Blackened Ranch Dressing – Barefeet in the Kitchen

This is a smoky, slightly spicy blackened ranch dressing just like Popeye’s! Serve with vegetables, chicken tenders, or french fries. There’s no wrong way to enjoy this awesome dip.

Popeye’s Blackened Ranch

My family went crazy over this the first time I made it. They inhaled it in record time alongside a plate of raw vegetables.

I’m so happy that a reader mentioned blackened ranch dressing to me a while back! I’d never heard of it, so I had to do a bit of research.

It turns out that Popeye’s sells a blackened ranch that is very popular. Naturally, I needed to make a copycat recipe asap.

Blackened Ranch Sauce

Why is it called “blackened” ranch? There are spice mixes called “blackening seasoning,” and they consist of a variety of different spices along with a smoky spice (in this case, paprika) and a spice with a hint of heat (in this case, both black pepper and cayenne are being used).

I’ve taken that smoky, spicy combination and added it to our very popular ranch dressing recipe. The result is a seriously delicious winner of a new dipping sauce that has a likely permanent spot in our refrigerator now.

Every time I stir together a batch of this blackened ranch, it disappears ridiculously fast. Those added flavors are clearly a hit with my boys.

Blackened Ranch

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

• mayonnaise
• sour cream
• buttermilk or regular milk
• smoked or plain paprika
• dried dill weed, parsley, and chives
• garlic and onion powders
• kosher salt and black pepper
• cayenne pepper
• fresh lemon juice

Don’t let the number of spices in the ingredient list deter you from trying this dressing. Most of these ingredients are likely in your pantry already.

I frequently swap plain white vinegar for the fresh lemon juice in this recipe. Both acids work to provide the perfect amount of tang in the dressing.

Homemade Salad Dressings

As with all homemade dressings and sauces, tasting as you go along is key to the perfect final result. Adjust the cayenne pepper as you desire to result in the perfect amount of heat for your tastes.

My family enjoys a good bit of heat and we add the full teaspoon of cayenne to this dressing. Keep in mind that the dressing will increase in heat after resting in the refrigerator for a few hours. 

Homemade dressings are always worth the few minutes of effort it takes to stir or shake them together!

Blackened Ranch Recipe

To make the dressing, whisk together the mayo, sour cream, and milk until smooth. Add the spices and whisk until combined. Add the lemon and whisk again. Taste the dressing and adjust seasonings and lemon juice as desired.

Pour into a jar and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This dressing will keep nicely in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Serve with fresh vegetables, roasted vegetables, chicken chunks, or french fries. There’s no wrong way to enjoy this blackened ranch dip!

Salad Dressings and Dips

Want a few more awesome dressings and dips to try? Classic ranch dip and this caramelized onion dip are made frequently in our house. Southwest ranch dip fills my family’s need for a little bit of heat. This quick dipping sauce is fantastic with chicken or fresh vegetables.

Whether you prefer creamy and savory dressings or sweet and tart vinaigrettes, there’s no end to the variety of dressing recipes you can prepare.

Tangy, sweet honey lime jalapeno vinaigrette delivers a hint of lingering heat that few can resist. It’s perfect on salads or drizzled over street tacos or burrito bowls. Chipotle, garlic and lime are combined in this homemade salad dressing to create a crazy flavorful chipotle vinaigrette that you are going to love.

Sweet and slightly tangy, this creamy poppyseed dressing has had a regular home in our refrigerator for several years now. Easy to make and adaptable as can be, this is the best poppy seed dressing I’ve ever tasted.