Skip to Content

3-Minute Ranch Dressing (or Dip!)

This post may contain affiliate links and/or codes. You won’t pay anything extra, but I might make a commission.

Looking for a super quick and easy homemade ranch dressing recipe? You can throw this one together in three minutes!

Ranch dressing in a bowl.

Really, 3 minutes!

No fooling, this ranch dressing takes me three minutes to make (when I’m not stopping to take pictures). You can mix this up in the time it takes your kids to set the table. And, it’s gluten-free!

3-Minute Ranch Dressing ingredients, including herbs, salt, pepper, mayonnaise, and sour cream, plus a mortar and pestle.

Because the herbs are basically pulverized into a powder, you don’t have to wait to eat it – the flavors blend right away.

And, to make it even easier, all of the dry ingredients use the same measuring spoon, so there’s barely any clean-up. I used my awesome kitchen scale to measure out the mayonnaise and sour cream, so I didn’t even have any measuring cups to wash. And let’s face it, mayonnaise and sour cream are two of the fussiest ingredients to get out of a measuring cup.

3-Minute Ranch Dressing ingredients, unmixed in a bowl.

Great as a dressing or a dip

I had this dressing for lunch today, on a healthier version of a Taco Salad. This is my favorite kind of salad and it’s super easy to make.

This also works great as a dip. Just leave out the milk!

No mortar and pestle?

3-Minute Ranch Dressing herbs, pulverized in mortar bowl.

I use an inexpensive mortar and pestle to pulverize the dried herbs, but don’t worry, this recipe is still super quick even if you don’t have a mortar and pestle. You just might have to rename it “5-Minute Ranch Dressing.”

3-Minute Ranch Dressing herbs in baggie

Put all of the dry ingredients in a plastic zipper baggie and press it flat while closing it, so that there’s no extra air inside. Using a rolling pin, roll it over and over until the pieces are mostly tiny. Shake the bag every once in a while to make sure you’re getting everything.

herbs in baggie with a black rolling pin on top

It won’t do some of the herbs quite as fine as a mortar and pestle, but that won’t matter. It will still be absolutely delicious.

After mixing everything up, you can eat it right away, or store in the fridge in an airtight container for about five days.

Make ahead

I’ve also started keeping a container of the pulverized herbs on hand all the time, for when I just want to make a little of the dressing, not a cup. I use two tablespoons of mayonnaise, two tablespoons of sour cream, two teaspoons of milk or buttermilk, and a teaspoon of the dried herb mixture.

Yield: 4 servings

3-Minute Ranch Dressing Recipe

Some recipes say they're ready in minutes, but then you find out that they have to sit for half an hour. Or that it takes three minutes *after* you do a bunch of prep. Well, not this recipe! This delicious, easy homemade ranch dressing really can be ready in literally 3 minutes! #recipe #easy #ranch #ranchdressing

This creamy dressing can be mixed up in a flash and eaten immediately, with barely any clean up.

Want to use it as a dip instead of a dressing? Just leave out the milk!

Prep Time 3 minutes
Total Time 3 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground pepper
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/2 tsp dried chives
  • 1/2 tsp dried dill weed
  • 1/2 cup (120 grams) mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup (104 grams) sour cream
  • 3 tablespoons milk or buttermilk (leave out if using as a dip)

Instructions

  1. Using a mortar and pestle, pulverize all of the dry ingredients
  2. If you don't have a mortar and pestle: put all of the dry ingredients into a plastic zipper baggie, press all of the air out while zipping shut, and use a rolling pin to crush the dry ingredients into tiny pieces
  3. Put mayonnaise, sour cream, and milk (if using) into a medium bowl, add pulverized dry ingredients, and stir together until completely incorporated
  4. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about five days

Notes

If you'd like to make the dressing thinner, stir in a more little milk.

You can mix up the dry herbs ahead of time and keep them on hand for when you want to make just one serving of dressing: stir together 2 tablespoons each of mayonnaise and sour cream, 2 teaspoons of milk or buttermilk, and 1 teaspoon of the dried herb mix.

This dressing goes really well with my Mexican Salad.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases (but you won't pay anything extra!)

Did you make this recipe? I'd love to see it!

Please leave a comment, a great star rating, or share what you made on Instagram, tagging @amyoztan. It really helps me out!

Privacy Policy ~ Full Disclosure ~ Disclaimer
Skip to Recipe