10 Creative Ways to Use Ranch Dressing Beyond Just Salads

Nicole McLaughlin, also known as NicoleMcmom, has strong opinions about ranch dressing and is eager to share them. Here are 10 clever ways she suggests using ranch dressing—whether it's a convenient dry mix or a ready-to-pour bottle—to add more flavor to your meals.

1. Dip

Ranch dressing isn't just a dip on its own; it can also serve as the base for other flavorful dips. Try mixing it into this Ultimate Buffalo Dip, or use it in place of half the mayo in your spinach dip and artichoke dip for a twist on the classic recipes.

2. Dressing

Start with bottled ranch dressing and mix in chopped jalapeño, avocado, and a dash of lime juice for a creamy jalapeño ranch sauce. For a lighter option, thin it with lemon juice and olive oil to create a tangy ranch vinaigrette. You can even swap ranch dressing for mayo or vinaigrette in pasta salads.

3. Casseroles

Looking to elevate your creamy rice casserole? Stir in some ranch dressing. Whether you use the dry mix or the bottled version, it adds a delicious twist to your dish.

4. Soups

Add a packet of dry ranch dressing mix to soups for a burst of flavor and a touch of thickening. It's perfect in dishes like taco soup or chili.

5. Roasts

Ranch dressing is a key ingredient in the highly-rated slow cooker Mississippi Pot Roast. You can also incorporate it into a classic Slow Cooker Pot Roast with root vegetables. For oven-baked dishes, sprinkle ranch over chicken or veggies before roasting. Try it with this Sheet Pan Chicken and Vegetables recipe for a delicious twist.

6. Sauces

Nicole loves using ranch dressing (either bottled or dry mix) to thicken and enrich cream sauces. Melt cream cheese with milk or broth, then stir in ranch for a flavorful base. Serve over pasta with bacon and scallions, or try it with this recipe for Ranch and Bacon Chicken with Penne Pasta. You can also use ranch as a creamy white pizza sauce or to tame the heat of a spicy Buffalo sauce, like in this popular Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.

7. Marinades

Ranch dressing makes an excellent marinade. Simply pour the bottled dressing over chicken and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Alternatively, mix a packet of dry ranch dressing with olive oil, vinegar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce for a versatile marinade that works on grilled chicken, pork, fish, and vegetables.

8. Coating & Breading

Dry ranch dressing mix creates fantastic seasoning for coatings. Sprinkle it over potatoes before frying or roasting, or mix it with breadcrumbs for an incredibly tasty breading.

9. Secret Ingredient (Shhh!)

Add bottled or dry ranch dressing to burgers, meatloaf, and meatballs for an unexpected flavor punch that no one will quite figure out. You can also stir it into hummus or add a splash to pan gravy, leaving everyone guessing your secret ingredient. (Don't worry, we won’t spill the beans.)