This Is the Best Ranch Dressing—It’s neither Bottled nor Homemade

3 food editors agree this is the only way they'll make ranch.

Around my house, we have a saying: “The road to vegetables is paved with ranch.” My six-year-old daughter will eat just about any veggie if it comes with a side of the zesty white dressing. Cucumbers, carrots, and broccoli are all welcome on the table when they’re cozied up to the good stuff. So you can probably imagine that I keep ranch in my fridge at all times to inspire these ‘healthy’ eating habits. 

Though I sometimes pick up a bottled dressing, I usually prefer to make my own with the help of a not-so-secret ingredient: a packet of ranch seasoning powder. I thought I was the only one of my colleagues in on this shortcut, but when I started asking around, I discovered I wasn’t alone. Simply Recipes Senior Editors Megan Scott and Sara Bir echo my love of one particular brand: Hidden Valley Original Ranch Seasoning.

How Food Editors Use Ranch Seasoning to Make a Better Dressing

“Hidden Valley’s ranch seasoning is leagues above anything I've ever had in a bottle,” says Sara. That makes sense because, when you use the ranch packet instead of the bottled version, you add your own fresh milk and mayonnaise, and that freshness goes a long way toward making the dehydrated herbs and seasonings sing.

The only drawback, Sara points out, is that you need a little time to achieve ranch perfection with the packet. “It takes 30 minutes of refrigeration to thicken after mixing,” she says, “so it's not for extremely urgent times.”

For Meg, too, Hidden Valley seasoning is “so much better” than bottled. When she has the time, she likes to push the packet approach one step further. “I gussy up my dressing mix by swapping the milk for tangy buttermilk,” she says. “If I have sour cream, I'll use half sour cream and half mayo.” Her final touch? Fresh herbs, such as parsley, dill, chives, or cilantro.

Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning Is Not Just for Dressing

It’s not only dressing that benefits from the seasoning. The best thing about the mix is its versatility. My ranch-loving six-year-old and I adore HVR, as we call it, on popcorn, where it adds savory appeal. It supercharges the flavor of baked chicken and makes tomato sandwiches sing. 

In fact, I’ve been tossing this seasoning into so many foods that I was going through packets like crazy. So, I finally made the switch. Now, instead of the four-pack of one-ounce packets, I go for the 16-ounce shaker, so I can shake that mix on every dish that needs some ranch-y personality. It’s a wise investment, for sure.

Read the original article on Simply Recipes.