Ranch dressing is wildly popular in the United States. In fact, according to data by Statista, it is the most often used flavor of salad dressings in the United States with 143.21 million Americans using it in 2020. Caesar, surprisingly to us, came in second with 50.71 million people using it.
Given our somewhat of an obsession with ranch, there are many questions that come up about it, particularly regarding its ingredients. This article will explore what is in ranch dressing, and we will specifically inform you if it commonly contains eggs.
Here is what you need to know about eggs in ranch dressing…
Store-Bought Ranch Dressing & Eggs
Store-bought ranch dressings typically have eggs. Specifically, the dressings commonly contain egg yolks.
The table below shows that only 1 of the 15 popular ranch dressings featured does not have eggs. This should give you an idea of how frequently you will find eggs in ranch dressing.
The common primary ingredients in many store-bought ranch dressings include vegetable oil (soybean oil), water, buttermilk, sugar, salt, and egg yolk.
| Ranch Dressing Product | Eggs (Yes or No)? | Allergens |
|---|---|---|
| Hidden Valley – Original | Yes | Contains: Egg, Milk, Soy |
| Hidden Valley – Buttermilk | Yes | Contains: Egg, Milk, Soy |
| Kraft – Classic Ranch | Yes | Contains: Egg, Milk |
| Ken’s Steak House – Buttermilk | Yes | Contains: Egg, Milk |
| Litehouse – Homestyle Ranch | Yes | Contains: Egg, Milk |
| Olive Garden – Parmesan Ranch (Store-Bought Variety) | Yes | Contains: Egg, Milk |
| Brianna’s – Home Style Classic Buttermilk | Yes | Contains: Egg, Milk |
| Wish-Bone | Yes | Contains: Egg, Milk |
| Newman’s Own | Yes | Contains: Egg, Milk |
| Marzetti – Classic Ranch | Yes | Contains: Egg, Milk |
| Primal Kitchen | Yes | Contains: Egg |
| Tessemae’s – Creamy Ranch | Yes | Contains: Egg |
| Skinnygirl – Buttermilk Ranch | No | Contains: Milk |
| Kroger – Creamy Ranch | Yes | Contains: Egg, Milk |
| Great Value – Classic Ranch | Yes | Contains: Egg, Milk |
Homemade Ranch Dressing & Eggs
Homemade recipes for ranch do not typically call for eggs to be directly be used to make the dressing. However, mayonnaise is often included as a base ingredient and mayonnaise commonly contains eggs. Popular brands of mayonnaise that have eggs are regular Hellmann’s and Duke’s.
If you want to make eggless homemade ranch dressing, be sure to use an eggless mayonnaise product. You can considered using products like Hellmann’s Vegan Dressing & Spread or Primal Kitchen Vegan Mayo.
Alternatively, you can search online for “eggless ranch dressing recipes” which often omit the mayonnaise. Here are a few eggless ranch dressing recipes you may want to consider first before potentially looking on your own for one:
- Mommy’s Home Cooking – Easy Homemade Eggless Ranch
- Food.com – Best Egg Free Ranch Dressing Ever!
- Sugar-Free Mom – Mayo Free Ranch Dressing
When making homemade ranch dressing, it is important to read the ingredients on the product labels of ingredients that are going into it if you wish to avoid certain ingredients. This will ensure that you do not accidentally consume eggs or other potential unwanted ingredients. Of course, also be aware of the potential for cross-contamination in the kitchen.
Restaurant Ranch Dressing & Eggs
You should assume that the ranch dressing at any restaurant contains eggs unless you can verify otherwise. As we’ve established, ranch commonly has eggs which is no different for restaurant ranch dressings. Furthermore, many restaurants prepare food on shared equipment which makes guaranteeing allergen-free food impossible. We would suggest taking extreme caution eating restaurant ranch if you wish to avoid eggs, dairy, or any other potential undesirable ingredients for you.
Final Thoughts
The question of whether or not ranch dressing contains eggs depends on product or recipe used. Store-bought, homemade, and restaurant ranch dressings typically have egg ingredients. However, there are undoubtedly plenty of eggless alternatives to still enjoy ranch without consuming eggs.
