Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing is a perfect creamy dressing for any combination of tossed greens. So easy to make and simple with ingredients, you’ll never go back to store bought.
Our Saturday evening dinner was inspired by a blog post from Larry over at Big Dude’s Eclectic Ramblings and his meat and salad dinner request from wife Bev. Larry made Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing. I just happen to have my own favorite recipe, so a fresh salad and my favorite Barbeque Chicken Recipe made it to our table.
Sunshine and warm temperatures found us sipping wine and basking in sunshine on the back deck this past Saturday. Grilling was certainly in order. We removed the cover from the Weber and broke a bottle of champagne over the cast iron hull, officially christening it for the season. Actually we didn’t really do that, what a mess it would have been to clean up.
We did enjoy it while it lasted but as I type this we’ve got about eight inches of fresh snow on the ground. Yes, yesterday, May 1, May Day, Denver had yet another blizzard. I took this photo this morning at our office building after standing outside talking with the incredibly helpful customer service department over at GoDaddy. They’re really incredible. Anyway, his name was Russell, and located in Phoenix, he was remarking about their 100 degree temperatures as I stared at this Winter scene.
You can’t tell it, but the sun is out and the melting has begun.
But back to Spring. A salad piled high with cucumbers, orange bell peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes alongside a chunk of grilled chicken was a reminder of the warmer weather and summer temperatures that are surely in our future. If I start complaining about the heat in a couple months, please remind me of the Spring blizzards that have become a weekly event.
Recipe for Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
I’ve had this Buttermilk Ranch Dressing recipe for years. I couldn’t begin to tell you where I found it. It’s fresh and crisp with flavor and easy to make. And it’s minus the preservatives and those ingredients that are impossible to pronounce. Tip: Use a sour cream that’s thick in consistency for a thicker dressing.
More Homemade Dressing Recipes
And if you’re looking for even more, don’t miss my Salad Dressings Category.
Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing is a perfect creamy dressing for any combination of tossed greens. So easy to make and simple with ingredients, you'll never go back to store bought.
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2/3 cup sour cream
- 3/4 cup buttermilk plus more if needed
- 1 clove garlic minced or grated with a microplane zester
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 2 tablespoons chives fresh, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried dill or 2-3 teaspoons fresh
- sea or kosher salt and fresh pepper
In a medium mixing bowl whisk together the mayo and sour cream, slowly whisk in buttermilk until you reach a consistency you like.
Mix in garlic, vinegar, parsley, chives and dill. Season to taste with salt and pepper. From here you can tweak it to your own individual taste by adding more sour cream, mayo, vinegar or herbs.
Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing…It’s What’s For a Salad
Holly says
May 2, 2013 at 3:00 pmMaking salad dressing at home is so worth it in the difference in taste and quality– I haven’t tried a ranch dressing at home yet and look forward to using your recipe.
Lea Ann says
May 4, 2013 at 8:16 amHope you like it Holly. Let me know.
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen says
May 3, 2013 at 5:20 amI’m with Holly. Homemade dressing beats store bought hands down. Glad to have this recipe since my SIL orders Ranch dressing on everything.
Hope spring comes to your area soon. Can’t believe the weather this year.
Sam
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen says
May 3, 2013 at 5:21 amMeant to add, in our mountains we get as much as 40 degree swings in the temperature. Amazing that it can be in the 30’s in the morning and by noon it’s in the seventies. Hard to plan your wardrobe for the day 🙂
Sam
Lea Ann says
May 4, 2013 at 8:15 amThat happens here too Sam. Kinda fun to go from crisp to warm.
Lea Ann says
May 4, 2013 at 8:16 amThanks Sam. Hope you like it.
Jenn says
May 3, 2013 at 6:30 amLove homemade buttermilk ranch dressing… my mom used to make it that way when I was a kid. Although my favorite dressing has always been French (or Dorthy Lynch) thanks to my grandma, ranch was my next favorite.
Lea Ann says
May 4, 2013 at 8:14 amI love that Dorothy Lynch dressing. I’m going to Google for a copycat recipe.
Happy Valley Chow says
May 3, 2013 at 8:03 amTheres nothing quite like BBQ Chicken with a salad topped with homemade buttermilk ranch! This sounds yummy 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Lea Ann says
May 4, 2013 at 8:14 amThanks Eric.
Vickie says
May 3, 2013 at 8:40 amLove the idea of making Ranch dressing from the herb garden instead of the little pouch of wth ingredients! What I adore about this post, though, is that crispy skinned leg quarter – I can almost smell it. YUM!
Lea Ann says
May 4, 2013 at 8:13 amThanks Vickie. I love grilled chicken. And the first recipe I ever tried was yours. Italian Dressing Grilled Chicken.
Karen says
May 3, 2013 at 9:12 amSame thing happened here. Spring one day, back to winter the next. Oh well :/ At least when it snows now, it doesn’t last long. A nice salad and grilled chicken is a perfect summer meal 🙂
Lea Ann says
May 4, 2013 at 8:12 amI love our Spring snows for that very reason. They melt quick. But the temps have been so cold …
Karen Harris says
May 3, 2013 at 9:15 amI love homemade dressings. Makes me wonder why I didn’t start making them at home sooner. I’ll be sure and try your recipe.
Lea Ann says
May 4, 2013 at 8:12 amMe too Karen. Why oh why did I pick up those bottles for so many years?
Tanya Schroeder says
May 3, 2013 at 10:17 amLooks amazing! Can’t wait to start grilling! I love Colorado weather! I have relative in Highlands Ranch! Beautiful.
Lea Ann says
May 4, 2013 at 8:10 amWe’ve lived in Highlands Ranch for 20 years. Really a nice neighborhood and with some great views of the mountains.
Susan says
May 3, 2013 at 3:32 pmOn Tuesday and Wednesday we had temps in the 80s here and we had a glass of wine on the patio and grilled too 🙂 Now we’re back down into the 40s. Fickle spring weather!
Love this dressing and can’t wait to try making it myself!
Lea Ann says
May 4, 2013 at 8:08 amFickle is a perfect way to describe this weather.
Drick says
May 3, 2013 at 4:13 pmlove that dressing, it sounds like something I would like to drink… and yup, a good rub (which yours do sound good) and a vinegar/lemon baste is the only way to do chicken grillin’.. both are my kind of eats and I am gonna use your chicken recipe the next time, maybe this weekend…
Lea Ann says
May 4, 2013 at 8:08 amLet me know what you think about that chicken.
Larry says
May 4, 2013 at 1:12 pmGreat looking meal LA and I look forward to trying the dressing.
Lea Ann says
May 4, 2013 at 3:49 pmThanks Larry.
nancyc says
May 4, 2013 at 8:33 pmI love Ranch dressing–I’ll have to try this! We got a little snow a few days after you in Arkansas–very unusual for May!
Lea Ann says
May 11, 2013 at 5:53 amIn Arkansas? That’s crazy. I’d have to say Ranch is one of my favorites.
adam @unorthodoxepicure says
May 5, 2013 at 7:52 amI’m not a Ranch Dressing person … and it’s probably because I’ve made my own. Bookmarked! (And the chicken looks good too!)
adam @unorthodoxepicure says
May 5, 2013 at 7:53 amOr.. NEVER made my own.. (And I can’t even blame that error on screaming kids or alcohol!)
Anyway, the dressing looks mouthwatering!
Lea Ann says
May 11, 2013 at 5:53 amI knew what you meant Adam. Let me know if you make it and what you think.
Lea Ann says
May 11, 2013 at 5:53 amThanks Adam
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
May 5, 2013 at 9:13 amYour ranch dressing sounds wonderful with the fresh herbs.
Lea Ann says
May 11, 2013 at 5:54 amThanks Karen.
Rocky Mountain Woman says
May 6, 2013 at 11:17 amI never buy bottled dressing anymore. It tastes flat and stale to me unlike this little beauty which I will make at the first opportunity.
We had snow on May 1 also!
xxoo,
RMW
Lea Ann says
May 11, 2013 at 5:54 amYou’re preaching to the choir on that one.
Chris says
May 7, 2013 at 7:06 pmHomemade ranch is so darn good, isn’t it? You can do SO MUCH with it.
Two easy variation on your favorite ranch dressing like this one.
First: put it in a blender with half a peeled and seeded avocado. Use as a dip for fried asparagus or other fried veggies or use in a wrap.
Second: mix in a tablespoon of roasted green chile and one of roasted red pepper for using with grilled steak tacos.
Lea Ann says
May 11, 2013 at 5:55 amI’m loving the avocado dip idea. AND the steak tacos. Thanks Chris.
Chris says
May 7, 2013 at 7:06 pmPS: So happy to see your grill busted out of its winter confines. That’s a better sign than that unreliable gopher.
Lea Ann says
May 11, 2013 at 5:55 amLOL, I agree Chris.
Rhonda says
May 13, 2013 at 7:48 pmMother Nature really did need some Midol! Or maybe some of the chicken and the ranch dressing…that should keep her in the spring mood.
Lea Ann says
May 14, 2013 at 6:37 amLet’s hope so. We had temps in the 80’s yesterday. She smiling for now.
Shawna says
May 17, 2013 at 8:58 amHi stopping by from Miz Helen Country Cottage and love your blog. I have been looking for a good salad dressing and can’t wait to try this with our BBQ this weekend. Please stop by would love you to come and join our BBQ Block Party-Linky Party. It will be live next Thursday. Check it out
http://easylifemealandpartyplanning.blogspot.com/p/bbq-block-party-thursday-linky-party.html
Lea Ann says
May 19, 2013 at 7:32 amThanks Shawna. Let me know how you like it. Heading over to check out the Party Linky