Ranch Dressing

I used to grab bottled ranch dressing at the store without giving it much thought until I actually looked at the ingredients one day while I was out shopping. I discovered that store-bought ranch contains things like added sugar, corn syrup, MSG, and even titanium dioxide. (Yes, the same stuff in sunscreen that’s come under scrutiny as a potential carcinogen; it’s added to achieve that bright white color.) That was the moment I decided to start making my own ranch at home, and honestly, I’ve never looked back.

My homemade ranch is made with real, simple ingredients. It’s quick to make, tastes way better than the bottled stuff, and I feel good about knowing exactly what’s in it. Whether I’m using it as a salad dressing, making it into a dipping sauce for fresh veggies, or serving it during game day, it always ranks as the best ranch dressing recipe, according to my family and friends.

Essential Ingredients

• Organic plain yogurt: I prefer non-Greek yogurt for a smooth consistency. My favorite brands include Siggi’s, Organic Valley, Stoneyfield, and Kalona SuperNatural. I also love using organic plain yogurt whenever possible because it has no added sugar – only the natural sugar, lactose. 
• Sour cream: If I don’t happen to have sour cream on hand for some reason, I have been known to substitute buttermilk, mayonnaise, or Greek yogurt for it. I just have to be aware that this will change the consistency of my ranch. 
• Apple cider vinegar: While I love apple cider vinegar for its flavor and broad health benefits, some of my friends aren’t fans of the taste. So, depending on the crowd I am making this ranch dressing for, I can always opt for white or red wine vinegar instead of ACV.

Find the ingredient list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.

How To Make Homemade Ranch (Video)

For serving size and the complete directions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below. All of our recipes include the nutrition analysis, listing calories (kcals), protein, carbohydrates/carb, fiber, sugar, sodium, cholesterol, and more per serving.

Make It Low Calorie/Low-fat

If I ever want or need to make this recipe low-cal and low-fat, I can simply opt for 2% yogurt and lite sour cream.

Make A Dairy-Free, Whole30, And Paleo Version

If I’m ever worried about numerous dietary restrictions when making ranch dressing for a family or friend get-together, I’ll use this Paleo Ranch Dressing recipe. It’s dairy-free, Paleo, and Whole30-friendly.

Great Pairings

I like to make this dressing, along with 1-2 others, at the beginning of the week so I can have it on hand for some of my weekly meal prep dishes. While ranch dressing is commonly known as a perfect pairing for salads and veggie trays, there’s a lot more ranch can go with. 

This delicious and versatile condiment can be paired with: 

• Salads (e.g. Chicken Salad, BBQ Chopped Salad, Egg Salad, Pasta Salad, Tuna Salad)
• Baked potatoes or a Slow Cooker Loaded Mashed Potato with Ranch
• Sandwiches or wraps
• Veggie trays
• Tacos
• Anything pizza flavored (e.g. Pizza Stuffed Spaghetti Squash, Pepperoni Pizza Quinoa Bake, Pizza Sweet Potato Bites)
• Buffalo flavored dishes (e.g. Buffalo Cauliflower Bites, Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken, Buffalo Chicken Strips, Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Spaghetti Squash)
• Ranch-centered recipes (e.g. Chicken Bacon Ranch Sweet Potato Bake, Ultimate Meal Prep Meatballs, Garlic Roasted Radishes, Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Crispy Garlic Ranch Roasted Potatoes, Garlic Roasted Root Vegetable Fries, 5-Ingredient Creamy Ranch Broccoli Slaw)

Storage Instructions

This ranch will keep well in the fridge in an airtight container for 1 week. I like to store the dressing in a mason jar or one of my glass meal prep containers. 

Other Dressing Recipes I Love

Green Goddess Dressing

The Best Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe

Ginger-Sesame Vinaigrette

Citrus Vinaigrette with Thyme

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Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 9 reviews

Ranch Dressing Recipe

This homemade ranch is delicious, creamy, and the perfect dressing for a variety of dishes. I don’t even miss the store-bought kind, and I love how quickly it comes together.

Prep: 5 minTotal: 5 minutes

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Servings: 1 cup 1x

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Ingredients

• ¾ cup (6 oz.) organic plain yogurt
• ¼ cup sour cream*
• 1 ½ tsp. apple cider vinegar**
• 1 ¼ tsp. dried dill or 1 ¼ tablespoons fresh dill
• 1 tsp. dried parsley or 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
• 1 tsp. dried chives or 1 tablespoon fresh chives
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• ½ tsp. onion powder
• ¼ tsp. salt, plus more to taste
• ¼ tsp. black pepper
• Fresh dill, chives, parsley, or fresh herbs of choice for topping
• Optional: Regular milk or buttermilk for thinner consistency

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Instructions

1. Put all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well until combined.
2. Optional step: For a thinner consistency, add milk or buttermilk 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is achieved. 
3. Chill for 30 minutes before serving. 
4. To serve as a dip, garnish with fresh dill, parsley, herbs, or chives.
5. Store in the fridge in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, for up to 1 week.

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Notes

*May substitute with ¼ cup mayonnaise, buttermilk, or Greek yogurt 

**May substitute with white vinegar, red wine vinegar, or fresh lemon juice

To make this recipe low-calorie and low-fat: Use 2% yogurt and opt for lite sour cream instead of regular. 

For a Paleo, Whole30, and dairy-free version: Opt for this Paleo Reanch Dressing recipe. 

To change the consistency: To thicken the ranch dressing, use Greek yogurt instead of organic plain yogurt. For a thinner version of the dressing, use ¼ cup buttermilk in place of the sour cream or add small amounts of milk or buttermilk until the desired consistency is achieved. 

Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 2 Tbsp.
• Calories: 30
• Fat: 2 g
• (Sat Fat: 1 g)
• Sodium: 95 mg
• Carbohydrate: 2 g
• (Fiber: 0 g
• Sugar: 1 g)
• Protein: 1 g

Dietary

Egg-FreeGluten-freeGrain-FreeNut-freeVegetarian

© The Real Food Dietitians

Recipe By: Stacie Hassing

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