Have you ever considered making your own salad dressing? Once you realize how easy and delicious it is, you might never go back to store-bought versions. This homemade keto ranch dressing is a creamy, tangy, and healthy alternative to traditional store-bought dressings, which often contain added sugars, unhealthy fats, and unwanted additives like monosodium glutamate. As long as you use quality ingredients, this homemade keto salad dressing doesn't have any added sugars. It's super easy to make low-carb salad dressings.
Why Make Your Own Keto Ranch Dressing?
Traditional ranch dressing from the grocery store often contains problematic fats from vegetable oils like canola oil, which can be inflammatory. Many brands also add sugars or high fructose corn syrup. By making your own, you control the ingredients and can ensure it aligns with your keto or low-carb lifestyle.
This recipe is not only healthy but also incredibly versatile. Use it on a side salad. It’s perfect for dipping, as a salad dressing, or as a luscious sauce. My family love this to dunk chicken wings, but it can be thinned out for a salad dressing too. You can adjust the thickness and flavor to your liking, making it a staple in your kitchen.
Ingredients You'll Need
The beauty is that you most likely have all these ingredients in your pantry and fridge right now. Here’s what you need to create this delicious keto ranch dressing:
- Mayonnaise: Serves as a base for the dressing, providing a rich and creamy texture. To make a low-carb ranch dressing, use regular mayo, an olive oil-based mayo, or one made with avocado oil. Also, make sure it's a sugar-free mayonnaise. You can use store bought or homemade. Yes, you can make your own homemade mayo with whole egg, egg yolk, apple cider vinegar, mustard, and olive oil. Opt for a high-quality, sugar free mayonnaise to keep it keto-friendly. To lower the carbs, use all mayo instead of sour cream.
- Sour Cream: Serves as a base for the ranch dressing, adding tanginess and creaminess.
- Heavy Cream: Used to thin out the dressing to your desired consistency. For keto ranch dip, use only heavy cream.
- Dill: Can use fresh dill or dried dill depending on what is in season or available at your grocery store. Fresh herbs have a stronger more pronounced flavor.
- Parsley: Can use fresh parsley or dried parsley. Fresh herbs have a stronger more pronounced flavor.
- Onion Powder: To make this an easy recipe, I used onion powder over fresh onion.
- Vinegar: I used white wine vinegar in this keto dressing, but white vinegar or apple cider vinegar will also work. This just adds some tang or acid to the dressing. Don’t omit this. You can always increase or decrease the amount of vinegar depending on your taste preference.
- Garlic Powder: Adds a savory depth to the dressing.
- Salt and Pepper: To taste, enhancing the overall flavor.
Optional Ingredients for Customization
- Lemon Juice: Adds a touch of brightness and enhances the tangy flavor.
- Homemade Ranch Seasoning (Ranch Spice Mix): I make this in a batch and keep it in the pantry.
- Buttermilk: If you make your own ranch dressing mix, then you may have powdered buttermilk. You can use it in this recipe as well by mixing it with water.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making this homemade keto ranch dressing is incredibly simple and requires no special equipment. No need for a food processor either. Here’s how to do it:
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- Combine the ingredients: To a small bowl or a mason jar, add mayo, sour cream, heavy cream, dill, parsley, vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. In a medium bowl, mix together the mayonnaise and sour cream.
- Mix well: Whisk ingredients until combined or close mason jar with the lid and shake until combined. Mix together until well combined.
- Adjust consistency: Slowly add milk and mix until combined. Use nut milk for a thinner pourable dressing. Use heavy cream for a thicker dressing like a dip. If the ranch dressing is too thick, add a little more milk.
- Chill: Transfer to a jar with a lid. Transfer to a mason jar or an airtight container. Use right away or let sit in the refrigerator for 1 hour for ingredients to meld together and flavor to develop. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes to let the dressing thicken.
Tips for the Perfect Keto Ranch
- Fresh vs. Dried Herbs: While dried herbs work well, fresh herbs provide a more vibrant and pronounced flavor.
- Adjusting Thickness: For a thinner dressing, use nut milk instead of cream. For a thicker dip, omit the nut milk or use only heavy cream.
- Flavor Development: Allowing the dressing to sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving helps the flavors meld together.
Variations and Creative Uses
This keto ranch dressing is incredibly versatile. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Mix with Blue Cheese: Mix the ranch dressing with some crumbled blue cheese. Then use it as a dipping sauce for keto-friendly chicken wings.
- Avocado Ranch: Mix the dressing with mashed avocado.
- Egg or Chicken Salad: Instead of boring ol’ mayo, use it in your egg salad or chicken salad recipes.
- Spicy Ranch: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few drops of your favorite hot sauce for a spicy kick.
- Dill Pickle Ranch: Use dill pickle juice, chopped pickles, and extra dill for a tangy, salty flavour.
- Dairy-Free Ranch: Instead of sour cream, either add all mayonnaise or substitute with dairy free yogurt or coconut cream. If you prefer a vegan keto ranch dressing then replace the mayonnaise with vegan mayonnaise.
Serving Suggestions
This Keto Ranch Dressing Recipe is a great way to enjoy a classic ranch dressing on the keto diet. It’s easy to make with fresh ingredients and without added sugar like the store-bought bottled stuff.
- Salads: Drizzle over your favorite keto-friendly salads. This delicious keto ranch dressing recipe is delicious when you serve it on this Garden Salad with Chicken recipe.
- Dips: Serve as a dip for vegetables, chicken wings, or keto-friendly fries. You could also dip these Instant Pot Chicken Wings in it for a creamy touch with delicious flavors.
- Marinades: Use it as a marinade for chicken or fish. (Don't miss this Cheesy Keto Ranch Chicken.
- Sauces: Incorporate it into casseroles or as a sauce for dishes like Swiss Chicken. Aside from using ranch as a simple salad dressing, use it in baking, casseroles, and sauces.
Storage Instructions
Store your ranch dressing in an air tight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. Homemade ranch dressing will last for up to a week in the refrigerator provided that it is tightly sealed. This dressing does not freeze well.
Common Questions
- Is ranch dressing keto? Ranch dressing is generally low in carbs, so it is keto generally speaking; however, many bottled dressings use vegetable oils and add sugars that some following a strict keto diet may be avoiding.
- How many carbs are in ranch dressing? In 2 tablespoons of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing, there are 5.9 grams of carbohydrates.
- How to thicken ranch dressing? If you want to make ranch dip, simply omit the heavy cream or only add heavy cream and not a nut milk.
- How to thin out your dressing? To thin out your dressing, use nut milk instead of the cream.
- Does ranch dressing have eggs? Technically yes, ranch dressing contains eggs because the mayonnaise is made from eggs.
- Can I make this homemade keto salad dressing in advance? Yes, you can.
- Can I freeze ranch dressing? You sure can. Simply place it in an airtight container. Thaw in the fridge overnight and stir before using.
Homemade Keto Ranch Dressing Recipe
A creamy homemade keto ranch dressing you can make up in minutes. This low carb ranch dressing is easy to make and tastes way better than the bottled ranch you find at the store. It comes together in just minutes and with only a few basic ingredients so it’s budget-friendly!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup mayonnaise (sugar-free, olive oil-based, or avocado oil-based)
- 1 cup milk (or ½ cup sour cream + ½ cup milk)
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, minced (optional)
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill, minced (optional)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar (or white vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until combined.
- Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes to let the dressing thicken.
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