Name: Creamy Dill Pickle Ranch Dressing Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: ½ cup mayonnaise; ½ cup sour cream; ¼ cup buttermilk; ¼ cup dill pickle juice; ⅓ cup dill pickles (finely chopped); 3 tablespoons fresh dill (finely chopped); 1 clove fresh garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon onion powder; Salt and pepper (as needed/to taste)

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This Creamy Dill Pickle Ranch Dressing is not just a dressing, it's a game-changer! Combining tangy dill pickles with zesty ranch, this homemade ranch dressing is sure to jazz up your salads, sandwiches, and party dips. It's a fun twist on the classic ranch that brings a whole new level of flavor, perfect for all the pickle lovers out there!

Jar of the dill ranch dressing with fresh dill in the background.

In my family, we take our love of ranch dressing seriously - we basically consider it its own food group. Seriously, if the human body is supposed to be about 60% water, I'm convinced my family is made up of 60% ranch dressing!

At our family restaurant, the creamy ranch was always the top dressing pick. And as an adult, I love those Taylor Farms dill pickle salad kits! I knew I needed to recreate my own version of the dill pickle dressing. So, we're super excited to share our version –Creamy Dill Pickle Ranch Dressing. It's a zesty twist on the classic that you're going to want to drizzle on everything!

Table of Contents

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Crowd pleaser: This recipe combines the flavor of two beloved ingredients - pickles and ranch. Whether it's a weeknight family dinner or a special occasion, it's bound to be a big hit.
Versatile: Use it on your favorite salads, dunk your favorite fresh veggies or chips, spread it on sandwiches, or dress up your pasta salads.
Easy and quick: With simple ingredients and instructions, it's foolproof and can be made in a snap!

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for the dressing spread out on a wood surface.

Mayonnaise: Any brand works - we were a Hellmann's family growing up, but since moving to the south, I'm 100% team Duke's!

Sour cream: Opt for full-fat for that extra creamy touch.

Buttermilk: Adds a nice tang and gets the consistency just right.

Dill pickle juice: Simply drain out some of the pickle brine straight from the jar.

Finely chopped dill pickles: You can chop your own with a food processor, but I find it easier to buy dill relish, which is already chopped and you can still use its juice.

Fresh dill: Brings in a pop of herby freshness. Dried dill works in a pinch, but fresh is best.

Garlic clove: I like the fresh garlic, but if you want you can use a teaspoon of garlic powder instead.

Onion powder: Fresh onion would be too powerful, in my opinion, so go with the dried for sure.

Salt and pepper: This is all added to your taste preferences. Remember, the pickles add saltiness, so you may not even need the salt.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Steps 1 and 2 showing whisking the mayo mixture and adding in the chopped dill pickles to the bowl.

Steps 1-2: Whisk together the mayo, sour cream, buttermilk, pickle juice, and chopped pickles.

Steps 3 and 4 showing adding the herbs and spices and the dressing in a jar.

Steps 3-4: Stir in the seasons. Taste the dressing and add salt and pepper as needed. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Expert Tips

Shake it up: Always give your ranch a good shake before serving to help mix together any ingredients that might have settled at the bottom of the jar.

Full fat: Using full-fat mayonnaise and dairy products makes the dressing super creamy.

Let it marinate: Letting the dressing sit in the fridge for at least an hour allows the flavors to meld together.

Herb swap: No fresh dill weed? Dry dill works too. Just use a third of what the recipe calls for since it's more concentrated.

Stick to dill pickles: I'd recommend avoiding other types of pickles, like bread and butter pickles, which would be too sweet.

Variations

For a little bit of heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a splash of hot sauce. You can even add a dash of buffalo wing sauce!

If you prefer a thinner dressing, add more buttermilk or pickle juice. Thinner dressings make drizzling over salads easier.

If you want a thicker dressing, reduce the buttermilk or add more mayo. This is perfect for making it into a ranch dip.

Experiment with your own seasoning blend. Try adding paprika, parsley, or chives for a custom twist.

Substitute plain Greek yogurt for sour cream. It adds a tangier flavor - just make sure it's plain Greek yogurt and not flavored.

Try adding some crumbled feta cheese for an extra layer of flavor.

FAQ

How long does dill pickle ranch last in the fridge? How should it be stored?

Dill pickle ranch can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Always keep it in an airtight container to maintain freshness. A 12-ounce mason jar works great - it's what I used.

What type of pickle do I need to use?

I recommend sticking with dill pickles. Sweet pickles may offer a sweeter taste that might not be well-balanced in this particular recipe. Now, you can use things like dill garlic or spicy pickles or some sort of other variation of dill pickles - just make sure it doesn't have added sugar. However, it's YOUR dressing, so feel free to experiment if you want, just be prepared to taste and adjust as you go.

Can I make a big batch?

Absolutely! This recipe scales up perfectly. Just multiply the ingredients by the number of servings you need. It's great for parties or if you want to have a tasty dressing on hand for the week.

What can I substitute for buttermilk?

If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a quick substitute by adding a tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a cup of regular milk. Let it sit for about 5 minutes before using it in the recipe.

What goes well with pickle ranch?

Creamy Dill Pickle Ranch Dressing is so versatile! The tangy flavors of the pickles add a zesty kick to so many dishes! Of course, you can drizzle over your favorite green salad, but here are a few other ideas for pairing:

Spoon dipping into a jar of the dressing.

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