Peppercorn Ranch

Peppercorn Ranch is the best salad dressing or party dip! This simple recipe is made with the classic ranch dressing mix and is sure to be a favorite.

An easy green salad is my go-to side dish for just about any meal and our favorite way to top any salad is ranch dressing. Throw in some toasted garlic bread and make it a meal.

Peppercorn Ranch ~ Easy Salad Dressing or Dip

If you love restaurant ranch dressing, chances are it’s made with Hidden Valley Ranch Mix. Making it at home with buttermilk and homemade mayo or even brand name mayonnaise is so much better than the bottled version and takes less than 5 minutes. Add in some grated parmesan cheese and coarse ground peppercorns for a kicked up version.

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Ingredients for Peppercorn Ranch Recipe

• Buttermilk ~ Whole milk can be substituted or add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice for a buttermilk substitute.
• Mayonnaise ~ Use your favorite brand, do not substitute Miracle Whip.
• Ranch Dressing Mix ~ One packet makes 2 cups of dressing or if you love ranch as much as we do, look for the spice bottle size.
• Parmesan Cheese ~ Fresh grated parmesan cheese is the perfect addition to the creamy ranch flavors.
• Coarse Ground Pepper ~ Grind peppercorns on the coarse setting or use restaurant grind black pepper.

How to Make Parmesan Peppercorn Ranch Dressing

1. In a bowl, add buttermilk, mayonnaise, ranch dressing mix, grated parmesan and coarse pepper.

2. Whisk together until completely smooth.

3. Pour into a small pitcher or a mason jar for serving.

Recipe Tips

• Yield: About 2 cups
• Storage: Ranch dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. These deli containers or a mason jar works great.
• For Thinner Dressing: Whole milk makes a thinner dressing than buttermilk. If dressing is too thin using buttermilk, add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until desired consistency is reached.
• Uses: Top your favorite salads, makes a great pasta salad dressing or coleslaw dressing. Great as a dip for fried foods, chips or vegetables. Try it on pizza or dipping breadsticks.

Variations for Peppercorn Ranch

• Salsa Ranch: Add 1/2 cup picante sauce or salsa in place of 1/2 of the buttermilk for a Tex-Mex twist. 
• Creamy BBQ Ranch: Mix ranch with equal parts bbq sauce for a unique dipping sauce. Add 1 – 2 tablespoons hot sauce for a spicy kick.
• Easy Blue Cheese Dressing: Mix in crumbled blue cheese and skip the Parmesan.  

Make Peppercorn Ranch Dip

​Substitute sour cream or Greek yogurt for the buttermilk. Cover and chill 30 minutes to one hour before serving. Great with crunchy vegetables, crackers or chips.

My mom makes amazing homemade ranch dressing, but I can’t ever quite make it as good as hers. I’ve tried many homemade recipes but I always go back to the Hidden Valley Ranch Mix.

We served our Fried Cheese Curds with this Parmesan Peppercorn Ranch and it was the best combination. We also love it for fried pickles and fried okra.

More Homemade Dressing Recipes:

• Creamy Italian Dressing
• Creamy Citrus Dressing
• Roasted Garlic Salad Dressing

Add this Peppercorn Ranch to your must-try list for summer salads and the easiest dipping sauce you can make. We love it on practically everything and I know you will too!

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