Ranch Madness
Did you know that ranch is America’s most popular condiment, outselling juggernauts like ketchup? Well, there’s clearly something about this sauce people can’t get enough of. But not all ranches are made equally, with some hitting those herb-notes, while others flounder into sour messes. Aren’t you curious to see where your favorite ranch ends up ranking?
1. Follow Your Heart Ranch
Everything about this ranch is just slightly off. The flavor is muted, the aftertaste is questionable, and it tastes like a ranch trying to have flavor but just being shy of succeeding. While it is a good vegan alternative, perhaps that is why it tastes off and less like ranch than it is intended to.
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2. Great Value Classic Ranch Dressing & Dip
Great Value products are cheap for a reason, and that is that you get quantity, not quality. The Classic Ranch Dressing & Dip from Great Value smells very chemically and tastes rancid compared to almost any other ranch. It’s not pleasant to eat, and there is a reason it is one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest ranch out there.
3. Amazon Ranch Dressing & Dip
It might seem strange, but Amazon does have its own Ranch Dressing & Dip for sale. While this may be the most convenient way to get your ranch delivered without having to leave the house, the product itself is not worth it.
The flavor profile is simply rancid and spoiled, and on top of that, it’s extremely watery.
4. Good & Gather Organic Ranch Dressing
The Good & Gather Organic Ranch Dressing is incredibly thick and tastes absolutely spoiled. You would think that having “organic” in its name, it would taste fresh and delicious, but the reality is, the flavor is very dull and tastes nothing like ranch. Everything about this ranch is unpleasant to eat, especially for something that is supposed to be organic.
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5. Kraft Classic Ranch Dressing
Kraft’s Classic Ranch Dressing is disappointing and lacks quality. It tastes very sour, it’s extremely thick, coats your entire mouth while leaving a bitter aftertaste that lasts a long time. While Kraft is a very popular brand when it comes to a number of products like their Lunchables and ketchup, ranch is definitely not one of them.
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6. Skinnygirl Buttermilk Ranch
Skinnygirl Buttermilk Ranch is a very off-tasting ranch that shouldn’t even be called a ranch. The texture is extremely watery and gives a very bad mouthfeel while eating, and the flavor is just sour. The only thing it has going for it is that the calorie count is extremely low for a ranch, but at the cost of being one of the worst ranches out there.
7. Chick-fil-A Garden Herb Ranch Dressing
Chick-fil-A’s Garden Herb Ranch Dressing tastes like a worse version of generic ranch flavor. It’s got lots of herbs that don’t really bring much to the table and even confuse the palate, while generally being very forgettable after you are done eating it. As far as famous brands go, this one doesn’t quite hold up when compared to many others on the supermarket shelves.
8. Brianna's Home Style Classic Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
For a ranch that is advertised as made with premium ingredients and brings nothing but quality in a bottle, this ranch is one of the worst ones out there when it comes to flavor. From the smell to the taste, it simply gives spoiled and off-putting notes, and the more you eat it, the worse it gets. Brianna’s Home Style Classic Buttermilk Ranch Dressing even costs more than most brands, all while tasting lower quality than most others.
9. Hidden Valley Avocado Ranch
Hidden Valley has a lot of different ranch flavors, and their Avocado Ranch is the absolute worst one. The flavor is putrid and leaves a very confusing aftertaste that lasts long after you’re done eating it. It is surprising how a bit of avocado makes this ranch absolutely putrid and almost inedible.
10. Ken’s Steak House Ranch Dressing
Ken’s Steak House Ranch Dressing does not taste like ranch at all. If you have never had it, imagine a very fatty mayonnaise taste mixed with heaps of garlic.
For a brand as popular as Ken’s Steak House when it comes to ranch, this one tastes disappointing on all fronts.
Now that we talked about some of the worst ranch contenders, here are 10 great ones to cheer yourself up with.
1. Hidden Valley Original Ranch
Hidden Valley’s Original Ranch tastes fresh and delicious, especially considering that it does not have to be kept in a fridge to retain its quality. It is a great ranch that you can use as a dip or a condiment for virtually anything you want. While Hidden Valley does have a great number of ranch flavors, nothing beats the original.
2. Bolthouse Farms Classic Ranch
A pleasantly herby and slightly sweet ranch, Bolthouse Farms Classic is one you should definitely try if you are not familiar with it. It goes amazingly well with veggies as a dip and tastes very unique while still very clearly being a ranch. If you are looking for a ranch that has a bit less calories too, this one will do the trick.
3. Chick-fil-A Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing
Chick-fil-A’s Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing is a definite upgrade from their Garden Herb Ranch Dressing. It has a wonderful texture and it’s delicious and rich in spices. This ranch is great for dipping your veggies in or as a dressing or topping for your favorite dishes, all while tasting fresh and pleasant.
4. Litehouse Jalapeño Ranch Dressing & Dip
This Litehouse ranch flavor is incredible, innovative, and one of the most flavorful ranches you can get from a store. It has an amazing ranch flavor that is only amplified by the addition of jalapeño peppers. If you love a hint of heat with your ranch, it is all but guaranteed that this will be your new favorite shopping list item.
5. Marzetti Ranch Veggie Dip
While this is mostly just a dip, it is one of the most delicious and fresh-tasting dips out there. The veggies that are mixed in with the ranch add to the already amazing texture and flavor without taking away from the ranch taste. It is one of the most refreshing and high-quality ranch dips on the market.
6. Trader Joe’s Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Trader Joe’s Buttermilk Ranch Dressing is one of the most liked ranches out there. From the moment you smell it, you know that this is a good quality ranch. It is filled with spices that make it even better, like dill, parsley, garlic, and a bit of sugar to balance everything, all while having the creamiest taste that will make you fall in love with it.
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7. Marie’s Creamy Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Another spicy ranch, Marie’s Creamy Chipotle Ranch Dressing is a high-quality product. It has a very smoky taste with it not being too spicy, all while clearly still being a ranch.
The spices work well together, amplify the ranch, and it is all around just a great and pleasant ranch that you can enjoy with your favorite foods.
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8. Toby’s Ranch Dressing & Dip
Toby’s Ranch Dressing & Dip is a hidden gem of ranches. While it is quite thick for a ranch, it manages to taste light and airy, all while packed with delicious flavor. It has a good amount of garlic and fresh dill inside, which makes it so very addicting to the point that you can eat it by the spoonful.
9. Krasdale Creamy Ranch Dressing
A very surprisingly delicious and more affordable product, Krasdale’s Creamy Ranch Dressing is a pleasant entry. The consistency is perfectly balanced, not too thick nor too thin, but made just right for a ranch. For being a much cheaper alternative to some of the more expensive brand names, this ranch delivers high-quality flavor, and an overall very pleasant eating experience.
10. 365 Organic Classic Ranch Dressing & Dip
Very pleasant and fresh-tasting, 365’s Organic Classic Ranch is a nicely balanced and delicious ranch. It goes great as a topping, dressing, dip, or ingredient, which makes it super versatile while being high-quality. If you are looking for a textbook ranch flavor but amplified, this is it.
