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This quick and easy homemade ranch dressing recipe is made without buttermilk yet has that signature tangy flavor! It tastes so much better than the store-bought kind.

Try my Chipotle Ranch Dressing or 10-minute Easy Caesar Salad Dressing next.

glass jar with homemade ranch dressing and a spoon with dressing on it

Why you’ll love it

This 10-minute ranch dressing recipe requires no fancy equipment or ingredients, and you probably already have what you need in your fridge and pantry! There’s no reason to run out and buy buttermilk. You’ll agree that the tastiest ranch dressing simply doesn’t need it.

One lovely reader said it’s “the very best I have found!!” and another reader “almost can’t believe how delicious this is!” You can also feel good knowing exactly what goes into this easy ranch dressing. Fresh herbs, garlic, and a touch of lemon juice make it shine.

What you’ll need

  • Mayonnaise and sour cream – the creamy, tangy base
  • Fresh parsley and chives – these herbs add a pop of contrast and freshness
  • Dried dill – I always keep it in my pantry, and it’s a staple in ranch dressing. The quantity I use is pretty mellow/not overpowering.
  • Garlic – more savory goodness
  • Worcestershire sauce – this all-purpose condiment adds another layer of rich, deep flavor. It’s a special ingredient to set my ranch dressing apart!
  • Lemon juice – for a hint of acidity, balance, and brightness
ingredients for ranch dressing in prep bowls

Helpful tips

  • Yes, it has that classic tangy ranch taste even with no buttermilk! The sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, and fresh lemon juice combine to give it robust flavor.
  • I developed this buttermilk-free ranch dressing because buttermilk is generally sold in larger quantities. You’d only ever need a little bit for dressing, and I got tired of discarding so much.

How to make ranch dressing

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

adding ingredients for ranch dressing to a mason jar and then shaking it up

Add all the dressing ingredients to a jar, and shake thoroughly. Whisk in a small bowl instead if desired. Give it a taste, and adjust accordingly (e.g., more salt & pepper). Chill in the fridge if you wish, or serve right away.

Tools for this recipe

Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!

  • I like to use a mason jar or yogurt jar to shake up this dressing and store it easily.
  • Garlic is effortless to mince with a garlic press, and store the rest of your lemon in this lemon saver to keep it fresh for longer.
  • If you’re making a salad, I love this salad spinner.

Substitutions and variations

  • Like any homemade dressing, I recommend playing with the quantities and proportions to suit your individual tastes!
  • If you have fresh dill from the garden or it looks nice at the store, feel free to used that instead of dried dill.
  • You can use Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream, but it’s not my first preference for this one since the consistency can be a little thinner.

What to serve with ranch dressing

Leftovers and storage

  • Store leftovers of this creamy ranch dressing in a tightly closed container in the fridge for up to a week. The fresh herbs will be at their best within a few days, though.
  • As with most salad dressings, I don’t recommend freezing this one.
a bowl of salad with ranch dressing and a fork

If you made this ranch salad dressing from scratch, please leave a star rating and review below! You can also tag me on Instagram to showcase your beautiful salads.

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!
4.68 from 53 votes

Homemade Ranch Dressing

This quick and easy homemade ranch dressing recipe is made without buttermilk yet has that signature tangy flavor! It tastes so much better than the store-bought kind.
Prep: 7 minutes
Total: 7 minutes
Servings: 16

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 chopped fresh chives (or 1/2 tablespoon dried chives)
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Add all ingredients to a jar and shake vigorously. Alternatively, whisk them together in a small bowl. 
  • This dressing can be used immediately or you can refrigerate it for a few hours for it to have a thicker consistency.

Notes

  • This makes enough dressing for a few large salads (it makes about 1.5 cups).

Nutrition

Calories: 110kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 10mg, Sodium: 99mg, Potassium: 16mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 83IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

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Hi! Iโ€™m Natasha.

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4.68 from 53 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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162 Comments

  1. MaryJo says:

    Just tried your ranch recipe and itโ€™s one of the best recipes Iโ€™ve tried. Definitely going to try it again.

    1. Natasha says:

      I’m thrilled to hear that, MaryJo!

  2. Sophie says:

    5 stars
    Ran out of store bought ranch. My teen was very disappointed. So I just made your Ranch recipe and my teen LOVES it ! Goes great with his leftover breaded pork chops. So much healthier too. Thank you !!!!!!!!!!

    1. Natasha says:

      That’s so nice to hear, Sophie!! ๐Ÿ˜€ Thanks for letting me know!

  3. Emily says:

    4 stars
    I made a few tweaks and it turned out amazing, I added 1 more clove of garlic and a teaspoon of pickle juice to add a bit more tang and added the regular amount of dried dill and added the same amount of fresh dill
    By far the best ranch Iโ€™ve ever had.

    1. Natasha says:

      Wonderful!

  4. Anita low says:

    Looking forward to try your rtecipes

    1. Natasha says:

      Enjoy!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Luisana Severin says:

    5 stars
    This is so delicious I canโ€™t never go back to store bought ranch ever again.

    1. Natasha says:

      Wonderful!

  6. Curtis W Walker says:

    Can I use all Greek dressing as I don’t use mayo because of the egg’s

    1. Natasha says:

      Hi! I’m not sure how that would turn out I don’t think I’ve used that before.

  7. beth says:

    5 stars
    An easy 5 star recipe! Yum!

    1. Natasha says:

      Thank you!

  8. Suzanne says:

    5 stars
    How long will this last in the fridge?

    1. Natasha says:

      A few days for sure.

  9. Jami says:

    5 stars
    I have made both the ranch dressing and the Caesar dressing and they are so good! My favorite thing is, I can have great tasting, healthy dressing in no time! I did add some anchovies to the Caesar dressing, but other than that I made no changes. Thank you!

    1. Natasha says:

      You’re very welcome, Jami!! ๐Ÿ˜€ Thank you!

  10. Ashley says:

    5 stars
    Made this dressing for my hubby and we both love it! He wants me to keep making it! What’s the best ingredient to add or increase to make the dressing less thick?

    1. Natasha says:

      That’s great!! You could add a little bit of water if you don’t want to change the flavor balance too much. Otherwise, maybe some more lemon juice.

    2. Leslie says:

      I added a bit of skim milk. Didnโ€™t change the flavor.