This recipe was originally published on May 31, 2016; Updated on May 27, 2021.
An Easy Recipe for Paleo Ranch Dressing and Whole30 Ranch Dressing
This is a Dairy-Free, Paleo, Whole30 Ranch that’s easy to make and perfect for veggie dipping, drizzling on a bed of greens, or as a dipper for all of your favorite dip-needing foods. Our quick recipe makes it easy for you to say goodbye to highly-processed ranch dressings made with unpronounceable ingredients and cheap, inflammatory oils. Once you make it, you’ll be saying hello creamy, dreamy, homemade ranch made with fresh, real-food ingredients. With just a few ingredients and less than 5 minutes of your time, you’ll want to print and hold on to this paleo ranch dressing recipe forever. We’ve combined mayo, coconut milk, and a blend of dried herbs to create the iconic ranch flavor that so many love.
Ingredients to Make Paleo Ranch Dressing & Substitutions
Mayonnaise – use homemade mayo or purchased; we love the Primal Kitchen avocado oil mayonnaise, which doesn’t contain any inflammatory oils and tastes great. You can also use vegan mayonnaise (which doesn’t contain eggs) if you want a vegan ranch recipeCanned coconut milk – use full-fat coconut milk (here’s one we love from Thrive Market) to create the perfect ranch dressing consistency. This is what makes this recipe so creamy and you’d never guess it’s dairy-free. We don’t recommend other types of non-dairy milk, as they make a thinner consistency and can affect the tasteDried parsley – can substitute 1 tablespoon fresh parsley for the 1 teaspoon dried parsley. If using fresh, mince the parsley super fine, or blend everything in a small food processorDried dill – can substitute 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh dill for the 1/2 teaspoon dried dill. If using fresh, mince the dill super fine, or blend everything in a small food processorGarlic powder – get a great deal on organic garlic powder from Thrive MarketOnion powder – and get a great deal on onion powder and many other organic dried herbs and spices from Thrive MarketDried chives – we love the addition of dried chives, but this ingredient is optional if you don’t have any on handSea salt – once mixed together, taste and add more salt, if desiredGround black pepper – helps round out and complete the iconic ranch flavor
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How to Make Paleo Ranch Dressing
This is one of those recipes where you measure everything out and then dump it in a bowl to mix together. No cooking required. Easy, peasy paleo ranch for all to love! If you have a lot of ranch lovers in your home (like we do), we recommend making a double batch. This recipe makes about 1 cup.
Tips to Make Perfect Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing Every Time
Full-fat coconut milk is the secret ingredient that makes this paleo ranch dip recipe so creamy and thick, and it doesn’t even taste like coconut. Be sure to shake the can really well before opening since the fat solids and coconut water can separate (this is normal). If you already have the can open, just use a spoon or whisk to mix it all together before combining the coconut milk with the mayonnaise and dried herbs.
Are coconuts a nut?
You’ll see that this recipe is listed as nut-free, which may be confusing if you consider coconuts to be a nut. Many people think that a coconut is a nut, especially since the word coconut has “nut” in its name. And from a culinary standpoint, many people consider coconuts to be a nut, but it is not really a true nut. Coconuts are technically a type of fruit called a drupe. Coconuts don’t have the same proteins that people who are allergic to true tree nuts (like almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts, pecans, and more) react to. While some people who have a severe tree nut allergy may also be sensitive to coconuts, most people who have a tree nut allergy can safely eat coconuts. If you’re interested, you can read more here about coconuts and their true classification as a drupe.
Yogurt-based Health Homemade Ranch Dressing
Don’t need a dairy-free ranch dressing? Or don’t want to use coconut milk? We have another delicious recipe for Healthy Homemade Ranch Dressing that has a base of yogurt and sour cream. Check it out here.
6 Ways to Enjoy Paleo Ranch Dressing
This Paleo Ranch Dressing is our go-to to add that finishing flavor pop to recipes and just to make veggie dipping that much better! The good fats in this homemade dairy-free dressing make it easier for you to absorb all the nutrients in fresh produce. That’s a nutrition win-win!
Take any salad to the next level with a drizzle of this fresh dressingUse as a creamy dip for fresh vegetablesUse it as the dressing to make our Creamy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad, Creamy Ranch Broccoli Slaw, or Creamy Ranch Pasta SaladMix with canned chicken or tuna to make a creamy protein saladUse as a dip for chicken nuggets or drizzled over our Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Recipe or Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Spaghetti Squash or Crispy Garlic Ranch Roasted Potatoes.Add to a lettuce wrap with chicken, bacon, tomatoes, and avocado – yum!
How to Store Homemade Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing
Store the paleo ranch dressing recipe in a covered mason jar or other covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week. You can easily double the batch if ranch goes as fast in your home as it does in ours!
Pin It Now, Make It Later!
All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words and link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you! You can use fresh herbs in place of the dried herbs, if you’d like. We call for dried herbs so you can easily make this recipe year-round. To use fresh herbs, use 1 tablespoon fresh parsley and 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh dill, and mince them super fine, or use a mini food processor to blend everything.
