Homemade Ranch Seasoning
Make everything from salad dressing to flavored popcorn with my homemade Ranch Seasoning. With a few dried herbs and no buttermilk powder required, you can make this pantry essential for less money and with less effort than a trip to the grocery store! It takes just a few minutes to put together in the blender, and you will have it ready to go any time you need it.
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Homemade Ranch Seasoning Recipe
Everyone loves the flavor of ranch, especially my kids. More than once a week, they ask for ranch dressing or a ranch-flavored snack. And every time, I use this homemade ranch seasoning to make their dreams come true.
I used to buy the seasoning packets, but I stopped when I realized how easy it is to make at home! I was completely out, and needed some in a pinch to make ranch potatoes. So, I perfected this recipe and now it's the one I turn to again and again.
Ranch seasoning is very easy to make homemade - all you need are a few dried herbs and spices. Some recipes call for buttermilk powder or powdered milk, but I find you don't need it, as you can still get a tangy ranch flavor with all of the herby goodness and by mixing it with a good quality mayonnaise, sour cream or yogurt.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
If you love ranch flavor as much as I do, then you're gonna fall in love with this recipe.
- Pull it together fast with simple ingredients. You probably already have everything in your pantry. No preservatives here either!
- Homemade seasoning mixes are so quick to make. The most time-consuming part is measuring everything out. All you need to do is shake it up or blend it into a finer powder..
- Homemade ranch is super flavorful.This recipe also doesn't contain any buttermilk powder, so it's vegan and dairy free as well.
Ingredients
One of the things I love about making homemade seasonings is that you can easily customize everything. If you're out of an ingredient, no problem. Want to add in something else that you love? No biggie. These recipes are meant to be flexible and bend to whatever is in your pantry.
To make this recipe, you'll start with dried herbs. I used dried chives, dill and parsley, but you can easily throw in thyme or basil. It's very easy to make dried herbs from fresh herbs. Darcy from the Purposeful Pantry has a great tutorial on different ways you can dry herbs, whether you grew them yourself or bought them in the produce section.
For flavor, garlic powder and onion powder bring in layers of savory goodness, and it's all finished off with a little salt, which helps to balance the flavors. From there, the recipe is very easy to customize. Sometimes I will add cayenne pepper or chipotle chili powder to make a spicy ranch seasoning. You can also add those kinds of things after the fact when you are making a dressing or seasoning something.
How to Make Ranch Seasoning
Making this recipe takes very little time and just a little effort. You pretty much gather up all your ingredients and throw them in a jar. Easy enough, right?
- Gather up all your ingredients and throw them into a bowl. (You can also do it directly in the jar you plan to store them in, as long as there is room for them to wiggle around!)
- Give everything a really good stir or shake, and your seasoning is good to go.
If you prefer a finer powder, that's where a little more effort comes in, because you'll need to throw the herbs/spices in a food processor or blender. It really comes down to how finely ground your herbs and spices are to start with and how chunky you want your seasoning.
For something like a pizza topping or rub for chicken wings, a chunkier seasoning is probably fine. But if you're sprinkling it on popcorn or stirring it into dressing, then you may want the fine powder.
Madison's Pro Sharing Tip:
If you know anyone who likes ranch, this seasoning makes the perfect gift.
- Make a big batch and jar it. Add a ribbon and a label, and you've got an easy gift that you can share with friends and neighbors.
- Give it away as a housewarming gift, hostess gift or as a party favor for events like a Super Bowl party.
Uses for Ranch Seasoning
You can use this homemade mix in tons of different ways.
- It makes a great rub for chicken.
- You can sprinkle it on pizza or popcorn or Chex mix.
- You can mix it into homemade ranch dressing. (If you like it spicy, then this jalapeño ranch is perfect. One of my favorites.)
FAQ
It really depends on the expiration date of the ingredients you use! Most herbs and spices taste their best within the first year. It's always a good idea to check your herbs and spices regularly. I do it on New Year's Day every year. They can absolutely go rancid, and that is no good when you are ready to make homemade seasonings (because it's usually in a pinch).
This seasoning keeps best in an airtight food-safe container like a mason jar or a spice jar. It is best to keep it in a cool, dark place away from sunlight. A pantry or cabinet is perfect.
More homemade seasonings
Homemade Ranch Seasoning
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 2 tablespoons dried chives
- 1½ tablespoons onion flakes
- 1½ tablespoons dried dill
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Add 2 tablespoons dried parsley, 2 tablespoons dried chives, 1½ tablespoons onion flakes, 1½ tablespoons dried dill, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon sea salt to a bowl and stir together.
- If you desire a finer texture, add the ingredients to a blender or small food processor. Pulse until the mixture becomes a powder.
- Store in a food-safe, airtight container in a cool, dark place.
Notes
Nutrition
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