DIY Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
You can skip the store-bought seasoning packets. This homemade version takes 5 min using ingredients you already have!
Because I am obsessed with the little Hidden Valley Original Ranch Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix packets that I use in all of my recipes, the most asked question is – Is there a substitute?
Sometimes certain ingredients aren’t readily available, or sometimes you want to make it from scratch. Either way, this version takes literally 5 minutes from start to finish, and should last just about 3 months stored in the fridge.
The ingredient list is also very short and the only thing that you may not have on hand is the dry buttermilk, but that can easily be purchased on Amazon.com. Other than that, you should be set. Toss it in a food processor and you’re done. And if you don’t have a processor on hand, you can mix it by hand.
See? Quick, easy and simple. Now you won’t ever need the seasoning packets!
DIY Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
Ingredients
- ½ cup dry buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried chives
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Pinch of cayenne pepper, optional
Instructions
- In the bowl of a food processor, pulse buttermilk, parsley, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, dill, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper until well combined about 1-2 minutes.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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I haven’t tried this yet…looking for a sodium free version and this looks like it will work great if I just leave out the salt! However, most of the packets have a modified food starch or guar gum or something that’s going to thicken it beyond the mayo. Again, mayo has a lot of salt so don’t want to try and thicken by adding more. Can anyone that’s tried it weigh in on this? Did it actually thicken in the fridge enough for a salad dressing? Pourable but not runny?
Love it!!! I’ve made homemade ranch dressing and ranch chicken with this powder. Both are delicious 🙂
Can’t wait to try this. Thank you for posting this.
Oooooo…………M……………G!!!!!!!
the best way to make ranch dressing is by taste and desired thickness of dressing. I mix mayo and dressing mix first for flavor then add milk to desired thickness. It does thicken in refridgerator as it gets cold if too runny add more mayo, its an easy fix. Thank you for recipe will be trying over weekend. I know it wont last long kid eats ranch on just about everything.
the best way to make ranch dressing is by taste and desired thickness of dressing. I mix mayo and dressing mix first for flavor then add milk to desired thickness. It does thicken in refridgerator as it gets cold if too runny add more mayo, its an easy fix. Thank you for recipe will be trying over weekend.
Fantastic! I’ve been in need of a homemade version of ranch mix since my eldest turned out to be lactose intolerant. In place of the buttermilk powder, I make up a mix of 1 cup dried lactose-free milk substitute and 1 3/4 tsp cream of tartar (since the sub for regular buttermilk is milk and an acid, usually lemon juice or vinegar).
Are you guys punking her???? Surely you’re not this dense, since clearly you can operate a technical device long enough to type a reply onto her webpage. I just found this page and I’m ticked off with the number of idiots asking the same question for starters and for seconds, did you SERIOUSLY ask her how to make a wet dressing because you don’t like dry seasoning on your salad????? I’m shocked you know how to convert oxygen into carbon dioxide.
Aside from the insulting, repetitive questioning; this recipe looks pretty good. Again, 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of mayo to 3 TBS of seasoning mix.
And YES REFRIGERATE the BUTTERMILK POWDER!!!! And yes, it would make sense to use dry milk powder if you don’t have access to dry buttermilk powder. Then you will create a ranch dressing mix vs. a buttermilk ranch dressing mix.
LOL I could have NEVER said it better!!!
Great mix! Thanks DD!
Hi, I made this recipe today to make slow cooker buffalo chicken without the Hidden Valley Ranch packet the recipe called for. I obviously have some left over. If I wanted to make a dip (NOT dressing) with the remainder, what would you recommend using? Sour cream? Mayo? Thanks for any advice!
Either should work! 🙂
Is there a certain mayo that you prefer to use? Which mayo would you say goes best with this recipe?
I actually don’t have a preference.
What kind of dry buttermilk would you recommend off Amazon?
Thank you so much for this great recipe! It’s so hard to find recipes that use dried herbs.
I tested and tweaked, and now use 3/4 C sour cream, 1/4 C mayo, and blend it with a hand mixer as I slowly add a stream of water (instead of milk). I tried it with 1 C milk initially, and it came out too runny to be used as salad dressing. It also tasted too rich. Since there’s already buttermilk powder in the mixture, it seemed best to dilute that with water, not milk.
I apologize! Using water is a mistake. I made it with milk and OMG, it’s so much better. Just not a full cup. Thanks again!!
None of these ingredients require refrigeration; why are you recommending refrigeration after combining all of the dry ingredients?
To extend shelf life.
Dried buttermilk DOES require refrigeration after opening.
MSG started giving me migraines about four years back, and ranch seasoning packets (which I used a lot in the crockpot) became a no-go. And frankly, I’ve missed those recipes. I’m not saying that I’m singing A Whole New World at my computer screen, but I’m not NOT saying that. I cannot wait to try this. THANK you.
Personally, I like wet dressing on my salad. I don’t care for this dry powder in my salad.
This recipe is not meant to be a salad dressing.
Can you use fresh buttermilk instead of powder?
I do not recommend using fresh buttermilk as this is a dry seasoning mix.
Any idea on the shelf life of the ranch dressing? Also, ours seemed rather watery after adding the cup of water and mayo, does the consistency settle once refrigerated?
Methods for optimal food storage and shelf life should be based on good judgment and what you are personally comfortable with. Also, I’m wondering if too much water was added?
Is there a substitute for the dried buttermilk, or can it just be left out? I live in Kenya. No such thing as dried buttermilk. We have dried full-cream milk, however.
Unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment.
Yes, after mixing add 1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice to finished product.
do you have another way to make dressing ?
What do you mean?
You pretty much just changed my life! I am always buying those packets. I’m so excited to have the recipe!!
Hi Chungah,
I’ m happy already that we can buy buttermilk in 2 supermarkets, but the powder????
no way. if I o half a cup buttermilk, 1 c mayonnaise or sourcream, and make it a paste directly.
will that hold r 3 months in the fridge???
LOUISE
Methods for optimal food storage and shelf life should be based on good judgment and what you are personally comfortable with.
dry buttermilk is found in most grocery stores over by canned milk. keep in frig after opening. I use it in my homemade bread.
Thanks so very much for a low sodium option to an old favourite! For those readers in Canada, Buttermil powder can be found at your local “Bulk Barn”.
Can I use ordinary powdered milk instead of the buttermilk. I don’t think we have that in Australia.
Thanks x
I actually have not tried this with powdered milk so I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment.
Buttermilk is what makes it Ranch. Try using bottled buttermilk if you don’t have the powdered.
Great! I’m gonna try this on the weekend when my family comes over for lunch!
I have made a similar recipe in the past and it was awesome! Better than Hidden Valley, in my opinion. The dill adds such a wonderful flavor. I found that the dry ingredients tended to gum up if I didn’t use it right away, though. I recommend adding the non-fat dry milk right before you use it, if you plan to store the seasonings for any length of time.
My husband is always reaching for the ranch dressing!! Your recipe sounds like it would go amazing with chicken!! =P
Oh Yummy! Thanks for sharing!
Is there a Buttermilk powder that you would recommend? I have never used this item before and I don’t want to buy an inferior product that would affect the recipe. Thanks
I actually don’t have a particular brand that I prefer over others – any will work just fine! 🙂
Oh, Chungah….I bet you wish posters would read the entire recipe before posting!
Thanks for the recipe, this sounds better than the one I have been using…..I look forward to making it!
When the original recipe was posted there were no directions for use.
Understood but based on the post and edit dates of the recipe, people are just not reading. Come on SMH
My husband is gonna love this, he HATES paying for those packets. I use it more often as a seasoning in my crock pot than as dressing so I am so happy you posted this!. I can always have some on hand. Thank You
Hi Marbea. How much and what do use this with in the Crock Pot? Thanks.
Mix a can of cream of chicken soup with a packet (3 tablespoons) of ranch seasoning. Put in crockpot with some porkchops. Best porkchops ever!!
Do you mix it with buttermilk to make the dressing and how much are the measurements for the powder & milk?? Thanks!!
To make the Ranch dressing, you can combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt, sour cream, etc.) with 3 TBS of this seasoning mix.
These are all dry ingredients, Where is the liquid?
To make the Ranch dressing, you can combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt, sour cream, etc.) with 3 TBS of this seasoning mix.
What liquid do I add to make it for salad/vegetable dressing
To make the Ranch dressing, you can combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt, sour cream, etc.) with 3 TBS of this seasoning mix.
READ THE RECIPE OR ONE OF THE 20 OTHER POSTS WITH THE SAME QUESTION!
When the original recipe was posted there were no directions for use. When you leave a comment there is a time delay before they are posted thus so many comment about the same thing.
No kidding!!
Thanks for the recipe. Now how do I make the dressing? How much milk? Sour cream?
To make the Ranch dressing, you can combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt, sour cream, etc.) with 3 TBS of this seasoning mix.
After you make the mix – I see it says 3 Tablespoons is equal to a packet but how much mayo and milk to make the dressing?
To make the Ranch dressing, you can combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt, sour cream, etc.) with 3 TBS of this seasoning mix.
Awesome! I can’t even hardly find Hidden Valley Original Ranch Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix packages anymore. But how do we use your mix to make salad dressing or dip? What do we mix it with, and what are the proportions?
To make the Ranch dressing, you can combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt, sour cream, etc.) with 3 TBS of this seasoning mix.
So would you mx this with 1 cup of mayo and 1 cup of milk to actually make the salad dressing?
To make the Ranch dressing, you can combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt, sour cream, etc.) with 3 TBS of this seasoning mix.
You then mix it with milk, sour cream???
To make the Ranch dressing, you can combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt, sour cream, etc.) with 3 TBS of this seasoning mix.
How do you make this into a dressing? Do you add mayonnaise, milk or water? Know you add buttermilk to the purchased mixture.
Enjoy your site and use several of you creative recipes. Thanks!
To make the Ranch dressing, you can combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt, sour cream, etc.) with 3 TBS of this seasoning mix.
I hate to be so dense, but I’ve never made ranch dressing with the packets. What do you combine this mix with to make dressing or dip?
To make the Ranch dressing, you can combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt, sour cream, etc.) with 3 TBS of this seasoning mix.
Thanks! I’m so going to make my Ranch from now on! Just curious about why the mix needs to be refrigerated? I don’t refrigerate any of the ingredients.
It’s simply to extend shelf life, but as always, please do what is most comfortable for you.
Thanks for this recipe! To make ranch dressing, do you just add 1 C each buttermilk/whole milk & mayo like the pckg version?
To make the Ranch dressing, you can combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt, sour cream, etc.) with 3 TBS of this seasoning mix.
Thank you so much for this substitution! I can’t wait to try it out.
I never heard of dry buttermilk. Where do you buy it?
This can easily be purchased on Amazon.com.
I found the powdered buttermilk at the Bulk Barn here in Calgary. Does it have to be kept in the fridge? Since it is a powder, I wouldn’t think so…any comments?
You can store in the fridge to extend shelf life, but as always, please use your best judgment regarding food safety and storage.
You can get dry buttermilk at Walmart also
My local grocery store stocks it in the baking aisle near the dry milk.
Any grocery store. Small Can use for making home made bread recipe on machine for years
What a great idea! I will definitely mix up this seasoning recipe. Dry buttermilk lasts a long time in the fridge and it can be used interchangeably whenever buttermilk is listed in a recipe. So it’s good to have on hand. Thanks so much!
What liquid do you add it to to make a pourable dressing for salad?
To make the Ranch dressing, you can combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt, sour cream, etc.) with 3 TBS of this seasoning mix.
I have never bought the packets because of the MSG. What do you add to your recipe to make a dressing? I know people are guffawing right now!
To make the Ranch dressing, you can combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt, sour cream, etc.) with 3 TBS of this seasoning mix.
I’m not…I had the same question, hehehe. Based on another recipe I have, I’m going to add the milk plus 1/2 each of lite mayo and lite sour cream. Should work beautifully. Can’t wait to try it.