As a snack, ranch dip is anything but under the radar. Kids and adults alike love ranch for its tangy, rich and lively flavor. It makes raw vegetables more palatable, salads more enjoyable and chicken and pizza more fun (if that’s even possible!).
In this guide, we’ll walk you through making ranch dip at home for a truly quick and easy no-cook appetizer for your next gathering. Bust out the dipping vessels!
Ranch Dip Ingredients
- Mayonnaise: Ranch dip gets its tangy taste from mayonnaise. In case you’re in the market for new mayonnaise, here’s a list of our preferred mayonnaise brands.
- Sour cream: We recommend leaving the sour cream out at room temperature for 30 minutes before using so the sour cream softens a bit and is easier to mix into the dip.
- Herbs and spices: We season this ranch dip recipe with bold seasonings like onion powder, garlic powder and fresh chives.
- Worcestershire: If you don’t have Worcestershire, substitute with soy sauce and a squeeze of lemon.
Directions
Step 1: Create the dip
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, chives, lemon juice, salt, onion powder, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce until well blended.
Step 2: Chill and serve
Cover the bowl, and refrigerate the dip for at least one hour before serving. If desired, garnish with additional chives.
Editor’s Tip: If desired, transfer the ranch dip to a serving bowl before serving for a more finished look.
Recipe Variations
- Use roasted garlic: Swap out the garlic powder for roasted garlic. Roasting garlic caramelizes the cloves, creating a complex, sweet-yet-savory flavor profile that would add beautiful dimension to the dip.
- Add chopped pickles: Chop up a few tablespoons of your favorite pickles, and fold them into the dip for a bright, vinegar acidity.
- Grate in lemon zest: Brighten this homemade ranch dip with a quick zest of lemon. Learn how to zest a lemon here.
- Sprinkle in extra greens: Freshen up this dip with dill and parsley. These herbs add a lovely pop of vibrant green.
- Swap out the sour cream: If you’re looking for a substitute for sour cream, Greek yogurt is your winner.
- Fold in bacon and cheese: Fold chopped cooked bacon and shredded cheddar cheese into the ranch dip. The rich, salty addition is irresistible!
How to Store Ranch Dip
If you have any leftover ranch dip, store it, covered, in the fridge for up to three days.
Ranch Dip Tips
What should I serve with ranch dip?
Serve this ranch dip with fresh vegetables. Cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots and celery should be cut into sticks, and radishes and tomatoes can be sliced in half or left whole. We also love hard pretzels with this dip, and salty potato chips and pita chips would be delicious, too.
For something a bit heartier, serve your homemade ranch dip alongside buffalo chicken wings or crispy fried chicken. If you’re unabashedly team “ranch on pizza,” this is the dip for it.
Can I use this ranch dip as a salad dressing?
Yes, great idea! This ranch dip makes an incredible salad dressing. Thin it with a bit of milk or water to get it to salad-drizzling consistency.
Can I make this ranch dip with a ranch seasoning packet?
Yes, you can make this ranch dip with a ranch seasoning packet or homemade ranch seasoning. Omit the chives, lemon juice, salt, onion powder, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce from this recipe. Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream and buttermilk, then whisk in half of your seasoning packet. Taste and add more as you see fit. We don’t recommend dumping the whole packet in, just in case the flavor is too strong.
