Ranch seasoning, born from the ranch dressing concocted by Steve Henson in the early 1950s, has evolved from a humble dressing into a versatile seasoning blend that’s sprinkled onto everything from popcorn to grilled meats.
Its widespread popularity is undeniable, but its dairy content has remained a mystery to many. Here you’ll simply learn if ranch seasoning commonly contains dairy. Let’s get into the details!
Store-Bought Ranch Seasoning & Dairy
It is extremely common for store-bought ranch seasoning mixes to have dairy. You should assume that ranch seasoning has dairy unless you can definitively confirm that it is dairy-free.
The table below shows popular brands of ranch seasoning along with whether they have dairy. We also included the source of dairy, if any.
As the table shows, most store-bought ranch seasonings are made with dairy similar to traditional ranch dressing. Specifically, dried buttermilk is the most common dairy ingredient in the seasoning.
As you likely expected, there are some outliers that are dairy-free such as Clean Monday Meals or Riega Organic. If you happen to buy one of these seasonings, we will earn a small commission from Amazon and you will pay the normal price for the product as anyone else would.
| Ranch Seasoning | Dairy (Yes or No)? | Dairy Ingredients* |
|---|---|---|
| Badia – Ranch Seasoning | Yes | Buttermilk Powder, Sour Cream Powder |
| Blackstone – Parmesan Ranch | Yes | Whey, Buttermilk Solids, Cheddar & Parmesan Cheese Blend, Cultured Nonfat Milk, Whey, Sour Cream Solids, Whey Protein Concentrate |
| Clean Monday Meals – Ranch Seasoning Mix | No | None |
| Colonna – Ranch Seasoning | Yes | Buttermilk Powder |
| Frank’s RedHot – Buffalo Ranch Seasoning Blend | Yes | Buttermilk Powder, Cultured Whey |
| Happy Belly – Ranch Dip & Salad Dressing Seasoning Mix | Yes | Dry Buttermilk, Whey, Nonfat Dry Milk, Natural Butter Flavor |
| Hidden Valley – Ranch Seasoning | Yes | Buttermilk |
| Kinder’s – Ranch Dips & Seasoning Mix | Yes | Buttermilk |
| Kroger Ranch Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix | Yes | Dehydrated Buttermilk, Dehydrated Whey, Dehydrated Butter |
| Lane’s – Ranch Seasoning | Yes | Buttermilk Powder |
| Oh My Spice – Zesty Ranch Seasoning | Yes | Buttermilk, Cheddar Cheese Powder, Nonfat Dry Milk |
| McCormick – 3-in-1 Ranch Seasoning | Yes | Buttermilk Powder, Lactose, Parmesan Cheese, Cheese Cultures |
| Pork King Good – Ranch Seasoning | Yes | Nonfat Dry Milk, Whey |
| Simply Organic – Ranch Dip Mix | Yes | Organic Nonfat Dry Milk, Organic Natural Butter Flavor |
| Trader Joe’s – Ranch Seasoning Blend | Yes | Buttermilk Flavor Powder |
Homemade Ranch Seasoning & Dairy
The wonderful aspect of making your own ranch seasoning is that you decide what goes in it. Whether you want the seasoning to contain dairy or prefer it without, it is up to you.
If you have the time and desire to make your own ranch seasoning, here are five recipes with and without dairy that you might considering using:
Ranch Seasoning Recipes With Dairy:
- My Baking Addiction – Homemade Ranch Seasoning
- The Pioneer Woman – Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
- The Cookie Rookie – Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix (Copycat Hidden Valley Ranch)
- Fork in the Kitchen – DIY Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix
- Healthy Little Peach – Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
Ranch Seasoning Recipes Without Dairy:
- Sweet Peas and Saffron – Homemade Ranch Seasoning
- Wicked Spatula – Dairy-Free Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
- Tasty Yummies – How To Make Ranch Seasoning Mix
- Mother Thyme – Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
- This Wife Cooks – Vegan Ranch Seasoning
Final Thoughts
The answer to whether ranch seasoning contains dairy is far from straightforward. While many commercial seasonings do contain dried buttermilk and potentially other dairy elements, the growing demand for dairy-free and vegan options has started a wave of alternatives. The next time you reach for that bottle of ranch seasoning or look for a recipe, take a moment and learn what is in it if you wish to avoid ingredients like dairy.