My creamy homemade ranch dressing recipe is bursting with bright and zesty flavors thanks to the fresh herbs, buttermilk, and lemon juice. It's an effortless recipe that comes together in just 5 minutes, perfect for drizzling over salads or dipping your favorite snacks!
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Skip the store-bought ranch, this homemade salad dressing is a quick fix for busy days and last-minute cravings.
Whenever I have a jar in my fridge, I slather it on almost everything-a basic salad, chicken wings, zucchini fries, and even chicken nuggets. This classic ranch dressing just makes my favorite dishes taste ten times better!
📖Why My Recipe Works
- No Sour Cream- Instead of sour cream, adding a pinch of lemon juice gives the dressing just the right tang and keeps it light and easy to pour for salads. But if I'm making a dip, I'd definitely add it for extra richness!
- Fresh Herbs- Parsley, dill, and chives add bright, fresh flavors to the dressing.
🧾Ingredient Notes
- Buttermilk- If you don't have buttermilk, make your own by combining ¾ cups of whole milk and 2 ¼ teaspoons of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before using.
- Mayonnaise- The base for the dressing. You can substitute it with Greek yogurt.
- Lemon Juice- Optional ingredient but adds a touch of brightness.
- Herbs- Use fresh herbs for the best flavor. But dried herbs will also work.
- Seasonings- You'll need onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. You can use fresh garlic if you want a sharper flavor. You can also add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for some heat.
⏲️How to Make Buttermilk Ranch
- In a medium bowl, whisk buttermilk and mayo until smooth, then stir in herbs and seasonings.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour. Overnight is even better. This gives the flavors time to meld and makes for a tastier dressing.
My Best Salad Dressing Recipes
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- I don't recommend using a blender for this recipe unless you don't mind your dressing turning green.
- If it's too thick, thin it with extra buttermilk. Add a little at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- If too thin, stir in a little mayo or sour cream. If you have time, let it chill longer as some thickening happens as the flavors meld.
- If it's not tangy enough, add a splash more of lemon juice.
Did you enjoy making this recipe? Show it some love with ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment! Hungry for more FLAVORFUL recipes?
📖 Recipe Card
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (Fresh Herbs)
Ingredients
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped
- 1 Tablespoon fresh dill finely chopped
- 1 Tablespoon fresh chives finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice optional, for a little brightness
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and mayo until smooth. Stir in the fresh herbs, dried onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.¾ cup buttermilk, ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, 1 Tablespoon fresh dill, 1 Tablespoon fresh chives, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Refrigerate for an hour or more to allow flavors to meld. Taste for salt and pepper and add lemon juice if desired.
Notes
- I don't recommend using a blender for this recipe unless you don't mind the dressing turning slightly green.
- Dried herbs equivalents:
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
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