Rich and creamy homemade ranch dressing is so easy to make and tastes so much better than anything from the store. This small batch dressing recipe is perfect on salads or as a dip for fresh vegetables and can be ready in 5 minutes!
This ranch dressing is one of my favorite salad dressing recipes! I'm a huge fan of homemade salad dressings. You just can't beat the fresh taste when you make dressings from scratch.
When cooking for one, you may not want to keep a large amount of dressing on hand. Making a small batch of dressing is perfect for a few salads and since they're so easy to make, you can whip up a batch in no time.
Why This Recipe Works
- This ranch dressing takes just minutes to make and can be made with fresh or dried herbs.
- It tastes nothing like the bottled dressings you find in the grocery stores. Homemade is so much better and tastes so fresh.
- There are no chemicals or additives in this homemade ranch salad dressing. There is nothing in it to extend its shelf life - only pure, natural ingredients.
- You can serve ranch dip with cut vegetables or spoon on pizza.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
See recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Mayonnaise: Use full fat mayonnaise for best flavor. I love Duke's brand mayonnaise and that is the brand I use.
- Sour cream: I use regular sour cream for a thicker and richer flavor, but you may use low-fat or fat-free sour cream instead.
- Lemon juice: Use freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice.
- Apple cider vinegar: I love using apple cider vinegar in this recipe, it gives the dressing a great flavor. You might like to try a simple white wine vinegar instead.
- Seasonings: Use garlic powder, dried parsley, and dried dill. Although I love using fresh garlic in so many other recipes, I feel that garlic powder is a better choice to use in this ranch dressing recipe. Fresh garlic can be a bit overpowering, and I love a smoother consistency in my dressing.
I don't use any salt or pepper in this ranch dressing recipe, but taste yours and if you feel like it needs some add it to taste.
How To Make This Recipe
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic powder, dried parsley, and dried dill. Taste and add a pinch of salt if you feel it necessary.
- Cover or pour into a small container and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
This small batch ranch dressing recipe will yield about ¼ cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store ranch dressing in the refrigerator, covered. It will keep well for 4 days.
This dressing is somewhat thick and best drizzled on a salad with a spoon. If you'd like a more pourable ranch dressing, stir in a little milk or cream to thin it out.
I love this ranch dressing recipe as is but sometimes it can be nice to "jazz it up" a bit. This is a basic ranch dressing recipe and a perfect blank slate for so many flavors. Here are a few ideas:
* Add more of the ingredients and consider adding a pinch of lemon zest too.
* Stir in a dash or two of Sriracha or another type of hot sauce, or add a small amount of Moroccan harissa paste or diced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
* Stir in some barbecue sauce or spicy brown mustard.
* Add crumbled feta, grated Parmesan, or cotija cheese.
Yes! You can double the ingredients in this small batch ranch dressing recipe to make more.
Expert Tips
- If you would like to use fresh herbs instead of dried, use 1 teaspoon of finely chopped parsley and ¼ teaspoon of finely chopped dill. Feel free to add more, if you'd like.
- The consistency of this dressing is perfect for a dip as well as a salad. However, if you prefer a thinner salad dressing, stir in a small amount of milk or cream.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients left over from this restaurant-style ranch dressing recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
- Mayonnaise: Pineapple Lime Jello Salad, Tuna Salad, Potato Salad
- Sour cream: Chili Cheese Baked Potato, Hamburger Casserole, Swedish Meatballs
- Lemon juice: Lemon Scones, Lemon Garlic Chicken, Lemon Bars
- Apple cider vinegar: Baked Beans, Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls, Pork Stir Fry
- Garlic powder: Baked Chicken Tenders, Chicken Spaghetti, Baked Shrimp
Other Small Batch Salad Dressing Recipes
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Small Batch Ranch Dressing
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon dried parsley
- ⅛ teaspoon dried dill
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic powder, dried parsley, and dried dill. Taste and add a pinch of salt if you feel it necessary.
- Cover or pour into a small container and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Notes
- If you would like to use fresh herbs instead of dried, use 1 teaspoon of finely chopped parsley and ¼ teaspoon of finely chopped dill. Feel free to add more, if preferred.
- The consistency of this dressing is perfect for a dip as well as a salad. However, if you prefer your dressing to be a little thinner, add a small amount of milk or cream and stir to your desired consistency.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Curt B says
Followed the recipe, except for doubling it - perfect! Never buying ranch again. Now I also can do copies of all the Hidden Valley variations. Thank you.