This homemade dry ranch dressing mix is easy to make! It is a simple and budget-friendly recipe made with pantry staple ingredients.
This ranch seasoning mix is also perfect for making dips, and dressing and can even be used as a meat rub. This recipe can also be made vegan and dairy-free.
Making your seasonings or substitutes like this Italian seasoning mix, this onion soup mix substitute, or this homemade allspice recipe is a great way to save money, and they are preservative and additive-free.
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Making your dry ranch dressing mix is easy and is great to have ready in the pantry for making quick ranch dips or ranch salad dressings. It is not only healthier than store-bought, but it is also budget-friendly too!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
You will love this recipe for dry ranch dressing mix because:
- You can control the ingredients that go into the mix and adjust the recipe to suit your tastes.
- It is a budget-friendly recipe, especially if you frequently buy a dry ranch dressing mix.
- Use this ranch seasoning for coating fried or baked foods, and mix it into dips, spreads, soups, and so much more.
- This recipe is versatile and can be made vegan, and dairy-free with a few easy ingredient substitutions. See our ingredients list for more details.
- And this is a gluten-free and sugar-free recipe.
What is Ranch Dressing Mix?
A dry ranch dressing mix is a blend of dried herbs, spices, and other ingredients similar to a ranch dressing.
It can be used as a salad seasoning, adding flavor to vegetables and other dishes where you want a ranch flavor.
It can also be used as a dry rub on meats and vegetables or mixed with milk, yogurt, mayo, or buttermilk to make a wet dressing.
Dry ranch dressing can be sold in packets or containers in the spice aisle at most supermarkets, or it can be homemade.
Ingredients
Milk Powder - Buttermilk powder is a common ingredient in dry ranch mix, and if you can get buttermilk powder, use that in the recipe.
If you can't get buttermilk powder, you can still make the recipe with milk powder and a quantity of cream of tartar.
By adding cream of tartar to the milk powder, you are making something similar to powdered buttermilk. See our recipe for dry buttermilk powder substitute for a printable recipe.
If you are vegan or looking for a dairy-free option replace the dairy milk powder with your favorite plant-based milk powder along with the cream of tartar.
Cream of tartar - this is used in the recipe with plain milk powder to give the ranch dressing a slightly sour taste, just as you would get if using buttermilk powder.
Dried herbs and vegetable powders – onion powder, garlic powder, dried dill, dried parsley, dried chives, salt, and ground black pepper flavor this seasoning mix.
Salt - for added flavor, but if you are on a salt-reduced diet, leave it out.
Equipment
A small blender is needed to make this recipe to turn the ingredients into fine powder.
However, if you don't have a blender, you can still make it, but you won't have the dry ranch dressing in a fine powder form.
Step By Step Instructions
This dry ranch seasoning could not be easier to make! All you need to do is blend all the ingredients in a small blender until well combined, then store dressing mix in a dry airtight container.
Serving Size
This recipe makes a little over ¾ cup (90 grams, 3 ounces, or 11 tablespoons) of homemade dressing mix.
Calories Per Serve
A serving size of 30 grams (1 ounce) is about 96 calories.
Can dry ranch mix be made without dairy products, such as milk or buttermilk?
Yes, this dry ranch dressing mix can be made dairy-free and vegan by substituting dairy milk powder with plant-based milk powder and cream of tartar.
How To Use
This dry ranch dressing mix is ideal for making a quick ranch dip or salad dressing.
How to make a ranch dip
Makes 1 and ½ cups
- Mix 2 tablespoons (or to taste) of this ranch dressing mix with ½ cup mayonnaise and ½ cup sour cream.
- Mix in up to ½ a cup of milk until you reach your desired consistency.
- Stir well and keep in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
How to make a ranch salad dressing
Make about 1 and ⅓ cups
- ¾ cup milk,
- ½ cup mayonnaise,
- ½ cup sour cream with
- 3 tablespoons (or to taste) of this seasoning mix.
- Stir well and keep in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
For a healthier dip or dressing, replace some or all of the mayonnaise or sour cream with thick Greek yogurt.
Storage
Place the dry ranch seasoning mix into a clean dry, and airtight container and store it in a cold and dark dry area for up to 6 months.
FAQ
Three generous tablespoons of this dry ranch mix is equivalent to a 30-gram (1-ounce) packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix.
Our homemade dry ranch dressing mix is gluten-free.
More Easy Recipes
If you like this homemade ranch dressing mix, you might also like these other easy recipes:
I hope you give this recipe for dry ranch dressing mix a try. If you do please come back and leave a comment below because I would love to know how you went.
Recipe
Dry Ranch Dressing Mix
Equipment
- Small electric blender
- Air tight glass jar at least ¾ cup capacity
Ingredients
- 60 grams (2 ounces / heaped ½ cup) buttermilk powder see notes below for a substitute
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried chives
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ - 1 teaspoon ground black pepper optional
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients to the bowl of a food processor, pulse until well combined about 1 – 2 minutes.
- Store in a dry airtight for up to 3 months.
Notes
- combine ¾ cup milk and
- ½ cup mayonnaise and
- ½ cup sour cream with
- 3 tablespoons of this seasoning mix.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of this ranch dressing mix with
- ½ cup mayonnaise and
- ½ cup sour cream.
Alan Crowder says
This recipe is incredible. It tastes exactly like the brand name ranch seasoning. I didn’t have the buttermilk powder just plain powdered milk so I used the substitute with cream of tartar and it is amazing. Thank you so much for sharing.
Vanessa says
This is absolutely delicious!! I have made it for my family and they are hooked! How long does the dressing keep in the fridge if in an airtight container?
Harriet says
If stored in the fridge, it should keep for about 3-5 days.
Vanessa Randall says
Have made this several times and it is amazing!!
DARLENED says
perfect! I use this to make avacado ranch
Francis says
Test.