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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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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.
Clever!
SO tasty 😋
Thank you! 🙂
I just made this for a Cobb salad and it was amazing !! Hubby loved it as well. Win ,win for everyone.
Fabulous!! Glad you both liked it. 🙂
The very best I have found!! Thank you 🙂
Aww thank you!
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!
Fantastic!! I know… winter is sometimes so difficult for getting fresh herbs… I feel ya. So happy it worked out.
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
So glad it worked out for you, Sue! 🙂
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!
Wonderful!! So happy it was a hit.
Yikes 😳 I followed the recipe exactly but the Worcestershire was over powering.
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
I’m glad you enjoyed it haha. 🙂
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!
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?