Ditch the store-bought seasoning packets. This homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix takes moments to make, with ingredients you’ll most likely have already! Perfect for DIY ranch dressing or homemade ranch dip.
The best thing about homemade ranch seasoning (tohe than the taste!) is that it won’t be full of un-pronounceable ingredients. Just herbs and spices, you won’t need to buy packet versions ever again.
How To Make This Ranch Seasoning Mix – Step By Step
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl. Store, refrigerated, in an airtight glass jar up to 1 month.
To make Ranch Dressing:
Combine 1 tablespoon seasoning mix with ½ cup mayonnaise and ½ cup whole milk. Whisk to combine and refrigerate, covered, 30 minutes. Stir when ready to use.
To make Ranch Dip:
Combine 2 tablespoons seasoning mix with 16 ounces sour cream. If time (and for the best flavor) refrigerate, covered, 1 hour before serving. Stir before serving.
Where Did Ranch Come From?
Ranch dressing was created in 1949 by a plumber. While working as a contract plumber in Alaska, Steve Henson started cooking for his coworkers and perfecting his buttermilk dressing recipe. Five years later he moved to California with his wife Gayle and bought a ranch – and Hidden Valley Ranch was born!
Where and How to Use
This really is such a popular seasoning. It’s sweet, tangy and creamy all in one. It goes great with chicken tenders or wings, drizzle it on fries or pizza, and of course great on salads!
How Long Does This Ranch Seasoning Last?
Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix is shelf stable for up to a year, depending on the age of your dried herbs and spices. In other words, the fresher the herbs and spices that you use in your mix, the longer it will last. You can refresh your ranch seasoning supply at least every six months, if it has even lasted that long your pantry!
Top Recipe Tips
- The finer textured ingredients in the mix – like the salt and garlic – generally settles to the bottom of the bottle. To make sure that my mix stays mixed consistently, I add all of the ingredients into my spice grinder and pulse about five times to make it more consistent. You can also use a food processor or blender if you don’t have spice grinder handy.
- Makes approximately 1 cup or 8 ounces dry mix. Most recipes call for 1 ounce packets of dry ranch seasoning mix. 1 ounce would equal 2 tablespoons of this recipe.
- Store ranch dressing or dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- This ranch dressing recipe should last for about 1 week in the refrigerator. Be sure to use fresh ingredients to ensure the dressing will last longer once it’s made.
Check Out These DIY Seasoning Blends
- Blackened Seasoning Recipe
- Homemade Chili Seasoning
- Homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Italian Seasoning Recipe
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
Ingredients
- ½ cup Dry Buttermilk Powder
- 3 tablespoons dried Parsley
- 1 tablespoon granulated Garlic
- 2 teaspoons granulated Onion
- 2 teaspoons dried Dill weed
- 1 teaspoon dried Onion Flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried Chives
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl. Store, refrigerated, in an airtight glass jar up to 1 month.
- To make Ranch Dressing: combine 1 tablespoon seasoning mix with ½ cup mayonnaise and ½ cup whole milk. Whisk to combine and refrigerate, covered, 30 minutes. Stir when ready to use.
- To make Ranch Dip: combine 2 tablespoons seasoning mix with 16 ounces sour cream. If time (and for the best flavor) refrigerate, covered, 1 hour before serving. Stir before serving.
- Enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
Nutrition Information
Hi! Does kosher salt mean fine grain or large grain? Does the kosherness of the salt matter?
Hi Sonia, kosher salt has larger crystals than table salt, but it is not a flaky or finishing salt. We like Diamond Crystal brand!
Are there substitutes for onion and garlic that could be recommended? I am on low fodmap diet due to Irrital bowel and have to stay away from both but really miss enjoying a salad with a bit of dressing and this is about the only dressing I enjoy.
I do know that there are onion and garlic infused oils that you could use to hydrate the mix that may give you that flavor. Dried chives may also work!
Asafoetida powder
Also known as Hing powder, it is often used as a substitute for garlic and onion. Asafoetida powder is made from white and milky resin from a species of giant Fennel. It has a unique smell and acidic flavor that disappear while cooking to leave a smooth and pleasant flavor similar to onion and garlic.
While that is a great suggestion for cooking, I hesitate to recommend it in this seasoning blend, as it’s not recommended to eat asafoetida raw!
Can you leave out the buttermilk powder, to make this vegan? I used to add the store bought packets to vegan mayo and vegan milk, til I noticed there was dairy in the packets. I love the idea of making it at home, but leaving out the dairy. I bet it’s just as flavorful without the animal suffering added to it. Anyone try?
You could try subbing nutritional yeast!
I am wondering the same thing! I’ve been searching everywhere for a great vegan ranch dressing, so far all the ones I have tried are just ok. I am considering trying this and subbing the buttermilk powder out and pea milk powder in.
This seasoning mix is PERFECT. When mixed as a dressing using 1/2 Mayo and 1/2 milk, it was way too watery. I used all Mayo and just a drizzle of milk and it was just right. Thank you for this delicious recipe!!
I made a few tweaks according to my tastes, but I am so thankful for this recipe to give me that starting point. I love hidden valley but just can’t eat it anymore knowing all the yucky stuff that’s in it
I am a bit confused and couldn’t find the answer in the comments. You say to store the mix in an air tight container for up to a month. Then you said it was shelf stable for up to a year. Which one is it? I used the same ingredients you listed. The buttermilk powder does say to refrigerate after opening, which throws another tench into my question. It came out delicious and will be making this as a go to from now on.
Hi Colleen, the dry ranch seasoning lasts for up to 1 year! Once mixed into dressing, it will keep for 1 week in the refrigerator! Store in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator!
My buttermilk powder says to refrigerate after opening, so I chose to store my seasoning mix in a small jar in the fridge.
That works!
Thank you for the clarification. I have made this so many times now!
I just made the mix to try seasoning chicken wings. I remember someone making them years ago but I don’t know the recipe. I remember HVR advertised the recipe many years ago. Do you know of it?
How much homemade ranch dressing mix should I use for the homemade cool ranch doritos?
Two ounces!
Can I use onion powder and garlic powder for granulated onion and granulated garlic? I don’t know what those two items are. Many thanks!
Yes!
I live in New Zealand, I have this in my pantry 100% of the time, and share the link with other Amercians living here too. The Ranch dressing they make here is not at all as flavourful as this version, and I prefer this to even the branded packets (which aren’t in the shops here either). The only ingredient that is quite difficult to find is the powdered buttermilk, but it can be found with a bit of hunting. Thank you for sharing this – I’m off to make a fresh batch of the mix.
I wish you luck in your search!