- Ranch is one of the most popular salad dressings to buy at the store.
- Even chefs sometimes buy bottled ranch and have preferences for different brands.
- Top picks include Hidden Valley, Primal Kitchen, Trader Joe’s and Ken’s Steak House.
Ranch has ascended simple salad dressing status to reign as king of the creamy condiments. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but over the last decade or so, it seems ranch dressing is in or on just about everything. Whether you use it to dress simple salad greens, as a dip for veggies, or a topping for your crispy chicken sandwich, ranch is a go-to flavor enhancer for just about any dish. Ranch is one of the most popular salad dressings and sauces in America.
It strikes that balance of creamy yet tangy, with a rich yet bright flavor. The original recipe was developed on a ranch, in the early 1950s by Steven Henson. He served the zesty blend of buttermilk, herbs, and spices to guests and staff at his dude ranch. That place was none other than Hidden Valley Ranch, which also became the name of the wildly popular company that sells dressings and seasonings.
Today, there are many brands of ranch on the market and it can feel daunting knowing which one to buy. To get some expert perspectives, we reached out to a handful of chefs from across the country to ask their favorite brand of store-bought ranch dressing and find out how they like to use it. Read on to learn their top picks.
1. Hidden Valley Ranch
For Brittany Kelly, chef at North of Bourbon in Louisville, KY, there’s no better choice than the brand that started it all. “I almost never buy salad dressing because I usually just prefer to make it myself,” she says. “The one exception is ranch. I always have Hidden Valley on hand. But honestly, I don’t even really use it on salads. I love it for dipping, mostly. A good buttermilk ranch is classic, comforting, and it just goes with almost anything.”…