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    Home » Recipes » Party Food » Dips & Spreads

    5 Minute Creamy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

    Apr 19, 2023(updated Jul 28, 2024)

    By Michelle Weiner

    You’ll never go back to storebought after trying this Buttermilk Ranch Dressing. Buttermilk, mayonnaise, and sour cream come together with fresh herbs to create this best-ever salad dressing, pizza topping, or chicken wing dip. Ready to enjoy in minutes!
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    Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
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    A shallow bowl of a creamy white sauce specked with herbs topped with chopped chives and pepper surrounded by cut vegetables, including watermelon radishes, celery, cherry tomatoes and yellow bell peppers.

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    A small bowl of a creamy white dressing with specks of herbs in and ontop of it surrounded by a lot of watermelon radishes, cherry tomatoes, cut celery and cut yellow bell peppers.

    The easiest and best dipping sauce or dressing ever

    I’m on the team “Make Life Easy” and will sometimes opt for bottled or storebought ingredients if it means I can save some time. BUT if there is ever a time to put in just a little bit of extra work, it’s to make your own Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.

    You really can’t beat the tangy, rich, and herby flavor of homemade ranch. The buttermilk, mayonnaise, and sour cream base is amped up with a handful of herbs and aromatics. Using just a whisk and a bowl, this creamy ranch dressing takes minutes to put together before it’s ready to be tossed in a salad, layered on a pizza, drizzled on savory crostinis, or served as a dip with chips, crudites, chicken wings, and more.

    A small white plate with slices of watermelon radish, cherry tomatoes, and cut yellow bell pepper with a spoonful of ranch dressing on the plate.

    Now, I’m always a fan of homemade dips. A platter of vegetables next to Smoked Salmon Dip or White Bean Dip is a welcome snack at any party or celebration. However, when all you need is something simple, flavorful, and quick, this kid-friendly ranch dip (that’s better than Hidden Valley) is always a great choice.

    A close up of a bowl of a creamy white sauce with specks of herbs in it topped with chopped chives and black pepper.

    Buttermilk ranch vs. regular ranch

    If you were to make this homemade ranch dressing recipe without the buttermilk and only mayonnaise, the flavor wouldn’t be as bold or tangy. Buttermilk adds body, tang, and creaminess, which is usually missed in a lot of the storebought brands.

    Easy homemade ranch dressing ingredients

    No fancy ingredients required here! This easy dressing is whipped up in minutes before it’s ready to be used on all of your favorite meals. These are the ingredients you need:

    The buttermilk base

    Buttermilk and mayonnaise are almost always the main ingredients in most ranch recipes. I also added sour cream to thicken it up and add an extra layer of tangy flavor. If you don’t have sour cream, plain Greek yogurt is a great alternative and will even lighten it up.

    Wanna know a secret? You don’t actually need to head to the store to buy real buttermilk. Instead, you can make “homemade buttermilk” by combining 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. This version won’t have the same flavor or body as the real thing (it’s usually used in baking), but it’s suitable in a pinch.

    An overhead image of the ingredients to make ranch dressing. There is a jarr of mayonnaise, parsley, chives, half a lemon, sour cream, a pepper grinder, salt, garlic powder, oregano, and a container of buttermilk.
    Ingredients from top left clockwise: buttermilk, dried oregano, salt, garlic powder, freshly ground black pepper, chives, parsley, mayonnaise, lemon juice, sour cream.

    Fresh herbs and lemon juice

    Fresh herbs are always the way to go when you want your ranch dip to have the brightest flavors. Chives and parsley are the traditional choices but you could also add dill for a more complex flavor profile. Mixed with a little lemon juice, the ranch dressing turns out bright, balanced, and delicious!

    You can also use dried chives and parsley if that’s what you already have at home. Make sure to use one-third of the quantity needed in the original recipe, as the flavor in dried herbs is more concentrated.

    Dried herbs

    Stirring some garlic powder, oregano, and salt and pepper into the ranch dressing will give it a savory boost and balance.

    How to make buttermilk ranch dressing from scratch

    Grab your whisk and a bowl because it’s time to make an easy ranch dressing at home! It’s ready in just two steps:

    A glass bowl with a creamy white sauce topped with chives, parsley, pepper, lemon juice, and garlic powder.
    Step 1: Combine all ingredients into a large bowl.
    A large glass bowl with a white sauce specked with herbs with a whisk in it.
    Step 2: Whisk the ingredients together until uniform. Cover and chill until ready to serve!

    Ways to use creamy ranch dressing

    It’s honestly easier to list the items you CAN’T use ranch dressing on. But, if you need a little inspiration, check out these delicious suggestions:

    • Salads: Ranch is best used on hearty, savory salads, like kale caesars, cobb salad, or vegetable chopped salads.
    • Dip: It’s a cooling dip to enjoy with veggies, buffalo chicken wings, quesadillas, onion rings, pigs in a blanket, sandwiches, chips and more.
    • Dressing or spread: Instead of a salad, use the ranch as a dressing on pizza, tacos, nachos, or in slaw. You can even spread it onto hamburgers, sandwiches, paninis, and grilled cheese.
    • Marinade: Use it as a marinade for grilled chicken or pork. As you grill, brush the dressing overtop for extra creamy and savory flavors.

    Making ahead and storage tips

    Make the dressing at least 1 hour before serving so the flavors have time to mingle in the fridge. Otherwise, it can be kept in a sealed container or jar in the fridge for up to 1 week.

    A slice of pepperoni pizza on a white plate with a bite taken out of it drizzled with ranch dressing.

    🎉 It's time to cook! 🎉

    Alright, friend! It's your turn to make this delish recipe for your next get-together.

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    A shallow bowl of a creamy white sauce specked with herbs topped with chopped chives and pepper surrounded by cut vegetables, including watermelon radishes, celery, cherry tomatoes and yellow bell peppers.

    Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

    You’ll never go back to storebought after trying this Buttermilk Ranch Dressing. Buttermilk, mayonnaise, and sour cream come together with fresh herbs to create this best-ever salad dressing, pizza topping, or chicken wing dip. Ready to enjoy in minutes!
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    Author: Michelle Weiner
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Keyword: dipping sauce, salad dressing, summer
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Makes: 0.75 cups

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup buttermilk
    • ¼ cup mayonnaise
    • ¼ cup sour cream
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 ½ tablespoon finely chopped parsley
    • 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

    Instructions

    • Combine all ingredinets into a medium mixing bowl.
    • Whisk thoughly until uniform.
    • Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
    Did you make this recipe?Share a pic and tag @cupofzest and use #cupofzest so I can see it!
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    Not only will you be helping us out, but you'll also be spreading the love to other party planners looking for their next big hit!

    Your star rating and comment can make all the difference in helping others discover the perfect recipe for their next shindig. And let's be honest, who doesn't love a good party? So let's get this party started by sharing the love and making sure everyone has a delicious time. Thanks for being a part of the Party Food Crew! And remember, party more & stress less!

    🎉 Cheers,
    Michelle

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    Hi, I'm Michelle and welcome to the party!

    After of working in the culinary world for over 10 years, I'm sharing the skills I've learned with you here at Cup of Zest. I'm here to help you invite your friends over more and stress less when cooking for them. Glad you're part of the crew!

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