Wingstop Ranch Dressing Recipe (Easy Copycat)
If you love to grill or smoke while camping, you’ll want to try this easy Wingstop ranch dressing recipe. It tastes just like the restaurant’s and is oh-so-good…
Wingstop is known almost as much for its ranch dressing as its delicious wings! It’s a flavor that complements good BBQ perfectly, which makes it the perfect sauce for campers.
Sure, you can hoard extra ranch from your next visit to Wingstop. Or you can make your own!
It’s easier than you think and you can keep it stocked in your RV fridge or toss it in your cooler. Just one more small way to elevate your camping food!
We’ll share the simple recipe as well as the options to make your own buttermilk and ranch dressing mix.
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What is Ranch Made Of?
Ranch dressing is a salad dressing with a creamy texture. It starts with a buttermilk and mayonnaise base. Then, there is a delicious blend of garlic powder, buttermilk powder, onion powder, and the flavor of dill that gives it a unique overall taste.
Why Does Restaurant Ranch Dressing Taste So Good?
Many restaurants make their own scratch salad dressings, including ranch. But what is their secret to the delicious taste?
For starters, they use full-fat options. When using mayonnaise and sour cream for their salad dressing base, restaurants usually don’t use a healthier, low-fat version.
I’m sure it’s no surprise that tastier means unhealthier. (Yes, yes, healthy food can taste good, but it’s so much easier to let fat do its thing.)
Restaurants also have another secret.
They use packets of dry Hidden Valley Ranch to flavor their dressing. It is the leading brand of ranch seasoning around, offering a rich, zesty flavor.
Our easy-to-make Wingstop ranch dressing recipe uses this dry seasoning mix. However, you can make homemade ranch seasoning mix if you prefer. We’ll quickly tell you how…
Homemade Ranch Dry Mix Recipe
Wanna take your dressing one step further? You can make your own homemade ranch seasoning by simply combining the following:
- 1/2 c. Dry Buttermilk Powder
- 1 tbsp. Dried Parsley
- 2 tsp. Dried Dill Weed
- 1 tsp. Freeze Dried Chives
- 1 tbsp. Garlic Powder
- 1 tbsp. Onion Powder
- 1 tsp. Sea Salt
- 1/2 tsp. Ground black pepper
You can use this scrumptious seasoning in your copycat Wingstop ranch dressing as well as to season:
- Ranch french fries
- Ranch chicken fingers
- Ranch popcorn
- Ranch roasted potato wedges
How to Make Buttermilk
Did you forget to pick up the buttermilk? No problem. Just make it yourself. (It’s easy!)
All it takes is two ingredients: 1 cup of whole milk and 1 tbsp of fresh lemon juice (or distilled vinegar in a pinch!)
1. Measure one cup of milk in a liquid measuring cup.
2. Stir in the lemon juice. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes.
The acid from the lemon (or vinegar) will curdle and thicken the milk, turning it into a great buttermilk substitute. I know “curdle” and “great” don’t seem like they should be in the same sentence, but that’s yummy buttermilk for you.
(Writing about buttermilk reminds of our Homemade Sweet Cream Pancakes. Those are oh-so-good, too!)
How Long is Homemade Ranch Good for in the Fridge?
If you store homemade ranch dressing in an airtight container right after making it, it should have at least a 1-week shelf life. Using fresh ingredients helps extend the life of the dressing.
Just like soured milk, you can tell by the smell when it turns.
How to Thicken Ranch Dressing
When making the dressing, add the milk slowly so it does not become too watery. If you overshoot & it’s too runny, don’t worry. Simply add an extra spoonful of mayonnaise or sour cream and mix.
Continue adding alternating spoonfuls of each until it is at the desired consistency.
Wingstop Ranch Dressing Copycat Recipe
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