Ranch dressing is a multifaceted mistress of sorts. You either like it and can enjoy it on a salad, LOVE it and dunk everything from pizza to shoe leather in it, or think it’s an epicurean abomination all together and are lobbying to remove it from the shelves of grocery stores. If you’re of the last camp, feel free to stop reading now. I love you, but this post is just not for you.
If you fall somewhere in between the realm of LIKE and LOVE, you’re in for a treat. I happen to think that bottled ranch dressings are an atrocity, but love a nice, freshly made ranch. In the past I’ve made it with a packet of ranch dressing mix, but hated paying over $1 for half of an ounce of salt and garlic powder.
Making your own mix is super easy, really fun (think sand art), and is significantly less expensive than buying the packaged mixes. Another bonus is that you’ll always have a stash of it in the pantry as one recipe makes enough mix to keep your salad, pizza and hot wings well dressed for quite sometime.
You’ll start with a mason jar, parsely, black pepper, garlic salt, kosher salt, granulated onion and garlic, and dill weed. Be as artistic as you want to be and layer all the herbs and spices into the jar. Screw on the jar lid and mess up your beautiful layers by giving it a good shake. You’re done!
When you’re ready to make some dressing just add 1 tablespoon + 1 tsp of the mix to 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 cup milk, 3/4 C sour cream, and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Stir, stir, stir!
This mix works interchangeably with other recipes that call for a packet of ranch dressing mix. Use 1 tablespoon for every packet needed. I’ll be back on Wednesday with an awesome recipe using this mix, but in the meantime if you need to get your ranch fix, try these Slow-Cooker Cilantro Ranch Chicken Tacos, or this BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad.
Pin it! You know you want to…
Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix
Ingredients
- 3/4 C dried parsley
- 2 tbsp black pepper
- 1/4 C garlic salt
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp granulated garlic
- 1/4 C + 2 tbsp granulated onion
- 1/2 C dill weed
Instructions
- Combine all herbs and spices in a jar and shake to mix.
- Combine 1 tbsp + 1 tsp mix with 1 C mayonnaise, 1 C milk, ¾ C sour cream, and 2 tbsp lemon juice.
- Use mix interchangeably in recipes calling for ranch dressing mix. Use 1 tablespoon mix for every packet needed.
Julie says
February 10, 2015 at 9:14 pmI’ve never heard of granulated garlic or onion. Would powdered or minced work instead?
Tara H says
January 18, 2014 at 5:51 pmThis is FABULOUS! We absolutely love it. I’ve been making ranch for a while with a different mix. My husband didn’t love it so I decided to try yours. He’s hooked!! Thank you!
Heather says
January 23, 2014 at 10:05 amSo glad you like it. It’s one of our favorites!
Julie M. says
November 29, 2013 at 11:48 pmWhat would I replace if I wanted to make this a yogurt based Ranch?
Thanks for the recipe!
Heather says
November 30, 2013 at 10:54 pmI would replace the sour cream with yogurt and keep the mayonnaise if you didn’t want to make it fully yogurt. Otherwise you can replace both the sour cream and mayo with yogurt but you’ll likely have to adjust the salt and maybe the lemon juice so it doens’t get too tangy. Hope that helps!
Marci Seither says
June 10, 2013 at 7:50 amI just made this mix and salad dressing… Totally awesome for my ranch lovin’ family who loves Ranch dressing on just about everything! Also made a batch and added fresh salsa for a south of the border taste and subbed out dill for fresh cilantro…This mix is so easy and inexpensive to make I think I will be making these in small canning jars, putting a label on them and giving them as hostess gifts from now on!
Heather says
June 11, 2013 at 10:04 pmAwesome, so glad you and your fam liked it! I love your idea on using it as hostess gifts, I might have to steal it! 🙂
Susan says
March 8, 2013 at 12:33 pmWay too much milk. Came out like water. I am going to have to throw it out which I hate cause it is so wasteful 🙁
Maybe modifying with 1/4 cup milk would be better.
Heather says
March 8, 2013 at 12:56 pmI ran into the kitchen to make a batch after seeing your comment and it turned out well as written. I know that some sour creams are thicker than others and that could cause it to be too thin. Also, it does set up a bit after making so if it’s not too late you can try that or add a bit more sour cream any mayo to thicken it up. Sorry!
Sara says
February 26, 2013 at 8:52 amHow do I pin this ranch recipe on Pinterest?
Heather says
March 1, 2013 at 11:34 pmYou can hover over any of the pictures on the post and you’ll see a “pin it” button on the top right corner. Click on that and it will take you to Pinterest!
Courtney says
February 7, 2013 at 4:36 pmHow long does this keep in the fridge? It seems to make a large amount. Have you ever halved the amount to make less?
Heather says
February 10, 2013 at 9:53 pmI’ve kept it for up to 2 weeks in the fridge with no problem. One batch does make a lot and I have halved it before.
Christine says
January 29, 2013 at 2:00 pmThis is just what I was looking for! Perfect! Thanks!!
Michelle says
October 16, 2012 at 8:46 amvery similar to a recipe used at a bar I worked at. we used buttermilk in place of the milk/sour cream. gave it the zing sour cream does. it was best dang ranch anywhere! of course we made it in 1 gallon batches or so! 🙂
Rachel (teacher-chef) says
October 15, 2012 at 6:00 pmBEAUTIFUL! I love Homemade Ranch & this homemade mix is just beautiful and delicious and easy – YUM