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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.
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
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.
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
- This dressing is really versatile! Use it in a big green salad, my Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad, or as a dip for veggies.
- I also enjoy it as a pizza dip. Try it with my irresistible Pepperoni French Bread Pizza.
- It’s great in wraps, tacos, or as a sandwich spread as well. Drizzle it on my Crockpot Ranch Chicken Tacos. You can even put it on a Easy Baked Potato!
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.
More easy salad dressing recipes
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.
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 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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This is the BEST ranch dressing!!!!! Look no further YUMMY!!!! Thank you for the wonderful recipe!!!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it! 😀
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!)
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Linda! Haha I love that late night snack. I will definitely keep the recipes coming. 😉
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!
I am so happy that you liked it!! That’s awesome. I’m a big anchovy fan as well… I need to try that!
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!
I’m so glad you liked it!! You’re very welcome!
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!!!!!
Wow, that is a huge compliment!! So happy everyone loves it! ♥️♥️♥️
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.
Wonderful! 🙂 So glad it worked out, Lynn!
Absolutely delicious! It’s now my go to recipe for ranch dressing. My husband loved it too!! Thanks
Yay!! So happy to hear that! 🙂
How long can I keep this in my fridge?
Hi! I would keep it a week or so max.
How much parsley if using dried?
Also…have made dressing using powdered buttermilk and it was great. Looking forward to trying this recipe too.
Hi! I’d use a teaspoon or so. Hope you like the recipe. The buttermilk powder is a good idea.
Wow!!! We have made homemade ranch but this is by far the most outstanding ranch dressing ever. Easy and so delicious.
I am so happy to hear that, Jenna! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
Sub for chives ? I don’t have fresh or dried 🤷♀️
Hmm… maybe a little finely chopped onion?