The search is over, this is not just another vegan ranch dressing. This is the absolute best vegan ranch dip recipe there is! Tastes just like the original!
Vegan Ranch Dressing
When I created my recipe I had regular ranch taste tests with friends to compare each step of the way. This is legit people. This vegan ranch dressing is the real deal. It's a weekly staple and my kids will eat anything as long as it is dipped in mommy's ranch!
Some of our favorite things to use it with are:
- Buffalo Sliders or wings
- Asparagus Fries
- Oven Fries
- Grilled Romaine Salad
- Avocado Kale Salad with Butternut Squash
- Easy Lentil Veggie Burger Recipe
- Easy Gluten-Free Vegan Black Bean Burgers
- Buffalo Chickpea Burgers
- The norm veggies, crackers, chips, etc
The best thing about having a few loved dips and dressings in your back pocket is weekly prep. I discourage the use of full recipes for your entire weekly meal plan. I encourage having many days when you make quick and easy meal ideas.
Having a dip or dressing ready to go in your fridge at all times, helps these quick and easy meals come together! If you want some tips on meal preps and plans check out my Ultimate Guide to Vegan Meal Prep with Grocery Lists.
Also you can read all about How to Meal Prep Vegetables for Easy Meals. Having veggies ready to go along with this vegan ranch dressing has saved my after school snack crazy so many times!
Can a vegan eat ranch dressing?
Generally speaking, no, ranch dressing has a dairy base. But this is exactly why I wanted to create this recipe. I KNEW there had to be a way to mimic that delicious ranch dressing taste and make it dairy free.
What is the best vegan ranch?
This one of course! If you're looking for store-bought, there are some options out there, but nothing that tastes like the real deal in my opinion. PLus many are not made with whole foods. Which is fine for once in a while, but I feel best when I am sticking to mostly whole foods as much as I can!
This vegan ranch dressing is hands down one of the best one I've tasted.
Is ranch dressing really bad for you?
It really depends on what you classify as bad for you. Nutritiously speaking, store bought dressing can have processed ingredients and preservatives, plus it is high in sodium. Even homemade ranch can be high in saturated fat.
However, this recipe is made with all whole foods, is fully plant-based so dairy free, and full of nutrition!
Traditional and vegan ingredients
Traditional ranch dressing is usually a combination of mayo, sour cream, buttermilk and spices. But I used all whole foods to create this vegan ranch! Here is what I used to get that ultra creamy rich base without the diary:
- Cashews- still my favorite way to get ultra creamy vegan dip results.
- Dairy free milk- to add more creamy flavor while thinning out the texture.
- Lemon- help counteract the sweetness of cashews and contributes to the characteristic ranch tang.
- White distilled vinegar- also helps balance out the sweetness, and is the best way to get that tang ranch dressing needs.
Storing tips
This vegan ranch dressing is good in your fridge for about 7 days. However if you don't think you will finish it all, you can freeze it! All you need to do is store in an air tight container. I like to put a layer of plastic wrap touching the top of the dressing to help avoid freezer burn.
When you are ready to eat, defrost on the counter then whisk it up to get the texture back. It won't be exactly as it was fresh, but it still works great!
How To Make Vegan Ranch Dressing
- Place all ingredients, except the spices, into a blender and blend.
- Add spices and pulse until mixed.
- Refrigerate to thicken then serve with EVERYTHING!
Tips for cashews
If you don't have a high speed blender, it will be harder to get that ultimate creamy texture. But I have a few tricks that work great! Here are some of the best ways to avoid a gritty end result:
- Soak the cashews overnight.
- Boil the cashews for 20-30 minutes.
- Grind the cashews dry using a coffee grinder or spice grinder. Then use the powder directly in the blender.
The Best Homemade Vegan Ranch Dressing
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened plain cashew or almond milk
- 14 teaspoon distilled white vinegar (¼ cup plus 2 tsp)
- 5 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 ½ cups raw cashews (see note)
- 1 ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon minced onion , dried
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon mustard powder
Instructions
- Place the cashew milk, vinegar and lemon juice in a bowl and allow it to sit while you assemble the rest of the ingredients.
- Add the milk mixture, cashews and salt into a high-speed blender and purée until smooth.
- Add the parsley, garlic powder, onion, onion powder, dill, black pepper and mustard powder to the blender and pulse until well mixed. Refrigerate the dip to thicken.
- Serve with everything!
Notes
- If you are not using a high speed blender, there are a couple of options for making your sauce smooth: You can use a coffee grinder to grind everything to a fine powder, or make sure to soak your cashews overnight, or for at least 2 to 3 hours. If you forget, you can also boil them for 30 minutes.
- This makes about 2 cups. Serving size is ¼ cup.
- A reader tried this recipe using sunflower seeds and got a great result. She soaked sunflower seeds in boiling water for 30 mins (it gets rid of the gray color). She said it was the closest thing she has had to the sour cream and ranch packet version of dip.
- Serve this with everything!
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Jessica
If I want to use PB2 cashew powder, how much would I use to replace the cashews?
Sophia DeSantis
Its the same amount of cashew powder as cashews. You can sub cup for cup. Only thing is if you use the PB2 powder it may not be as thick and creamy so keep that in mind. But should still be good!
Ashley
I've not had dairy in over 10 years and have tried just about every ranch out there. There have been a couple that I make regularly but I decided to try a new one. This is hands down the BEST I've made in all these 10 years! Perfectly tangy. Cashews can be quite sweet so some recipes are too sweet for mine and my family's taste. This is so balanced and flavorful!
Sophia DeSantis
I am so thrilled you like this as much as we do!
Vickie
Delicious! I've been searching for the perfect homemade vegan ranch dressing for a long time and your recipe knocked it out of the park. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. This is a keeper. I look forward to trying your other recipes.
Sophia DeSantis
So happy you like it Vicki!!
Brandy
I wanted to try this so bad but my husband ate all the cashews! I decided I couldn't wait so I soaked sunflower seeds in boiling water for 30 mins and used them instead (it gets rid of the gray color) and OMG. This is absolutely delightful! The closest thing I have had to the sour cream and ranch packet version of dip! Cannot wait to try it with cashews! Thank you so much! I am in ranch heaven. 😁
Sophia DeSantis
HI Brandy! Wow!! Thank you so much for letting me know how you made it with sunflower seeds. So helpful for those with nut allergies! And great tip about boiling! I will add this to the recipe card for others. Hope you love it with cashews too!! PS- hide them from your husband! Haha!
Shagay
Finally! Yes, you are absolutely correct stating that the 'search is over'. This is an amazingly good salad dressing, potato topper, dip, etc. This is absolutely the best ranch I have tried since being WFPB (3.5 years), I had actually given up on really enjoying salad - and now with this recipe... it is a game changer. Thank you so very much for sharing this recipe.
Sophia DeSantis
Yay! So happy you like it!!
Kathleen
I love this ranch! It is the best one I have tried since switching to a plant based diet. Thank you!
Sophia DeSantis
I am so thrilled you love it Kathleen!! Thank you!
Pam
Ahhhhh!! This recipe is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing!
I just made it for the second time, and only this time did I notice that you wrote “minced onion” and not “DRIED minced onion”!! I put dried onion ‘flakes’ both times… but now I’m wondering if you actually meant FRESH minced onion?!! (And then I need to work on my reading comprehension lol)
Please let me know what I should be using! Thank you so much 🙂
PS- delicious with dried onion too lol
Sophia DeSantis
Wow thank you so much Pam!! Love all the experiments you made!
Pam
So just so I’m clear- do you mean FRESH minced onion? Or DRIED onion flakes?
Thanks again for the recipe! 🙂
Sophia DeSantis
Hi Pam! It's dried. If you buy it at the store in the spices and seasonings section it is called minced onion. Hope you like the recipe!
Didi Nelson
Question: do you use salted or unsalted cashews?
Sophia DeSantis
Hi Didi! Unsalted raw cashews. Raw cashews are unsalted.
Isobel
This recipe is simply amazing! The tang is perfect and the spices just right. It is great on a baked potato, as a veggie dip, and salad dressing! I always have this on hand so a salad is always an option! It is so easy to put together and keeps well. Thanks so much for this recipe!
veggiesdontbite
I am so thrilled you like it Isobel!! Thank you so much for giving it a try!
Jen
Best ranch dressing! I make for some buffalo cauliflower wings and then save the rest for dipping veggies. I’ve even made for a veggie tray at a cookout with a bunch of non-vegans and they loved it as a dip. They couldn’t believe it was plant based.
veggiesdontbite
So happy you love it as much as we do Jen!