A quick and easy buttermilk ranch dressing, made with creamy mayo, chives, dill, garlic, and onion. And tangy buttermilk, natch. Make it ahead of time and douse everything in it, all summer long.
Adapted from Justin Chapple | Just Cook It! | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018
Every summer I create at least one salad that becomes my go-to. One year this was it. It’s the perfect sidekick for grilled steaks or lamb, and this ridiculously good buttermilk ranch dressing makes any super-fresh salad satisfying on its own. This ranch dressing is teeming with fresh herbs and a creamy mix of mayonnaise and buttermilk.–Justin Chapple
CAN I MAKE RANCH DRESSING AHEAD OF TIME?
The beauty of this dressing, aside from the ultra satisfying taste, is that you can definitely make it ahead and enjoy it throughout the week. You’ll finish it off long before that, we promise, but it’s a nice thought, right?
☞ Contents
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup snipped fresh chives plus 1 tablespoon minced
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
- In a medium bowl, whisk the buttermilk, mayonnaise, minced chives, dill, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Season the ranch dressing generously with salt and pepper. (The dressing can be made and chilled, in an airtight container, up to 5 days before serving.)
Show Nutrition
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Recipe Testers’ Reviews
I am a huge fan of all-green salads and made-from-scratch dressings. This herbed dressing will put all your ideas about buttermilk ranch dressings made from packets of spices (and all the “other ingredients”) to rest. No sweet weirdness from the gums, MSG, and other preservatives in prepared dressings or the envelopes of ready-to-mix dressing of our adolescence. As a young teen, I mixed up more than my share of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing and I am grateful to appreciate a fresh version now.
You do need a generous hand with the black pepper and a bit of salt to brighten the dressing, but it will be worth the extra few minutes to prepare.
The dressing will make for a great dip as well. The creamy tang is perfect.
Originally published April 14, 2021
HUNGRY FOR MORE?
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Bright, light, and creamy! This came together in five minutes. We had it with chicken nuggets at lunch and then on a salad at dinner. New fave ranch!
Thanks, Leah. We so glad that you’ve found a keeper.
Homemade salad dressing is so much better than the stuff from the bottle. It’s even better when you can whip it up quickly. This dressing comes together in a flash and tastes delicious. We adjusted with salt and freshly ground pepper. This only lasted a few days in our house. The flavor improved each day!
Thanks, Jennifer! We are so pleased to hear that it’s a household favorite.