Ranch dressing is tangy, herbaceous, creamy, savory and comforting, and the homemade variety tastes infinitely better than anything you can get at the store. Unfortunately, store-bought ranch has one notable advantage: It’s shelf-stable, so I can always have a backup on hand.
Luckily, we’ve got a secret that solves that problem: our homemade ranch dressing mix. It’s like a ranch dressing mix packet that you make yourself, without all the fillings and preservatives. Whisk it up and store the homemade mix in your pantry for up to a year. When you’re ready to use it, stir 1 tablespoon with mayonnaise, buttermilk or sour cream for homemade ranch dressing or dip in an instant.
Ranch Dressing Mix Ingredients
- Dried onion: Be sure to buy dried minced onion and not onion powder. We want those small onion flakes in this homemade ranch dressing mix.
- Dried parsley: Ranch dressing’s pops of green come from parsley. Plus, this herb adds a refreshing note among the heavier spices.
- Paprika: We add a small kick of heat with 2-1/2 teaspoons of paprika. Grab the jar that’s labeled only “paprika,” which is most likely a sweeter variety. Avoid smoked paprika, unless you prefer a smokier ranch dressing.
- Sugar: A bit of sugar may seem counterintuitive to a savory dressing, but it actually balances out the bold flavors without making anything taste particularly sweet.
- Garlic powder: A little bit of garlic powder goes a long way in any recipe. We’ve found that 1-1/2 teaspoons add the perfect amount of pungency, zing and peppery heat.
- Mayonnaise: When combined with buttermilk, mayonnaise enlivens the dry ranch dressing mix into a full-on ranch dressing. Mayonnaise acts as the thickener, so the ranch has some viscosity.
- Buttermilk: Purchase buttermilk from the store, or learn how to make buttermilk at home with what you have on hand. It’s easier than you think!
- Sour cream: A cup of sour cream is all that’s needed to turn dry ranch salad dressing mix into a tangy, zesty ranch dip.
Directions
Step 1: Make the mix
In a small bowl, whisk together the dried minced onion, dried parsley flakes, paprika, sugar, salt, pepper and garlic powder until thoroughly combined. Store the dry ranch dressing mix in an airtight container and place it in a cool, dry place for up to a year. This ranch dressing mix recipe yields about 6 tablespoons, which is enough to make six batches of ranch dressing or dip.
Step 2: Create a dressing
To use the mix to make ranch dressing, place 1 tablespoon of the mix in a small bowl and whisk it together with the mayonnaise and buttermilk. Cover the bowl with storage wrap and keep the dressing refrigerated until you’re ready to use it.
Step 3: Turn it into a dip
To create a ranch dip, take out a small bowl and whisk together 1 tablespoon of the dry ranch dressing mix and the sour cream. Cover the bowl with storage wrap and refrigerate the ranch dip for at least an hour before serving.
Ranch Dressing Mix Variations
- Add more herbs: If you like an herbaceous, refreshing ranch dressing, add dried dill, dried tarragon, dried scallions and dried chives to the recipe. Remember, though: Scallions and chives are in the allium family, along with onion and garlic, so adding these dried herbs will play up those pungent flavors that are already in the recipe.
- Use a smidge of mustard powder: Like garlic, mustard powder adds more of a zingy heat than a fiery heat, as you’d get from cayenne. If that’s your jam, add 1/8 teaspoon of mustard powder to this ranch dressing mix recipe. That may not seem like much, but a little bit of mustard powder goes a long way.
- Swap the sour cream: If you’re looking for a substitute for sour cream when making your dip, use plain Greek yogurt or creme fraiche instead.
- Finish with citrus: Once the dressing or dip is all mixed up, brighten the flavor with a small squeeze of lemon or lime, or simply grate in their zest.
How to Store Ranch Dressing Mix
Transfer the homemade ranch dressing mix to an airtight container, such as a mason jar or an old spice jar. Store it in a cool, dry place for up to a year (basically, where your other spice jars should be too.) We recommend labeling the jar with the date you made it, but speaking from experience, we know you’ll have no problem using up this ranch dressing mix within the year.
Ranch Dressing Mix Tips
Can you put buttermilk powder in this ranch dressing mix?
Yes, you can substitute buttermilk powder for regular buttermilk. It’ll keep for the same amount of time on your shelf (one year). Just mix the buttermilk powder in with the homemade ranch dressing mix, and add water instead of using liquid buttermilk with your wet ingredients.
Can you make ranch dressing without buttermilk?
Yes, you can make this ranch dressing without buttermilk. Here’s a buttermilk substitute: Use 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice, plus enough milk to measure 1 cup. Stir, then let the mixture stand for five minutes.
You could also use 1 cup of plain yogurt, or 1-3/4 teaspoons of cream of tartar plus 1 cup of milk as a buttermilk substitute.
How else can you use ranch dressing mix?
There are many ways to use ranch dressing. Some of our favorites are ranch pigs in a blanket, cheesy beer dip and bacon-chicken pizza. You could also sprinkle this dry ranch dressing mix on top of vegetables just before roasting in the oven, or in ground beef to make ranch-flavored hamburgers. We even love it tossed with freshly popped popcorn—it makes the late-night snack extra savory!
