Ranch seasoning is easy to make homemade and delicious! It can be used to make a ranch dressing or there are many different recipes we make that use this seasoning so we always have it prepared and in a jar.
Homemade ranch seasoning mix is really easy to put together. It stores well and is always ready for your recipes! We use it all the time.
We use it in everything from pasta salads and potatoes to chicken and a sauce for burgers. It is really good on burgers with a little cayenne pepper mixed with mayo and milk.
Add it to chicken for some extra flavor or make it as a dressing for your tossed salad or dip for hot wings. It is one of those seasonings that is delicious on so many foods!
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Ingredients
- Milk powder - We prefer to use buttermilk powder, but you can substitute with regular milk powder.
- Parsley - Dried parsley, do not use fresh parsley.
- Dried minced onion
- Salt - can adjust to taste
- Pepper
- Chives - Dried chives, do not use fresh chives for the seasoning especially if you are planning on storing it.
- Garlic powder - You can add more if you like to make it a garlic ranch seasoning mix with a more intense garlic flavor.
- Onion powder
Recipes using ranch seasoning mix
I love using ranch seasoning in a lot of different recipes, we use it more in other recipes then we do as a prepared dressing for tossed salad.
- Bacon ranch pasta salad
- Ranch pasta salad
- Grilled ranch foil pack potatoes (really easy)
- Vegetable ranch cheeseballs
Making and storing ranch seasoning mix
It is really easy to make and you will love having it on hand and ready! We do recommend using buttermilk here, but you can use powdered milk to substitute.
Buttermilk powder is often sold in the baking isle, but some stores may put it with the other powdered milk. It comes in a round canister and the container it comes in doesn't keep humidity out so once you open the container, I would refrigerate it to prolong the life of the powder. Buttermilk powder can be used for many things, not just this seasoning.
To make it, you will just mix all the ingredients together and place in the storage container and place the lid on it. It is best to shake it or stir it a little bit right before using as some spices might sink to the bottom after sitting. Store your seasoning for up to 3 months in the fridge.
For the ranch mix, we like to store ours in glass jars with tight fitting lids. We use ball canning jars, but we have them on hand for many things we make. We use a half pint canning jar to store it.
To make it as a dressing
3 tablespoons of the homemade ranch seasoning mix equals a packet of store bought mix. Add 3 tablespoons with 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise. Another alternative is to substitute some of the mayo with sour cream! It gives it a nice flavor, but is completely optional.
You can adjust the amounts of milk and mayonnaise to prepare it to your desired thickness - more milk will make it thinner and more mayo will make it thicker.
Frequently asked questions
There are about 3 tablespoons in the 1 ounce seasoning packets, you would use 3 tablespoons of the homemade in place of the ranch seasoning packet.
Yes it is gluten free! Just be sure to check to double check your ingredients to check for cross contamination. The ingredients in this recipe are naturally gluten free.
It will keep longer if it is stored in the fridge. If we are using it within 1-2 weeks we leave it out, but when storing it for longer then 2 weeks I recommend storing it in the fridge. Buttermilk powder is best stored in the fridge.
You can add up to a teaspoon of dill to your mix! We prefer it without here, but many homemade seasonings do have dill in them.
Recipe
Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
Ingredients
- ½ cup buttermilk powder or milk powder
- 2 tbsp parsley dried
- 1 tbsp dried minced onion
- 2 tsp chives dried
- 1½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ tsp salt see notes
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together. Shake or stir well before each use.½ cup buttermilk powder, 2 tbsp parsley, 1 tbsp dried minced onion, 2 tsp chives, 1½ tsp garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper
- Store in an airtight jar for up to 3 months in the fridge. We recommend using a glass jar with a tight fitting lid, like canning jars. It makes about 8 tablespoons and will easily fit in a half pint jar as measured here.
Holly
Thank you for sharing this. I use it all the time as a dry seasoning and have recently started making into dressing. I was ready to give up salads because I was tired of all the premixed bottles from the store. I make mine a little thin (to preference) and can’t get enough.
Dawn
You are welcome! I make mine different consistencies depending on how I am using it - for a burger topping I make it thick but for a salad I make it thinner too.