Dill Pickle Ranch Dressing
Don’t throw your pickle juice away! Use it to make the tastiest dill pickle ranch dressing. If you’re a pickle person or if you love “ranch pickles” (aka the TikTok trend where people added ranch seasoning to jars of pickles), you’ll love this too. I’d bet that even folks who aren’t crazy about pickles will like this dressing. I say this… as a former pickle-hater. (Gasp!)
Scroll on and I’ll walk you through how to make this tangy and savory three-ingredient ranch dressing, plus I’ll tell you all about how I became a pickle fan.
Reasons to love dill pickle ranch dressing
I’ll start by saying this – I’ve always hated pickles. So much so that I would recoil and/or run away if you brought one near me. It was a visceral thing. I couldn’t get past it.
Until… I tried Grillo’s dill pickles. (Not an ad, I promise I would tell you if it was.)
What drew me in was their distinct lack of radioactive green tint so often seen in pickles. They looked fresh, like cucumbers (which I like). Then I tasted them. Oh, man… Savory, tangy, dilly, and not at all sweet. Ideal.
My newfound love for pickles inspired me to make more recipes with them, starting with salad dressing. Recently, I was fresh out of ingredients for my usual dressing, so I decided to use salty, acidic, and flavorful pickle juice to make one.
The result? Pickle ranch.
This recipe is awesome because it’s lighter and zingier than your typical ranch dressing. This makes it the perfect complement to salads paired with richer dishes like barbeque, burgers, or fried food. It’s a dressing that pickle lovers and pickle skeptics will both enjoy.
Plus, it’s made with only three ingredients!
Ingredients for dill pickle ranch dressing
Three ingredients, folks. That’s it! This recipe is SO simple. Remember, I “discovered” pickle ranch when I needed to make a salad dressing, but had almost nothing in the fridge or pantry. I’m guessing you also have these items (or something similar) in your kitchen.
- Mayo – I’m a Hellman’s gal, but feel free to use your favorite mayo in this recipe. (I promise not to fight you if you use Miracle Whip.)
- Pickle juice – For a savory dressing (my recommendation), use dill pickle juice. Grillo’s is an awesome brand (again, not sponsored, just love ’em). Feel free to experiment with your favorite pickles too! Different brands and varieties (like bread and butter pickles) may make your dressing sweeter or more green in color.
- Pickle seasoning mix – This is a bit of a niche product from Trader Joe’s, but it’s the perfect mix to bring out all of the pickle-y goodness of this recipe. The official product name is “Seasoning In A Pickle Seasoning Blend” and its main ingredients are salt, onion powder, vinegar powder, sugar, garlic powder, and dried dill. If you can’t find it, NBD! A ranch seasoning mix or packet will also work. (See the recipe card notes for a DIY seasoning recipe.)
- Oh yeah… salad stuff! This post is mostly about the dressing, but if you need a salad to serve it with, I’ve got you. Start with a bed of mixed greens, then add a cup of each: carrots, shredded cabbage, and chopped dill pickles. Let’s call it a dill pickle salad!
Tips for the best pickle dressing
There really aren’t many secrets to this one, just shake and enjoy! But I do have a few tips on how I make my ranch dressing extra tasty.
- Use good-quality dill pickle juice – This is a taste preference thing, but I really think the saltiness of dill pickles makes a difference.
- Shake well – If you don’t shake long enough, you may have clumps of mayo. Yuck.
- Thicken or thin as needed – This recipe has a thinner consistency than your usual ranch, which I enjoy because it makes for a lighter dressing. If you like a thicker, creamier ranch, use more mayo. The opposite is true if you like thinner ranch – add more pickle juice.
What should you serve with pickle ranch?
You’ll probably want to eat pickle ranch on everything, but here are a few ideas:
- Make a salad with pickles (see recipe card) with mixed greens, shredded carrots, shredded cabbage, and chopped pickles. It’s the perfect fresh and zippy barbeque side.
- Use as a dip for french fries, chicken tenders, or… dare I say, fried pickles?
- Use it as a brine or marinade for chicken or fish. This will tenderize whatever you’re marinating and add more flavor to it.
Storage: How long does pickle ranch last in the fridge? Can you make it in a large batch?
Homemade ranch dressing will last for at least 1 week in the fridge. Some separation is normal, just shake before serving.
This recipe makes 1 cup of dressing, which is about 24 two-tablespoon servings. If you want to make this in a large batch (which you might – it’s addicting) multiply as needed to fill your intended jar. Multiply all of the ingredients by two for a standard mason jar and by 4 for a larger one.
Recipe Modifications
- Vegan version – Use veganaise instead of mayo
- Make it spicy – Use pickle juice from spicy pickles and/or add a dash of hot sauce
- Thinner dressing – Add more pickle juice
- Thicker dressing – Add more mayo
- Make a DIY seasoning mix – Use 1/2 tsp each salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried dill
Dill Pickle Ranch Dressing
Equipment
- container with lid (at least 1 cup capacity)
Ingredients
Dill Pickle Ranch Dressing
- ⅔ cup mayo
- ⅓ cup pickle juice preferably from dill pickles
- 2 tsp pickle seasoning or ranch seasoning, see notes for DIY
Pickle salad (optional)
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup shredded cabbage
- 1 cup chopped dill pickles
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a jar or container with a lid. Shake vigorously until combined. Drizzle over a salad or serve as a dipping sauce.
Notes
- Nutrition facts are for the dressing only. Please note that nutrition facts are an estimate and can vary widely based on amounts and specific types used.
- Can’t find a premade ranch or pickle seasoning? No problem!
- Single-recipe (2 tsp) DIY ranch seasoning:
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp granulated garlic
- ½ tsp dill
- Single-recipe (2 tsp) DIY ranch seasoning: