How ranch dressing became so popular (2024)

FAQs

How did ranch dressing become so popular? ›

During the 1980s, ranch became a common snack food flavor, starting with Cool Ranch Doritos in 1987. Hidden Valley Ranch Wavy Lay's potato chips were introduced in 1994. In 1983, ranch suprassed Italian dressing to become the best-selling salad dressing in the United States.

1. It makes more than just salads taste better. Yes, leafy greens are yummier when they're covered in creamy goodness, but ranch's power doesn't stop there. The unique flavor goes with just about anything, including chips, mozzarella sticks, fried chicken, pork chops, arancini, crispy potatoes, sausages, and more.

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.

1983: Ranch dressing becomes the best-selling salad dressing in the United States, surpassing Italian dressing. Late 20th Century: Ranch dressing gains widespread popularity and becomes a staple in American households, often used as a dip, dressing, and flavoring.

There's An Interesting Story Behind Its Name

Back in 1949, Steve Henson invented ranch dressing while working in the Alaska bush. The dressing was an attempt to get grouchy, finicky bush workers to eat their vegetables. Turns out, it worked.

More than being uniquely American, ranch dressing has become the iconic condiment of the Midwest.

Anyone who's ever tasted ranch dressing can recognize its unique flavor profile anywhere. This creamy condiment's delicious mix of herbs and buttermilk gives it a distinctly tangy but fresh taste that brings life to salad, french fries, pizza, chicken wings, and anything else you can think of to dunk in it!

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. I agree it is far better tasting.

But is ranch actually the most popular condiment in all the land? Earlier this year, Influenster shared an unofficial survey of the most popular condiments in all 50 states. They found that ranch reigned supreme in six of them. Ketchup outranked all other condiments in just one state, Pennsylvania.

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 is it called ranch? ›

Ranch was created by a plumber, Steve Henson and his wife, Gayle. In 1954, they purchased a ranch right above Santa Barbara, California and named it Hidden Valley Ranch. They opened a steakhouse there that became popular for its salad dressing.

I use a mix of mayonnaise, sour cream, and a bit of buttermilk for some tang, plus garlic, and plenty of fresh herbs like dill, chives, parsley, and oregano. I also like to add a dash of cayenne pepper for a kick, but you can add Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, or whatever you want. Ranch dressing is fun to customize!

History tells us ranch dressing was created in 1949 by a plumber-turned-cowboy in Alaska. Steve Henson is the man behind this dressing perfection. In fact, Henson moved to California and purchased a ranch he called Hidden Valley Ranch, which made the now famous dressing a staple.

Steven Henson, the Nebraska native who created ranch dressing, invented the now-ubiquitous condiment after moving to Anchorage in 1949 and taking a job as a plumbing contractor in the Alaskan bush, according to a biography of Henson published in the Santa Barbara Independent.

🥗 Around 40% of Americans say ranch dressing is. their favorite salad dressing—and it's so creamy and. tasty, what's not to love?

“But the particular flavor of traditional ranch can only be achieved with the dry versions of all those aromatics: garlic and onion powder, dried herbs, powdered pepper and buttermilk.” That's because fresh ingredients were rare in Alaska at the time.

HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH STARTED IN 1954

That's when Steve Henson and his wife, Gayle, purchased 120 acres of sprawling land nestled in the mountains outside of Santa Barbara, California, and started a dude ranch.

In a lot of European markets, ranch dressing is called “American dressing” and Cool Ranch is called “Cool American”. The brand was sold to Clorox in 1972 for $8 million. In 2017 the brand made over $450 million.