I don't like ranch dressing, but I'll give a vote to Hidden Valley because they invented it. :)

Uncle Dan's, but it's only available in certain states--WA and OR for sure.

I usually buy Hidden Valley or Kraft.

I always like the kind in restaurants. Then I get home and the kinds I try don't taste the same. Finally, tried some Kraft a while back. I liked it.

There is no bottled ranch dressing that I truly like, but the most tolerable is Hidden Valley Ranch. I prefer to make it myself. I really like HVR packets, the one you add buttermilk (sometimes I use kefir) to. I found several knockoff recipes for the powder mix and have tweaked them to come up with what I like. Two tablespoons mix to a cup each of mayo and buttermilk are perfect.

Ken's is my favorite of all dressings. I especially like Sweet Vidalia(R) Onion.

Sue

I love ranch dressing!

I make my own. Pioneer woman has a good recipe. The bottled stuff has a lot of extras that I don't like, but they sure are convenient!

Donna_loomis, I thought Hidden Valley was packets you mix with buttermilk.

Hidden Valley comes in packets and bottled, and I like the sour cream packets. I have not had a bottled ranch dressing that I really like. I guess I should try Marie's.

Ken's, which ever flavor, always Ken's it's much better to me. I do have some of their Ranch, blue cheese, and Vidalia onion in the fridge. Also like their vinaigrettes.

Why, yes Pillog, HVR does come in packets. Maybe I did a bad job of explaining. At two dollars (sometimes more) a packet, I prefer to make a jar full of mix that will make at least 10 times what that packet makes for a lot less money than those 10 packets would cost. And I know what is going into the mix. No ingredients I can't pronounce or never heard of.

Hidden Valley Light.

I tend to buy Greek yogurt bottled dressing because they have far lower fat and calories than their creamy counterparts. My favorite brand right now is OPA.

I use either Hidden Valley or Kraft.

Actually I like Walmart light Great Value band better than Hidden Valley Ranch . I used Hidden Valley for years and decided to try this brand. When I made the change I checked the ingredients but now I can't remember what was different. Maybe it was less sugar so I am curious and will recheck again.

Lois

I don't really care for ranch dressing :)

Sue

Oh, D_L, I'm sorry! I thought you said it came in bottles, which you didn't like so made your own, but then Sheilajoyce said it comes in either. I probably wasn't reading so well before breakfast. :) I just remember its existence because of what happened to house dressing. Restaurants used to have salad dressing that was their signature dressing that they made themselves, which was called "House" dressing because it was the dressing of the house. Then Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix came out and people were clamoring for it. "Ranch" dressing, however, referred to the Hidden Valley concoction and it was trademark infringement or something to call it "Ranch dressing", so restaurants called it "house" because no one could quibble with that. But then they stopped making unique house dressings.

I only like two bottled dressings. I'll eat whatever is served--I'm not that picky if it's not overdressed, but the only bottle I've ever bought and used more than a couple of times (and since rebought) is Trader Joe's champagne pear vinaigrette. And for quickie fixes, I'll use Marie's poppy seed, which is basically mayonnaise, sugar and poppy seeds, on packaged broccoli slaw or as a dip for cold artichokes. If I were making it myself, I'd use honey, but it tastes the same.

OTOH, my 9-year-old cousin, when she hears "salad", shouts, "Ranch!"

Amen, Lucille!

Pillog, no apology necessary.

We really like ranch. It's all I ever put on my salad. We've tried HVR, Kraft, etc, but, I'm with pump toad, we like the Walmart Great Value brand just as much.

I also agree with Lucille, nectar of the god, lol.

I think all brands are good, including store brands. I even bought a bottle of ranch dressing at the dollar store once. By the way, what does a "ranch" taste like? I'm joking, of course. I know it's made from buttermilk so it's white and thick and creamy.

I use Bolthouse Farms light ranch It's the only light ranch I have found that tastes good to me. Two tablespoons are just 45 calories. It's in the refrigerated produce section.

I don't eat dressing on my salads, on the rare occasion that I eat them. Lettuce doesn't agree with me anymore. DH likes my home made honey mustard and adds horse radish to it. My kids and grandkids will only eat ranch. Donna, would you please share your mix recipe? I would love to make them jars of mixes for a gift!

Tami, here you go:

2
cups dry parsley flakes

1/2
cup instant minced onion

2
Tbsp. dry dill weed

1/2
cup onion salt

1/2
cup garlic garlic salt

(I
used onion and garlic powder instead of onion and garlic salt and added salt and pepper to taste when I mixed the dressing with the mayo and buttermilk)

Dump
all the dry ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until completely
powdered. If you prefer to have some
larger pieces of herbs, hold back a bit of the parsley flakes and dill and add
them back in after you have blended the other ingredients. This makes about 3 cups of seasoning mix,
enough to make at least 45 pints of dressing.

To
use, combine 1 – 2 Tbsp. dry mix with 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup buttermilk.

The original recipe also called for 15 saltine crackers, stating that it would help thicken the dressing. Luckily, I made a fraction of the recipe and found that the crackers were just filler and did absolutely nothing to thicken the dressing. Other recipes called for Xanthan Gum to thicken, so I bought some and when I "reconstituted" the dressing, I added a large pinch of it. You must mix the dressing in a blender or food processor if using Xanthan Gum, or you will end up with lumps, because the XG thickens almost immediately. And it continues to thicken just a bit more as it sets, so don't be tempted to add more. You'll eventually figure out what is just the right amount.

Sometimes I add a bit of fresh jalapeno and cilantro for a kick and that is really tasty. You can change it up in lots of ways. This would make a great "jar" gift for someone who loves ranch dressing.

Thanks for the recipe, I once made that with the crackers and thought that it was just meh so now I need to try it again without the crackers. Thanks for the tips!

Thanks for the recipe! Next time RANCH girl is here I can make that for her instead of trying to remember to buy her something. I wonder if she'd know if I used buttermilk powder if I didn't have any fresh...

Lots of the recipes called for powdered buttermilk, but since I make my own buttermilk, I decided to leave it out.