This Buttermilk Ranch Dressing has everything you love about your favorite ranch dressing, made with just a handful of ingredients. Fast, easy, and delicious!
Homemade ranch dressing
My family loves ranch dressing. I don't know if I've ever met anyone who didn't love ranch dressing. If we could only have one salad dressing in our fridge, it would have to be ranch. My kids and husband love it on salads, as a dip for veggies, and they even use it as a dip for their pizza and french fries!
Making homemade ranch dressing is about as easy as it gets. You mix together buttermilk, mayo, and sour cream. Add a handful of herbs and seasoning and a splash of vinegar and freshly squeezed lemon juice. That's all there is to it!
I usually use dried herbs, because they are available all year long and are easy to keep on hand in your pantry. But fresh herbs are just as wonderful and can easily be used.
This homemade ranch dressing is a perfect dressing for bacon ranch pasta salad.
Key ingredients
This section reviews the best ingredients and substitutions for this recipe. For an exact list of ingredients and quantities, check the recipe card below.
- Buttermilk – Adds the delicious tang that makes ranch dressing so distinctive.
- Sour Cream – Creates a creamy texture and balances the tanginess. You can substitute plain Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
- Mayonnaise – Provides richness and helps bind the ingredients together. Use your favorite type of mayo.
- Lemon Juice & Vinegar – Both add acidity, but lemon juice also contributes a bit of freshness that vinegar alone doesn't provide.
- Herbs – A mix of dill, chives, and parsley adds classic ranch flavor. Use fresh or dried, depending on what you have on hand.
- Seasonings – A blend of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper rounds out the flavor.
Step-by-step directions
- Whisk together buttermilk, sour cream, and mayo until smooth.
- Stir in vinegar, lemon juice, herbs, and seasoning.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Recipe tips
- Let It Rest – If you have time, refrigerate the dressing for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the herbs and seasonings to meld together.
- Adjust the Consistency – If your dressing is too thick, add a little more buttermilk to thin it out. If it’s too thin, stir in extra sour cream or mayonnaise for a thicker texture.
Frequently asked questions
Use homemade ranch dressing within one week.
More delicious salad dressings
If you love making your own salad dressing, you'll also want to try these great recipes.
- Lemon Vinaigrette - A bright and tangy dressing made with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and simple seasonings. Perfect for drizzling over green salads, roasted vegetables, or as a marinade for chicken or fish.
- Blue Cheese Dressing - A creamy and flavorful dressing featuring crumbled blue cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, and a touch of lemon juice. Ideal for wedge salads, dipping wings, or adding richness to a simple salad.
- Zesty Italian Dressing - A bold dressing with a mix of vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and Italian herbs. A great choice for pasta salads, marinating meats, or tossing with fresh greens.
- Raspberry Vinaigrette - A sweet and tangy vinaigrette made with fresh or blended raspberries, vinegar, and olive oil. Delicious on spinach salads, fruit salads, or drizzled over grilled chicken.
- Avocado Salad Dressing - A creamy and nutritious dressing blended with ripe avocado, lime juice, olive oil, and seasonings. Great for topping salads, grain bowls, or using as a dip for veggies.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Check out all my delicious salad recipes!
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried dill (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
- 1 teaspoon dried chives (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Whisk together buttermilk, sour cream, and mayo until smooth.½ cup sour cream, ½ cup buttermilk, ¼ cup mayonnaise
- Stir in vinegar, lemon juice, herbs, and seasoning.1 teaspoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 teaspoon dried dill, 1 teaspoon dried chives, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon pepper, ⅛ teaspoon paprika
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Notes
- Feel free to swap out plain Greek yogurt for the sour cream.
- If you have time, refrigerate the dressing for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the herbs and seasonings to meld together.
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- This recipe yields about 1 ¼ cups of dressing.
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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