Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

This easy, healthy ranch dressing mix is your new must have kitchen staple. So quick to whip up, you can use this powdered ranch base to make dip, salad dressing, and as a seasoning for meats and veggies. It would even be yummy sprinkled on popcorn!

Ranch dressing seasining mix in a mason jar photo from above.

Why you should make your own versus buy from the store

We’re all about from scratch cooking in our house. I believe in quality over quantity, and that often, less is more. Fewer ingredients, but better ones. Ones that fuel your body and help maintain overall health.

If you look at the back of a bottle of ranch dressing and the ingredient list, well friends, it’s a bit scary. Especially when I realized how much my family was consuming weekly. My kids put ranch on everything.

glass bowl of powdered ranch dressing mix.

Removing seed oils from our diets

I’ve always been on the health conscious side. And more recently, I’ve been made aware of the issue with seed oils in our diet. I won’t delve into it here, but if you want to read more about why we’re removing them from our foods, you can find that information here.

Sadly, seed oils are the first ingredient in most ranch dressings. (It’s actually in so many things, even organic, and is really frustrating how much it’s used as a cheap filler.) But I digress.

This recipe not only omits seeds oils, but the taste is much better than any I’ve found in the store. And it’s so easy!

Seasonings in jars and bowls on a wooden surface.

What you’ll need:

Most likely, you already have everything except one ingredient on hand to make this. The item you may be missing is Powdered Buttermilk. I love this brand you can grab off Amazon. It has a great tang to the buttermilk that makes this ranch dressing taste authentic. Other than that, grab the spices from your cupboard, and let’s get started!

Jars of rach dressing with spices on wooden counter with cucumber slices.

Note on where to purchase herbs

I have an in depth post on growing, drying, and storing your own herbs. You can find that information here. However, many herbs we must purchase from outside sources, and my absolute favorite for those is Mountain Rose Herbs. The quality is, I’ve found, unmatched. And the variety of herbs they sell! Almost overwhelming, but in a good way! They source from all over the world with farms that maintain the same quality and standards they have. And its high. Plus, the prices are very fair. Once you begin to incorporate high quality herbs into your meals and dishes, you’ll never go back to “Good Value” style Walmart or other brands again.

I purchase my herbs in bulk and go through them so quickly, that I like to store them in mason jars, pint and quart. And I use my trusty label maker to keep it all straight.

Ingredients in the mix:

3/4 cup powdered buttermilk
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
3 Tablespoon onion flakes
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
1 Tablespoon dried dill
2 Tablespoons dried chives
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

To create, simply add all ingredients into a bowl, mix, and pour into a pint mason jar or other glass storage container.

How to store the dry mix

To store powdered ranch mix, keep in a cool dry place for 3-6 months. Some powdered buttermilk containers say to keep in fridge once open, but it’s not needed as long as it’s consumed in the timeframe mentioned above. The reason they recommend refrigeration, is because if the contents get too warm or it’s humid, it can cause the buttermilk to clump. So, if you’re in a humid area in summertime, it might be good to keep in the fridge.

How to make Ranch Dip with the powdered mix

3 Tablespoons powdered ranch mix
1 cup sour cream or greek yogurt

Mix together and store in the fridge for 2-3 hours to rehydrate spices and meld the flavors. Then enjoy! Once mixed, consume the dip within 3-5 days. It may separate a bit in the fridge, so just re-stir as needed.

Cucumber slices in a glass bowl with ranch dip.

Using the mix to make Ranch Dressing

3 Tablespoons powdered ranch dressing mix
1 cup mayonnaise (We make our own with this simple recipe)
1 cup milk (the thicker the milk, like whole milk, the creamier the dressing will be)

If you want a very creamy dressing, reduce the milk by half.

I love to make our dressing in a quart jar. First I make the mayo. Again, store bought is fine, but I’m going to toot my own horn here and say this homemade recipe is much better, and again, you’re avoiding all those gross seed oils by using avocado or light tasting olive oil. Once the mayo is made, add the milk on top of it onto that place the 3 Tablespoons powdered ranch mix. Screw the lid on tight and shake well. Place in fridge for 3-6 hours to rehydrate herbs and allow to thicken.

Then enjoy!

Keep in the fridge for up to a week (if it lasts that long!) Shake before each use to make sure all the herbs are evenly distributed. The heavier herbs will settle at the bottom because, well gravity.

Ways to alter the recipe size

If you use less than what the original recipe makes before it goes bad, cut the recipe in half and make in a pint jar. Have the opposite issue with a large family and need a bigger batch? Double the recipe! I simply love that you can alter this as much as needed to help eliminate waste in the kitchen.

Powdered ranch dressing seasoning mix in a mason jar with a larger jar beside it with ranch salad dressing.

This recipe is truly so simple, and a great way to actually have healthy ranch dressing filled with amazingly nutritious herbs that are good for you! None of those seed oils, or ingredients you can’t pronounce like almost every brand in store. And, the price is unmatched! No more $12 on the large tube of gross ranch from the store. For less than half the price, you can make your own and enjoy it whenever you want.