Homemade Ranch Seasoning

If you love everything Ranch flavored, you’ll want to start keeping this Homemade Ranch Seasoning on hand.

Note: Below you’ll find a recipe for a full 1/2 cup (4oz.) batch of ranch seasoning. In addition, in case you’re trying to make a recipe that calls for a packet of ranch seasoning and you just want to make that amount, we’ve also given a recipe below that makes the exact same amount as a packet, 2 tablespoons. We hope you find this helpful!

It’s not just for dressing! Ranch seasoning is fresh and tangy and easy to make at home. You’ll probably have most of the ingredients already, but there’s one specialty ingredient you may have been missing out on.

What Is Ranch Seasoning?

You’re probably most familiar with the dressing or the Hidden Valley packet of ranch seasoning. Homemade ranch seasoning is simple to make with just a few staples like lots of dried dill, chives, parsley, onion powder, thyme and garlic powder. 

When mixed together, especially with buttermilk or sour cream, this blend of herbs and spices create a light and fresh dressing or dip. But if you’ve tried making this at home before and could never get it to taste quite like Hidden Valley, you might have been missing a key ingredient: buttermilk powder.

In addition to the buttermilk powder, the predominant flavors in ranch dressing are dill, garlic, and onion. So if you don’t have the chives, parsley, or thyme, no problem! You can still make a great-tasting ranch seasoning using just the main flavors I listed.

What Is Buttermilk Powder?

Buttermilk powder is the dehydrated version of liquid buttermilk, and it’s one of the important components for making ranch seasoning taste like ranch seasoning. You can read more about buttermilk in my Buttermilk Biscuit recipe. 

The dry buttermilk powder gives the ranch seasoning that tangy, slightly sweet and creamy base flavor, and while you could just mix the herbs and spices with liquid buttermilk or even sour cream, it won’t have the same concentrated tang as the buttermilk powder. 

Buttermilk powder can sometimes be found in specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods or Fresh Market, look by the powdered milk, but it’s most readily available online. Look for buttermilk powder brands that contain only buttermilk so that the true flavor shines through without additives or additional flavorings.

If you don’t have buttermilk powder, the seasoning recipe can still be made without it. It will still taste fresh and herby, but it won’t taste like Hidden Valley.

Making a Small Batch of Ranch Seasoning

If you want a batch of Ranch Seasoning in your pantry that you can grab and use whenever, then scroll down to make the full recipe. However, if you just want a small batch to use right now in a recipe that calls for ranch seasoning or that calls for a packet of ranch seasoning, or, if you just want to know approximately how much of each ingredient to add directly to something that you’re cooking, I have the info for you here.

Here is how to make 2 tablespoons of Ranch Seasoning, which is the amount in a standard packet. You’ll find basic recipes for using 2 tablespoons to make ranch dip and salad dressing below.

To Make 2 Tablespoons of Ranch Seasoning (The Equivalent of 1 Packet), Combine:
• 2 and 1/4 tsp. dried dill • 1 and 1/2 tsp. buttermilk powder (optional, use extra of the herbs below if not using) • 3/4 tsp. dried chives • 3/4 tsp. dried parsley • 3/4 tsp. onion powder • 1/4 tsp. dried thyme • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder • 1/4 tsp. salt

If you don’t want to mix up a 2 tablespoon batch but just want to add some herbs and spices directly to what you’re cooking (for instance, to season chicken breasts or veggies), here is what you’d do:

To Add Directly to the Food You’re Cooking: Use mostly dried dill, then use half as much buttermilk powder (or skip it), then half that amount of dried chives, of dried parsley, and of onion powder. Then go in with a little bit of dried thyme, garlic powder, and salt.

Using Homemade Ranch Seasoning

My favorite way to use this seasoning is as a rub for baked chicken or fish. I also love it as a seasoning mixed into bread and biscuit dough. 

The possibilities are endless though! Sprinkle some on your popcorn or French fries. Add it to the breading for chicken fingers. I want to hear about all the ways you enjoy it in the comments below.

To Make Ranch Dip: Add 2 tablespoons of the seasoning blend to 2 cups of sour cream and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving so that all of the dried herbs and spices can soften and release their flavor.

To Make Ranch Salad Dressing: Add 2 tablespoons of the seasoning blend to 1 cup of mayonnaise and 1 cup of milk. Or, for a thicker dressing, use 1 cup of mayonnaise, 1/2 cup of milk, and 1/2 cup of sour cream. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving so that all the dried herbs and spices can soften and release their flavor.

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