Wingstop Ranch Recipe (Copycat)

For a tangy, creamy dip, try this Wingstop ranch sauce! This copycat recipe is quick and simple, and it’s delicious on everything.

While it’s great as a salad dressing, I also love to serve it as a dip for chicken fingers or other appetizers. And sometimes, I even dunk my French fries in it.

While the original Wingstop opened in Garland, Texas in 1994, by 1997 they started franchising. And, now, there are more than 1400 restaurants!

As you can guess from the name, the chain’s specialty is chicken wings. And of the many accompaniments, their ranch dressing is one of the most popular.

But you don’t need to go to Texas to enjoy this delicious dip. With my easy recipe, you can throw this dressing together and impress all of your ranch-loving friends.

Plus, this Wingstop ranch dressing recipe is so simple that it’s great for newbies in the kitchen. Just throw the ingredients in a bowl and whisk them up.

All About the Wingstop Ranch Dressing Ingredients

Hidden Valley Ranch Mix (Dry Seasoning)

This powdered mix is the key ingredient in my homemade ranch dressing. It has a buttermilk powder base, and then it uses seasonings like onion and garlic powder for flavor.

For this Wingstop ranch recipe copycat, I use the original flavor Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning packets. This is what makes my sauce taste like Wingstop ranch dip.

But Hidden Valley Ranch makes a variety of different mixes, including alfredo, spicy, and buffalo. So this is an easy way to create various ranch dips!

And if you really want to personalize this sauce, you can use homemade ranch seasoning.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk is regular milk, but it’s been fermented. This gives it a slightly sour taste, similar to yogurt or sour cream.

It’s a popular ingredient in baking, but you can use this versatile ingredient in cooking, too. In this copycat Wingstop ranch recipe, I use it to add creaminess and a nice tang.

If you can’t find buttermilk at the supermarket, you can easily make your own! Simply mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar or fresh lemon juice into ¼ cup of milk.

Then, stir it up and let the mixture rest for 5-10 minutes until you can see it curdle slightly. And if you want to make it vegan, use soymilk instead of cow’s milk.

Mayonnaise

For the best-tasting ranch dressing, use high-quality mayonnaise. For example, I like Duke’s or Hellmann’s mayo.

Hellmann’s, for instance, uses simple ingredients like oil, eggs, and vinegar. And it doesn’t include many preservatives.

Also, there are several different varieties including creamy, organic, and light. While you can use any of them, I think the flavor of the light variety is the most authentic for this Wingstop ranch copycat recipe.

If you want to make this dipping sauce egg-free, you can swap in vegan mayonnaise.

Additional Seasonings

For the best Wingstop ranch recipe, you need dried dill. But use the weed itself, not the seeds.

And if you want to add extra herbs, dried parsley also tastes great.

Hidden Valley Ranch packets already include important seasoning ingredients like garlic and onion powder. But I like to add an additional pinch of each for an extra boost of flavor.

However, stick to powder rather than fresh garlic. Because fresh cloves taste so strong, they can overpower the rest of the seasonings in this Wingstop ranch dressing recipe.

Easy Tips for the Best Wingstop Ranch

Make a Big Batch

This easy Wingstop ranch recipe tastes so good that you’ll want to make a big batch for sharing. My recipe makes about 2 ½ cups of sauce, which will probably last you for a week.

But if you’re planning on having company, you can double the recipe and keep the extra in the fridge in an airtight glass container.

Measure Carefully

There aren’t very many ingredients in this recipe, so you need to be precise. But don’t worry if the texture or flavor isn’t quite right at first.

You can always adjust seasonings at the end. And if your sauce is too thick, add more buttermilk; if it’s too thin, add mayo.

Plan Ahead

This Wingstop ranch dressing tastes best if it has a chance to rest in the refrigerator. So if you have time, let the flavors meld for 30 minutes before serving.

Method

1. Mix the Base
   

   First, add the buttermilk, mayonnaise, and ranch packets to the mixing bowl. Then, whisk everything together until it’s thoroughly mixed.
   

2. Add More Seasoning
   

   Now, whisk in the dill and parsley, if using. Taste the sauce and adjust for seasoning or texture.
   

3. Refrigerate
   

   Then, cover the bowl with the lid or plastic wrap, and put it in the refrigerator. Let it chill for 30 minutes.
   

4. Enjoy!
   

   Finally, enjoy your Wingstop ranch dressing with chicken nuggets, veggie sticks, or French fries.
   

Swaps and Substitutions

If you can’t find buttermilk, you can make your own (see note above) or use heavy cream. Heavy cream won’t taste quite the same, but the dipping sauce will still be delicious.

With heavy cream, you might want to add a dash of lemon juice to make the sauce tangier. And your dressing might end up a little thinner.

For a slightly different option, you can use regular or vegan sour cream instead of buttermilk. This will keep the sourness and give the dip a thicker texture.

And to up the flavor of this sauce, toss in a pinch each of garlic and onion powder. A bit of freshly-ground black pepper will also add a hint of heat.

Finally, an extra teaspoon of lemon juice can keep the sauce from tasting too dull and heavy.

Storage Instructions

To store your extra sauce, put it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. There, it will last for about 2 weeks before going bad.

To keep it as fresh as possible, don’t leave any other food items in it, such as vegetable sticks or chicken pieces. Also, don’t double-dip.

The fridge is the usual place to store ranch dressing, but you can freeze it if you really want to. However, I don’t recommend it.

While the freezer keeps the dressing from spoiling, it can make the sauce taste lumpy and bitter.

Therefore, I like to make small batches regularly, so I can finish them while they’re still good.