BBQ Ranch Dressing

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BBQ ranch dressing is better than anything you can buy at the store. It’s extra creamy and perfect for tossing with salad or used as a dipping sauce. With just a handful of ingredients, you’ll never want to go back to the store-bought!

bbq ranch dressing and dip in a bowl. — BBQ ranch dressing and dip sauce

Love this BBQ ranch dressing? Try my Cane’s Sauce Recipe and my Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip for more dressing and dip ideas.

Use this easy, creamy, delicious BBQ ranch dressing on salads or as a dip with fresh vegetables. Made with mostly pantry ingredients, it’s seriously tasty and takes just 5 minutes. You won’t believe how easy it is to whip up a batch with this simple recipe!

It’s so good you may never go back to store-bought again!

homemade bbq ranch dressing in a bowl. — Homemade bbq ranch dressing

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Tastes better than anything store-bought and only takes a few minutes to make.
Delicious on salads and as a dip for fresh vegetables, or with chicken nuggets or fries!
No tools required beyond a bowl and a spoon or whisk to emulsify it in the dressing.
Make a batch ahead of time and store it in the fridge!
Easy to adjust to suit your preferences.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ketchup – use your favorite ketchup as the base in this recipe.
Brown Sugar – not only helps sweeten the sauce but deepens the flavor adding just a hint of molasses flavor.
Garlic Powder – I love fresh, but it can easily overpower the flavor of this dressing, so I prefer to use the powder for this dressing.
Paprika – you could also used smoked paprika.
Worcestershire Sauce – this balances the sweetness with savory flavor in the sauce.
Apple Cider Vinegar – gives the sauce a delicious, tangy flavor that helps to balance it perfectly.
Fresh Cracked Pepper – freshly cracked pepper has the best flavor.
Milk – I use nonfat for this recipe, but you can use any milk you have on hand.
Mayonnaise – use your favorite brand, preferable a good quality mayo.
Ranch Dressing Packet – for the delicious ranch flavor.

How To Make This Recipe

six image process making bbq ranch dressing. — BBQ ranch dressing process

Step 1:

In a mixing bowl, mix the ketchup and brown sugar until smooth.

Step 2:

Add the garlic powder, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar and pepper to taste. Mix until blended.

Step 3:

In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, mayo and ranch packet.

Step 4:

Add the ranch mixture to the BBQ mixture and whisk until smooth.

Step 5:

Refrigerate for 30-60 minutes, then enjoy!

bbq ranch salad on a spoon. — Tasty bbq ranch salad

Recipe Tips & Variations

Try substituting the milk for buttermilk for a creamier texture.
Add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to taste to make it spicy.
Use good quality mayonnaise and ketchup since this makes up the majority of the dressing.
Try substituting the mayo for Greek yogurt!
Chill the dressing so it’s cold and refreshing.

Storing & Freezing

Storing: Place the dressing in an airtight container or a jar with a tight fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator up to a week.

Freezing: I don’t suggest freezing this dressing as the texture will not be the same when thawed.

barbecue ranch dressing on salad. — Delicious BBQ ranch dressing on salad

FAQ

What do I serve this dressing with?

The options are limitless. Anywhere you use dressing is perfect! It’s great on salads, as a dip for vegetables, french fries, chicken nuggets. It’s also great with grilled chicken, as a spread on burgers, wraps, sandwiches and more!

Why is it better to make homemade dressing?

This dressing is so easy and quick to make that it would take longer to go to the store than to whip this up. Plus, it just tastes better than the bottled stuff and it’s free of additives.

How do I thicken the dressing?

Whether you’ve added too much milk, or you just prefer a thicker consistency, stir an extra spoonful or two of mayonnaise until it’s as thick as you’d like.

How do I thin the dressing down a little?

If you prefer a thinner consistency to your dressing, add small amounts of milk until the dressing is the right consistency.

Is this dressing good for outdoor BBQ’s?

Of course! However, since this dressing needs to be stored in the refrigerator, it’s recommended that the dressing doesn’t sit out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours, or 1 hour if it’s 90 degrees for hotter.

Yield: 12 Servings