This Spicy Ranch Dressing is everyone’s favorite but with a little bit of extra heat. It’s rich and creamy with hints of cayenne, dill, chipotle, and garlic!

Easy Homemade Spicy Ranch Dressing Recipe

This Homemade Spicy Ranch Dressing will have you saying never again to store-bought Ranch dressing. It tastes even better than the bottled stuff.

All it takes is a few simple ingredients, the perfect combination of spices, and a couple minutes!

This dressing is perfect as a dipping sauce, as a spread on your favorite burgers or sandwiches, or as a dressing for your favorite salad.

What is Spicy Ranch Made Of?

You need just a few simple ingredients to put together this dressing!

Mayonnaise: We used Duke’s mayonnaise, but feel free to use whatever variety of mayonnaise you prefer.
Buttermilk and Milk: Buttermilk is the key to that classic tangy ranch dressing flavor. As for the milk, I usually use whole milk, but 2%, 1%, or even a neutral tasting alternative milk like soy or almond milk will work too.
Seasonings: We season our dressing with a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, chipotle powder, dried dill weed, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper.

How to Make Spicy Ranch Dressing

This simple spicy ranch salad dressing comes together in just a few minutes!

Add all of the ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk to combine.

Yep. That’s it. This recipe is easier than running to the store to grab a bottle of ranch dressing!

Spices poured into a bowl of milk, buttermilk, and mayo.

Chipotle ranch dressing in a ranch bowl.

Tips for the Best Spicy Ranch Dressing

Use buttermilk! There really is no substitute for buttermilk in this recipe. You need the real deal for that classic flavor.
Mix it well. We want that flavor distributed evenly all throughout the dressing.
Refrigerate before serving. I recommend mixing everything up, then setting the dressing in the fridge for about an hour before serving. This helps all the flavors meld together and gives the dressing time to thicken up a bit.
If the dressing is too thick, add additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the desired thickness is reached.
For a thicker consistency, use 2 tablespoons of milk. For a thinner consistency, use the full ¼ cup.
For a mildly spicy ranch, use ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne. For a very spicy ranch, use ¼ teaspoon.
Adjust to taste. Any of the seasonings can be adjusted to your preference. I recommend starting with less and adding more to taste.

Variations

Make it spicier. Not spicy enough for you? Add in more cayenne pepper or mix in a dash of your favorite hot sauce.
Lighten it up. Swap the mayo out for low fat mayo or even Greek yogurt and use almond milk instead of whole milk.
Make it vegan. Just sub in vegan varieties of all the dairy products.

Serving Suggestions

There are plenty of ways you can serve this delicious spicy ranch salad dressing!

Enjoy it as a dressing on a simple green salad or Chicken Salad, as a sauce for Bacon Cheddar Stuffed Burgers, Spicy Chicken Sandwiches, or Shredded Beef Tacos, or as a dip for fresh veggies, Chicken Tenders, fries, onion rings, you name it!

Cheese fries being dipped into spicy ranch dressing.

How Long Does Homemade Ranch Last?

This homemade ranch dressing will last in an airtight container or bottle in the fridge for 4-5 days.

I do not recommend freezing it because the texture will become thin and watery.

What Does Spicy Ranch Taste Like?

Spicy ranch dressing tastes just like the classic ranch dressing we know and love, but with a little extra heat!

More Homemade Dressing Recipes You’ll Love

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Spicy Ranch Dressing

4.8 from 17 votes

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Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Servings: 12 Servings

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Equipment

Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise
½ cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons milk up to ¼ cup (use more for a thinner consistency)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon chipotle powder
½ teaspoon dried dill
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
⅛ to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper optional

Instructions

Place all the ingredients in a medium bowl, and whisk to combine.
1 cup mayonnaise
½ cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon chipotle powder
½ teaspoon dried dill
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
⅛ to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Use immediately on your favorite salad, with cheese fries, on a burger, or sandwich.

Notes

*The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 1 ounce of dressing. Actual calories will vary.

*For more information, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions, please refer to the post.

*Any of the spices may be adjusted to taste.

Nutrition

Robin

Tuesday 20th of July 2021

In the West, California, I have never seen Dukes. I like Best Foods.

Kimberly

Hi Robin!

I think Duke's may be regional. We haven't tried Best Foods brand. Hellmans is another good alternative. Thanks so much for the comment! Have a wonderful evening! :)

Latasha Peterson

Thursday 1st of March 2018

OH, my husband loves ranch on everything. This will be perfect. Thanks for sharing. :) oh, and I Love your photos.

John

Friday 2nd of March 2018

Thank you, Latasha! Kim and I hope your husband likes the recipe. Thank you for complimenting the photos, Kim works hard to get everything just right for each shoot. :)

Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade

I love Duke's mayonnaise!! I try not to use it very often because it is indulgent, but it is so delicious. I'm in Oklahoma, where ranch is KING...I think this homemade version will be much better than the stuff in the stores

Thank you, Karyl! I know what you mean, I lived in Texas when I was child and ranch is a household staple. We've used a lot of different mayos in this recipe, but I find Duke's to be the best. Plus you can actually read all the ingredients on its label lol! :)