Learn how to make homemade dairy-free ranch seasoning to make quick dips, dressings, and other recipes! If you love ranch but want to avoid fillers, gums, and dairy products like buttermilk powder - this easy ranch dressing mix is your answer. It's herby, flavorful, and a much healthier alternative to store-bought ranch packets.
Tired of store-bought seasoning packets filled with mysterious additives? Yeah - me too. It's exhausting flipping over a product only to read a list a mile-long with ingredients you can't pronounce. Not anymore.
Loaded with herbs, bursting with flavor - this ranch seasoning is the DIY recipe your kitchen is missing.
Looking for more ranch-inspired dishes?
Check out easy ranch dressing recipe, chicken potato broccoli casserole, and oven roasted potatoes.
Jump to:
Recipe Overview
- Prep and Cook Time: 5 minutes to whisk
- Cooking Method: No-cook
- Dietary Info: Naturally GAPS, Keto, Paleo, Whole30 and Ancestral diet
- Tools Needed: Jelly-size mason jar for storage
- Skill Level: Easy
What is an ancestral diet? Read my post on what nourishing foods are based on the traditional dietary principles of the Weston A. Price Foundation.
This Ranch Dressing Mix was my Gateway to Scratch-Made Kitchen
When I jumped on the crunchy bandwagon (before crunchy was a term), I went full DIY mode. I mean, if I'm making my own deodorant (which, trust me, was an experience of which I shall not talk about), why not tackle ranch dressing too?
In fact, it was this DIY ranch seasoning that won me over and quickly convinced me that anything can be replicated at home without the weird additives.
So, there I was, turning my kitchen into a crunchy haven, one ranch seasoning at a time.
If you, like me, love ranch dressing but hate the MSG - you will love this DIY version. Despite the use of dried herbs in this DIY blend, it tastes incredibly fresh (likely because there's no traces of MSG or any anti-caking agents).
But you know what else this ranch dressing mix doesn't have? Buttermilk powder! That's right - you'll often find recipes containing this ingredient but here's the problem with buttermilk powder: it's ultra-processed and pasteurized. It's not the worst out there but if I can avoid it, I will. If it's not necessary, I won't add it. And that is how this dairy free ranch seasoning came to life.
I love having a jar of this to quickly and conveniently whip up a side of healthy ranch dressing for our family pizza nights. It's infinitely better than what you'd find on the shelves at your store. And it's super easy to make, even on a busy weeknight.
Ingredients for Ranch Dressing Mix
Ever wonder what is in ranch seasoning? It's traditionally a blend of dried herbs, onion, garlic, and buttermilk powder. My DIY ranch seasoning, however, is dairy-free so you can control the ingredients better.
- Dried herbs: Dried parsley, dried dill, and dried chives are the classic herbs of a traditional ranch seasoning and are a must here. I don't recommend swapping them out with any other herbs.
- Garlic and onion: I love a combination of minced garlic, minced onion, and granulated garlic (not to be confused with garlic powder). The minced onion and garlic adds a nice texture once they are hydrated when making the ranch dressing or dip.
- Salt and black pepper: I love very dry unrefined salt like Redmond's real salt in my DIY seasonings. Avoid any kind of salt with moisture as that will cause clumping overtime. You can also omit the salt completely and add when used in recipes. The black pepper adds a nice kick.
💭Tips to Make it Nutrient-Dense
If budget allows, use organic dried herbs and spices to avoid pesticides and chemicals. I typically purchase 1-pound bags of organic parsley, dill, chives, and minced garlic wholesale from Azure standard and store them in the freezer.
How to Make Ranch Seasoning
The complete printable recipe is below in the recipe card for your convenience. Follow these simple step-by-step instructions for the best results.
Step 1. Combine
Add all the ingredients directly to a jar or a medium bowl. Stir to combine.
Step 2. Store
Transfer to a jelly-size mason jar and close the lid tightly. Store in a cool, dark place.
Helpful Tips
- Use potent herbs - To be cost efficient, I like to buy herbs in bulk bags from places like Azure standard (I love the money savings). Store your herbs in the freezer. That's how I get the dried herbs to stay bright green and the garlic and onions still smelling fresh and delicious.
- Experiment with ratios - Ranch seasoning is traditionally very herbaceous and fresh-tasting so I love having more herbs than garlic and onions. However, you can experiment and add more granulated garlic or even garlic powder if you want a finer texture.
- Keep it dry - Moisture can cause your seasoning mix to clump and lose potency real fast. Use a clean, dry spoon to scoop out the seasoning and make sure the jar is tightly sealed after each use.
- Use the right salt - For the same reason, I recommend using dry salt. Avoid Celtic or Baja Gold salt, both of which naturally contain moisture. See my guide on unrefined salt for more information on this.
💭Meal Prep Suggestion: This is one of the best recipes to meal prep. I would often make a quart-size jar of this (but just omit the salt to better control the end product) and have on hand for convenient grilled chicken, dips, or dressings.
Serving Suggestions
The most classical way to let your DIY ranch seasoning shine is in homemade ranch dressing or dip. Check out my ranch dressing recipe that is absolutely fresh, delicious, and a much better alternative for you. It's also the star of the show in this chopped ranch salad.
But as with other DIY seasonings, don't just limit them to dips and dressings - you can season meats and veggies with this dairy free ranch seasoning before throwing them on the grill. Add it to popcorn or pretzels. Have fun adding this delicious and herbaceous blend to anything and everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ranch seasoning mix typically contains a blend of dried herbs such as parsley, dill, and chives, along with garlic powder, onion powder, and sometimes buttermilk powder. Everybody adds their own spin to it and mine is making it dairy-free so it's great to be used as seasoning on chicken and other meats.
Store ranch dressing mix in an airtight container like a mason jar with a metal lid (not plastic lid as those are not airtight). Store in a cool, dark place such as pantry or spice cabinet to help maintain flavor and freshness.
If you store it in an airtight container, this mix will last up to 6 months. For best flavor, use it within a few months but honestly, it never lasts me that long because we use it up well before that mark.
Yes, you can make ranch dressing mix with fresh dill, finely chopped parsley, and chives. However, you will have to store it in the refrigerator and it has a much shorter life than dried ones. For longer storage, consider using dry herbs.
Looking for more related recipes? Here are some ideas:
Did you make this Ranch Seasoning Mix recipe? Please leave a ⭐ recipe rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comments. Thank you!💚
Printable Recipe
Dairy Free Ranch Seasoning Mix
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons dried dill weed
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 ½ tablespoon dried minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1 tablespoon dried chives
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic or garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine: Add all the ingredients directly to a jar or a medium bowl. Stir to combine.
- Store: Transfer to a jelly-size mason jar and close the lid tightly. Store in a cool, dark place.
Notes
- Avoid moisture - Moisture can cause your seasoning mix to clump and lose potency real fast. Use a clean, dry spoon to scoop out the seasoning, and make sure the jar is tightly sealed after each use.
- Use the right salt or omit - For the same reason, I recommend using dry salt. Avoid Celtic or Baja Gold salt, both of which naturally contain moisture.
TJ says
My family loved this! It was easy to add to Greek yogurt.