Ranch dressing was one of my first condiment loves (after ketchup, or course), but I had to break up with the store-bought version long ago when I found out that it was hiding things from me. Mainly:
- Vegetable oils
- Sugar
- Soy
- Xanthan Gum
- Modified Food Starch
- Artificial Flavors
- Calcium Disodium EDTA as a preservative
- MSG
Seemed pretty counterintuitive to make a healthy salad and then top it with that list of junk. I found a great alternative to regular ranch dressing (here’s the recipe), but I wanted an alternative to the ranch dressing mix I often used on chicken, roasted vegetables, and other dishes.
A Better Ranch Mix
The ingredient list for that one was even more scary than the bottled ranch dressing and I figured I could make a better real food option. This was the result and it is lovely. We keep a jar in the cabinet for use on veggies, eggs, chicken, or to make dip.
I order all of the ingredients in bulk so I can whip it up whenever we need it. This way, I can also make any other spices we need any time we need them. You can find my other homemade spice blend recipes here.
Some Things Don’t Change
This ranch mix and the ranch dressing are part of our regular meal rotation. I keep the powder pre-made and always add the other ingredients to my Real Plans Shopping List so I can whip up a quick batch whenever we need it.
I’ve noticed that so many things in the world have changed since my childhood, but love of ranch dressing seems to be a consistent part of most childhoods. I just love that I can give my kids a healthier (and more delicious) version these days!
Healthy Ranch Dressing Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup dried parsley
- 1 TBSP dill
- 1 TBSP garlic powder
- 1 TBSP onion powder
- ½ tsp basil optional
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in jar and shake to mix.
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
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I never thought I could give up ranch dressing (or thought I would want to), but I now like the real food version much better. What I thought was going to be one of the worst/toughest parts of switching to healthy, real food actually became one of the best.
What are the worst and best parts of switching to a healthier lifestyle for you?
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