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Home » Recipes » Sauces & Dressings

Homemade Ranch Dressing with Fresh Herbs

Dated: June 26, 2019 Last Modified: August 10, 2022 This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Easy Homemade Ranch Dressing

This easy Homemade Ranch Dressing recipe is made from scratch with buttermilk and fresh herbs. It's perfect for salads, wings, or as a dip!

I've been on a bit of a sauce kick lately. Last week it was homemade blue cheese dressing and this week it's this Buttermilk Ranch Dressing. Ranch dressing is such a quintessential sauce to have in your cooking repertoire.

Homemade ranch dressing in glass jar with fresh herbs on wooden serving board.

There are lots of great bottled versions out there and picking up a bottle of pre-made salad dressing is certainly easier but making your own is SO simple and especially nice during the summer when you've got fresh herbs readily available.

I never knew how great ranch dressing could be until I tried a scratch-made version at a pizza place in Denver, CO a few years ago. I was eating it on my salad and dipping everything I could get my hands on in it - including the pizza crust. I asked for a To-Go container because I literally could not get enough of the stuff.

I vowed to learn how to make my own and it turns out it's super easy and a great versatile sauce to have on hand!

Jump to:
  • What Is Ranch Dressing?
  • How To Make Homemade Ranch Dressing
  • Which Fresh Herbs Are Best For Ranch Dressing?
  • Can I Use Dried Herbs?
  • How Long Will This Dressing Last In The Fridge?
  • Can I Freeze Ranch Dressing?
  • What To Serve With Homemade Ranch Dressing
  • Homemade Ranch Dressing with Fresh Herbs
Fresh parsley, dill, and chives on wooden cutting board with knife.

What Is Ranch Dressing?

If you grew up in the Midwest, ranch dressing was probably a staple in your diet. I've always loved it because I don't care for ketchup and it's my go-to dipping sauce for things like fries or chicken tenders.

It's technically a salad dressing made from some combination of buttermilk and other creamy elements such as sour cream and mayo. It is flavored with onion, garlic, and herbs - Dill, parsley, and chives.

It was invented by Nebraska cowboy Steve Henson while he was working in Alaska. He and his wife later purchased a Dude Ranch in California - Hidden Valley Ranch where his signature sauce became the house dressing. The rest, as they say, is history.

Sour cream, buttermilk, and mayo combined in small glass bowl.

How To Make Homemade Ranch Dressing

Each version is a little different but at its core ranch dressing starts with a creamy base. This gives the dressing its signature creamy texture and the herbs and spices are then added.

I went with buttermilk, sour cream, and mayo with this recipe - Equal parts of each to make it extra simple!

  1. Add ½ cup mayo, sour cream, and buttermilk to a small bowl.
  2. Stir until completely combined using a fork or a small whisk.

Don't have buttermilk on hand? You can make your own by simply combining some milk and a bit of lemon juice or white vinegar!

How To Make Your Own Buttermilk

  1. Pour ½ Tbsp. of lemon juice or white vinegar into ½ cup of milk.
  2. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes at room temperature.
  3. Stir after 10 minutes to combine and then use as you would regular buttermilk.
Creamy dressing topped with minced herbs in small glass bowl with whisk.

Which Fresh Herbs Are Best For Ranch Dressing?

To that creamy base we're going to add some herbs and spices.

This recipe uses fresh dill, chives, and parsley.

  1. Add 1 tsp. white wine vinegar (or regular distilled white vinegar), 1 tsp. lemon juice, ½ tsp. garlic powder, ½ tsp. onion powder, and ½ tsp. kosher salt.
  2. Mince 2 Tbsp. of fresh dill, 2 Tbsp. of fresh parsley, and 2 Tbsp. of fresh chives. Add the minced herbs to the bowl.
  3. Stir all of the ingredients until completely combined using a fork or a small whisk.

Can I Use Dried Herbs?

You can absolutely substitute dried herbs for fresh if that's what you have on hand. I have personally never made this recipe using dried herbs but I do know that it's an option.

Simply substitute 2 Tbsp. each of the dried herbs instead of the fresh.

It is important to note that the flavor of fresh herbs is more robust so feel free to play around with the amounts if you decide to give the dried herbs a try.

Homemade ranch dressing with fresh herbs in glass jar on wooden serving board.

The dressing is done at this point! You can serve it right away or let it sit in the fridge for a few hours to allow the flavors to meld.

How Long Will This Dressing Last In The Fridge?

It's best to use this dressing within a few days as it doesn't have a very long shelf life. It will keep for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge but I wouldn't let it sit much longer than that to be on the safe side.

Can I Freeze Ranch Dressing?

Ranch dressing contains a good amount of dairy and dairy is one of those things that does not freeze well as it tends to separate.

It's best consumed within a few days of preparation and should NOT be frozen.

Spoonful of homemade ranch dressing lifted from glass jar.

What To Serve With Homemade Ranch Dressing

As with all kinds of homemade sauces and dressings, this one is super versatile!

It's perfect to use as an actual salad dressing, as a veggie dip, a dipping sauce for chicken wings or other game day fare, a sauce for pasta salad, spread onto sandwiches, or if you're like me, a dipping sauce for your French fries.

I love this recipe during the summer because it's perfect to serve alongside a veggie platter for picnics or potlucks.

It's also nice for serving at a game day buffet.

Looking for appetizers to serve with ranch dressing? Don't miss these recipes!

  • Crispy Breaded Mushrooms
  • Baked Chicken Taquitos
  • Southwest Baked Egg Rolls
  • Sweet & Spicy Grilled Chicken Wings
  • Cheesy Chipotle Rice Balls
  • Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Wooden spoon in glass jar of ranch dressing on wooden serving board with fresh herbs.

I love the herb-y flavor of this ranch dressing. Truth be told, I am not a fan of parsley but I love it in this recipe. And you can't beat the unmistakable flavor of fresh dill.

I'm getting very excited for my garden herbs to come up so I can make this all summer long!

Love dill? Don't miss these recipes!

  • Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
  • Lemon Dill Egg Salad
  • Smoked Salmon Dill Crostini

If you love ranch flavor check out these Ranch Roasted Red Potatoes!

Love homemade sauces? Check out these recipes!

  • Fresh Dill Tartar Sauce
  • Spicy Thousand Island Dressing
  • Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
  • Creamy Lemon Tarragon Sauce
  • Roasted Poblano Avocado Dip
  • Herb Tahini Sauce

Looking For More Homemade Dressings? Don't Miss These!

Avocado Cilantro Dressing

Miso Toasted Sesame Dressing

Greek Vinaigrette Dressing

Homemade ranch dressing in glass jar with fresh herbs on wooden serving board.

Homemade Ranch Dressing with Fresh Herbs

Christine Rooney
This easy Homemade Ranch Dressing recipe is made from scratch with buttermilk and fresh herbs. It's perfect for salads, wings, or as a dip!
4.84 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
Prep Time 10 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 46 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • ½ cup mayo
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp. white wine vinegar or distilled white vinegar
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • ½ tsp. onion powder
  • ¼ tsp. kosher salt
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh dill
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh chives

Instructions
 

  • Combine ½ cup mayo, ½ cup sour cream, and ½ cup buttermilk in small bowl. Stir until completely combined using a fork or small whisk.
  • Mince 2 Tbsp. fresh dill, 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, and 2 Tbsp. fresh chives.
  • Add 1 tsp. white wine vinegar (or distilled white vinegar), 1 tsp. lemon juice, ½ tsp. garlic powder, ½ tsp. onion powder, and ¼ tsp. kosher salt to the bowl. Stir until completely combined.
  • Add the fresh minced herbs to the bowl and stir until completely combined.
  • To Serve: This ranch dressing may be served immediately or placed in the fridge for a few hours to allow the flavors to meld.
    It may be kept in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.

Video

Notes

*Dried herbs may be substituted for fresh herbs. Simply substitute with 2 Tbsp. each of dried dill, parsley, and chives for fresh if desired.
*If you like a thicker, creamier dressing use ¼ cup of buttermilk instead of ½ cup. If you like a thinner dressing add a bit more buttermilk to thin it out.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tsp.Calories: 46kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 60mgPotassium: 33mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 295IUVitamin C: 3.5mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 0.2mg
Keyword homemade ranch dressing, how to make ranch dressing, gluten free ranch dressing
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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About Christine

My name is Christine Rooney. I live in rural Minnesota with my husband. I own and operate The Rustic Foodie and work as a freelance photographer and writer. I like my food to be like anything else in life - down to earth and full of flavor.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Love Keil

    August 13, 2019 at 4:25 pm

    5 stars
    This homemade ranch sounds so good, pinning it right now so I can make it later!

    Reply
  2. Noelle

    August 13, 2019 at 5:40 pm

    5 stars
    It is going to be impossible to go back to store-bought ranch after this recipe!! Loved it

    Reply
  3. Debra Newhouse

    July 18, 2020 at 4:45 pm

    After making this recipe, I threw away the store-bought. I don't think I will ever buy it again. So flavorful and tasty. I'll be using it on my cucumber slices tomorrow.

    Reply
    • Christine

      July 19, 2020 at 5:30 am

      Awesome! I love to dip fresh veggies in this ranch dressing as well. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Margit

    January 02, 2023 at 2:24 pm

    I'd just like to add that if you're using dried herbs, letting it sit overnight will improve the flavor tremendously!
    Also, the dressing will keep in the fridge for as long as the ingredient dairy and mayo would have. The fat and acidity actually preserve the herbs that would have wilted within a few days. I haven't discovered how long it takes to go bad, because mine is always used up within 10 days, but I've never had a problem with it in that time.

    Reply
    • Christine

      January 03, 2023 at 4:16 pm

      Hi Margit - Thanks for the tip! I've only ever made this recipe in the summer when I have fresh herbs. I'll make a note of this in the post for anyone who might be using dry herbs. 🙂

      Reply

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Thanks for stopping by! My name is Christine Rooney. I live in rural Minnesota with my husband. I own and operate The Rustic Foodie and work as a freelance photographer and writer. I like my food to be like anything else in life - down to earth and full of flavor.

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