Homemade Ranch Dressing (without Buttermilk)

Name: Homemade Ranch Dressing (without Buttermilk)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 5
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup milk; 2 tablespoons lemon juice, divided; 1/2 cup sour cream; 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh chives; 1 teaspoon dried dill; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

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Homemade ranch dressing is an easy 5 minute recipe that tastes way better than anything you can buy in the store, and you can make it without buttermilk! This easy dressing is packed with flavor and perfect for topping salads, dipping vegetables or chicken tenders, or even dressing a ranch pasta salad!

ranch dressing in jar with silver spoon and salad and tomato in background

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Growing up ranch dressing was my go-to for dipping just about anything. I think my mom got me to eat the majority of my veggies simply by letting me douse them in ranch!

While back then we used store-bought ranch, nowadays I’m a stickler for making it from scratch, just like with my homemade caesar salad and Greek dressing. It is just so darn easy and tastes far and away better than anything premade. Get ready for the absolute best ranch dressing you’ve ever tasted!

Why I love this recipe

I love that this ranch dressing has so much flavor thanks to the dill, garlic, and other spices and I don’t have to have buttermilk in the refrigerator in order to make it. I also love the tangy kick from the lemon juice and mayonnaise.

This dressing tastes great if the flavors have a little time to blend so if possible make it ahead of time. I almost always have a jar ready and waiting in the fridge. Because it lasts a week I try to whip up a batch over the weekend to enjoy all week long.

Ingredients

sour cream
mayonnaise
milk
garlic powder
onion powder
salt and pepper
dried dill
fresh chives
lemon juice

Step by step

Whisk together the milk and lemon juice and set aside for 5 minutes. Combine the milk mixture with sour cream, mayonnaise, and remaining ingredients and whisk until blended. Refrigerate until ready to use.

I told you it was easy!

Tip: This recipe is even easier to make if you add all ingredients to a mason jar and shake to mix! The kids love to help with this!

FAQs

How long does homemade ranch dressing last?

I usually keep my dressing in the refrigerator up to a week but be mindful of the expiration date of the milk or buttermilk you use and go by that date if sooner than a week.

Can homemade ranch dressing be made ahead of time?

Yes! The flavors blend while it refrigerates so I recommend making this dressing at least an hour in advance but it is even better if made the night before.

Can I use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream?

We have had many readers substitute the sour cream in this recipe with plain Greek yogurt with success. It will slightly alter the final flavor but it will still taste delicious.

Can you freeze ranch dressing?

No, it is not recommended to freeze ranch dressing due to ingredients used. It will not thaw properly. This recipe takes only minutes to prep so make fresh as needed.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!