This homemade ranch dressing recipe is fast, easy to make, healthy, and tastes so much better than the store-bought variety. This recipe is made without buttermilk, so you don't have to worry about what to do with the rest!
This post was originally published on December 14, 2015. I have updated the post with new photos, more clearly written directions, and more tips/suggestions.
I was never a big ranch dressing person. As far as creamy dressings go, Caesar is my #1. Ranch could never compete. This ranch recipe does. It's the best ranch dressing I've ever had.
How to make homemade ranch dressing
Making ranch dressing is easy. Most homemade ranch recipes contain sour cream and mayo as a base. I also added:
- Fresh parsley
- Fresh chives
- Dried dill
- Worcestershire sauce
- Lemon juice
- Garlic
- Fresh cracked pepper
Add everything to a jar, give it a shake, and you've got a fast and tasty ranch dressing that's so much better than the bottled variety.
Let it sit in the fridge for a while and you'll have a great ranch dip.
Want to swap the sour cream for Greek yogurt? No problem, that will work too and save you some calories in this no buttermilk ranch dressing.
Do you need buttermilk to make ranch dressing?
No. Some homemade ranch dressings do contain buttermilk, but I decided against using the buttermilk since I had no plans on what to do with the rest, and throwing it out would be a waste.
I wanted to see if I could come up with a ranch dressing without buttermilk that didn't seem like it was missing something, and I definitely like the results!
I decided to use both fresh lemon juice and sour cream to get that tangy taste that ranch dressing needs. I used lemon juice because it adds freshness to the dressing and isn't quite as harsh as vinegar.
Worcestershire sauce also adds a bit of saltiness and that extra je ne sais quoi that I was looking for (probably due to the anchovies in it). Chefs put anchovies into all sorts of dishes to kick up the taste, and clearly, traces of anchovies work well in ranch dressing.
It took me a while to land on the herb combination I wanted. I prefer fresh parsley to the dried kind any day. Dried chives work fine for this dressing, but I also prefer using fresh.
Garlic is a must since this is my recipe after all. 😛 I used one large clove. I used dried dill as it's easier to handle than fresh, and I also didn't want the dill taste to be overpowering, and I find dried dill is quite mellow. A bit of salt and a generous amount of pepper add the finishing touches to this creamy ranch dressing.
You may also like my chipotle lime ranch dressing if you love homemade dressings and want something with a little kick!
Have you ever made ranch salad dressing from scratch? You should definitely give it a try!
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions/comments about this easy ranch dressing recipe.

Homemade Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayo
- 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped finely
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives chopped (or 1/2 tablespoon dried chives)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep ingredients.
- Add all ingredients to a jar and shake vigorously. Alternatively, whisk them together in a small bowl.
- Dressing can be used immediately or you can refrigerate it for a few hours for it to have a thicker consistency. Enjoy on salads, as a dip, or as a spread on wraps/sandwiches. Keep refrigerated and use within a few days to be safe.
Notes
- This makes enough dressing for a few large salads (it makes about 1.5 cups).
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Yesenia says
BEST ranch dressing EVER! I’ve had so many compliments about this dressing from kids and adults. Since I found this I no long buy it from a jar. Its incredible! Thank you for sharing!!
Natasha says
Aww that's so nice to hear, Yesenia! Thank you so much! Glad it's a new favorite.
Lindsay says
I didn’t particularly like the the Worcestershire added and think it’s perfect without. Great recipe! I was always hesitant to make ranch without the buttermilk but It really isn’t necessary:)
Natasha says
Glad you enjoyed it, Lindsay! Yup, definitely easy to tweak to your personal preferences. 🙂
Peggy says
Very good. I added some 1/2 n 1/2 just so it could be used on salad.
Natasha says
Excellent!
Ev says
This ranch dressing is excellent. Such a fresh taste and goes really well with chicken wings.
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
So glad you enjoyed the dressing!
Peggy Hostetler says
Fabulous
Natasha says
🙂
Rhonda Provus says
Can you swap the ingredient sizes of the mayo/Greek yogurt to make a healthy version?
Natasha says
I think you could try that for sure. The texture may not be as smooth, and it will taste a bit more tangy, so I'd taste it before adding the lemon juice (you may need to do a little ingredient tweaking here and there).
Deb says
We love this recipe! I have made it twice now and we use it as a dip for fries or veggies.
Thank you!
Natasha says
Fantastic!! I'm thrilled to hear that! 🙂
Matt says
My wife is a picky eater, especially with ranch. She is not a fan of the store bought ranch. We had all the ingredients except chives and lemon juice, but somehow we had lime juice. We tried with pizza. I loved it, but my wife tried it and said, "you have to fix this again next time!" It is not too overpowering, and it is now a staple in our house. We will never buy store ranch again. Thank you!
Natasha says
I'm so happy that she likes it!! 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to review my recipe, Matt.
Sharon Kinsman says
I got so tired of Buttermilk wasting in my fridge. Then I poured 1/4 c into each spot on a cupcake tin, froze it, removed them and put them all into a ziplock bag. Now I have buttermilk whenever I need it.
Natasha says
Clever!
Honey says
SO tasty 😋
Natasha says
Thank you! 🙂
Kaitlin says
I just made this for a Cobb salad and it was amazing !! Hubby loved it as well. Win ,win for everyone.
Natasha says
Fabulous!! Glad you both liked it. 🙂
Tiffany says
The very best I have found!! Thank you 🙂
Natasha says
Aww thank you!
Christine says
I almost can’t believe how delicious this is! I was a little worried because it’s winter here now and I didn’t have any of the ingredients fresh. However, it did not disappoint - will definitely be making again. Thank you for a tasty, quick and easy dressing!
Natasha says
Fantastic!! I know... winter is sometimes so difficult for getting fresh herbs... I feel ya. So happy it worked out.
Sue says
I made this recipe but swapped the ingredients to dairy free. It turned out very good. I can’t believe how easy was to make this. Thank you for sharing
Natasha says
So glad it worked out for you, Sue! 🙂
Amanda says
So good and easy! I had everything on hand to make this and it didn’t disappoint. A gf was over and we used for wings dipping and she texted today saying she loved the ranch and wanted more lol. I sent her the recipe and made myself another batch 😊. Thanks so much!
Natasha says
Wonderful!! So happy it was a hit.
Liz says
Yikes 😳 I followed the recipe exactly but the Worcestershire was over powering.
Juju says
This is bomb! It tasted a lil mayo-y at first but after I added a touch more lemon juice it was perfect! Thank you because I hate buttermilk lol
Natasha says
I'm glad you enjoyed it haha. 🙂
Laura says
This was not good at all tasted like a bowl of mayonnaise. I kept adding more sour cream but nothing really helped. I can’t find a good ranch recipe bummer!
Natasha says
I'm sorry to hear that, but I honestly don't see how that's even possible. This recipe is highly rated by many who have made it... it definitely didn't taste like a bowl of mayo to me. Are you sure that you didn't accidentally miss some ingredients?
Dawn P says
This is the BEST ranch dressing!!!!! Look no further YUMMY!!!! Thank you for the wonderful recipe!!!!
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it! 😀
Lindaleewhy says
I love this so much!! It was so easy to make and super delicious. Super light and creamy. Please don't ever stop making these amazing recipes!! My husband mixed some sriracha and ate this with his burrito as a late night snack and the jar is now empty (I made this earlier today!)
Natasha says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Linda! Haha I love that late night snack. I will definitely keep the recipes coming. 😉
jenny says
I've tried several homemade ranch recipes and didn't care for any of them. Until now! This dressing is AMAZING!!! I used to work at a bar that made anchovy based ranch and I've been wanting to recreate it for years. I added all of the ingredients (dried herbs as that's all I had on hand), a splash of milk and 3 anchovy fillets to my nutri-bullet and OMG, so good! Will definitely be making this regularly and adding in a 4th or 5th anchovy as well! Thank you!
Natasha says
I am so happy that you liked it!! That's awesome. I'm a big anchovy fan as well... I need to try that!
Lori says
This is an amazing dressing! So light yet creamy and very fresh with all the herbs. Like you, I always prefer Caesar but this is definitely a nice change. Will be archiving this to make again and again. Thanks Natasha!
Natasha says
I'm so glad you liked it!! You're very welcome!
Kimberley Moore says
My family will only eat Hidden Valley Ranch - until now! Made this and my family loved it. Asked if we can make this from now on because it's better than HVR. That's a huge compliment!!!!!
Natasha says
Wow, that is a huge compliment!! So happy everyone loves it! ♥️♥️♥️
Lynn says
I followed the recipe exactly. I only had dried herbs, so I guesstimated the proportions. I did add a couple of teaspoons of milk because I wanted to put it in a bottle on the table. It was fantastic. No need too look further for a ranch dressing recipe. This will be my go-to from now on.
Natasha says
Wonderful! 🙂 So glad it worked out, Lynn!
Patricia says
Absolutely delicious! It’s now my go to recipe for ranch dressing. My husband loved it too!! Thanks
Natasha says
Yay!! So happy to hear that! 🙂
Liliana Martinez says
How long can I keep this in my fridge?
Natasha says
Hi! I would keep it a week or so max.
Heather says
How much parsley if using dried?
Also...have made dressing using powdered buttermilk and it was great. Looking forward to trying this recipe too.
Natasha says
Hi! I’d use a teaspoon or so. Hope you like the recipe. The buttermilk powder is a good idea.
Jenna Quinn says
Wow!!! We have made homemade ranch but this is by far the most outstanding ranch dressing ever. Easy and so delicious.
Natasha says
I am so happy to hear that, Jenna! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
Mackenzie Fodness says
Sub for chives ? I don’t have fresh or dried 🤷♀️
Natasha says
Hmm... maybe a little finely chopped onion?
Marjan says
How about the butter milk flavor in it?! I think that's the caracteritic of the Ranch dressing verses Ceaser dressing! And also what brand of mayo do you suggest dear Natasha? Tnx
Natasha says
Hi! Well, it tastes like ranch to me and everyone I've made it for haha. The sour cream gives it a nice tanginess. It doesn't taste like Caesar (and I make a lot of homemade Caesar dressing). I use Hellman's mayo. 🙂
Pete says
Hey if you wanted to use Buttermilk you could use the rest of the butter milk, add Parmesan cheese and chicken breast to the processor and make very nice nuggets to go with the ranch.
Natasha says
Yes!
Mrs S says
What mayo do you use? I ask because I have never tempted to make dressing from scratch. I have 3 different mayos in my fridge. I do believe it does make a difference to what you are eating it with. Ive started doing more from scrstch since my back surgery and Im really loving it! Ive stumbled upon your recipes and Ive already got several I will attempt this weekend.
Thanks again,
Mrs S
Natasha says
Hi Mrs. S! I use Hellman’s! ❤️ So glad you like the look of the recipes.
Og says
Anything instead of dill???
Natasha says
You could leave it out. Or sub with your fav herb. 😊
Vera says
I prefer to make my own Ranch Dressing because many bottled versions contain MSG. This is good, but I did add buttermilk because I love the flavor it adds to ranch dressing - (I cut down the amount of mayo to compensate).
FYI: You can freeze buttermilk if you have leftovers that you don't know what to do with. Use buttermilk to make pancakes, marinade for fried chicken, cornbread and a whole lot more.
Natasha says
Thanks for the tip, Vera! 🙂
sheena mackenzie says
Being British I have never had Ranch Dressing. Made this today, and will definitely make again what a fantastic taste!
Natasha says
Oh that's so great to hear! Pleased you enjoyed it. 🙂
Leslie Gonzales says
Hi. How long is the shelf life of our ranch dressing? Thanks
Natasha says
Hi! I wouldn’t keep it any longer than a week. I usually err on the side of caution and use it up before then. Hope you enjoy it!
Michele @ Bacon Fatte says
I'll definitely be keeping this dressing on-hand for my salads this summer... Sounds delish!!
Natasha says
Thank you!! I hope you enjoy it. ❤️
Lindsay Cotter says
This homemade ranch dressing sounds perfect! So easy to make at home... no need for store-bought with all those extra add-ins!
Natasha says
Exactly! Thanks, Lindsay! 🙂
Jennifer Farley says
So easy! I am definitely going to make this to have on hand for lunchtime salads.
Natasha says
Thanks, Jennifer! Hope you like it! 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
Ranch dressing is one of my favorites Natasha. Bet your homemade version is way better than store-bought. I'll be trying this for sure!
Natasha says
Thank you!! I hope you like it! 🙂
Leigh Ann says
Homemade ranch is the way to go! Can't wait to try out your recipe!
Natasha says
Thanks so much! Let me know if you make it.
Matt Robinson says
I'm all about homemade lately, this looks awesome!
Natasha says
Thanks, Matt!!
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy says
Homemade ranch is the best!
Natasha says
Agreed!
Chutney says
I love this dressing! This is the second time I've made it and it gets better the longer it sits. This is my new go-to dressing recipe and it even doubles well as a vegetable dip. Thanks for the recipe!
Natasha says
Excellent! So happy you like it. 🙂
Lorna says
Thanks so much for this recipe! Made it today and love it. Do you have the nutrition values for it? Tia 😊
Natasha says
You’re welcome! So glad you liked it. Sorry, I don’t have nutrition values, but you could try plugging in the exact ingredients you used into one of those free online calculators to get a better idea (but I’m not sure how accurate some of the calculators are - one of the reasons why I don’t include this info in most of my recipes).
Anna Wright says
Lovely salad dressing. It would be my all time favorite. Thanks!!!
Doreen Harrower says
This looks lovely will defiantly be trying it . By chance do you have a recipe for dry ranch dressing to use as a rub . Thank you
Natasha says
Thanks Doreen! Sorry, I don't have a recipe for a dry ranch dressing at this time.
Tracy | Baking Mischief says
Caesar used to be my favorite go to dressing too, and then I got a particularly fishy-tasting batch and now I swear I taste the anchovy paste in it every time I eat it!
I will definitely try this ranch. I love that it only uses ingredients that I always keep on hand.
Natasha says
Let me know if you like it! Aw that sucks re: the caesar... I hope you'll be able to enjoy it again!
Tania @ COOKTORIA says
Ranch is one of my favorite salad dressings, so I will definitely try your recipe, Natasha! ❤
Natasha says
Thanks, hope you like it!!