We Tried 10 Store-Bought Ranch Dressings To Find The Best One, And Even We Were Surprised By The Winner

Ranch dressing is quite a versatile condiment. As the name implies, it’s great for dressing a salad, but Southerners know its uses go way beyond adding flavor to a bowl of lettuce. It’s also used as the star of many veggie platters, drizzled over wings, and of course, served alongside fries for dipping. 

Another thing we know is that not all ranch dressings are created equal, so we gave our editors the challenge of finding the best store-bought ranch on the market. While these won’t compare to the homemade kind, we know there are times when you need to rely on the convenience of being able to grab a bottle from the grocery store.

How We Tested

We selected 10 different bottles of ranch dressing from a variety of grocery store chains to be included in the taste test. Eight of the dressings in the test were shelf-stable while the other two were found in the refrigerated section. All dressings were refrigerated before the test so they were all served at the same temperature.

Each of the 10 dressings were poured into small tasting cups so editors could taste them without seeing any of the packaging. They were given carrots and celery for dipping to taste the dressings with. During the blind taste test, editors ranked each on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. They then selected an overall winner.

The Contenders

• Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Topping & Dressing
• Market Pantry Ranch Dressing
• Ken's Steak HouseHomestyle Ranch Dressing
• Kraft Classic Ranch Dressing
• Litehouse Homestyle Ranch Dressing & Dip
• Marzetti Classic Ranch
• Brianna's Home Style Classic Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
• Publix Ranch Dressing
• Wish-Bone Ranch Dressing
• Great Value Classic Ranch Dressing & Dip

How Each Ranch Dressing Scored

Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Topping & Dressing

Most testers didn't have much of a strong opinion on this dressing. One tester noted that this was the most herb-forward of the group while another noted that it was creamier than the other options they tasted.

Market Pantry Ranch Dressing

Receiving several first place votes, this ranch scored really well in the taste test. One editor said this dressing tasted like the one they purchase, while another said it was a good standard ranch. It was noted that it would be good for dipping and for salads. 

Ken's Steak HouseHomestyle Ranch Dressing

A few testers said this dressing lacked some flavor, but one noted that they would like to pair this dressing with something spicy. Another said it would be good with richer foods. 

Kraft Classic Ranch Dressing

Kraft was the favorite ranch of one editor who said it had a “nice ranch flavor” and was also liked by others even if it wasn’t their top choice. One tester was able to pinpoint it as “Classic Kraft.”  Some, however, thought it was a little bit too thick but several noted that it would be good for serving with wings.

Litehouse Homestyle Ranch Dressing & Dip

This dressing was one of the two in the test that is found in the refrigerated section. It was described by one editor as being, “Tangy, punchy, and more like restaurant ranch.” Another shared that it was the one that they kept coming back to.

Marzetti Classic Ranch 

Marzetti’s Classic Ranch was the second of the refrigerated dressings in the test. “This is my fave,” shared one editor. “It’s tangy, herby, and interesting.” Another noted that it tasted fresh. 

Brianna's Home Style Classic Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

The first thing testers noticed about this dressing is that it’s much darker and has a more yellow color than all of the other dressings. Testers agreed that they liked this dressing, but wouldn’t consider it a ranch as it tasted more like a caesar, noting they would enjoy it on a salad.

Publix Ranch Dressing

This dressing was said to be “pretty good” by one tester, but several noted that they wished it had a little bit more flavor. 

Wish-Bone Ranch Dressing

Testers didn’t think this dressing was bad, but at least four said that it tasted more like blue cheese dressing than it tasted like ranch dressing. So if they were looking for a classic ranch dressing, this one wouldn’t be their choice.

Great Value Classic Ranch Dressing & Dip

“Very classic” was the way one tester described this ranch dressing after tasting it, while another said it has a better herb flavor than they were expecting based on the way it looked. Overall, it scored near the middle of the pack. 

The Results

The Winner: Litehouse Homestyle Ranch Dressing & Dip

Overall, Litehouse Homestyle Ranch Dressing & Dip was the favorite ranch dressing of editors who participated in our blind taste test. Its herby flavor and slightly thicker texture won over testers. “It tastes the closest to fresh and has the best herb flavor of all,” shared one editor who participated in the test. Another said it was a good all-purpose dip and testers were impressed by the zestiness and flavor it delivered.

Runner-Up: Market Pantry Ranch Dressing

Of the shelf-stable ranch dressings, Market Pantry Ranch Dressing scored the highest and was the runner-up in the taste test. While it was a little thinner than the winner, testers really enjoyed the flavor.