Skip to main content

How to Make Your Own Ranch Dressing

Ranch dressing has become the ubiquitous dipping sauce for everything from fried pickles and buffalo wings to, well, just take a look on the internet — people literally dip everything into ranch. Hell, people have even chugged ranch dressing.

The obsession with ranch dressing doesn’t end at consuming it on things. People have put ranch on everything from T-shirts to flasks and have turned ranch dressing flavor into myriad items, from dental floss to soda. We wouldn’t be surprised if there were even ranch-flavored condoms out there (no, we didn’t look that one up).

There are a couple things you probably didn’t know about ranch dressing, though. First, did you know it was invented by a Nebraskan cowboy who was living in Alaska? We’re not kidding. A guy named Steve Gayle (formerly Kenneth Gayle) developed the recipe while working as a plumbing contractor. Second, and the reason you’re probably here, it’s actually incredibly easy to make. By easy, we mean that you need absolutely zero talent in the kitchen to mix up a batch of homemade ranch dressing.

Sam Slaughter/The Manual

It might seem like some green-flecked mystical concoction that’s come from on high to deliver joy to one’s taste buds and soul, but with just a couple ingredients and about five minutes of prep time, you too can be on your way to recreating what Kenneth Henson did in the early 1950s.

The one difference between the recipe you see here and the original is that Henson’s original recipe was developed as a buttermilk dressing. Instead of buttermilk, we’ve used a combination of sour cream (you can substitute Greek yogurt) and mayo, which gives the dressing a little more body than buttermilk. This thickness makes it more a dip than a dressing, so if you are hoping to use it on salads or as a dressing, just substitute the sour cream for milk.

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Ingredients:

  • 1 c sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
  • .5 c mayonnaise
  • .5 tsp dill
  • .5 tsp chives
  • .5 tsp parsley
  • .25 tsp garlic powder
  • .25 tsp onion powder
  • .25 tsp black pepper
  • .25 tsp salt

Method:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Stir to incorporate.
  2. Let chill 20-30 minutes before serving.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
This is how to tell if your eggs have gone bad
The expiration date isn't always a flawless system. This is how to tell if your eggs are still good.
White eggs in an egg carton

We've all been there -- It's Sunday morning, and that Denver omelet is calling your name. The pan is ready, melted butter starting to sizzle, and just as you go to crack a few of those breakfast beauties, you notice that they're a few days past the expiration date. To crack or not to crack. That is the question.

Though the cost of eggs has finally started to fall, we're still paying more for these fragile little delicacies than we're used to, and the thought of wasting even one is more than a little bit uncomfortable. It's important to know if the eggs in your refrigerator have passed their prime.
Do eggs go bad?
Yes, they certainly can. And when they do, eggs can become little bacteria bombs, possibly exploding in the form of salmonella. One or two days past the marked date on the carton usually isn't a big deal, but it's best to make sure.

Read more
Make your kitchen an eco-friendly space with Bamboozle’s biodegradable kitchenware
We could all be a little more sustainable with Bamboozle's biodegradable kitchenware in our home
Bamboozle kitchenware

As we become more eco-conscious, we're looking for items that not only fulfill that eco-friendly need, but also still look aesthetically pleasing in our homes. We also don't want to worry about if we can put that bowl in the microwave or the dishwasher. That's just too much to add to our day. If you want to switch your kitchen items over to sustainable items, there's a new line from Bamboozle -- Bamboozle's biodegradable kitchenware.
What makes them stand out
Why Bamboozle? Every brand wants to be sustainable and eco-friendly. Bamboozle does all that but also looks good in any kitchen.
The ups

Made with sustainable materials
Eco-friendly bamboo, harvested with little to no impact on the environment
Completely biodegradable in under two years
Dishwasher safe products
Won't stain (try it, spaghetti sauce)

Read more
The 5 classic whiskey cocktails you need in your bartending repertoire
If whiskey is your thing, you must know how to whip up these five classic cocktails

Ever wonder why so many of the classic cocktails out there involve whiskey? Because the spirit is versatile, coming in various forms (rye, bourbon, Scotch, etc) and taking kindly to a number of complementary ingredients. And while there are countless recipes you should explore, there are five you really must know.

Yes, like classic gin cocktails or classic tequila cocktails, classic whiskey cocktails are combinations you should know by heart and work to perfect with little tweaks here and there. They get adorned with the classic name because the combinations are tried and true, standing the test of time. But that doesn't mean you can't have fun with them, as we always encourage you to play around with things like whiskey type, liqueur type, bitters type, and more. They're classics, sure, but they can still be tailor-made for your own palate.

Read more