Let's be honest, in a world where food choices are both personal and polarizing, we all tend to agree on one simple truth: ranch on everything, amirite?
Ranch dressing, the undisputed king of creamy, herby goodness, is a pleasure we can all get behind. Whether it is perking up our salads, providing a tangy dip for vegetables, or the dunk of choice for everything from wings to pizza, ranch is just a little bit of magic. And while there is nothing at all wrong with that ubiquitous bottle of Hidden Valley in your fridge, we all have to admit, the ranch at restaurants just tastes better. What's up with that?
What Makes Restaurant Ranch So Good?
There are, in fact, a couple of things "up". First and foremost, chances are better at restaurants, that your salad is being tossed with a lot more dressing than you indulge in at home—and as we all know, mo' ranch, mo' better. Many fast-casual places, especially good ones, make their ranch either completely from scratch, or doctor it up instead of using a commercial version straight from the bottle.
While they may have their proprietary versions of homemade ranch, most will include buttermilk, onion or shallot, and garlic, plus herbs like parsley, dill, and chives. Even when a restaurant does start with premade ranch, they will often fold in extra fresh herbs, and maybe even more buttermilk, to lighten and bring in some brighter flavors that can be lost in shelf-stable bottling.
Making ranch from scratch is not particularly complicated, and results in a dressing that is simply head and shoulders above the bottle. Without any of the additives, preservatives, or texturizers, you get a super creamy dressing that coats anything it touches lightly and is never claggy. Scratch ranch relies on fresh herbs and aromatics, which bring bite and those pops of grassy flavor that dried or powdered versions never can, so you get an eating experience that is elevated. Usually, ranch recipes will contain fresh buttermilk, and sometimes sour cream as well, for a tang that is really balanced.
How to Elevate Your Ranch at Home
If you don't have time or inclination to make your dressing from scratch, but you want that elevated restaurant-style ranch, think about zhuzhing up the bottled version with things like finely chopped shallot or scallion, a clove of minced fresh garlic, a splash of buttermilk or dollop of sour cream if you have them around, and certainly at least one fresh herb—chives and parsley are obvious choices that are available year-round.
If you want to bring in some extra freshness, grated cucumber that has been squeezed dry is a terrific addition, as is finely minced radish which can bring both crunch and a peppery bite. And of course, you can always make a flavored ranch by adding in mashed roasted garlic, sriracha (or your favorite hot pepper sauce), barbecue spices, cilantro and lime, and more.
And it goes without saying, that while the ranch experience at restaurants can be superior, even a mediocre ranch is still pretty fantastic. So never hesitate to pull out the bottle or start with the packet. You'll get no complaints where ranch is concerned.
FAQs
Scratch ranch relies on fresh herbs and aromatics, which bring bite and those pops of grassy flavor that dried or powdered versions never can, so you get an eating experience that is elevated. Usually, ranch recipes will contain fresh buttermilk, and sometimes sour cream as well, for a tang that is really balanced.
What kind of ranch dressing does restaurants use? ›
It's no secret that Hidden Valley Ranch is a staple ingredient in many homemade ranch dressings, but did you know that restaurants also rely on this classic brand? According to several chefs I spoke with, Hidden Valley Ranch provides the perfect balance of tanginess and creaminess that customers love.
Why is restaurant ranch so creamy? ›
Because while some restaurants do use a bottled shelf stable dressing, what you are referring to is a powdered ranch mix (typically the Hidden Valley brand) that the restaurant cooks add milk/ buttermilk and sour cream to make their dressing.
What gives ranch dressing its taste? ›
Ranch dressing is a savoury, creamy American salad dressing usually made from buttermilk, salt, garlic, onion, mustard, herbs (commonly chives, parsley and dill), and spices (commonly pepper, paprika and ground mustard seed) mixed into a sauce based on mayonnaise or another oil emulsion.
What percent of Americans say that ranch is their favorite salad dressing? ›
🥗 Around 40% of Americans say ranch dressing is their favorite salad dressing—and it's so creamy and tasty, what's not to love? 🤔 On the other hand, some researchers estimate that up to 48% of Americans can't properly digest most dairy products...
What ranch does Wingstop use? ›
They use packets of dry Hidden Valley Ranch to flavor their dressing. It is the leading brand of ranch seasoning around, offering a rich, zesty flavor. Our easy-to-make Wingstop ranch dressing recipe uses this dry seasoning mix. However, you can make homemade ranch seasoning mix if you prefer.
What is the difference between restaurant ranch and bottled ranch? ›
The difference is dairy
The key difference between bottled ranch and ranch that's been mixed from a packet — which is what's usually served in restaurants — is that ranch made from a mix usually contains real dairy ingredients. The store-bought varieties don't.
What kind of ranch is Chick Fil A ranch? ›
A creamy buttermilk ranch sauce with savory garlic, onion and herb flavors. Nutrition information is calculated using standard product formulations and incorporates multiple data sources.
Why is there no Hidden Valley Ranch? ›
Have you scoured the aisles of your local grocery store searching for your beloved Hidden Valley Ranch only to leave the store empty-handed, or with another brand? Clorox, Hidden Valley's parent company, is dealing with a cyberattack that has affected the dressing's production.
Why does Hidden Valley Ranch taste different? ›
The ranch packet has a fresher taste, because you add your own mayo and milk. Even though all the herbs and spices in the mix are dried, they rehydrate quickly and leave you with a product that feels homemade. This version of Hidden Valley Ranch is more flavorful than the bottled version and much, much thicker.
The ranch and pizza combination is known to be most popular in the Midwest, but people have been known to dip pizza in the good stuff everywhere from Texas to California. The final frontier is the East Coast, where many pizza joints don't carry ranch dressing, and those that stock it, do so begrudgingly.
Why is ranch so addicting? ›
Natural and artificial flavors. This is part of the reason why Ranch is so addicting. and you can't stop eating it, because it has all these ingredients in here, like MSG, that excite neurons in your brain, and they're quite literally addictive.
Why do Americans love ranch dressing? ›
As dipping sauces go, ranch dressing might be the most versatile condiment the world over. It balances the tang of buttermilk with the tongue-coating heft of mayo, a few aromatic herbs, and a generous balance of salt, and it's uniquely American.
Is ranch just flavored mayo? ›
Ranch Dressing Ingredients
Sour cream and mayonnaise: The base for this creamy ranch recipe is a mixture of sour cream and mayonnaise. Seasonings: This flavorful ranch dressing is seasoned with dried chives, dried parsley, dried dill weed, dried garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and ground black pepper.
Where is the real Hidden Valley Ranch? ›
The Hidden Valley® Guest Ranch is located near Santa Barbara in California and was favored by visitors who wanted to enjoy the natural surroundings. To read more about how this Ranch dressing became so popular, click here.
What is the most consumed salad dressing in the United States? ›
The ranch is hands down America's most beloved salad dressings. It is made from a number of ingredients such as buttermilk, mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, onion, chives, salt, and pepper.
Where is ranch dressing most popular? ›
More than being uniquely American, ranch dressing has become the iconic condiment of the Midwest.
Why is ranch so good with pizza? ›
While pizza gets topped with almost anything these days, it's traditionally covered in cheese and tomatoes. Ranch dressing is full of fat and acidic tang — complementing the cheese and tomato — and works as a palate cleanser, cutting through grease and preparing you for the next bite.
Is eating ranch dressing good for you? ›
Vitamins And Minerals
One serving of ranch dressing provides a considerable amount of vitamin K. Canola oil is the primary ingredient in bottled ranch dressings which is a good source of vitamin K. Vitamin K is stored in the body's fat tissues because it is a fat-soluble vitamin.
