Is ranch dairy-free? No, but you can buy it or make it dairy free.
Ranch is a delicious dressing, tasty pizza dip, and a yummy sauce in wraps.
It is a versatile food that tastes oh-so-good in so many dishes.
This dressing is well-known for being salad’s best friend.
However, if you’re lactose-intolerant or have a dairy allergy, can you and Ranch be best friends?
Stay tuned to learn all about this delicious dip and how anyone can enjoy it.
What is Ranch, is it dairy free?
Nebraska cowboy/entrepreneur Steve Henson founded the company Hidden Valley Ranch in the 1980s. Since then, it has become one of the most popular dressings at dinner tables in the United States.
You can buy a ranch in a bottle at the store, use a seasoning packet, or make your own from scratch.
So, what is in this delicious dressing, and is it dairy-free?
The main ingredients in ranch dressing are:
- Buttermilk
- Garlic
- Salt
- Onion
- Mustard
- Herbs (chives, dill, and parsley)
- Spices (paprika, pepper, ground mustard seed)
- Mayonnaise
Unfortunately, the original dressing and ranch seasoning recipes are not dairy-free.
Dairy-Free Ranch Options
Okay, now that we’ve established that Ranch is not dairy-free, the article is finished, right?
This is a lactose-intolerance blog, after all, isn’t it?
WAIT, DON’T LEAVE!
There’s hope!
We didn’t just bring you to this article to taunt you and let you know that you can’t eat this creamy treat.
There are many ranch dressing recipes and products on the market that are completely dairy-free.
Here is a comprehensive list of all the ways you can enjoy ranch dressing without worrying about your stomach or allergies!
Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing from the Supermarket
If you don’t want to make your own dairy-free ranch dressing, there are numerous options available on the market. Most grocery stores in the U.S. sell these brands, but you can also find them on Amazon. Some of the best non-dairy ranch dressing from the store includes:
Hidden Valley Plant-Powered Ranch
The original Hidden Valley Ranch company recently added a plant-based option to its line-up. Does it taste like the original? You bet it does.
Many people who tasted this plant-based substitute said it tastes exactly like the original Hidden Valley Ranch. Best part? Not a drop of dairy, eggs, or gluten.
Tessemae’s Organic Creamy Ranch Dressing
Hidden Valley isn’t the only company serving up delicious ranch dressing. Tessemae’s has an organic, dairy-free ranch dressing that is creamy and decadent.
Instead of buttermilk, the company uses sunflower oil and egg yolks. It isn’t vegan, but it is an organic, gluten-free, and non-GMO alternative to standard ranch dressing.
Daiya Homestyle Ranch
Daiya is one of the plant-based industry’s most well-known brands. Their homestyle vegan ranch dressing doesn’t disappoint.
Reviewers love that this ranch alternative has the same texture and flavor as the original. Even better is that there are no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in this delicious dairy-free dressing.
Just Ranch
Just Ranch is one of the highest-rated dairy-free dressings out of the group. It is dairy, gluten, soy, and egg-free and is 100% vegan.
Additionally, it is one of the best dupes for the original. Many people say that it actually tastes better than traditional Ranch. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find, but hopefully, that changes!
Primal Kitchen
Primal Kitchen offers a fantastic product if you are looking for a healthy version of the storebought ranch. The formula is not vegan because it has eggs, but it doesn’t have any dairy, gluten, or soy and is Paleo and Whole 30 approved.
It won’t fool you, but it still tastes delicious.
Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing Recipes
Vegan and dairy-free ranch dressings can be more expensive than regular ranch. They also tend to come in small sizes. If you want to pay less and make more dairy-free ranch, you can try making your own. There are many fabulous dairy-free ranch recipes out there that you can try, including:
Classic Ranch Recipe
This classic, dairy-free ranch recipe from Kree528 on Food.com is decadent without a trace of lactose.
Ingredients in this homemade recipe include mayonnaise, lemon juice, soymilk, dried herbs (parsley, chives, dill), garlic powder, onion powder, and ground black pepper. While the original recipe isn’t plant-based, you can use vegan mayonnaise instead if you’d like.
Best Homemade Dairy-Free Ranch
CleanGreenandCaffeine.com claims to have the best homemade dairy-free recipe on the internet.
While we haven’t tried every recipe, this one is pretty tasty. It has mayonnaise (use vegan for a plant-based ranch), pickle juice, minced onion, onion powder, garlic powder, and fresh garlic. The pickle juice gives it a nice tang.
Best Vegan and Dairy-Free Tofu Ranch Dressing (Low-Fat)
You’re probably reading this and thinking, tofu? Yes, there is tofu in this ranch dressing recipe, and it is delicious!
This atypical recipe from Nutriciously has silken tofu, garlic powder, onion powder, fresh herbs (dill, parsley, and chives), apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast, water, and ground black pepper.
Awesome Ways to Use Ranch
Now that you have plenty of dairy-free ranch options, it’s time to learn what you can make with them. While ranch typically is a salad dressing, it is not the only way to eat it. Here are some of the awesome ways that you can use ranch:
Dips
Dips is one classic way to use ranch. You can use it as a dip for your pizza, chicken, wings, and veggies. It also makes an excellent spinach and artichoke dip base.
Marinades
Ranch dressing tastes delicious as a marinade for chicken, pork, fish, and veggies. You can use ranch alone or add vinegar, olive oil, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
Casseroles
If you want to make your rice casseroles extra creamy, add ranch dressing. The ranch will give it a little bit of a tang and unique flavor.
Sauces
Ranch tastes delicious in cream sauces or as a base sauce for pizza (don’t forget vegan/lactose-free cheese). It’s a secret ingredient that will “wow” your taste buds.
Roasts
A secret ingredient to make your pot roast pop is ranch dressing. You can also use it in oven roasts with other meats.
Soups
Use your dairy-free ranch to add a hint of creaminess to your soups without adding any lactose. It tastes terrific with soups like potato chowder!
Bottom Line
Ranch dressing is delicious food that is usually a no-no for people who cannot eat dairy or lactose. However, there are now numerous dairy-free products and recipes available to save the day. With these delicious alternatives, you can enjoy this tasty treat worry-free!
