Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I substitute for ranch seasoning mix? ›

Most of the dry ranch seasoning mix ingredients are simple and likely already found in your pantry. Onion powder, onion flakes, dill, parsley, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and dried chives give this delicious seasoning mix its flavor!

This homemade ranch seasoning mix can be used for both. The difference comes in what you combine the seasoning mix with to make either a dip or dressing. Ranch dressing is typically made with milk and mayo, while ranch dip is typically made with sour cream.

There are 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning in one packet of ranch seasoning mix. So if a recipe calls for a packet of ranch seasoning all you have to do is measure out 2 tablespoons and add it into the recipe instead of using the packet.

The Seasoning Packets Family

We energized the magical Ranch blend of buttermilk, garlic and onion flavors with a heavy dose of mild chilies and red peppers.

Ranch dressing is a savory, creamy American salad dressing usually made from buttermilk, salt, garlic, onion, mustard, herbs (commonly chives, parsley and dill), and spices (commonly pepper, paprika and ground mustard seed) mixed into a sauce based on mayonnaise or another oil emulsion.

“But the particular flavor of traditional ranch can only be achieved with the dry versions of all those aromatics: garlic and onion powder, dried herbs, powdered pepper and buttermilk.” That's because fresh ingredients were rare in Alaska at the time.

Scratch ranch relies on fresh herbs and aromatics, which bring bite and those pops of grassy flavor that dried or powdered versions never can, so you get an eating experience that is elevated. Usually, ranch recipes will contain fresh buttermilk, and sometimes sour cream as well, for a tang that is really balanced.

Is ranch like garlic mayonnaise? Not really, that's aioli. Ranch is more like buttermilk, green onion, garlic, black pepper mayonnaise. There's a lot more going on in ranch than just garlic and mayo.

Is homemade ranch better? ›

Homemade wins here. The two dressings are roughly equivalent in terms of fat content, but store-bought ranch is the prototypical processed food, with an ingredients list that includes modified corn starch, monosodium glutamate, sodium lactate, polysorbate 60, et cetera.

You'll never go back to the bottled stuff again! A bottle of Kraft Ranch Dressing from the grocery store costs about $3.49. However, for the same serving size, you can make it at home for only $2.33! The recipe makes 32 servings which comes out to only $0.07 per serving!

Ranch dip is a thicker, more concentrated version of ranch dressing, specifically designed for dipping purposes. It is often used as a dip for chips, vegetables, or other finger foods.

How much seasoning is in a ranch packet? A 1-oz packet of Hidden Valley buttermilk ranch seasoning contains ~3 Tbsp of dry ranch powder total. So, to substitute for 1 store-bought ranch packet, you can use 3 Tbsp of homemade buttermilk ranch powder, or 4-5 tsp of dry ranch seasoning.

Stored in a well-sealed container in the fridge (assuming you began with fresh sour cream and buttermilk) your buttermilk ranch dressing should keep for up to two weeks. Help it stay fresh by not dipping anything directly into the container that you're storing it in—for example, a half-bitten carrot.

How would you describe the taste of ranch? It's mild and creamy. Essentially mayo and buttermilk, traditionally with tarragon, but nowadays often with thyme instead. Both mayo and buttermilk are made with vinegar, so there's a very slight tang, but nearly imperceptible.

A 1-oz packet of Hidden Valley buttermilk ranch seasoning contains ~3 Tbsp of dry ranch powder total. So, to substitute for 1 store-bought ranch packet, you can use 3 Tbsp of homemade buttermilk ranch powder, or 4-5 tsp of dry ranch seasoning.

What makes ranch ranch? It's a combination of creaminess (from buttermilk, sour cream, sometimes mayonnaise) and herbaceousness (often parsley, thyme, dill), plus a long pull of allium (onion and garlic) and a shot of black pepper.