Easy creamy dairy-free ranch dressing made with pantry staples and simple herbs and spices. Seriously the best homemade ranch! It's a healthy alternative to the classic store-bought dressing.
Just like my easy maple tahini dressing, this can be used as dressing or a dip and is ready in 5 minutes.
This is seriously the best dairy-free ranch dressing! Get ready for your new favorite ranch... I cannot wait for you to try this. Once you make homemade ranch, you will never want store-bought again.
Why make your own ranch? First off, it tastes so much better than store bought. Plus, it's much healthier and is SO easy to make! I recommend using Primal Kitchen mayo to keep this dressing as clean and healthy as can be! I also use dried herbs to make it a cinch to whip up. You only need 5 minutes and you have fresh, homemade ranch to last you all week.
Craving more dairy-free dressings? Try my simple lemon honey dressing, maple Dijon salad dressing, dairy-free kale pesto, dairy-free cilantro lime dressing or easy balsamic vinaigrette.
Dairy-free Ranch Ingredients
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below. Here are some specific call-outs, and when needed, some tips on keeping the ingredients clean.
MAYONNAISE - Just like in my healthy chopped broccoli salad, I recommend an avocado oil mayo. It is made with simple clean ingredients and is Paleo compliant. That said, any mayo can be used.
Vegan? If you'd like vegan ranch dressing, simply use vegan mayo.
DAIRY-FREE YOGURT - I like the addition of yogurt to balance the flavor of the mayo. My favorite is Kite Hill almond milk plain unsweetened yogurt. However, any dairy-free unsweetened yogurt will work (I would avoid yogurt made with coconut milk - don't want your ranch tasting like coconut).
DAIRY-FREE MILK - Used to thin the dressing. I like Malk or Elmhurst almond milk, but any dairy-free milk will work. Just make sure it is plain and unsweetened. And if you're in a pinch, use water.
APPLE CIDAR VINEGAR - You can use either apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice.
DRIED HERBS - I recommend organic herbs/spices when possible due to the fact that the FDA does not require spice manufacturers to label spices with added ingredients, like sugar, salt, colors, or preservatives… so you never know exactly what you are getting.
Certified organic spices have more standards. They don't have anything added, so what you see is what you get. With organic, you can also be sure no chemicals were used in the growing process of the spices.
How to Make
This dairy-free ranch couldn't be any easier!
Step 1
Whisk the mayo, yogurt, apple cider vinegar, and milk in a small bowl. Next, add the parsley, chives, dill, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Step 2
Mix the dried herbs in with the mayo/yogurt mixture.
Step 3
Continue mixing until fully combined. And now you have easy, delicious dairy-free ranch dressing!
Recipe FAQs
This will stay fresh for up to 7 days in the fridge. I like to store mine in a mason jar, but any airtight container will work for storing.
Typically, no. Ranch dressing usually consists of buttermilk and sour cream, both of which contain dairy. Luckily there are very good options for making this classic pantry staple dairy free.
Oh yes, my friends! This delicious homemade ranch is so much healthier than store bought. Store bought ranch most likely contains refined oils, added sugars, soy, artificial flavors, natural flavors (which aren't actually "natural") and artificial preservatives.
You can easily make this vegan by using a vegan mayo. All other ingredients are already vegan.
Expert Tips & Notes
Depending on how thin you want your dressing to be, you may need to add an extra tablespoon or two of dairy-free milk. I like my dressing on the thicker side, but this can easily be customized to your liking!
There are so many ways to use ranch dressing! In addition to using this for veggies and salads, try this condiment on my air fryer smashed potatoes, baked potatoes, pizza, wraps, sandwiches, chicken wings/tenders, and/or fries!
Dressing is best after it's chilled in the fridge for a couple of hours. This let's all the flavors blend together to create the most delicious ranch!
Try using fresh herbs! I wanted to keep this recipe extra easy by using dried herbs. But if you want to use fresh, use 1 tbsp. chopped fresh dill, 1 tbsp. finely chopped chives, and 2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley.
More Easy Sauces & Seasonings for You to Try!
If you make this recipe, please let me know what you think! I would so appreciate you leaving a star rating and/or comment below. And don't forget to share a photo on Instagram or Facebook and mention @CleanPlateMama!
Eat Clean.Be Well!
-Sara
Easy Dairy-free Ranch Dressing
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Equipment
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 wire whisk
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise (see notes)
- ½ cup unsweetened, plain dairy-free yogurt (see notes)
- 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- 2-3 tbsp. dairy-free milk (see notes)
- 2 tsp. dried parsley
- 2 tsp. dried chives
- 1 tsp. dried dill
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- ⅛ tsp. fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together mayo, yogurt, apple cider vinegar, and milk in a small mixing bowl.½ cup mayonnaise, ½ cup unsweetened, plain dairy-free yogurt, 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar, 2-3 tbsp. dairy-free milk
- Add remaining ingredients and whisk again until fully combined.2 tsp. dried parsley, 2 tsp. dried chives, 1 tsp. dried dill, ½ tsp. garlic powder, ½ tsp. onion powder , ⅛ tsp. fine sea salt, ¼ tsp. pepper
- Taste and adjust any of the herbs and/or salt & pepper, if you'd like (we like adding extra dill, but we love dill!).
- Enjoy!
Notes
- In order to keep this dressing as clean and healthy as possible, I recommend 100% avocado oil-based mayonnaise (I like Chosen Foods).
- I use plain, unsweetened almond milk yogurt (Kite Hill is my favorite).
- Start with 2 tablespoons of milk. If you want your dressing thinner, add additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Best if chilled in the fridge for a couple of hours, but can be used right away.
- Dressing should be stored in the fridge in an airtight container. It will stay fresh for 7 -10 days.
Nutrition
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Donna C says
Made this dressing. Didn’t care for the vinegar flavor. And was a little bland - had to increase the seasonings.
I’m new to your website and enjoy reading your recipes. Want ti make more!
Sara Ecklin says
Hi Donna - Thank you for your honest feedback. Hopefully it was a little better after you added more seasonings and I hope you are able to give a few more recipes a try! Welcome!
Nikki says
LOVE LOVE LOVE this. So good and my kids loved it.
Sara Ecklin says
So much better than store-bought! Glad you loved it!
Andrew says
Great!
I used fresh dill and green onion, because that was what I had on hand. Tastes just like ranch!
my wife has been dairy free and craving it lately, you made her day!
Sara Ecklin says
Aw, love that I helped to make your wife's day - makes me so happy to hear! And yes to the fresh dill... yumm!
Jenn says
Half a recipe seems to make enough for dip. A bit heavy on the ACV. Wish it had more ranch flavor.
Sara says
Thanks for the note, Jenn! Just checking to make sure you use 1 tsp. ACV and not 1 tbsp.? And if you do make again, you could always add more of the dried herbs to add more ranch flavor. Thanks for giving this recipe a try!