Mazzio's Ranch Dressing Recipe
This Mazzio's Ranch Dressing Recipe combines mayonnaise, buttermilk, garlic, and herbs for a rich homemade ranch perfect for pizza nights.
Equipment
- Medium mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Spoon or spatula
- Small storage container or mason jar
- Knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
Optional Add-Ins
- Pinch of cayenne pepper for heat
- Extra buttermilk for thinner dressing
- Fresh chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
Step 1: Combine the creamy ingredients
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk.
- Whisk everything together slowly until smooth and creamy. At first it might look slightly lumpy from the sour cream, but keep whisking and it will smooth out.
- The first time I made this Mazzio's Ranch Dressing Recipe, I dumped everything in too quickly and splashed buttermilk all over the counter. So now I mix slowly at the start.
Step 2: Add the seasonings
- Sprinkle in the garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, dried dill, dried chives, salt, and black pepper.
- Add the lemon juice and vinegar too.
- Whisk again until all the herbs and spices are fully mixed into the dressing. You should start smelling that familiar ranch flavor almost immediately.
- I noticed the garlic powder really matters here. Fresh garlic sounds like a good idea, but it can overpower the dressing and make it taste harsher.
Step 3: Adjust the consistency
- Take a look at the texture.
- If you want thicker ranch for dipping pizza or wings, leave it as is.
- If you prefer a thinner dressing for salads, add another tablespoon or two of buttermilk and whisk again.
- What worked better for me was keeping it slightly thick because it naturally thins a little after chilling.
Step 4: Taste and balance the flavor
- Dip a spoon into the ranch and taste it.
- If it tastes too tangy, add a tiny spoonful of mayo. If it feels too thick or rich, add a splash of buttermilk.
- Sometimes buttermilk brands vary in sharpness, so don't be afraid to adjust things slightly.
Step 5: Chill the dressing
- Cover the bowl or transfer the ranch to an airtight container.
- Place it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
- This part makes a huge difference. The herbs soften, the flavors blend together, and the dressing thickens slightly.
- I once skipped the chill time because we were in a hurry for pizza night, and honestly the flavor wasn't nearly as good.
Step 6: Stir and serve
- Before serving, give the ranch a quick stir.
- This Mazzio's Ranch Dressing Recipe is best served cold with pizza, salads, wings, veggies, fries, or sandwiches.
- Sometimes I sprinkle a little extra dried parsley on top if I'm serving it at a party, but most of the time we just grab spoons and start dipping.
Notes
- Use full-fat mayo and sour cream for the best texture.
- Chill the dressing for at least an hour before serving.
- Add extra buttermilk a little at a time.
- Store the ranch in a mason jar for easy mixing and pouring.
- Taste the ranch after chilling because flavors become stronger over time.
- Double the batch if you're serving wings or pizza because people always use more ranch than expected.