This homemade spicy ranch seasoning is my secret for really good small bites and appetizers! With just basic spices and a key ingredient (buttermilk powder!), you can mix up a big jar for snack mixes, dips, and everything in-between. Plus, it has a spoonful of cayenne for a little kick. Go ahead and skip the store-bought stuff, this recipe literally couldn’t be any easier!

A brown and white bowl of homemade spicy ranch seasoning with a spoon on a white counter next to a white and brown plate and orange linen.

Truth time, I didn’t know that homemade ranch was a thing until I went to culinary school lolll. I seriously thought ranch came in a bottle and that was that. But as it turns out, making the seasoning at home is unbelievably easy. I haven’t bought a bottle of ranch in actual years. Hidden Ranch who?

Of course, you can always use this seasoning to make dip for veggies and the like. But I also sprinkle it over ranch snack mix, stir it into boat dip, and stuff it into buffalo chicken sliders. So you might as well mix up a double batch, you’ll be surprised by how much you use it!

Even better, you probably already have most of the ingredients on hand right at this very moment. Let’s make it!

Buttermilk powder

A jar of buttermilk powder on a marble counter.

The secret to this seasoning is buttermilk powder! It’ll give us that signature tangy bite that you look for in ranch. Obviously, if you want to make this recipe dairy-free, you could always leave it out but I wouldn’t recommend it. You can find powdered buttermilk in the baking aisle with other powdered milks, or you can get it online!

For Hidden Valley vibes, try adding a pinch or two of MSG to your seasoning.

How to make the recipe

Two images. In image one, a brown and white bowl of spices on a marble counter. In photo two, a brown bowl of mixed spices on a marble counter.
To make this seasoning, literally all you have to do is mix all of the spices together in a bowl or a jar. Make sure that you break up any chunks of buttermilk powder so it’s nice and smooth! Then, give it a taste and adjust the spices to your taste if needed.

If you’re not a fan of spice, you can totally leave out the cayenne. No need to replace it with anything!

Store in a jar

If you have any leftovers, pour them into a jar and store them in the pantry for up to 3 months. After a few months, I’ve found the seasoning starts to lose its flavor.

Using this seasoning

This recipe makes roughly 3/4 cup (75 grams) of seasoning. But this could vary depending on the ingredients you use. To swap it with store-bought seasoning, replace a 1-ounce packet with 1/4 cup (28 grams) of homemade seasoning.

A brown and white bowl of homemade spicy ranch seasoning on a marble counter next to a jar of seasoning, black jar lid, and orange linen.

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Super Easy Spicy Ranch Seasoning

Yield: 0.75 cup
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
This homemade spicy ranch seasoning is my secret for really good small bites and appetizers! With just basic spices and a key ingredient (buttermilk powder!), you can mix up a big jar for snack mixes, dips, and everything in-between. Plus, it has a spoonful of cayenne for a little kick. Go ahead and skip the store-bought stuff, this recipe literally couldn't be any easier!
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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup buttermilk powder (25 grams)
  • 2 Tablespoons onion powder (16 grams)
  • 2 Tablespoons garlic powder (16 grams)
  • 1 Tablespoon dried dill (3 grams)
  • 4 teaspoons dried chives
  • 4 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper or freshly-cracked black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons dried mustard powder
  • 2 teaspoons cayenne

Equipment

  • Jar, or airtight container

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl or jar, combine the buttermilk powder, onion powder, garlic powder, dried dill, dried chives, dried parsley, Kosher salt, white pepper, dried mustard powder, and cayenne. Stir well until there are no more lumps. Then, give it a taste and adjust the seasonings, if needed. Store it in a jar for up to 3 months.

Notes

The buttermilk powder is the key to homemade ranch seasoning. It adds that classic tang. For Hidden Valley Ranch vibes, you can also add a dash of MSG!
If you’re sensitive to spice, start with 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne and add more to taste. You can also leave it out entirely if you’re not a fan of heat.
This recipe makes roughly 3/4 cup (75 grams) of seasoning, but that could vary depending on the ingredients you use. To swap it with store-bought seasoning, replace a 1-ounce packet with 1/4 cup (28 grams) of homemade seasoning.
Cuisine: American
Course: Spices
Author: Sara Lynn Hunt Broka
Serving: 1Tablespoon, Calories: 27kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 2g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 210mg, Potassium: 134mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin C: 12mg, Calcium: 55mg, Iron: 1mg
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