Herby Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Servings: 12 Total Time: 45 mins Difficulty: Intermediate
This herby ranch dressing recipe is packed with fresh herbs, garlic, shallot, lemon, and buttermilk. A perfect dressing for salads or dipping.
spoonful of buttermilk herby ranch dressing pinit

Restaurant-Quality Ranch

This herby ranch dressing made with buttermilk, fresh herbs, shallot, garlic, and lemon is the ultimate dressing. It’s a classic ranch that’s been amplified with lots of punchy herb and aromatic flavor. This recipe may put your favorite restaurant’s ranch a run for its money. It may take a few extra minutes than opening up a bottle from the store, but every minute will be worth it! This dressing recipe is sure to take your next salad, crudite board, or buffalo wing experience to the next level.

herby ranch dressing ingredients

The Supplies

Herby Buttermilk Ranch Ingredients

To make this herby ranch dressing, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • Buttermilk
  • Mayo
  • Sour cream
  • Shallot
  • Garlic,
  • Fresh parsley
  • Fresh chives
  • Fresh dill
  • Lemon juice and zest
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

For the exact ingredient amounts, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Equipment

In order to make this herby buttermilk ranch dressing, you’ll need the following pieces of equipment:

  • Cutting board. These are my favorite, long lasting cutting boards.
  • Knife. I love this chef’s knife for quickly cutting fresh herbs. 
  • Mixing bowl. These are my go-to mixing bowls.
  • Measuring cups. I have a similar set to these ones from Magnolia that I love.
  • Measuring spoons. The best measuring spoons.
  • Microplane. For getting the perfect lemon zest.
mixing herby buttermilk ranch dressing in a bowl

Frequent Recipe Questions

Can this recipe be made in advance?

  • A: Yes! This recipe is best made a day in advance so the flavors can meld together.

Is it ok to freeze this herby ranch dressing?

  • A: You can, but the consistency may change once it’s thawed. The ranch will likely be thinner and separate slightly.

Can I substitute the fresh herbs for dried herbs?

  • A: I think this recipe is best with fresh, but if you don’t have access to fresh you can substitute for dried. Adjust the measurement to 1 teaspoon of dried herbs.

The garlic and shallot flavor is a little intense for me, can I adjust it?

  • A: Yes! You can either reduce the amount of garlic and shallot to your preference or substitute it with 1 teaspoon garlic and onion powder, each. The powder will have a less intense flavor.
glass jar of herby ranch dressing

Herby Ranch Dressing Recipe Details

To make this ranch dressing, add a scoop of buttermilk, mayo, and sour cream into a mixing bowl. To the same bowl, you’ll add the aromatics and herbs. Scrape the grated shallot and garlic and sprinkle in the fresh herbs. Grate the lemon zest over the top and then squeeze the juice on top of it all.

Stir the ranch dressing until the herbs are evenly distributed. Season the dressing with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Give it a taste and adjust any seasonings if you’d like. Cover the dressing, or move it into an airtight glass container, and refrigerate it for at least 3o minutes.

Enjoy the dressing over the next week or so for the best flavor. Use this ranch dressing to compliment these other dishes:

If you make this herby ranch dressing recipe, be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating – I can’t wait to hear how it goes. As always, tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook in your photos. It makes me feel like we’re getting to cook together!This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.

spoonful of buttermilk herby ranch dressing pinit
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Game Day

Herby Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Difficulty: Intermediate Prep Time 15 mins Rest Time 30 mins Total Time 45 mins
Servings: 12
Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Description

This herby ranch dressing recipe is packed with fresh herbs, garlic, shallot, lemon, and buttermilk. A perfect dressing for salads or dipping.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, add the buttermilk, mayo, and sour cream. Scrape the grated shallot and garlic into the bowl.

  2. Add the fresh parsley, chives, dill, and lemon zest to the bowl. Squeeze in the lemon juice and then season the dressing with salt and pepper.

  3. Stir everything together until the herbs are evenly distributed. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer the dressing to an airtight glass container. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together. 

  4. Keep the herby ranch dressing in the refrigerator and enjoy within 7-10 days for the best quality. Enjoy!

Laura from Laura Loves to Cook
Laura Wilkins Food Blogger and Chef

I'm so glad you're here!

This blog is a space for me to share my favorite recipes with you. All of the recipes on my site use bold, seasonal flavors to keep you fed from breakfast through after-dinner dessert and everything in between.

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