This tangy and delicious Buttermilk Ranch recipe is so easy to make. Try it on your favorite salads, wraps, and pizza!
This ranch dressing makes the perfect dipping sauce for these Air fryer chicken tenders and Air fryer french fries.
Table Of Contents
Recipe Details
Like most things, homemade is always better, and this Buttermilk Ranch recipe is the best. It’s simple to make, truly delicious, and can be enjoyed with so many dishes.
- TASTE: Rich and tangy, this ranch dressing is full of herbs and spices for the best flavor.
- TEXTURE: This Buttermilk Ranch dressing is thick, smooth, and creamy. It’s perfect for dressing a salad or dipping with wings.
- TIME: It only takes 5 minutes to make.
- EASE: With ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen, this simple recipe is a breeze to whip up.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Buttermilk- You can buy this at the store or make your own by combining 1/2 cup of milk with 1/2 Tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Dijon mustard- This mustard has a tangy and zesty flavor. Don’t substitute it with another kind.
- Lime juice- Use fresh if you can, but you can use concentrated if that’s all you have.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Add apple cider vinegar- If you like your dressing more on the tangy side, you can add this. Not too much though or it will thin the dressing out.
- Substitute lemon juice- You can use lemon juice in place of the lime juice if you don’t have any.
- Use other herbs- Fresh dill chopped fine can be used in place of the dried dill. You can also add parsley or chives.
- Make it dairy-free- Use plant-based buttermilk and sour cream in this recipe for those avoiding dairy.
How to Make Buttermilk Ranch
- Combine dry ingredients. In a small bowl, add the sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried dill. Whisk to combine.
- Combine the wet ingredients. In a larger bowl, whisk together the lime juice, Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and sour cream. Do not add the buttermilk yet.
- Add the dry mix into the wet. Pour the dry mix into the larger bowl, whisking it into the wet mix.
- Add in the buttermilk. Whisk in the buttermilk and stir until everything is well incorporated.
- Serve. You can store this in the fridge or serve it right away.
Pro Tip: This buttermilk ranch tastes best cold, so place it in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Use full-fat mayo and sour cream– Low-fat tends to be thinner and won’t give your ranch dressing the same creamy, rich flavor and texture.
- Pre-mix the spices- Mix them before adding to the other ingredients so they evenly distribute throughout the buttermilk ranch dressing.
- Add the buttermilk last- Adding this last gives you a chance to make sure the texture is right for you. If you like your ranch thicker, you may want to add a little less than directed.
FAQs
Buttermilk ranch is made from a base of mayonnaise and buttermilk, giving it a tangy flavor that you don’t get in regular ranch, which uses mayo and cream.
Yes, you can. If you don’t have or want to use buttermilk, you can make this ranch dressing by increasing the sour cream and mayonnaise to take its place. You can also substitute regular milk in place of the buttermilk.
Serving Suggestions
This rich and delicious Buttermilk Ranch recipe is perfect for adding to salads, pizza, and more. Here are some great suggestions for ways to serve it.
- Chicken: Serve this ranch with BBQ Chicken Wings, Breaded Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (VIDEO), Healthy Chicken Nuggets with Quinoa, and Smoked Chicken Breast.
- Salad: Add this dressing to your favorite salads, like this Spinach Salad, Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad, or BLT Pasta Salad.
- Pizza: Use it as a dip with Chicken Pesto Pizza, Chicken Bacon Ranch Flatbread Pizza, Margherita Pizza, or Mushroom Arugula Flatbread Pizza.
- Wraps/Sandwiches: Add it to sandwiches and wraps, such as this Easy BLT Wrap, Brisket Sandwich, Turkey Croissant Sandwich, or Leftover Turkey Sandwich.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: Since this ranch will last for a week in the fridge, you can easily make it ahead of time.
Storing: Because of the ingredients in this Buttermilk Ranch dressing recipe, you will need to store it in the refrigerator. Place it in a container with a lid or in a clean dressing bottle. It will keep for 7 days.
Freeze: While you can freeze this dressing, the texture is affected and it will likely thaw watery and grainy. So it’s best to make it fresh.
More Delicious Dressings!
Full Recipe Instructions
Buttermilk Ranch Recipe
Ingredients
Dry ingredients
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
- 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
Liquid ingredients
- 1/2 tsp lime juice
- 1/4 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Combine all dry ingredients: garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, and sugar.
- In a bowl, add the mixed dry ingredients with lime juice, Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and sour cream.
- Whisk in the buttermilk. Store in the refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted on May 31, 2016, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then.
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Lily says
How long with the dressing last In the fridge?
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Lily, you should be able to store homemade ranch dressing for about 2 weeks if stored in an air tight container like a mason jar.
Peggy says
Love a good homemade salad dressing. I should try this. Pinned 😉
simplyhomecooked says
Thank you Peggy 🙂