Homemade Ranch Dressing (VIDEO)
Finally, a restaurant-style buttermilk Ranch Dressing that everyone in the family loves. This cool and creamy homemade ranch recipe comes together in seconds with simple ingredients. It’s so quick, simple, inexpensive, and tastes way better than bottled store-bought dressings or dry packet mixes.
This recipe works great as a buttermilk ranch salad dressing or as a ranch dip for veggies and Buffalo Chicken Wings. If you love the flavor of restaurant ranch, this homemade ranch dressing is a must-try.

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Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Recipe
Over the years we’ve bought MANY brands of ranch dressing, but few have been kid-approved. The only one that my little ranch connoisseurs actually liked had some pretty awful ingredients in it, and I couldn’t bring myself to buy it again.
I’ve been working on this buttermilk ranch recipe ever since, and I’ve finally perfected it. And as a bonus, my kids LOVE it. They tell me it tastes just like their favorite restaurant ranch dip. High praise.
This homemade ranch dressing is rich and creamy, perfect for drizzling over salads (try it on a Garden Salad), or serving as a dip with, well, just about everything. Plus, the ingredients are super simple and you probably already have everything you need in your refrigerator and spice drawer.
Ranch Dressing Video
Watch Natasha make restaurant-style buttermilk ranch in seconds with just a handful of easy ingredients. Trust us, you’ll want to smother this dressing over everything.
What is Ranch Dressing?
Ranch is cool and creamy, with a flavor that’s irresistibly tangy and garlicky. There’s a reason it’s the most popular dressing in the US! Ranch is a favorite condiment and dipping sauce, used on salads, veggies (like Roasted Broccoli), chips, Pizza, and just about anything else.
Ranch dressing is made with a creamy base and when you use buttermilk as the main ingredient, it becomes a Buttermilk Ranch. We love combining buttermilk, sour cream and mayo for the ultimate creamy consistency that makes it creamy enough to drizzle as a dressing and thick enough to serve as a dip.

Ingredients
If you’ve ever wondered, “Why is restaurant ranch dressing so good?” The answer is simple: the right combination of ingredients and store-bought packet mixes aren’t as good. Below is a quick look at what makes the best ranch dressing, with the full recipe available in the recipe card.
- Buttermilk – Buttermilk makes ranch dressing ultra creamy and tangy. Alternatively, you can use kefir, which is a fermented milk drink. You can also make an easy buttermilk substitute, see the section below for details.
- Sour Cream – Either full-fat or low-fat sour cream.
- Mayonnaise – Use your favorite brand of real mayo.
- Vinegar – Plain white vinegar is perfect, otherwise, apple cider vinegar also works.
- Herbs and Seasonings – This dressing is flavored with a combination of onion, parsley, dill, garlic, plus salt and pepper. You can use fresh or dried herbs (see tip).

Pro Tip: If you are serving this dressing to kids, you may want to use dry herbs. Fresh herbs are lovely but the garlic and chives can seem a little spicy and overpowering for little ones. Otherwise, the sharp flavors do tend to mellow out a bit after a couple of days in the fridge.
Can I Substitute Buttermilk?
As mentioned, if you don’t have buttermilk, you can use kefir instead. Or, in a pinch, you can make your own homemade buttermilk substitute with regular milk and white vinegar. This is very easy to do:
- Combine 1 tablespoon of white vinegar (or lemon juice) with enough milk to make 1 cup.
- Stir, then leave the mixture to sit and curdle for 5-10 minutes and stir again.
Tada, homemade buttermilk. This is a handy substitute that you can use not just in this ranch recipe, but in baking as well.
How to Make Ranch Dressing
Making buttermilk ranch dressing from scratch couldn’t be easier. Simply combine all the ranch ingredients in a bowl and give it a good whisk to combine.
You can adjust the seasoning to taste. I prefer to use a little more salt when I’m making this ranch recipe as a dressing, and a little less when serving it as a dip.

Pro Tip: Let the dressing sit covered in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight, to give the flavors time to meld.
Common Questions
Both are ranch dressings made with a base of sour cream and mayo. This recipe includes buttermilk, which makes the texture a little creamier.
Fun fact: The original dressing was invented by a plumber in the 1950s. He owned Hidden Valley Ranch in California, which is where the name (and famous ranch brand) comes from. Here’s more info on the history of ranch dressing.
Absolutely. If you’re making enough ranch for a party, go ahead and double the ingredients. The more the merrier and it keeps well in the refrigerator.

Ways to Use Buttermilk Ranch
This homemade ranch dressing recipe serves 6 as a salad dressing or 8-10 as a dip. Here are some easy ways to use it:
- Salads and Sandwiches – Drizzle ranch dressing over a fresh Garden Salad or try it on our BLT Salad with Avocado. Or, smother ranch onto a Crispy Chicken Sandwich.
- Dip – Ranch is the perfect dip for veggies, chips, French fries, and Onion Rings.
- Pizza – my son loves to drizzle over Pizza or dip pizza into ranch
- Chicken Wings – Serve spicy Buffalo Chicken Wings or Air Fryer Chicken Wings with a side of cooling ranch.
- Potatoes – Use homemade ranch to make Cheesy Ranch Potatoes.
Make-Ahead
We love having mason jars of fresh homemade salad dressing in the fridge, ready for any occasion. Here’s how easy it is to store your buttermilk ranch:
- To Refrigerate: Store your ranch dressing covered in a jar or airtight container and refrigerate it for up to a week. Give it a stir or a shake before you use it in case some separation occurs. Add additional salt to taste if needed.
- To Freeze: Freezing homemade ranch isn’t recommended since the taste and texture tends to change once it’s thawed. I always prefer to whip up a fresh batch.

We hope you’ll also be foregoing store-bought ranch dressing after trying this easy homemade recipe. If you love the flavor of ranch as much as we do, try our Jalapeño Ranch and Avocado Ranch Dressing, too.
More Homemade Dressings and Dips
I’ll be the first to admit some things are easier to buy at the store, but these homemade dressings and dips are absolutely worth making from scratch. They taste better and often have better ingredients than storebought. Here are more tasty dip recipes and condiments to make at home:
Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe

Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cold buttermilk, or kefir
- 1/2 cup cold sour cream
- 1/2 cup real mayonnaise
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp onion powder, or 2 Tbsp finely chopped chives
- 1 tsp dried parsley leaves, or 2 Tbsp finest chopped Italian parsley leaves
- 1/2 tsp dried dill, or 1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder, or 3 medium garlic cloves (1 Tbsp finely grated garlic)
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine all of your ranch ingredients and whisk together to combine. Add more salt to taste. As a dressing, 3/4 tsp salt is nice and as a dip, you can get by with 1/2 tsp salt. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Best tasting ranch I’ve ever had! Can it be frozen for future use?
I’m so glad you loved it! Freezing homemade ranch isn’t recommended since the taste and texture tends to change once it’s thawed. I always prefer to whip up a fresh batch.
So delicious! My kids raved about it. I didn’t have buttermilk so I used regular milk. I did notice it was missing that tang, so next time I will definitely make sure to have buttermilk on hand.
It really is best with buttermilk. If you don’t have any on hand, you can make your own by mixing milk and lemon together. 1 cup buttermilk = 1 Tablespoon lemon juice + enough milk to measure 1 cup. I hope that helps.
Creamy and delicious! Our new favorite dressing! Thanks for yet another hit recipe!
You’re very welcome, Robyn! Thank you for sharing.
I’ve tried several recipes, but this is fantastic!!! Our absolute go to! Thanks Natasha!
Aaaw, that’s wonderful feedback. Thanks so much!
Will powdered buttermilk reconstituted work instead of fresh buttermilk?
I love your recipes!
Thank you, Paula. We’re glad that you’re enjoying them! Alternatively, you can use kefir, which is a fermented milk drink. You can also make an easy buttermilk substitute, see my notes above for details on this.
I just made this and it is delicious and so easy to make! I had everything in my pantry! Definitely a keeper! Thank you Natasha!
You’re very welcome, Cathy! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe.
I can finally live a good life with good ranch. 5 stars!! Thank you.
Hi Bryan! I’m so glad you love this recipe. Thank you for the feedback.
I made this for the first time a week ago. I swear my dad ate a full cup of dressing with his salad it was so good! I’ve had to keep it in stock since then.
I’m so glad it was a hit! Thank you for the feedback.
Natasha thank you for all your recipes….everyone of them has been a hit…you are amazing and I will always ❤ be your loyal fan…keep those recipes coming… your loyal friend…
You’re very welcome! I’m so glad you are enjoying them. Thank you for the love and support!
This is so much better than the Ranch packets, my new favorite go to
I’m so glad to hear that, Tracy!
Hello!
This looks delicious and I can’t wait to make it. 🙂
Is one serving 2 Tablespoons? Just curious for calorie reasons. LOL! Thank you so much!
I hope you love it, Melissa! If you divide the whole recipe into 6 servings to get the most accurate per serving size.
Thank you so much! I will do that. I am sure this will be my go to from now on!!! 🙂
You’re welcome! 🙂
I have tried several other ranch dressing recipes, but, I’m here to tell you this is the absolute best!!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Jean!
Terrific recipe – I will not be needing to ever by ranch again!
Thanks so much, Pat! I’m glad you loved it. 🙂
I made this last weekend and I will never buy bottled ranch dressing again. It was so easy to make and delicious!!!! Great recipe, thanks Natasha!!
You’re welcome, Clare! I’m so glad you loved the recipe/
Love your recipes! Is it possible to substitute apple cider vinegar for the white vinegar?
Hi Pat! Plain white vinegar is perfect, otherwise, apple cider vinegar also works.
I love this recipe. It was my first effort at ranch, this is very good. Thank you.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Greg!
Great recipe for ranch dressing! I even left off the salt and didn’t miss it. This recipe was delicious!I have been trying to make salad dressings to minimize salt and ingredients. Thanks for sharing your recipes. I look forward to getting your cookbook.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Susan!
I made this to use in a blue cheese wedge salad tomorrow night. I may have added a bit too much fresh dill, but it still tastes great ! will pour it over a wedge of lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onion, bacon and blue cheese.
Sounds good, I hope it becomes a huge hit!
Delicious! as has been every recipe of yours that I have tried. I love that your recipes are tried and true and I can always count on them being great!❤️
Hi Cheryl! I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you.
What is the serving size? 2TBS?
I love all your recipes by the way and the videos are just great! Thanks for all the deliciousness!
Hi Amy, you may divide the whole recipe into 6 servings to get the most accurate per serving size.
Absolutely delicious! More flavorful than the powdered version or the bottled version. Furthermore, the ingredients are things you probably have on hand. This will be my go to recipe from now on!
That’s wonderful to hear, Vicki! I’m so glad you loved it. Thank you for the feedback. 🙂
I made this to go with my veggies for the week and this is the best homemade ranch I have made thus far and I have been trying for years to find the perfect one. It is a keeper and I am planning to send to all my friends. Thanks
I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you for sharing.
I made this today, and it is amazing!! By far the best ranch we have ever had! We had it tonight on a baby spring mix salad with tomatoes and cucumbers. It was delicious! Next time I would like to add some pickled onions to the salad. Hint: recipe request!!
Aaaw, thank you for your good feedback and suggestion too!
Hi Janet! I’m sorry, I don’t have the information for that. The nutrition facts are listed in the recipe card. This recipe serves 6. You could weigh the ranch and then divide that total weight by 6 and that is the nutrition facts for each serving.
Have you tried not using real mayonnaise for the ones that are allergic to eggs? Any substitute ideas?
PS. I will try your delicious Ranch recipe as written.
Hi! I haven’t tested any but they make vegan mayo without eggs which should be fine to use as a substitute.
Joan What could i use in place of Buttermilk Please. Really want to try this.
Buttermilk makes ranch dressing ultra creamy and tangy. Alternatively, you can use kefir, which is a fermented milk drink. You can also make an easy buttermilk substitute, see my notes above for details on this.
Just figured I’d mention most older homemade Ranch recipes call for milk, not buttermilk so you could easily substitute with milk. I personally like to use buttermilk as I like it w/ Ranch & when I have buttermilk around I always am looking for ways to use it. That said, for those who don’t want to use it or want a less tangy Ranch w/ more mellow smoothness, regular milk works great. Just be aware buttermilk is thicker than milk so it will be a little thinner, especially if you use skim.
I am going to try this I love your recipes and you make your video’s fun to watch too!
Thank you, Rhonda! I hope you enjoy the recipe. 🙂
Can’t wait to try this version. Any reason why you call for real mayo, as opposed to light?
Hi Debbie, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
This looks so easy and so good. I’m going to give it a try. Btw, I love your videos.
Thank you, Tammy! I hope you love this recipe.
Loved this homemade ranch dressing! So much better than store bought!
Hi Jamie! It’s really good. I’m glad you love it.
Honestly- I won’t ever buy it from the store again. This was so easy to make! LOVED it!
That’s wonderful, Nora! Glad you loved it.