GLUTEN FREE BUTTERMILK RANCH DRESSING RECIPE

I freaking love ranch dressing…I put that stuff on everything! But the bottled stuff just doesn’t work for me even though there are so many brands of ranch; I need restaurant quality ranch at home. You know the kind…not thick, not too thin, tastes great on everything from salads to pizza to tacos to French fries. That’s the ranch dressing I was searching for and could never find. So I did what I always do and turned to my kitchen. And after several failed attempts at creating the perfect ranch dressing, I finally nailed it! Die-hard ranch fans, this is the best GLUTEN FREE BUTTERMILK RANCH DRESSING you have been waiting for!

BUTTERMILK RANCH SALAD DRESSING 

I use Daisy sour cream, Duke's mayo, and Kroger buttermilk. Your ingredients don't have to be fancy in order to make this gluten free ranch dressing. 

Did you know that some ranch dressings, especially the ones sold in bottles at the grocery store, are filled with ingredients that aren't good for you? Making it at home is not only safer, but now it tastes better thanks to this easy homemade ranch dressing recipe!

?Homemade dressing recipes let you filter out the bad stuff like artificial flavors and monosodium glutamate. 

If you do choose to pick up a bottled brand here are some ingredients to steer clear of: artificial colors, natural flavor (it is not natural), organic cane sugar (it's still sugar), organic guar gum (putting organic on it doesn't make it any healthier), excessive use of soybean oil (soybean oil is one of the most highly processed oils on the market but when it comes to Duke's mayo, I'll take the risk), organic gum acacia (also called gum arabic, can cause digestive issue like gas and bloating). The good thing about making ranch at home is that you can control the quality of the ingredients.

As a self-proclaimed condiment connoisseur, I've spent some time in the condiment aisle at the grocery store checking out the store-bought options. There's Wish-Bone ranch dressing, Litehouse homestyle ranch dressing, Ken’s Steak House ranch dressing, Newman’s Own ranch, Walden Farms, Daiya homestyle ranch dressing, Hidden Valley ranch, just to name a few, but there are lots of different options. They all have different flavor profiles while Whole Foods and Trader Joe brand of ranch are cleaner store-bought ranch dressing options. Some ranch salad dressing options are made with olive oil and organic egg yolks but they aren't creamy ranch dressings. I've mentioned before I have strong opinions about ranch salad dressings. My taste buds want a great taste with creamy texture and creamy flavor. That first bite of creamy dressing brings me to my happy place. I'm sure my aforementioned ranch lovers will concur!

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE ONE OF THE BEST RANCH DRESSINGS:

Low fat fresh buttermilk 

Light sour cream

Mayo (I use Duke's because it's the best, but you do you boo)

Parsley flakes (dried)

Dill weed (dried)

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Sea salt

Black pepper

Lemon juice (from an actual lemon, not that bottled stuff)

Using low fat buttermilk and light sour cream helps to make this gluten free buttermilk ranch dressing low fat and macro friendly. Use spices instead of a seasoning mix to get the right flavor. Once you start making your own dressings, it will be hard to go back to store-bought!

INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS

There are multiple ways to make this ranch, including dairy free and egg free options.

Dairy Free: The base of this recipe is equal parts buttermilk, sour cream, and mayo. To make this recipe dairy free, use full fat coconut milk, vegan/dairy free sour cream, and vegan mayo (if going for vegan instead of just dairy free).

Vegan: For a vegan ranch dressing, use full coconut milk, vegan sour cream, and vegan mayo.

Egg Free: If you have an egg allergy, you can easily make this recipe egg free by using a vegan mayo in place of regular mayo. Regular mayo is made with egg yolk and vegan mayo isn't.

Fresh Herbs: If using fresh parsley, you’ll need to increase to 4 ½ tablespoons. For fresh dill, you’ll need 2 ¼ teaspoons. I love using fresh herbs for this recipe when I have them on hand.

I'm going to give a full disclosure that I know the soybean oil in Duke's mayo isn't the healthiest, but I've made this ranch with avocado oil and olive oil mayonnaise and it just doesn't give that great ranch taste or texture hat we're looking for. So do yourself a favor, and use a good mayo like Duke's if you aren't sensitive to soy. 

HOW TO MAKE TRADITIONAL RANCH:

Place ingredients in a bowl or blender and mix until smooth

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks (or until the expiration date on your buttermilk and sour cream)

STORAGE

It’s important to make sure your buttermilk and sour cream have expiration dates more than two weeks from the date you make the ranch dressing. That will ensure the dressing stays fresh in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Store in an airtight container. The best container for storing homemade ranch dressing is a mason jar or soup container. 

RECIPES THAT USE THIS RANCH DRESSING:

One of my family's most beloved unhealthy entrees: Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole (it's the best recipe ever - seriously, it's an easy dinner your whole family will love)

Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe (this is by far my most popular salad recipe and it happens to be my favorite salad ever)

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip {gluten free, keto}

Gluten Free Air Fried Pickles (do yourself a favor and make these today)

The Best Wedge Salad {gluten free, keto} (the flavor of the ranch over a wedge of crisp, cold iceberg lettuce can't be beat)

Chicken Club Stuffed Peppers {gluten free, low carb} (these stuffed peppers and this ranch dressing recipe are a perfect match for an easy delicious meal)

This is the best dip for fresh veggies like carrot sticks, cucumber slices, broccoli, cauliflower, and chicken wings! No matter what you pair this dressing with, you can't go wrong! Enhance the flavor of your everyday meals with a little ranch magic. My kids love to dip their chicken nuggets in this ranch restaurant-style dressing. 

Place a bowl of your homemade ranch dressing in the middle of a vegetable tray and watch the veggies disappear! Ample amounts of ranch dressing are the only way I can get my kid to eat broccoli.

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