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
The secret that many restaurants have up their sleeves is seasoning mix. Well-known brands make dry counterparts to their bottled ranch that encapsulate all the flavors, including powdered buttermilk, with none of the additives and oils.
How do restaurants make their ranch taste so good? ›
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.
Why is ranch dressing so much better at restaurants? ›
While many restaurants use mass produced ranch mix, they often add it to a higher-quality base. This might include milk, buttermilk, sour cream, or mayonnaise. So when you notice that the ranch in a restaurant tastes better than the bottled dressing from the store, what you're really tasting is delicious, creamy fat.
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.
Why is ranch amazing? ›
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! But ranch dressing has also evolved to be uniquely customizable!
What kind of ranch dressing do most restaurants use? ›
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.
Why is WingStop ranch so different? ›
What Makes Wingstop Ranch Stand Out? Wingstop's Ranch is distinguished by its harmonious blend of buttermilk, mayonnaise, dill, and a medley of spices. The resultant concoction is a velvety, flavorful sauce that pairs exquisitely with a variety of dishes, transcending beyond just wings.
What state eats the most ranch dressing? ›
Despite its pretty mainstream popularity, though, it only ranked number one in one state: Iowa. What the hell? Are people not eating enough chicken wings or something? Or are they dipping those in Ranch now, too?
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. A creamier and richer version often features sour cream or yogurt for enhanced taste.
Why is Jet's ranch so good? ›
The flavor is obviously incredible, and what makes it superior to other ranch dressings is that it tastes fresh. So many of these chains have pre-packaged ranch that is lame and uninspiring, but Jet's tastes like they make it at their store, even if its not.
What makes ranch ranch? It's a combination of creaminess (from buttermilk, sour cream, sometimes mayonnaise) and herbaceousness (often parsley, thyme, dill), plus a long pull of allium (onion and garlic) and a shot of black pepper.
What kind of ranch do they use at WingStop? ›
What brand of ranch does WingStop use? WingStop makes its own special blend of ranch dressing using mayonnaise, buttermilk, and ranch seasoning. Where does WingStop get their ranch? WingStop makes its own ranch dressing at each restaurant.
Why are Americans obsessed with ranch sauce? ›
While ranch is consumed across the country, it's especially beloved by Midwesterners. There you're less likely to get dirty looks for adding it to your pizza—or even your Bloody Mary. The region's obsession with the condiment may be explained by its ubiquity in fast food.
Is ranch just an American thing? ›
No other country in the world can guarantee it on shelves (though it's somewhat popular in Germany) like we do in the states. More than being uniquely American, ranch dressing has become the iconic condiment of the Midwest.
What makes a ranch a dude ranch? ›
Straight from The Dude Ranchers' Association , a dude ranch is a vacation destination that hosts guests to share in their Western lifestyle activities. Typically, a dude ranch is an all-inclusive immersive vacation that provides lodging, meals, horseback riding adventures, fishing, hiking, campfire, and much more.
What gives ranch dressing its taste? ›
What makes ranch ranch? It's a combination of creaminess (from buttermilk, sour cream, sometimes mayonnaise) and herbaceousness (often parsley, thyme, dill), plus a long pull of allium (onion and garlic) and a shot of black pepper.
Why are restaurant sauces so good? ›
Restaurants build an aromatic base for their sauces
Pasta water isn't the only base ingredient that restaurants add to their sauces. According to Ferraro, the bases for sauces are hard-won flavor bombs that take effort and planning to perfect. "Building flavor is an important thing, and it takes time," he said.
Where does WingStop get their ranch dressing? ›
WingStop makes its own special blend of ranch dressing using mayonnaise, buttermilk, and ranch seasoning. Where does WingStop get their ranch? WingStop makes its own ranch dressing at each restaurant.
