Classic Ranch Dressing and Dip

By
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich is a food writer, recipe video producer, and culinary school instructor with more than 20 years of experience in the food industry.
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Updated on 07/3/21
Classic Ranch Dressing and Dip

The Spruce / Abby Mercer
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Refrigeration: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 5 mins
Servings: 16 servings
Yield: 1 pint
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
106 Calories
11g Fat
1g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories 106
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 177mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 19mg 1%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 28mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Ranch is at the top of the list of Americans' favorite salad dressings, but it might shine even brighter as a dip. ​It is incredibly versatile and some may argue goes with absolutely everything (including chocolate). No matter how you eat it, this easy-to-make recipe will likely not last very long in the refrigerator.

A simple combination of mayo, sour cream, buttermilk, herbs, and spices, this dressing or dip comes together in about 5 minutes. Ranch dressing is delicious served with everything from raw vegetables to fried chicken wings to Buffalo cauliflower and is the perfect dressing for green salads, pasta salads, and coleslaw. It can also be used as a marinade and sandwich spread.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise

  • 3/4 cup buttermilk

  • 1/4 cup sour cream

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Classic Ranch Dressing and Dip ingredients

    The Spruce / Abby Mercer

  2. Combine mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, and parsley in a bowl and whisk until completely mixed.

    Combine mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, and parsley in a bowl

    The Spruce / Abby Mercer

  3. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to incorporate.

    Classic Ranch Dressing and Dip in a bowl, covered with plastic wrap

    The Spruce / Abby Mercer

How to Store

The dressing will keep, refrigerated in an airtight container, for up to 2 weeks.

10 Ways to Use Ranch

Some may say that there is nothing ranch dressing doesn't go with, but no one can argue that there are some dishes that just pair perfectly.

  1. French fries
  2. Chicken nuggets
  3. Potato skins
  4. Steamed broccoli
  5. BLT wrap
  6. Pizza
  7. Barbecued chicken
  8. Cobb salad
  9. Macaroni and cheese bites
  10. Potato salad

Recipe Variations

Lemon-Garlic Ranch: Add 1 small clove of minced garlic and a tablespoon or 2 of fresh lemon juice to the mixture.

Fresh Herb Ranch: Sub fresh thyme for the dried in this recipe, and feel free to add others such as chives and dill.

Chipotle-Ranch: Add 1 to 2 chipotle peppers and place all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor.

Spicy Ranch: Drizzle in a few drops of Sriracha or another type of hot sauce and mix well.

Barbecue Ranch: Mix in a spoonful or two of your favorite barbecue sauce.

Pesto Ranch: Dill pesto is the best choice here, but if you only have basil pesto give it a try.

Mustard Ranch: Stir in a tablespoon or so of Dijon mustard for a little kick.

Cilantro Ranch: Replace the fresh parsley with cilantro. Great to serve drizzled over fish tacos.

Recipes That Call for Ranch

From casseroles to sauces, there are a variety of recipes that call for ranch. Try adding this dressing to chicken and bacon casserole, baked pork chops with a tangy ranch sauce, Buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich, and crab and potato salad.