What's your favorite way to use ranch dressing?
Ranch dressing is a hit with kids and adults, but it isn’t the healthiest topping when you buy it premade. Making your own ranch seasoning mix without preservatives changes the game.
Highlights: Making your own ranch seasoning mix without preservatives improves your ranch dressing. Get 10 new ways to use your ranch seasoning mix, plus the recipe.
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This year I’ve made dozens of jars of Season’s Greetings Ranch Mix for my friends and family and listed this post on the tag. While I’m happy stirring a few spoonfuls into my plain Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, here are 10 new ways you can use Ranch seasoning mix.
Ways to Use Ranch Seasoning Mix
- Ranch Dip
Mix a few spoonfuls of Ranch mix into a cup of plain yogurt or sour cream. It won’t be very flavorful until it’s sat for a couple of hours in the fridge. You can vary the recipe by using half mayo and half sour cream. You can thin the recipe with a spoonful or more of milk. Top your chips, baked potatoes, veggies, or pizza with Ranch dip. Or put a scoop of Ranch dip in the bottom of a small cup and add veggies to the top to make pretty appetizer cups.
- Ranch Dressing
In the blender, mix a few spoonfuls of Ranch mix into a cup of plain yogurt and add one or two spoonfuls of water, milk, or buttermilk to thin it to the consistency you want. - Ranch Roasted Veggies
Mix a few spoonfuls of melted bacon grease or olive oil with a spoonful or two of Ranch mix. Toss wth veggies and roast in the oven according to your favorite recipe. - Ranch Chicken Nuggets
Substitute a few spoonfuls of Ranch Mix in place of the spices in your favorite chicken nugget or breading recipe. - Savory Ranch Cottage Cheese
Instead of adding jam or fruit to your cottage cheese, try a few spoonfuls in a cup of cottage cheese. The savory Ranch flavor will kick up your lunch to the next level of tasty. Be mindful of how much seasoning mix you add, as it does contain salt. If you want it a bit more flavorful, let it sit in the fridge awhile before eating or add some fresh ground pepper. - Ranch Avocado Toast
If you usually add a sprinkle of lemon pepper or chili powder to your avocado toast, try a sprinkle of Ranch mix instead. - Ranch Mix Topper
Instead of just salt, sprinkle Ranch mix on your popcorn or French fries! You will feel fancy now! - Ranch Taco Soup
Have you tried a few spoonsful of Ranch mix with your chili, taco meat, or taco soup? It’s a subtle change from the usual and just enough to make you want seconds! Not making a whole pot, try adding just a sprinkle to your bowl or salsa. - Ranch Burgers
Mix a few spoonfuls of Ranch mix into your ground meat before forming the burgers. Cook as usual. Or use some ranch dip instead of ketchup and mayo. - Ranch BLT Pinwheels
Mix a few spoonfuls of Ranch mix with softened cream cheese and spread it on a tortilla. Top it with shredded chicken, bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes then wrap and cut into a pinwheel. Google a chicken pinwheel recipe if you need more instructions. You can also modify this idea and add some zing to your usual sandwiches!
Ranch Mix Recipe
If your friends didn’t give you any Season’s Greeting spice mix for Christmas, you can make your own here. It’s ridiculously easy, and you might even have all the ingredients on hand. I make up a larger batch of the dry seasoning mix to store in my pantry. Last year I even wrote the recipe on the jar, so I didn’t have to look it up to make refills.
Ranch Seasoning Mix Recipe
1 t garlic powder
1 t onion powder
1 t dried parsley
1 t salt (can use less)
½ t pepper (can use fresh cracked pepper)
½ t dried dill
Notes and Tips
Tips: Using dry seasonings to make a dip means that the flavor isn’t very strong at first. Letting the dip or dressing sit for a few hours in the fridge will bring it to flavor. You can add more liquid to thin out a dressing or stir in more yogurt to thicken. You can adjust the flavor by adding a tad more salt or cracked pepper.
I did not clarify teaspoons or tablespoons in my recipes as this is mostly a “grab a spoon and add some seasoning to your recipe” kind of post.
Honestly, I often just dump a spoonful into my cottage cheese and eat it immediately!
Note: I’m not a dietician, nutritionist, or doctor, so talk to your people before making health decisions and trying new recipes. I’m just sharing my ideas on how I use Ranch seasoning mix at my house.
Read more about Season’s Greetings spice mixes and free printables here.
https://tailorjoy.com/seasons-greetings/
Table Talk: Which of the 10 ideas are going to make it to your dinner table this week? Would you rather have your taco soup with extra chili seasoning or extra Ranch seasoning?