Name: 5-Minute Dairy Free Ranch Dressing with Fresh Herbs
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup mayonnaise (homemade or store bought both work); 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 2 teaspoons lemon juice, white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs – dill, parsley, and chives are all excellent options or substitute with 1 tablespoon of any of the same dried herbs; 1-2 tablespoons of water to thin, more or less as needed

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This dairy free ranch dressing is made with a few simple ingredients that you likely already have on hand. Made without milk or dairy and it’s ready in less than 5 MINUTES! So delicious as a dip or a salad dressing. A wholesome and tasty alternative to an all-time favorite dressing. Whole30 compatible, paleo friendly, and vegan option.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Ranch dressing and I are best friends forever.

Like FOR-EV-ER.

I’ll eat it with every salad and dip all the things in it because it is:

Freaking delicious
Super easy to make
So creamy
Versatile
Wholesome!

I would go as far as saying that it’s made of magic. You can make a suuuper simple meal, top it with this amazing ranch dressing, and it tastes INCREDIBLE.

Maybe that’s why there’s shirts for sale on the internet that say ranch dressing is a blessing?!

And honestly I have to agree. (Although I’m not sure I’m ready to buy the shirt).

A creamy, garlicky, herb flecked dressing that is super easy to make, versatile, and nourishing? COUNT ME IN.

In this post I’m going to share with you my recipe for the best ranch that also happens to be dairy free, paleo friendly, and Whole30 compatible. I’ll teach you how to make it from scratch and give you some extra tips on how to get the most out of it!

Dairy free ranch dressing in a small glass jar next to celery sticks with a spoon dipping into the dressing. On a cream colored background.

Ingredients for dairy free ranch dressing in various ceramic plates and bowls on a cream colored background.

Ingredients and substitutions

If you’ve never made it before you might be wondering – what is ranch made of? This dairy free ranch dressing is made with a few basic ingredients that you likely already have on hand in your pantry.

Here’s what you need

Avocado oil mayonnaise – Homemade and store bought both work. To make this recipe vegan, the only swap you need to make is using an egg free vegan mayo like this one.
Garlic powder and onion powder – These two dried spices are a must and up the savory flavor of this ranch. You use one or the other if that’s all you have available.
Salt and pepper – To taste.
Lemon juice – Lemon juice, white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar all work to add some acidity.
Fresh or dried herbs – Dill, parsley, and chives are all excellent options. Or substitute with a slightly smaller amount of dried versions of these herbs.
Water – To make this recipe without milk, all you need is a little water to thin the ranch to your desired consistency.

How to make

Making your own DIY ranch dressing is so much easier than you’d think. This recipe starts with mayonnaise as the base – store bought is super convenient or you can make it yourself from scratch. Then everything is just stirred together. So easy! It literally takes less than 5 minutes to make!

Here’s the step-by-step

Add everything except water to a bowl. In a small bowl whisk together mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, lemon juice, and herbs.
Thin with water. Thin with 1-2 tablespoons water until desired consistency is reached. You can always add more so I recommend starting with less and adding more as needed.
Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve!

How to make thick vs thin ranch dressing

One of the best things about this recipe (besides how quick it is to make), is that you can control how thick or thin it is.

To make thin or drizzle-able ranch dressing all you need to do is add a little more water. Probably somewhere between 2-3 tablespoons.

And to make thick, extra creamy ranch dressing just add a little less water. Somewhere around 1-2 tablespoons.

Different mayonnaise will have different thickness, so the best way to find the consistency that is right for you is to start with a small amount of water and add a little more at a time until it’s perfect for you!

How to make dairy free ranch dressing: All ingredients except water in a bowl.

How to make dairy free ranch dressing: Whisking all ingredients together.

Dairy free ranch dressing in a small glass jar next to celery sticks and a spoon. On a cream colored background.

Dairy free ranch dressing in a small glass jar next to celery sticks with a spoon drizzling some of the dressing. On a cream colored background.

Serving suggestions

This ranch would be delicious as:

Dressing for you favorite green salad
Dip for fresh cut veggies
Dipping sauce for chicken wings or homemade french fries
Topping drizzled over roasted vegetables or protein

How long does homemade ranch last

This ranch dressing should keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Pinterest Pin for Dairy Free Ranch Dressing

Love this salad dressing? Check out these other yummy recipes!

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Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK. We’re so grateful you’re here!