Last Updated July 20th, 2022 at 10:27 am by Lisa
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing from scratch uses real fresh ingredients, and it tastes so much better than bottled products. Get the secret mixing tip with 20+ creative ways to use it in recipes all week long.
Then drizzle, dip, and pour your own ranch dressing on everything in sight...
Buttermilk Ranch Salad Dressing Recipe
Drizzled, poured, and part of many beloved recipes in America, Ranch is now the most popular salad dressing in the United States. Buttermilk Ranch Dressing can be used in so many ways, like a green salad dressing or for an easy appetizer dip. Try this beloved California Food recipe originating from Hidden Valley Ranch in Santa Barbara. California.
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 ½ teaspoon jar minced garlic)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley (or ¼ cup fresh parsley)
- ¼ cup fresh chives (or 2 tablespoons dried chives)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 4 dashes hot sauce
- Prep your ingredients; slice your fresh herbs (parsley and chives) and crush your garlic.
- Into a large Mason jar or bowl, add the buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, fresh/dried chives, garlic, fresh/dried parsley, sea salt, black pepper, hot sauce, and lemon juice. It helps to use a large funnel if you are using a quart mason jar.
- Pop the lid on, and shake well until combined in the jar, or stir in a bowl whisking well to combine.
- Keep chilled in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Ranch Dressing Recipe Tips
This is one of those recipes, where the quality of your ingredients really matters. I have a few swaps for you in the tips section, but highly recommend you use the best possible ingredients to make the best ranch dressing. You will taste the difference!
- Herbs: You can use fresh or dried herbs. If you want to use fresh, simply use 3X more than dried. Dry herbs have much more of a flavor punch.
- Shake & Mix: You can add the ingredients into a large Mason jar and "shake it". As you know, this is how I love to make my dressings. My Mom did it that way, and it is so easy. Plus you have a built-in storage container to pop in the fridge with no extra dishes to clean.
- Buttermilk: Substitute Greek yogurt in place of sour cream, or regular milk, and some lemon (or white vinegar) for buttermilk. The flavor will change a bit, but it will work.
- Garlic: Use ¼ teaspoon of granulated garlic powder (or dehydrated or freeze-dried garlic) to replace 1 whole clove of fresh garlic. You can use minced refrigerated garlic in a jar for this recipe, but fresh garlic is awesome!
Yes. Ranch Dressing is also a popular dip in the United States for anything from chips, veggies, and fried appetizers like fried green tomatoes and french fries.
Real fresh high-quality ingredients include buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic, fresh or dry herbs like parsley and chives, and seasoning with lemon, salt, pepper, and hot sauce.
Steve Henson was working to keep his plumming work crews happy, he created a new salad dressing. Henson retired with his wife and they moved to Santa Barbara County, California where they purchased the Sweetwater Ranch in San Marcos Pass in 1956 and renamed it Hidden Valley Ranch.
On the menu for the ranch kitchen, Henson served the Ranch salad dressing he had created. By 1957, a packaged mix to make the dressing at home was sold in stores.
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Ways To Use Ranch Dressing
There are so many ways to enjoy homemade ranch dressing. These are a few recipes I love to use it on, and it REALLY is so much better than bottled products or the Hidden Valley Ranch packet you buy at the store...
- drizzle on corn on the cob
- serve with grilled or roasted potatoes
- squash chips
- buffalo wings
- fried green tomatoes
- spread on grilled burgers
- a dip for french fries
- use on chicken tacos
- dip chicken strips
- buffalo cauliflower
- potato skins
- drizzle on pizza
- buffalo chicken sliders
- drizzle on hot dogs
- dip jalapeno poppers
- pour on smashed potatoes
- use as a crudite' dip
- dip carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli in small cups
Ranch dressing is always great on a classic green salad with fresh ripe cherry tomatoes from the garden...
Drizzle ranch on hot Fried Green Tomatoes, with some remoulade sauce...
More Salad Dressing Recipes
Green Goddess Dressing bursts with fresh herbs and flavor. Serve as a salad dressing, veggie dip, with shrimp, or toss into hot pasta. This is my Mom's classic California Green Goddess recipe exactly the way she made it!
Serve this ice-cold Wedge Salad with a super creamy Avocado Dressing. Get my trick for chilling the iceberg wedge, you will love it with ranch dressing drizzled on top too!
Mix up some tangy Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette, a homemade dressing made in minutes with Meyer lemons that is absolutely delightful.
With just 5 simple ingredients, this Blue Cheese Dressing is an easy recipe made in minutes. It also works great as a dip for buffalo wings or a chip dip.
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Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 ½ teaspoon jar minced garlic)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley (or ¼ cup fresh parsley)
- ¼ cup fresh chives (or 2 tablespoons dried chives)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 4 dashes hot sauce
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients; slice your fresh herbs, crush your garlic.
- Into a large Mason jar, add the sour cream, buttermilk, mayonnaise, garlic, sea salt, black pepper, dried parsley, fresh chives, lemon juice, and Tabasco.
- Shake well until combined in a jar, or stir in a bowl.
- Keep chilled in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Love this ranch! How easy to make at home! So much better that the packets I used to buy!
I've had the pleasure of tasting this ranch dressing and let me tell you - look no further! I honestly kept grabbing things to dip into it (because I thought it would be rude to just use a spoon!!).
This is the BEST ranch dressing recipe!! We love it on everything and it's such an amazing flavor!
I can't wait to try this recipe this weekend. I love the addition of hot sauce.. YUM! And I'm definitely going to make the Fried Green Tomatoes!!!