Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix Recipe
Seasoning Mix 5 mins
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Homemade ranch seasoning makes a great seasoning to keep on hand for ranch dressing, dips, chips, and more!
My family loves ranch dressing. Well, let me just admit that I probably love it more than anyone else in the family, but you get the point.
I could eat it on just about anything from salads, vegetables, to dipping my fries into it, it is one of my favorite condiments. For years, Ive been making my own buttermilk ranch dressing using fresh herbs and have also kept a little jar of my ranch seasoning mix in a little jar on standby for those days when fresh herbs werent available.
How To Make My Homemade Ranch Seasoning
You know those recipes that feel silly to even write down? This is one of them.
To make this Homemade Ranch Seasoning, all you have to do is put all of the ingredients into a bowl and whisk them to combine.
Yep, thats it!
You can easily double or even triple the recipe if you want to have lots on hand or gift it when going to cookouts this summer.
Can Spices Get Moldy
This is a question many cooks are faced with at some point. After all, theyre dry and they sit on the shelf, and you might think that they should last forever. But the facts are not that clearcut. Spices do not expire in the same way that milk does nor do they become moldy or rotten in the same way fresh produce does.
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Recipe Tips And Variations
- Yield: This recipe makes ¼ cup dry ranch dressing mix or the equivalent of 1 store-bought packet.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator or freezer indefinitely.
- To make salad dressing from the mix: Whisk together 1 cup milk, 1 cup mayonnaise, and the full recipe of dry ranch mix. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to chill and blend flavors.
- To make ranch dip from the mix: Whisk together 2 cups sour cream and the full recipe of dry ranch mix. Cover and refrigerate for 60 minutes to thicken and blend flavors.
- Standard salad dressing: Looking for the real thing? Try my Ranch Dressing made from buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, red onion, and fresh herbs.
How To Make Homemade Ranch Seasoning
This ranch seasoning mix could not be easier to make! Simply combine all of the ingredients together and store in an airtight container in a dark place for up to 6 months.
The great thing about this ranch seasoning is that you can add your own favorites to make it just right for your family! Cut the salt for a low sodium version, add a dash of cayenne for some heat or some parmesan for a cheesy ranch seasoning.
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Making Ranch Dressing From Scratch
Why ranch dressing out of a store-bought bottle at home tastes nothing like the ranch we pour over a restaurant salad is a great mystery. But, what we do know for certain is the only way to enjoy a restaurant-quality ranch dressing in the comforts of our own home is to make it from scratch.
This homemade ranch seasoning was developed to mimic the flavor within the famous Hidden Valley Original Ranch Seasoning packets. Consider this made-from-scratch mix almost identical to the stuff you pour out of those little envelopes !
Rather than having to hunt down a 1-ounce packet every time you have a hankering for ranch dressing, you can now make a large batch to keep at your beck-and-call!
You’ll find this recipe so easy to make, so extremely convenient, so darn delicious, and packed full of ranch flavor, you can’t help but come back to it again and again!
How To Make It
Making ranch seasoning mix is ridiculously easy.
Simply measure out your dried herbs and spices. Then whizz for a few seconds in a blender or food processor!
Now, you’re not aiming for a fine powder here. Rather, you want to break down the dried parsley flakes just enough that they stay distributed throughout the other ingredients.
Because if you don’t process this mix just a bit, the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper tend to sift straight down through the dried herbs and end up at the bottom of the jar. And it’s better when a “mix” actually stays mixed!
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What Amazing Recipes Can I Use Salad Dressing Mix In
A dressing mix can give so many things instant flavor with its creamy blend of herbs and buttermilk. Here are some of the things I like to use it in.
- add it to mayonnaise for sandwiches
- sprinkled on popcorn
- zesty homemade dip
The ingredients are always on my grocery list because it is my weeknight secret weapon. I usually make large batches of the dry mix because we use it as an everyday condiment, just like salt and black pepper.
We sprinkle it on everything! I even use it as a salad topping and to season some of my side dishes like my Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe with Ranch Parmesan and Mozzarella.
There are so many fun recipes you can make with ranch seasoning as part of your recipe tools. You can even jazz up some of your everyday creations with a sprinkle or 2!
Does Arbys Sauce Go Bad
Yes, they spoil. They lose their flavor over time, and those plasticky metal packets only go so far to protect the spicy flavor thats buried inside of the casing. Same with ketchup, mayo, mustard, BBQ sauce, or relish. Instead, they tend to have it on the boxes that the restaurants pull the hot sauce out of.
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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 arent 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 youre done. And if you dont have a processor on hand, you can mix it by hand.
See? Quick, easy and simple. Now you wont ever need the seasoning packets!
How To Use Ranch Seasoning
You can use this Ranch Seasoning to replace any packet of ranch seasoning mix. For every 1-ounce packet, use 2 tablespoons of this homemade mix.
Beyond using this homemade ranch seasoning as a replacement for a Hidden Valley Packet, you can also use it in many other ways to add flavor to dishes.
- I use this blend of seasonings to make a quick Homemade Ranch Dressing.
- Prepare Ranch Dip by mixing together 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning with ¼ cup sour cream and ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt or mayonnaise and serve with veggies or chips.
- Give your Fish Sticks or Chicken Strips a punch of ranch flavor, by adding 2 tablespoons of the ranch seasoning mix to the flour mixture prior to breading the fish or chicken.
- Skip the dry rub and use this Ranch Seasoning as your rub instead when making Air Fryer Chicken Breast or Air Fryer Pork Chops.
- Use this mixture to change up classic potato salad and make a crazy-good Ranch Potato Salad.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of this Ranch Seasoning to homemade coleslaw for additional flavor.
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Heres What You Need To Make This Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix:
- powdered buttermilk
- coarse freshly ground black pepper
To start youll need to add 1 cup powdered buttermilk to a mixing bowl.
Then measure and add 2-1/2 tablespoons parsley, 2 tablespoons chives, 2 teaspoons dill, 2-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1-1/2 teaspoons onion powder, 1-1/2 teaspoons dehydrated onion flakes, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon coarse freshly ground black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon paprika and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
In the past, I would make this and add some of the ingredients into a mini food processor and blend them a little before adding the rest. Yeah. That was too much work. Now I just measure it all into a mixing bowl and whisk to combine because it saves a BUNCH of time and less things to wash.
Whisk to combine and thats it!
How much Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix equals 1 envelope of store-bought?
You only need 2 tablespoons of this homemade blend to equal 1 envelope. However feel free to add more to your recuse for a zippier dip or dressing.
Next just store it in a container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to 12 months!
I really love is that homemade ranch can be made in minutes. Most people dont have fresh herbs on hand just to make fresh herbaceous ranch dressing at a moments notice. Thats why keeping a jar of this ranch dressing mix in the fridge is so brilliant! Now you can whip up a homemade ranch dressing or dip at the drop of a hat.
Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix
This Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix has an ingredient list you can be proud of! Buttermilk powder is mixed with herbs and spices for a ranch dressing mix that will rival any packet. This recipe yields 1¼ cups or 10 servings.
I cant tell you how long its been since Ive bought one of those ranch seasoning packets.
Years ago I swore off all types of seasoning packets, sadly including the beloved Hidden Valley Ranch ones. I made that decision, not only because of the additives and ingredients like maltodextrin and spices but mostly because its simply not good for me. Luckily for us theres a cheap and healthy alternative called Making It Yourself! Have you heard of this?? You didnt see that coming now did you?
With that said, our family is quite smitten with restaurant ranch dressing. Its always perfectly thin, but not too thin and the way it coats those lettuce leaves is pure perfection. My family is all how do they make it so good? and Im all Im sure they use those maltodextrin-filled packets. Then we stab a forkful of salad and ignore what I just said. Am I always such a downer? Probably.
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How To Use It
You can use this Ranch Dressing Mix as ranch seasoning in recipes where you’d usually rely on those little aforementioned packets.
Or, to make ranch salad dressing, simply whisk 1 ½ tablespoons of dry mix together with equal parts buttermilk, sour cream, and mayonnaise, plus a splash of apple cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce.
So long as you use all-natural mayo and Worcestershire, your ranch will contain nary an artificial ingredient!
And the results? Delicious.
This homemade ranch seasoning mix adds a zip of flavor to soups, breadings, and so much more.
And as a salad dressing, it’s divine.
Having a jar of Ranch Dressing Mix in the pantry is super convenient for whipping up fresh, natural ranch salad dressing at a moment’s notice!
It also allows you to make recipes calling for ranch seasoning without relying on store-bought, artificial ingredient-laden, dry seasoning packets.
I hope you’ll give this simple, tasty, homemade pantry staple a try!
Do Seasoning Mixes Expire
Under Shelf-Stable Food Safety, the USDA defines spices as a shelf-stable product and in the case of spices, they never truly expire. What occurs over time is that the flavor and potency of that flavor wanes. Whole spices will stay fresh for about four years, while ground spices run between three and four years.
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What Can I Do If I Run Out Of Ranch Dressing Mix
There are a few different things that you can do if you run out of ranch dressing mix.
You can either try to make your mix or substitute for a different type of dressing.
If you want to try to make your own mix, there are a few recipes that you can use.
Some recipes use dry herbs, such as dill, parsley, and chives. You can also use a mix of sour cream and milk to create a makeshift ranch dressing.
Another option is to use a bottled Ranch dressing as a base and add your spices to create the flavor that you want.
Dry Ranch Dressing Mix
This homemade Ranch Dressing Mix makes a perfect seasoning for everything from classic salad dressing to grilled chicken. It has all the zesty ranch flavor you love with none of the sugars, flours or preservatives.
Have you made this Low Carb Ranch Dressing yet? Today, well show you how to use the dry seasonings from that dip to add instant ranch flavor to any dish. We especially love it in this Keto Crack Chicken recipe!
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How To Make Ranch Dressing Mix
Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix is extremely easy to make and comes together by the means of buttermilk powder and a few yummy dried herbs and spices.
Making it from scratch is as simple as adding the buttermilk powder to a bowl, following that up with the dried spices and herbs, and whisking to combine.
If you are a big texture person, you may want to consider pulling out the food processor for this recipe.
Ranch dressing consists of larger dried herbs like dried chives and parsley. If you’d like these herbs to be less pronounced, you can pulse the mixture in your food processor a few times to create a finer texture.
Make Ahead And Storage
- Prep Ahead Prepare the cornflake and ranch mixture in advance for easy prep or freeze the chicken for later.
- Store Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze This ranch chicken recipe freezes well before and after its baked. Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan and flash freeze for 1-2 hours. Put the frozen breasts into a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to three months. Note: If you freeze pre-baked chicken, it may not be as crispy when reheated.
- Reheat Thaw out as many pieces of chicken that you need. Bake uncooked chicken according to the recipe. To reheat previously cooked chicken, bake at 400F for 5 minutes or until heated through.
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How To Sub This Ranch Dressing Mix In Recipes
This Ranch Dressing Mix is super versatile and can be used for tons of recipes outside of homemade ranch dressing and dip! Use it to season popcorn, mashed potatoes, chicken, and more!
A 1-ounce package of hidden Valley original ranch seasoning has 2 tablespoons of mix inside of it.
Therefore, you will use two tablespoons of this ranch seasoning mix in any recipe that calls for a whole packet of ranch seasoning.
If you are using a recipe that calls for a very specific measurement of dry ranch mix, just use the indicated measurement within the recipe and all will be well!
Baked Ranch Chicken Breast
Classic Ranch seasoning gives this Ranch Chicken Recipe so much flavor, and it comes out juicy and tender every single time. And while youre at it, sprinkle a bit of ranch seasoning mix on some steamed veggies or grilled veggies for a quick and healthy side dish!
This family favorite chicken with a golden brown, crunchy crust is great for busy weeknight dinners, dinner parties and more.
This kid-friendly Ranch Baked Chicken recipe cooks quickly and its so easy to double or triple. Freeze some for later or make this when your kids bring friends home. Everyone will love this recipe and full bellies equal happy kids!
Crispy Baked Ranch Chicken Breast with its delicious ranch dressing flavor is good all on its own, but you can easily make it a full meal by serving with rice and your favorite vegetables, or slice and serve it on top of a big green salad.
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How Long Can You Use Ranch Dressing After Expiration Date
Store-bought ranch dressing will last about 12 to 18 months as long as it is not opened. Once the dressing is opened, it will last about 6 months if it is stored in the refrigerator. What is this? As long as the dressing is stored in the fridge, you can eat ranch dressing up to 2 months past its expiration date.
How Can You Tell If Spices Are Old
You can tell if your spices are too old if they arent aromatic, or if they fail to provide a flavor boost to food. Check the freshness date on the bottom or side of the bottle to help keep track of when its past its prime. Or, check the spices for color and aroma look for vibrant color and strong aroma.
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Ingredients In This Recipe
The printable recipe further down the page has the complete list of ingredients, including quantities and step-by-step instructions.
You may already have all the ingredients you need to make this ranch dressing mix.
Dried herbs and vegetables onion powder, garlic powder,dried dill, dried parsley, dried chives, salt, and ground black pepper flavor this seasoning mix.
Buttermilk powder If buttermilk powder is available use that in the recipe. If you cannot get buttermilk powder, you can make and easy substitute for it – see below for more details.
So, what is buttermilk powder?
Buttermilk powder is dehydrated buttermilk and looks similar to regular milk powder. You could make your buttermilk powder by: