Amazing Homemade Ranch Dressing

(Keto, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free & Grain-Free)

With Just 4 Ingredients!

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Ranch dressing is one of those things that is probably universally loved by just about everyone.  Am I right?  Nevertheless, for many years I avoided putting ranch dressing on my salad or consuming ranch dip, because I thought it was so unhealthy.  And in many respects, I was correct. 

Most ranch dressings and dips on the market are pretty darn unhealthy!  Just take a look at a bottle of Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing and you’ll see.  Sadly, their new packaging on the bottle boasts that their dressing is keto-friendly.  It does have a high fat content, I’ll give them that.  However, it is the wrong kind of fat! 

Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing, as well as several others on the market (including some of the organic ones!), are made using soybean and/or canola oil.  Also included in their recipe is monosodium glutamate (a.k.a. MSG), natural and artificial flavors (also code for more MSG!) and other unpronounceable ingredients that I generally recommend steering clear of!

Why Do We Need Healthy Fats?

Unfortunately for many people, the general thought on the street is that fat is bad for you.  If you eat fat, it will make you fat.  I, myself, fell victim to this erroneous thought for decades and avoided fat like the plague! 

On the contrary, not all fat is created equal.  Nor will all fat make you fat!  Whereas, some fats should be avoided like the plague, others should be eaten without worry.  In fact, our bodies will be deprived of vital nutrients, if we don’t eat them, causing us to be malnourished! 

In addition to providing our bodies with energy, we need healthy fats to:

• Balance hormones
• Absorb certain fat soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E and K
• Help keep inflammation low
• Regulate immunity
• Boost your metabolism
• Increase satiety, by adding richness to foods
• Maintain the health of cells

What Kind of Fat Is the Good Fat?

In order to promote a healthy ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fats in our diet of 1:1, focus on eating fats that occur naturally in food or have been minimally processed.  Foods containing these types of fats include wild saltwater fish (like salmon), flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, avocados and avocado oil, olives and olive oil, coconut oil and grass-fed or pasture-raised animal products.  These foods are naturally higher in Omega 3 fats and are anti-inflammatory.  If you need more information on how to incorporate more good fats into your diet, see this great article on Healthy Fats on a Keto or Low-Carb Diet.    

What Fats Should I Avoid?

In addition, it may help to avoid eating foods containing highly processed vegetable oils and other polyunsaturated fats, such as sunflower oil, safflower oil, canola oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, soy or soybean oil, etc.  These unhealthy fats are high in Omega 6 fats and are found in many store bought salad dressings and processed foods.  They are responsible for causing inflammation in the body, leading to heart disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and many types of cancer.

What’s In It?

I have tried making my own ranch dressing so many times.  However, it never quite turned out.  A store-bought brand was always better. Until now!  I can honestly say that this recipe is just as good, if not better, than any ranch dressing you could ever buy at a store.  It includes only the following 4 ingredients:

• Mayonnaise
• Sour Cream
• Heavy Whipping Cream
• Ranch Seasoning

Mayonnaise

I LOVE the Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Mayonnaise.  Another brand to consider is Primal Kitchen’s Mayo made with Avocado Oil.  These brands have been recipe savers!  There are so many recipes I didn’t make for years because they called for mayonnaise.  Most of the mayonnaise brands on the market are made with soybean or canola oil and other harmful ingredients that are making millions of people sick.  These two brands include only the good stuff and provide 11g to 12g of good fat per serving!  

Sour Cream

Horizon Organics Sour Cream and Kalona SuperNatural Organic Sour Cream are my two go-to sour cream brands.  I always buy organic dairy brands, since they contain less hormones (such as estrogen), pesticides and antibiotics than non-dairy brands.  I also look for brands that have highest fat content.  Good brands have at least 5 grams of fat in a serving.  Even better brands have upwards of 7 grams per serving! 

Heavy Whipping Cream

As for the cream, I generally buy the Organic Valley Heavy Whipping Cream because they sell a half gallon container at my local store.  And I use a lot of cream each week!  The ingredient label simply states: Organic Grade A Cream. 

The other brand I really like is Kalona SuperNatural Organic Whipping Cream.  However, I would steer clear of brands that have additives in their creams. Many creams include harmful ingredients, such as Monoglycerides, Diglycerides, Carrageenan, Polysorbate 80 and/or Gellan Gum, when all you really need is cream!      

Ranch Seasoning

Although you can find a Ranch Seasoning packet in just about any grocery store, many of the pre-made mixes have harmful ingredients in them, like MSG and artificial flavoring.  Therefore, I make my own Ranch Seasoning mix.

Most mixes contain dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder and salt, as does mine. If you don’t have Ranch Seasoning on hand, you can combine the herbs you already have in your pantry to make your own.

Uses for Ranch Dressing

I’m not sure there is anything that ranch dip or dressing wouldn’t add flavor, too!  But here are a few ways I use Ranch Dressing.

• Salad Dressing – Top your favorite salad with this dressing.  Don’t be shy!
• Dip – Dip fresh veggie sticks or cooked meat, such as chicken tenders or wings, in this dip. Fries made out of just about any root vegetable taste great dipped in it, too!
• Casseroles – Add this to some chicken and broccoli in a casserole dish, top it with cheese and you have a chicken ranch casserole!
• Meat – Top baked chicken or fish with a dollop for added fat and flavor. 
• Vegetables – Top vegetables (whether they be baked, roasted, grilled, fried or steamed) with a dollop for added fat and flavor, too!

How Long Will It Last?

Quite frankly, this dressing probably won’t last more than a week or two in your refrigerator, since you’ll eat it so fast!  However, I generally make 8 cups of this dressing at a time, since it’s a family favorite.  And I have never had a batch go bad on me.

To be safe, I’d probably use it within a month or two.  But with all of the seasonings included in the dressing acting as a preservative, such as the salt, it would probably even be safe to use for up to 3 months, assuming you prepared the dressing with fresh ingredients. 

Be sure to store the dressing in a container that has a tight fitting seal.  I have used 8 to 10 ounce mason jars for storage.  However, I find that I like the 2 cup Pyrex bowls even better.  The Pyrex bowls are easier to scoop the dressing out of and they make great dipping bowls. 

Once you’ve made your own Ranch Dressing, you’ll never want to buy another store-bought bottle again!  It’s so easy to make at home and only includes the good wholesome ingredients your family will love.  And you can all eat it guilt-free!

Have you tried making your own Ranch Dressing?  How did it turn out?  Please share below.