I make this dressing with fresh herbs, green onions, and garlic. The best part is that this simple homemade Garlic Ranch Dressing is ready in just minutes! It’s perfect for salads, as a dip, or even drizzling over your favorite meals.
Why we love this recipe
- Fresh ingredients - Made with fresh garlic, dill, green onions, and lemon.
- Quick and easy - Ready in about 5 minutes!
- Easy adjustments - Adjust thickness, spice level, and ingredients to your preference.
- Kid-Approved: Even my fussiest eater loves the creamy, delicious flavor or ranch dressing.
Fresh Ranch Dressing Ingredients
- Mayonnaise - The creamy base for the dressing. You can use plain Greek yogurt for a lighter version.
- Milk - You can use buttermilk, but I prefer plain milk with fresh lemon juice.
- Lemon Juice - Lemon juice helps to thicken the milk and adds a bit of tanginess to the dressing.
- Green Onions - I use both the white and green part of the green onions. For a more bold flavor, use a small piece of red onion.
- Fresh Garlic - For that savory flavor we all love!
- Fresh Dill & Parsley - Fresh herbs add the best, and freshest flavor. Dried herbs can be used if needed.
- Salt & Pepper - Add the salt and pepper to your taste.
- Cayenne Pepper (optional) - Use cayenne if you like a touch of heat.
How to make Simple Ranch Dressing
Add fresh lemon juice to the milk and stir. Let the milk set for a minute or two and it will thicken slightly.
Peel the garlic cloves.
Cut the green onions into 2 to 3-inch sections. Using both the white and green part of the onion.
Add the milk with lemon to the blender, along with the mayonnaise, green onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper if using. Blend until the garlic and onion are minced well
Add the fresh dill and parsley. Pulse until blended. If you add the fresh dill and parsley with the other ingredients, your dressing might get a slight green color to it.
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Recipe FAQs
Add extra mayonnaise for a thicker dressing. More milk if you want it thinner.
This recipe works great as a dip. If you want it thicker, add more mayo and less milk. Or, replace the milk with sour cream.
I add a little cayenne pepper to my recipe. You can easily adjust the cayenne to your taste. Or, maybe give my Spicy Chipotle Ranch Sauce a try.
You can use a blender, immersion blender, or food processor.
Other recipes you might like
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Printable Recipe
Simple Garlic Ranch Dressing
Equipment
- blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- ⅔ cup Milk or buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
- 2 cloves Fresh Garlic
- 3 Green Onions white and green part cut into pieces
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Dill 1 teaspoon if using dried
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley 1 teaspoon if using dried
- ½ teaspoon Salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper or to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper optional, to taste
Instructions
- Mix together the ⅔ cup Milk and 1 tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice. Let set a couple of minutes to thicken.
- Place the milk mixture, 1 cup Mayonnaise 2 cloves Fresh Garlic, 3 Green Onions ½ teaspoon Salt ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper and ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper if using, in the blender or food processor.
- Blend well. Sample and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Add the 1 tablespoon Fresh Dill and 1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley Pulse briefly.
- Pour the dressing into a jar, cover, and refrigerate for about 30 minutes for best result. Or, use right away!
- The dressing should last up to one week in the refrigerator.
Keri
The kids love this dressing with pizza.