For those embracing carnivore or keto diets, finding suitable condiments can be challenging. Fortunately, this homemade carnivore ranch dressing recipe offers a delicious and healthy alternative to store-bought options, which are often loaded with vegetable oils, stabilizers, and hidden sugars. It’s ridiculously simple. Just whisk everything together in one bowl - no fancy equipment or complicated steps required. This creamy, flavorful dressing is perfect for salads, dips, and various low-carb meals.
Why Choose Homemade Carnivore Ranch Dressing?
Traditional ranch dressing is a crowd favorite, but the keto-friendly version is even more versatile, offering the same delicious taste without the extra carbs. Unlike store-bought versions, this recipe uses only real, whole ingredients, ensuring a clean and wholesome addition to your meals. It's a healthier way to enjoy ranch dressing, made with super easy and crazy affordable ingredients.
Benefits of Homemade Ranch
- Clean Ingredients: No seed oils, preservatives, or weird additives.
- Customizable: Adjust the herbs and seasonings to suit your taste.
- Versatile: Perfect for salads, dips, and as a sauce in various recipes.
- Keto and Carnivore-Friendly: Contains only animal products and minimal seasonings.
Key Ingredients for Carnivore Ranch Dressing
The beauty is that you most likely have all these ingredients in your pantry and fridge right now.
- Mayonnaise: Forms the base of the dressing, providing a rich and creamy texture. Opt for a high-quality mayonnaise or avocado oil-based mayo.
- Sour Cream: Adds a tangy goodness to the dressing.
- Heavy Cream: Contributes to the rich, creamy texture. For a keto ranch dip, use only heavy cream.
- Garlic: A couple of minced cloves add great flavor.
- Herbs: Dill and parsley are essential. Use fresh or freeze-dried herbs.
- Vinegar: White wine vinegar, white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar adds tang.
Step-by-Step Recipe
This keto ranch dressing is a recipe that is used a lot. It’s also a fantastic way to get that creamy dressing fix without compromising low-carb goals.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, heavy cream, minced garlic, dill, parsley, vinegar, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Mix Well: Stir to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
- Adjust to Taste: Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Feel free to adjust the herbs to suit your tastes or add more or less vinegar.
- Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Quick Method
In a small bowl or mason jar, add mayo, sour cream, heavy cream, dill, parsley, vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk ingredients until combined or close mason jar with the lid and shake until combined.
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Variations and Substitutions
- Dairy-Free: Swap the sour cream for dairy-free sour cream or nut milk. Replace the mayonnaise with vegan mayonnaise for a vegan keto ranch dressing.
- Spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce for a spicy kick.
- Dill Pickle Ranch: Use dill pickle juice, chopped pickles, and extra dill for a tangy, salty flavor.
- Cheese: Mix some keto cheese into the dressing. Freshly grated parmesan, asiago, or cheddar!
- Swap mayo: Use keto greek yogurt as a sub for the sour cream and/or the mayo. You can also try avocado! Avocados are SUPER creamy and bring tons of nutrients!
Tips for the Best Carnivore Ranch Dressing
- Fresh vs. Dried Herbs: While dried herbs are convenient, fresh herbs can enhance the dressing’s vibrancy.
- Thickness: Use nut milk for a thinner, pourable dressing. Use heavy cream for a thicker dressing like a dip. To thicken, use a bit of sour cream.
- Flavor Development: Letting the dressing sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour allows the flavors to develop fully.
Serving Suggestions
This keto ranch dressing is the perfect creamy companion to all low-carb meals.
- Salads: Drizzle over a fresh iceberg salad, BLT salad with chicken, or keto taco salad.
- Dips: Serve with fresh veggies or fried radishes.
- Casseroles: Drizzle it over your serving of this low carb taco casserole or use it as part of the creamy sauce in the Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole.
- Sauces: Use as a sauce in Swiss Chicken.
- Appetizers: Dunk into spicy keto fried chicken.
- Egg Wash: In place of an egg wash in the Garlic Parmesan Tenders.
Storage Instructions
Store your ranch dressing in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. This dressing does not freeze well.
Addressing Common Questions
Is Ranch Keto?
Ranch dressing is generally low in carbs, making it suitable for a keto diet. However, many store-bought dressings contain vegetable oils and added sugars that some may avoid. This recipe is an almost zero carb ranch sauce recipe. Most sore bought ranch dressings contain sugar, canola oil or seed oils and additives.
How Many Carbs Are in Ranch Dressing?
In 2 tablespoons of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing, there are 5.9 grams of carbohydrates.
Does Ranch Dressing Have Eggs?
Technically yes, ranch dressing contains eggs because the mayonnaise is made from eggs.
Read also: The Carnivore Diet's Impact on Sleep
Can I Freeze Ranch Dressing?
You sure can. Simply place it in an airtight container. Thaw in the fridge overnight and stir before using.
The Versatility of Ranch Dressing
Aside from using ranch as a simple salad dressing, use it in baking, casseroles, and sauces. It’s so versatile that it is great to find ways/excuses to eat it outside of just the salad bowl! It is literally the perfect condiment on basically anything you can think of! No matter how you eat it, you’re going to love it!
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