Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix

Store-bought ranch packets are convenient until you need one and discover there is not a single packet left in the pantry.

That is why I keep a jar of homemade ranch seasoning ready to use. It takes about five minutes to make, costs far less than buying individual packets and uses six basic spices I already keep on hand.

Two tablespoons turn mayonnaise and sour cream into a thick homemade ranch dip. Add a little milk or buttermilk, and it becomes ranch dressing. The dry mix can also season chicken, pork chops, roasted potatoes, vegetables and plenty of other quick meals.

One batch makes enough for approximately four bowls of ranch dip. Mix it once, store it in the spice cabinet and the next several batches are already handled.

If you like keeping useful seasoning blends ready to go, try my homemade taco seasoning and all-purpose dry rub next.

Homemade Ranch Mix

Ranch flavor comes from a fairly simple combination of dried herbs and savory seasonings:

• Parsley provides the herb-filled base.
• Dill gives ranch its most recognizable flavor.
• Garlic powder adds savory depth.
• Onion powder rounds out the garlic.
• Salt brings the ingredients together.
• Black pepper adds a little warmth.

Some homemade ranch seasoning recipes contain dried buttermilk powder. This one does not.

Leaving out the buttermilk powder keeps the dry mix simple and allows me to make it from ingredients already sitting in my spice cabinet. Sour cream supplies plenty of tang when the mix is turned into dip. If you thin the dip with milk or buttermilk, it becomes a pourable homemade ranch dressing.

Why Make Ranch Seasoning From Scratch?

Convenience is the biggest reason I keep homemade seasoning mixes in my pantry.

When I want ranch dip, I measure two tablespoons of seasoning into mayonnaise and sour cream. There is no packet to buy, no long ingredient list to read and no chance of discovering that somebody used the last one.

It is also economical. Dried herbs and spices cost less per batch when purchased in larger quantities, particularly if you already use them in everyday cooking.

I use the same approach with homemade quick mix and homemade flavored salts. A few reliable mixes can eliminate a surprising number of last-minute grocery purchases.

How to Make Homemade Ranch Seasoning

Measure the parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper into a small bowl. Stir until everything is evenly combined and transfer the mix to an airtight jar.

For a finer ranch seasoning, pulse the ingredients briefly in a small food processor or spice grinder. This breaks down the parsley and dill and helps prevent the heavier powdered ingredients from settling at the bottom of the jar.

You do not have to grind it. A coarser blend works perfectly well, but shake or stir the jar before measuring each serving.

How to Make Homemade Ranch Dip

Combine two tablespoons of homemade ranch seasoning with one cup of mayonnaise and 1/2 cup of sour cream.

You can eat it immediately, but it will taste better after resting in the refrigerator for at least two hours. That gives the dried herbs time to soften and allows the garlic, onion and dill to flavor the entire bowl.

Taste the ranch after it has chilled. Add a small pinch of salt if it needs it.

Serve it with fresh vegetables, chicken wings, roasted potatoes or homemade coleslaw. It also makes a good creamy topping for tacos seasoned with my bulk taco seasoning.

How to Make Ranch Dressing From the Dry Mix

Prepare the ranch dip with two tablespoons of seasoning, one cup of mayonnaise and 1/2 cup of sour cream.

Whisk in approximately 1/4 cup of milk or buttermilk. Continue adding a small amount at a time until the dressing reaches the consistency you prefer.

A thicker dressing works well for dipping vegetables and chicken. A thinner ranch is easier to drizzle over salads or use as a creamy dressing for a taco bowl.

Keep in mind that the dressing will thicken slightly after it has been refrigerated. Add another splash of milk before serving if necessary.

Other Ways to Use Ranch Seasoning

Do not limit this mix to ranch dressing and dip. The combination of dill, garlic, onion and parsley works in plenty of savory recipes.

Try it:

• Sprinkled over potatoes before roasting
• Added to chicken before baking or grilling
• Mixed into ground beef for burgers
• Stirred into mashed potatoes
• Added to sour cream for a baked-potato topping
• Sprinkled over popcorn
• Mixed into breading for chicken
• Added to a creamy pasta or potato salad
• Sprinkled over vegetables before roasting

The seasoning can also be added to a creamy soup base. A small amount would work well when serving canned tomato soup concentrate with a sandwich or seasoned crackers.

How Much Homemade Ranch Seasoning Equals One Packet?

Commercial ranch packets vary, but two tablespoons of this homemade ranch seasoning can be used when a recipe calls for one packet assertion of dry ranch mix.

Because this recipe does not contain powdered buttermilk, it will not behave exactly like every commercial packet. When using it in a casserole, pot roast or other cooked recipe, begin with two tablespoons and adjust the salt and seasoning according to taste.

For ranch dip, two tablespoons seasons one cup of mayonnaise and 1/2 cup of sour cream.

How to Store Dry Ranch Seasoning

Store homemade ranch seasoning in a clean, completely dry jar with an airtight lid. Keep it in a cool, dark spice cabinet away from the stove and direct sunlight.

Use it within six months for the strongest flavor. The dried herbs may remain usable longer, but parsley and dill gradually lose their aroma and color.

Shake the jar before each use because the garlic powder, onion powder and salt can settle beneath the lighter dried herbs.

Once the seasoning has been mixed with mayonnaise, sour cream or milk, it must be refrigerated. Keep prepared ranch dip in a covered container and use it within five days.

• 

  Homemade Baking Mix: An Easy Bisquick Substitute

  There are mornings when I enjoy making breakfast slowly. Then there are mornings when everyone is…

• 

  Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe

  My family could live on tacos, which means we can go through those little seasoning packets…

• 

  All-Purpose Dry Rub Recipe for Beef, Pork and Chicken

  A good all-purpose dry rub eliminates the need to buy a different seasoning blend for every…