Homemade Herb Ranch Dressing

Homemade Herb Ranch Dressing is packed with delicious ingredients like buttermilk, sour cream, fresh herbs, minced garlic, and a dash of freshly squeezed lemon juice.

This easy ranch recipe is great to drizzle over salads, to use as a dipping sauce, and it isn’t full of preservatives like the store-bought ranch. 

Garden Herb Ranch Dressing Recipe

I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but this really is the best recipe for homemade ranch! Homemade salad dressings just hit different.

I like to use this ranch dressing to dip chicken fingers and sweet potato fries in; I’ve even used it as a substitute for mayonnaise on a burger. This ranch is super versatile and is much fresher than the store-bought stuff. 

Have you ever wondered why restaurant ranch tastes so good? It’s because they use good quality ingredients and a full-fat base. Once you see how easy it is to make it yourself, you will never go back to bottled ranch again!

Who doesn’t love a quick and easy ranch dressing recipe? Be sure to try this dressing on Buffalo Chicken Tacos, Crispy Smashed Potatoes Loaded Nachos, or a Buffalo Tofu Bowl!

What do I need to make garden herb ranch dressing?

Mayonnaise: is one of the primary bases for this creamy dressing. Mayonnaise adds a salty and tangy flavor that pairs perfectly with the fresh herbs and buttermilk. 

Sour cream: is also used as one of the bases for this recipe. It has a tangy and tart flavor but adds to the creaminess of the dressing. 

Buttermilk: real buttermilk is an important ingredient and what makes this homemade dressing SO delicious! It adds a distinct tanginess and depth of flavor that complements the herbs and spices in the dressing.

The acidity of buttermilk also helps to balance the richness of the mayonnaise and sour cream, resulting in a well-rounded and delicious ranch dressing.

Regular milk is not a substitute for buttermilk, trust me, it’s so much better with buttermilk!

Fresh herbs: dill, fresh chives, and fresh parsley are what give this herby dressing its flavor! You can change up the flavors with other herbs too, like fresh oregano, green onions, mint or basil.

Note: you can use dried herbs if that’s all you have on hand, but this dressing is so much better with fresh herbs.

Fresh garlic: minced garlic is pungent and pairs well with the tanginess of the mayo and the acidy and fresh flavor of lemon.

Spices: you’ll need onion powder, salt and pepper to round out the dressing.

Lemon: because of all of the thick and creamy ingredients, I like to add an acid to this recipe. Fresh lemon juice is my favorite because it brings such a nice bright flavor. 

How to Make Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

1. Combine the wet ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, and lemon juice until smooth.
2.  Mix in the dry ingredients. Add the chopped dill, chives, parsley, minced garlic, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
3.  Cover and refrigerate. Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning as needed. Cover and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
4.  Serve. Serve this homemade dressing over your favorite salads or use it as a dip for fresh vegetables, croutons, pizza crust, or crackers.

What’s the difference between a dipping ranch and a dressing ranch?

While they’re both delicious, ranch dipping sauce is thicker than ranch dressing. They’re both created with the same seasoning or ingredients, but the dressing includes buttermilk, which helps it thin out a bit.

Using sour cream, mayo, or yogurt as a base will keep your ranch from getting too thin, which is perfect for dipping carrots, celery, and even crispy air fryer chicken wings.

Why is restaurant ranch dressing so good?

For some reason, restaurant ranch dressing is superior to all other ranches! This is because restaurants mass produce their ranch, so they need a higher quality base.

This will consist of full-fat milk, buttermilk, sour cream, or mayonnaise, so in other words, what you’re tasting is a creamy fat-based dressing. Depending on the restaurant, they may also add in more fresh herbs. 

The store-bought ranch has to include a lot of shelf-stable ingredients. This is why it can be on the grocery store shelf instead of in the refrigerated section. Different manufacturers will use varying dairy bases and add different seasonings to make it unique.

What is ranch dressing made of?

Normally, ranch salad dressing consists of a dairy base, a few different kinds of fresh herbs and seasonings, and then a small amount of acid.

The dairy base is almost always a combination of mayonnaise, sour cream, and either milk or buttermilk. Most seasonings and spices are consistent, using dill, parsley, and chives.

Lastly, the ranch will always add a bit of acid at the end to add flavor, and it doubles as a natural preservative. 

How long does homemade ranch dressing last?

Ranch dressing lasts for about two weeks when kept in an airtight container in the fridge, like a mason jar. This is especially important if you use buttermilk and sour cream, as these will go bad if left out.

Recipe Variations

• Make it a dip. Create an herby ranch dip instead of dressing. Instead of adding buttermilk, only use sour cream and mayo. This will keep the ranch’s consistency thick, creamy, and perfect for dipping. If you want it just a tad thinner, add a small amount of buttermilk. 
• Add more flavor. You can add extra flavor using the ingredients that you already have. If you’re a big fan of dill, add extra fresh dill. Garlic lover? Add in extra garlic or a pinch of garlic powder. You can even add in fresh lemon zest for a little extra zing. 
• Make it spicy. You can add in freshly chopped jalapeños. Remember, if you remove the seeds from a jalapeño, it will not be as spicy. You could also add in a dash of cayenne pepper or buffalo seasoning (buffalo ranch, YUM). Either of these is a great option for adding a little spice. 
• Make it healthy. To make this recipe a healthy homemade ranch dressing, instead of using mayonnaise and sour cream, you will use plain Greek yogurt, and instead of using buttermilk, you would add water to thin out the yogurt. Only add a few tablespoons of water at a time, as yogurt isn’t as thick as sour cream. Also, when making homemade ranch dressing with Greek yogurt, only keep it in the fridge for up to a week. 
• Chipotle ranch dressing. A super easy variation of this ranch recipe is adding three chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (I recommend using a food processor or blender until the peppers become a smooth consistency). This chipotle ranch dressing is great for spicing up your favorite salad or for using it as a topping, like for a hamburger or tacos. 

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