Homemade Ranch Dressing: Better Than the Bottle

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I’m a big believer that some things are worth making from scratch, especially when they don't require much extra work. Ranch dressing is a good example. It takes about ten minutes, uses ingredients you probably already have in the refrigerator, and doesn't involve any actual cooking.

I came across this recipe from Matt Taylor at In the Kitchen With Matt. What appealed to me was the combination of sour cream, mayonnaise, buttermilk, and fresh herbs. It's a simple way to make a creamy, tangy ranch dressing. And ranch is good for a lot more than salads. It's great with fresh vegetables, chicken wings, baked potatoes, or just about anything that needs a little dipping sauce.

Here's the recipe, along with a few cooking notes.

Annotated Cooking Notes: Fresh herbs make a difference. The parsley, dill, and chives give this dressing its fresh flavor. You can substitute dried herbs, but use about one-third as much since dried herbs are more concentrated.

Ingredients

• ½ cup sour cream

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• ½ cup buttermilk

• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped

• 1½ tablespoons fresh chives or green onions, finely chopped

• 2 teaspoons fresh dill, finely chopped

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon onion powder

• ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar

• ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste

• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. Wash, dry, and finely chop the parsley, chives, and dill.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, and buttermilk. Whisk until smooth.

3. Add the chopped herbs and stir until evenly distributed.

4. Mix in the garlic powder, onion powder, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper.

5. Add the lemon juice and whisk everything together.

6. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Add a little more buttermilk if you prefer a thinner dressing.

7. For the best flavor, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Storage

Store the ranch dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Give it a quick stir before using, as some separation is normal.