By Gwen Brown 35 Comments
A good ranch dressing recipe is something every home cook should have in her recipe box. This is the one I have in my box. And it is GOOD!
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It’s is a ‘bulk’ recipe, so you’re making up a big batch that can be used as a seasoning in many other foods, as well as making a mean ranch dip and dressing…among other things. It’s very versatile! (But I also give you an itty-bitty “try it out” size to run by your taste buds first.)
I’ve been working on this recipe for a couple of years, as I really want to avoid MSG and fillers…and fresh is just SO much tastier!
Well, theoretically. It should be tastier, you know? But I had a lot of trouble finding a really good ranch dressing recipe. They seemed to kind of fall flat or hit spicy or odd notes that didn’t even come close to the twangy goodness that we all know and love.
But I’ve finally landed on a blend that is just totally delicious. It has received a unanimous thumbs up by the National Association of Picky Children. (I happen to know several of the NAPC board members personally.) And on top of that, I’ve recently been informed that a jar of this spice mix is the birthday present of choice by some of my favorite cooks.
Oh, and also, this is TOTALLY approved…I’ll even give you a recipe for my fat-free Ranch Dressing for Fuel Pull or E style salads in the printable below.
This is the mix, before blending…
All that’s in my mix are herbs and spices. I’d much rather stock up on some good herbs, and toss this spice mix together than buy the (now way more than) $1 each packets of commercial spice blends. Because I make it in bulk, it doesn’t take long, and I get at least 3-6 months worth of spice mixes out of this big batch. Pretty much, all you do is just measure the herbs and spices all into a jar and shake!
Just yesterday, I pulled out all my herbs and spices and made up big batches of:
–Greek Seasoning and Dressing Mix
–Ranch Dressing
–Taco Seasoning
(and I already have a nice big bottle of chili seasoning mix ready to go when cool weather arrives!)
It took me about an hour to make 2-3 cups of each spice blend, but your time may vary…I had a toddler hanging from each leg. Totally worth that time to get a stocked pantry full of delicious ‘convenience’ spice and seasoning mixes!
Bulk batch in a pint jar…I write the how to use directions on the lid.
I have found that running it through the blender to powder it allows the flavors will blend in quickly in dip mixes and recipes. It’s easy to do with this spice grinder blender trick!
With the higher amount of onion in this recipe, I do find that powdered oniontends to absorb moisture and clump , but I just reblend it or use a fork to loosen it up. Update: I have found that granulated onion is a MUCH nicer choice for preventing clumping.
One of my other favorite ways to use the Ranch dressing recipe (besides making dressing and dip) is as a seasoning blend. I store about half of the batch in a shaker bottle, and sprinkled on baked potatoes, french fries, roasted veggies, and all over our favorite baked potato pizza recipe. It’s become our house blend that I reach for when I want a fresh, oniony, zesty flavor.
On the printable recipes, below, you’ll find many other great ways to use this delicious and versatile ranch dressing mix, including how to make your own…
Tarter Sauce!
mmm…pickley!
I want to hear if you try it…let me know what you think by rating the recipe below!
3.7 from 3 reviews
Ranch Dressing Mix
Prep time
Total time
Ranch Dressing Mix that comes straight from herbs and spices is SO much tastier than the MSG laden packets. This creamy, zesty blend makes amazing dip, dressing, and has become our house seasoning of choice on fries, popcorn, and more. The directions include FP or S versions of this yummy Ranch Dressing Mix for all of you Trim Healthy Mamas.
Author: Gwen
Cuisine: Condiments & Spice Mixes
Ingredients
Mini-Mix Test Batch
Yields about ¼ cup of mix; enough for 2-4 cups of dressing or dip.
Combine in a half pint (jelly) jar:
1 tablespoon of each of the following:
- dried chives
- dried parsley
- garlic powder
1½ teaspoon of each of the following: - onion powder
- coarse ground salt (or 1½ teaspoons fine ground salt)
And finally, add ½ teaspoon each of: - pepper
- sugar (optional) or can sub 1 shakes stevia extract, or 1 t. ground Truvia
Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe: In Bulk
Yields about 2½ cups of unblended mix...but it's a little less bulky if you blend it. I keep some of mine in a shaker jar and the rest in a pint jar.
Blend the following in a standard mouth quart jar:
1/2 cup each of
- dried chives
- dried parsley
- garlic powder
1/4 cup each of - onion powder
- course ground salt (or 2 tablespoons fine ground salt)
1 T each of - ground black pepper
- sugar (optional) or sub with 2 shakes of stevia extract, or Truvia
Instructions
- Directions:
- Shake spices together in a jar.
- If you’d like to create a "fast blend", then powder your mix by screwing your blender base onto any standard mouth canning jar, and blend your herbs until powdered. This will make the flavors blend in a lot faster when you use it in recipes.
Notes
Recipes Using Ranch Dressing Mix
Using full fat mayo or sour cream will really dull the flavor of the spices, so you'll want to use the larger amount of mix in that case. If you use light sour cream or mayo, then use the lesser amount called for. All the measurements can and should be adjusted to your taste. If you don't powder your spice mix, then use the larger amount. If you do powder it, then use the smaller amount and adjust to taste.
Ranch Salad Dressing -S
2 tsp-1½ Tbl. mix
1 c. sour cream
2 T.-1/4 c. cup buttermilk (adds only up to 3.5 carbs for the whole batch of dressing)
salt, to taste
Blend spices and sour cream, and add enough buttermilk to thin to pouring consistency. You may sub ½ cup of mayo for ½ cup of sour cream if you prefer. Salt to taste.
Fat Free (FP) Ranch Dressing or DipUse only 1 t.of Ranch blend seasonings and sub 0% Greek Yogurt for sour cream. Use unsweetened almond milk instead of buttermilk. Thin to pouring consistency for dressing, and adjust flavors to your liking. To create Fuel Pull for any recipes here, simply follow these substitutions, and start with very small amounts of the seasonings/spicy ingredients, as there is no fat to blunt their intensity.
Ranch Dip-S
2 tsp-1½ Tbl. mix
1c. sour cream
salt to taste
Blend and serve. You may sub ½ cup of mayo for ½ cup of sour cream if you prefer.
French Onion Dip
2 tsp-1½ Tbl. mix
1 t. Worcestershire sauce
2 T very finely diced or grated fresh onions (or 1 T dehydrated onion flakes, and let sit for at least an hour)
1 c. Sour Cream
Blend all ingredients and serve.
You may sub ½ cup of mayo for ½ cup of sour cream if you prefer.
For a richer onion flavor, saute finely diced onions 1 t. butter until slightly carmelized in a small skillet. Add Worcestershire sauce into the skillet, and then dump/blend into the sour cream. *swoon*
Tarter Sauce:
2 t. mix
¼ c. mayo
¼ c. sour cream
1 T or more chopped dill or sweet pickles
¼ to ½ t. prepared horseradish (to taste)
Yellow Ranch Rice
Here's an easy way to cut out yet another MSG product with the flavored rice mixes!
3 cups rice
1-2 T ranch mix
2 t. turmeric
1 T dried minced onions
Water
Add ingredients and water, according to your rice cooker directions or favorite recipe/method for steamed rice.
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