic powder are truly the ingredients that give ranch the flavor we look for.
FRESH HERBS: Fresh chives, parsley, & dill add the fresh herby flavor (and to be honest, I often add extra dill because it’s my favorite). You can substitute dried for fresh herbs if needed, use 1/3 the amount.
How to Make Ranch Dressing
It’s so quick & easy to make ranch dressing. With a few steps & minimal prep work, it will be ready in no time!
- Chop chives, dill, & parsley.
- Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
- Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes before serving. The flavors will develop over time.
To make a dip, just reduce the amount of buttermilk to reach desired consistency.
How to Store Buttermilk Ranch
Ranch dressing can be stored in plastic containers, or in glass canning jars in the fridge. It’s not appropriate for the freezer because of all the dairy and mayo it contains. Plan to make it weekly to never be without one of the tastiest dressings ever!
It will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. You’ll probably discover it gets even better after it’s been stored for a few days and the flavors develop!
How to Use
This dip pairs perfectly with so many things. Ranch dip is especially good with a raw veggie plate piled with broccoli and cauliflower florets, carrot and celery sticks, and cherry tomatoes. It also tastes great with potato chips, french fries, or corn chips. Ranch dressing on a wedge salad is amazing, and don’t forget the wings & pizza!
Must-Try Homemade Dressings
- Avocado Dressing and Dip – healthy and full of flavor
- Thousand Island Dressing – made with ingredients already in your pantry!
- Honey Mustard Dressing – ready in 10 mins!
- Italian Dressing – great as a marinade
- Blue Cheese Dressing – perfect dip for just about anything!
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise (I use low fat)
- ⅔ cup sour cream (I use low fat)
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt & pepper (each)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
- Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dip, Dressing
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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This recipe originally appeared on SpendWithPennies.com in Dec 2012. Photos updated August 2015.
Is the nutrition information for the low fat mayo and sour cream you use,or for the full fat ones? Thanks.
The nutrition is for full fat sour cream and mayo. I hope this helps Jenn!
How much is a serving? I’m guessing 1 or 2 Tablespoons.
One serving is approximately 1 tablespoon.
I dont usually comment on online recipes honestly, but I do find it almost necessary at this point. I have never been a ranch person, but my husband and step kids are. I wanted to try making home-made ranch to my repertoire and to check it out as an experiment personally. I’ve used your recipes before and highly trust your judgment and recipes so I decided to use this one. I now 1. Love ranch. 2. I always make this recipe and make it at least once a month. And 3. My husband now can only eat “my” (your) ranch. Whether it this buttermilk ranch, which is my favorite, or your other ranch recipe (because I forget to buy buttermilk) we only can have homemade ranch now. My husband and I thank you Holly. For this recipe, and all your other ones (especially your easier than take out sesame chicken!). You’re too amazing.
I am so happy to hear that you love this ranch dressing as much as I do Jo! It is a favorite in our house and I always have some in the fridge ready for salads and dipping!
I made this. It is easy and delicious
I have always abhorred ranch dressing from the bottle. But I got a craving for it a couple weeks ago. I decided to try making it from scratch, which lead me to this recipe. It is sooooo good that I’ve bookmarked your page. So creamy and herby – I’ve made it with fresh herbs and dried herbs – both are wonderful! I can’t stop eating it with fresh cut veg!! Thank you so much for posting! I’m def going to try other recpies from your site!
AMAZING!
Everything I have tried that you do is incredible. This is awesome, will never buy ranch in a jar again. What do I do if I don’t happen to have fresh herbs. If dried?
If you can, fresh herbs taste best but if you don’t have them, you can use dried in a pinch (cut the quantity in half). Enjoy!
I used dried and they worked just fine
I used fat free greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and low fat Hellman’s. I also substituted fresh oregano for the dill. Since I’m on a low salt diet I left that out. Delish, cheap, and much better & cheaper than anything bottled.
Awesome
This BLT pasta salad recipe and Buttermilk Ranch Dressing recipe is such a hit at all my summer get togethers – everybody wants the recipe! So so good!
I love this recipe it was so good. I have a question could you please tell me about the little pitcher jar shown in recipe picture? I noticed there is something written on the jar but I can’t make it out, could you please tell me what it says so I could try to find one like it ? Your help is appreciated.
I wish I could locate this jar, I get emails about it frequently! I purchased it many years ago from H&M home and they no longer have it. The embossing the jar says “100 lbs Net, Stock No.1”
Unfortunately there is no other information on the jar to identify.
Yum yo ever recipe
This dressing was amazing!! I love that I was able to substitute lactose free milk and sour cream so everyone was able to enjoy it.
How can I make this so it’s not so “herby” texture wise. I know the herbs make the classic ranch flavor but I don’t like the weedy feel of the dill in my mouth. I have used dried dill and run it through a spice grinder but it still feels weedy. Any suggestion?
You can try blending the herbs beforehand and/or blending the whole mixture.
I don’t like the dill and just skip it. Still tastes awesome. I’ve actually made ranch with just dried italian seasoning and salt and pepper and it was still soooooo much better than any bottled version I’ve ever had
This was delicious, thank you.
Thank you so much for this ranch dressing recipe! As you mentioned, store bought brands have MSG etc so I haven’t been able to enjoy one of my faves for quite a while. I look forward to trying this out! :)
Missing out on a favorite is no fun Charles! Let us know if it satisfies that craving when you try it out!
So easy and so delicious! I made the thicker version to use as a dip for fresh vegetables. We all loved it. Thanks for a great recipe!
I am so glad you enjoyed this dip Vivian!
I made your kale salad tonight. It was delicious and will now be on my weekly menu. Thankyou.
So glad you loved the salad Paula!