Never buy store-bought ranch seasoning again! This Homemade Ranch Seasoning is quick to whip up and incredibly handy to keep in your pantry. It’s perfect for mixing into dips, dressings, or any recipe that calls for a ranch seasoning packet.
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If you’ve been following me for a while, then you’ll know that I love to dabble in making homemade seasonings, like Cajun Seasoning, Taco Seasoning, and BBQ Dry Rub – to name just a few! Trust me, once you start making your own seasonings from scratch, there’s no turning back. You get to make a fresh batch whenever the need arises and have total control over the ingredients used. Sounds great, doesn’t it?!
Today, I’m showcasing this All-American seasoning, made from dry buttermilk, dried herbs (parsley, dill, and chives) and a mixture of savory powders and spices that you can easily adjust to suit your taste preferences.
Use your ranch seasoning to make this Sriracha Ranch, Jalapeno Ranch dressing, Restaurant Style Ranch Dressing, or Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip. It’s also perfect for seasoning dishes like crispy chicken tenders and Shake and Bake Potatoes.
With its bold flavor and effortless prep, this homemade ranch seasoning will have you wondering why you didn’t start making it from scratch sooner!
Ingredient notes
- Dry buttermilk – This is basically dehydrated buttermilk, also known as buttermilk powder. It’s typically found in the grocery store baking aisle.
- Dried herbs – My favorite mix of herbs for homemade ranch seasoning includes dried parsley, dried dill, and dried chives.
- Seasoning – A combination of garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper. A small pinch of cayenne pepper gives the ranch seasoning a lovely little kick of spice, but this is completely optional.
How to make it
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
- Use immediately or store in a sealed container for up to three months.
How to use homemade ranch seasoning
2 tablespoons of this homemade ranch seasoning is roughly equivalent to one store-bought packet. Keeping that in mind, here are some easy ways to use it in some of my favorite recipes:
- Smashed Broccoli: Add 1 tablespoon of homemade ranch seasoning to mayo, milk, sour cream, sriracha and lemon juice. Once the crispy broccoli is done baking, drizzle the sriracha sauce over and serve.
- Shake and Bake Potatoes: Season the oil-coated potatoes with 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning, then bake in the oven as directed in the recipe.
- Jalapeño Ranch dressing: Use all of the homemade ranch seasoning in this recipe and blend it in a food processor with Greek yogurt, lime juice, 1 jalapeno, and liquid. Since my homemade ranch seasoning includes dry buttermilk, I recommend you use regular milk or water to customize the consistency of the dressing instead of using regular buttermilk as the liquid.
Tips and tricks
- Make a double batch of homemade ranch seasoning by simply doubling the ingredients called for in this recipe. It would make a lovely gift to your friends and family in a pretty glass jar.
- Use high quality powders, spices, and dried herbs when making homemade ranch seasoning for the best flavor and to avoid any clumps. Replace dried herbs that have been sitting in your pantry for over a year.
- The flavor of this ranch seasoning will diminish over time, as with any dry herb, which is why it’s best to use immediately or as soon after storing.
- To save on expense, omit the buttermilk powder from this homemade ranch seasoning if you intend to only use it in recipes that call for regular buttermilk, such as dips and sauces.
- Use regular milk powder if you can’t find buttermilk powder.
- Give your ranch seasoning a good shake in the jar before using it again.
- The seasoning must be stored in the refrigerator due to the buttermilk powder.
Variations
This homemade ranch seasoning can be customized in a few ways to suit your flavor preferences. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Switch up the herbs – Experiment with different combinations of dried herbs, including dried cilantro and dried tarragon.
- Spicy – Increase the cayenne pepper or add chili powder. Mustard powder will also add a little kick of spice to this ranch seasoning.
- Smokey – Add 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika.
- Tangy – Add lemon zest of a tangier flavor.
- Cheesy – Add in powdered cheese, like Parmesan or cheddar for a cheesy ranch seasoning. Nutritional yeast is a great alternative to the powdered cheese if you need the seasoning to be vegan-friendly.
- Low-sodium – Reduce or omit the salt in the ranch seasoning mix. You can also use low-sodium garlic and onion powder.
Serving suggestions
Use your homemade ranch seasoning in any recipe where you might use a store-bought ranch packet, including:
Storing
Use this homemade ranch seasoning immediately or store it in a sealed airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to three months.
Erin’s wine pairings
Whether you’re using this homemade ranch seasoning in a main dish, snack, dip, or dressing, these wine pairings are perfect for complementing its bold, tangy flavor.
- The bright acidity and herbal notes of Sauvignon Blanc complement the tang and herbs in ranch, especially when serving salads with ranch dressing, ranch-marinated chicken, and veggie platters with ranch dip.
- Enjoy a crisp and refreshing dry Rosé, with enough fruitiness to balance the savory and garlicky notes of ranch. It’s especially good if your dish includes ranch-coated roasted veggies, creamy ranch pasta salads, or ranch-dressed grain bowls.
- A creamy Chardonnay (without heavy oak) echoes the richness of ranch without overpowering it.
- A zesty, citrusy Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio cuts through the ranch’s richness and complements its tang.
More homemade seasonings
Did you make this homemade ranch seasoning recipe?
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Full Recipe
Homemade Ranch Seasoning
Equipment
- Whisk
Ingredients
- ¼ cup dry buttermilk
- 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried dill
- 1½ teaspoons dried chives
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Small pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Use immediately or store in a sealed container for up to three months.
Notes
- Make a double batch of homemade ranch seasoning by simply doubling the ingredients called for in this recipe. It would make a lovely gift to your friends and family in a pretty glass jar.
- Use high quality powders, spices, and dried herbs when making homemade ranch seasoning for the best flavor and to avoid any clumps. Replace dried herbs that have been sitting in your pantry for over a year.
- The flavor of this ranch seasoning will diminish over time, as with any dry herb, which is why it’s best to use immediately or as soon after storing.
- To save on expense, omit the buttermilk powder from this homemade ranch seasoning if you intend to only use it in recipes that call for regular buttermilk, such as dips and sauces.
- Use regular milk powder if you can’t find buttermilk powder.
- Give your ranch seasoning a good shake in the jar before using it again.
- The seasoning must be stored in the refrigerator due to the buttermilk powder.
- Switch up the herbs – Experiment with different combinations of dried herbs, including dried cilantro and dried tarragon.
- Spicy – Increase the cayenne pepper or add chili powder. Mustard powder will also add a little kick of spice to this ranch seasoning.
- Smokey – Add 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika.
- Tangy – Add lemon zest of a tangier flavor.
- Cheesy – Add in powdered cheese, like Parmesan or cheddar for a cheesy ranch seasoning. Nutritional yeast is a great alternative to the powdered cheese if you need the seasoning to be vegan-friendly.
- Low-sodium – Reduce or omit the salt in the ranch seasoning mix. You can also use low-sodium garlic and onion powder.
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