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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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What mayonnaise brand do you use. I find this make a big impact on flavor? Thank you.
I always use Hellmann’s 🙂
I just made this recipe and used it for chip dip and it was amazing, Thank you so much for sharing this recipe and for teaching me how to make it.
You’re very welcome!! Love the chip dip idea. Thanks for your review!
BEST ranch dressing EVER! I’ve had so many compliments about this dressing from kids and adults. Since I found this I no long buy it from a jar. Its incredible! Thank you for sharing!!
Aww that’s so nice to hear, Yesenia! Thank you so much! Glad it’s a new favorite.
I didn’t particularly like the the Worcestershire added and think it’s perfect without. Great recipe! I was always hesitant to make ranch without the buttermilk but It really isn’t necessary:)
Glad you enjoyed it, Lindsay! Yup, definitely easy to tweak to your personal preferences. 🙂
Very good. I added some 1/2 n 1/2 just so it could be used on salad.
Excellent!
This ranch dressing is excellent. Such a fresh taste and goes really well with chicken wings.
So glad you enjoyed the dressing!
Fabulous
🙂
Can you swap the ingredient sizes of the mayo/Greek yogurt to make a healthy version?
I think you could try that for sure. The texture may not be as smooth, and it will taste a bit more tangy, so I’d taste it before adding the lemon juice (you may need to do a little ingredient tweaking here and there).
We love this recipe! I have made it twice now and we use it as a dip for fries or veggies.
Thank you!
Fantastic!! I’m thrilled to hear that! 🙂
My wife is a picky eater, especially with ranch. She is not a fan of the store bought ranch. We had all the ingredients except chives and lemon juice, but somehow we had lime juice. We tried with pizza. I loved it, but my wife tried it and said, “you have to fix this again next time!” It is not too overpowering, and it is now a staple in our house. We will never buy store ranch again. Thank you!
I’m so happy that she likes it!! 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to review my recipe, Matt.