Easy Ranch Dressing

I love ranch dressing. Probably not as much as my sister, though.

Nothing beats a fresh batch made from your own kitchen Think restaurant-quality ranch, not the nasty bottled stuff (sorry, not sorry if you’re a Hidden Valley fan).

It’s actually pretty easy to make your own ranch, too. All you need is 3 ingredients!

Here are a couple recipes for fresh-made ranch dressing, including a healthier non-fat option.

Let’s get into it.

Easy Ranch Dressing

Recipe credit to the back of every ranch mix packet as well as Creme de la Crumb

Time commitment:

Prep - less than 10 minutes

Time to sit in the fridge - 30 minutes+

Ready in 10-40 minutes!

Equipment list:

• Whisk (a few sizes of silicone ones come in handy, like these)

• Spoon

• 1 cup measuring cup (or use 1/2 x2)

• Storage bowl

Ingredients:

For “traditional” ranch:

• 1 cup of mayonnaise

• 1 cup of milk OR buttermilk (buttermilk makes THE BEST ranch!)

• 1 ranch packet (you can follow the Creme de la Crumb recipe and make your own blend, but I prefer the pre-made stuff that typically has dried buttermilk mixed in)

• Water for thinning (optional if you like thicker ranch)

For healthier ranch:

• 1 cup of plain, nonfat Greek yogurt

• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, vinegar, or rice vinegar

• 1 ranch packet (you can follow the Creme de la Crumb recipe and make your own blend, but I prefer the pre-made stuff that typically has dried buttermilk mixed in)

• Water for thinning (optional if you like thicker ranch)

Steps to get your fresh ranch:

1. Gather all your equipment and ingredients.

2. For either recipe, add the ranch mix to a bowl. For the traditional version, whisk in 1 cup of milk or buttermilk and 1 cup of mayonnaise. For the healthier version, add to the dry mix 1 cup of plain nonfat Greek yogurt and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice/vinegar/rice vinegar. Mix well.

   • TIP: Measure your milk out first and then the mayo; this allows the mayo to come out of the measuring cup much better and you leave less behind!

3. Check the consistency of the ranch. Is it too thick? Add a teaspoon of water at a time, stirring well after each addition, until you get the consistency you want.

   • TIP: Be aware that adding water will potentially dilute the flavor. You can always mix in a little garlic and onion powder to help if the flavor is off after adding water.

   • TIP 2: You can also thin it out with milk/buttermilk.

4. Store in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up, then enjoy.

   • TIP: You can enjoy this right after you make it, just note that the texture will change as it settles - it will get thicker and you may need to thin it out later.