One taste of this deliciously tangy and oh-so-creamy vegan ranch and you’ll be hooked! Cashews and a handful of ingredients blend together in seconds, giving you the perfect pizza dip, burger spread, or salad dressing.
The best cashew ranch dressing
In my family, there’s no arguing that vegan ranch is the best. dressing. EVER! Both the kids and adults love it.
One batch of the Best Homemade Vegan Ranch doesn’t last long in my house because the creamy and tangy flavors are completely irresistible. It’s always being spread onto veggie burgers, used for dipping on pizza night, and drizzled over salads. It’s also perfect with buffalo cauliflower!
You’d think a dressing that tastes this good would involve many different steps. Nope! All you have to do is blend the cashews, vinegar, and savory seasonings together, then enjoy. Indulge in the cashew ranch dressing all week long, whether it’s drizzled on a cobb salad, used for dipping veggies, or added as a finishing touch on a Hawaiian BBQ pizza!
Ingredients needed (with substitutions)
- Raw cashews – Soaked and blended cashews transform into a thick and creamy cashew cream. I use it as the base in many recipes, like this ranch dressing, vegan sour cream, and heavy cream substitute because the rich texture is so close to real dairy. While cashews are the very best option here, raw slivered almonds might work as a substitute.
- Water
- Rice vinegar – This is a tangy ranch dressing, so vinegar is a must! Feel free to use white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or more lemon juice instead.
- Lemon juice – Or replace it with more vinegar.
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dill – Fresh or dried. If you don’t love dill, replace it with parsley.
How to make vegan ranch
Place the cashew pieces in a heat-proof bowl and pour very hot or boiling water over top. Leave them to soak for a few minutes.
Drain the water, then add the soaked cashews to your blender along with the rest of the ingredients (except the dill). Blend until smooth.
Add the dill and pulse a few times to just combine. Serve the vegan ranch right away or store it for later.
Serving suggestions
There isn’t a wrong way to enjoy vegan ranch dressing! It’s good as a:
- Dip: With carrots, celery, and cucumber, buffalo cauliflower wings, vegan mozzarella sticks, potato wedges, or tempeh sausage pizza.
- Spread: On veggie burgers, wraps, and sandwiches.
- Dressing: For loaded green salads, grain bowls, and pasta salad.
- Finishing touch: Drizzle the ranch over a cooked pizza, vegan sloppy joes, or roasted vegetables for extra flavor.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you make it without nuts? Yes! You can substitute 1 cup of vegan mayo for the cashews and water, if desired. Just mix everything in a bowl and you’re good to go!
- How long does it last? The dressing will last for about 1 week when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Can you freeze ranch dressing? It freezes okay, but the texture might not be as creamy and smooth when it thaws. Quickly blend the thawed dressing to bring it back to normal.
Want more vegan sauces and dressings?
- Vegan Caesar Dressing
- Green Goddess Dressing
- Dairy Free Alfredo Sauce
- Vegan Blue Cheese Dressing
- Vegan Tartar Sauce
Vegan Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups raw cashew pieces
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- juice from 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1/4 cup fresh dill OR 2-3 teaspoons dried dill*
Instructions
- Soak the raw cashew pieces in hot water for 5-10 minutes. I heat up water in my electric kettle and pour it over the cashews to soak.
- Drain the cashews and add to your blender. Add the remaining ingredients except the dill, and blend until very smooth.
- Now add the dill, and pulse a few times to combine. You don’t want to blend the dill or it will end up very green.
- Serve on salad or with fresh vegetables for dipping. This will keep for up to a week in the fridge. It will thicken in the fridge, just thin out with water until it reaches the consistency you prefer.
Notes
- If you don’t care for dill, you may substitute with parsley (1/3 cup fresh chopped small, or 2-3 teaspoons dried).
- For Sriracha Ranch, add 2-3 teaspoons Sriracha, or to taste when blending.
- Without nuts – Substitute 1 cup of vegan mayo for the cashews and water. Simply whisk everything in a bowl and that’s it!
This worked out perfectly. It was easy to make and super delicious. Thank you!
You’re welcome!
The best ranch dressing recipe I did only use 1 Tbsp if dill and a small amount of water a tbsp maybe added another tsp if vinager because I am a vinager girl only 3/4 tsp of salt.
Thank you
I’ve made the dressing several times. Love it! I would like to know what is a serving? A tablespoon or two? The nutritional info is well detailed, but not the actual measurement. Thanks in advance.
And I give this recipe 5 stars of course! ?
Thank you! I don’t know the exact details as it is an online calculation, but it’s probably about 1/4 cup of dressing.
Delicious
Thank you for such an easy to make and tasty vegan ranch dressing that I can make right before dinner with items I have on hand.
Just made this…..so good! Thank you for another great recipe!
You’re welcome!! So glad it was good!
Looks like a fabulous recipe…Do you still recommend that you add the dill if you make the Sriracha version. I was wondering if it would clash with the spice. Thanks
Yes, I do usually omit the dill if I use Sriracha. Thanks!
I am eating a salad now with your yummy fresh dressing. Love it! I was looking for a ranch with dill of course and saw that they usually have mayo, buttermilk and or sour cream. Added “vegan” to search and so glad I found yours. I’m more WFPB so on that note instead of the garlic and onion powders I added 1 garlic clove and 2 skinny green onion/scallion. Love it. Thank you.
You’re so welcome!!
And I meant to give it FIVE stars1
Thanks so much!!
This is probably the best WFPB dressing I’ve tried. I could drink it!! Added in the dill at the beginning by mistake so it came out light green. So good!!
Thank you for the recipe. I didn’t have fresh dill I used dried, but I found it overpowering with 2tsp of dried dill…..I added 2 tsp of chipotle chili powder and this seemed to dull the dill and made it super delicious! I like spicy so you might want to start of with a smaller amount. Thanks again
Emma
Can i use apple cider vinagre ?
Yes, that will work.
Amazing with salad or dipping veggies!
Thanks!
I made the Sriracha version of this ranch dressing, but knowing how thick my first batch of delicious regular ranch became after refrigerating, I used 1 cup of water instead of the 3/4 c. per the recipe. I then put in 1 Tbl. of Sriracha sauce and blended until it was smooth and rich. I worried the whole time about how the dill would go with the Sriracha sauce as I was licking the spatula and endangering my fingers to get all the unreachable dressing into my mouth. This Sriracha Ranch Dressing is without a doubt the BEST DRESSING EVER! I gave the regular ranch a 5 star rating but I would give this TEN STARS if I could! The dressing was slightly warm from my soaked cashews and I am ashamed to admit I just kept going back for another taste. It’s THAT good. Fear kept me from adding the dill but I did add 1 Tbl of dried chives; but honestly , it didn’t need them. Nora, you should put this recipe in separately so people don’t miss it!!!!
Wow, thanks for the great comment and information!
Terrific flavor and I was doubtful given the many other plant based dressings I’ve tried! Very thick ,so great as a dip for fresh veg. Thinned with almond milk for dressing. My cashews are soaking as I type this. I am bringing a platter of pita bread, hummus, fresh vegetables and your version of SRIRACHA RANCH DRESSING to a church potluck tomorrow. Both my husband and I loved the regular ranch, but I think I am going to have to confess it is plant based and made without oil or mayonnaise which I can’t digest. He keeps looking at me funny when I spoon it on my salad! ?
Thanks for the great comment!
Hi,
I have a nut allergy, what would be a good substitute?
Thank You!
If you can have sunflower seeds, they will work quite well if you soak them first and have a high powered blender. You could also sub silken tofu for the cashews and water. It works pretty well. Hope that helps!
I’ve even tried well cooked beans or chick peas.
You have rice vinegar listed but the link shows seasoned rice vinegar. Which type is it?
I use regular rice vinegar or seasoned rice vinegar, I can’t really tell a difference so either is fine.
I will never buy ranch dressing again! We loved this! It came out thick, which was great for your bbq cauliflower wings. For a salad I will add more water to thin it. Thanks!!
You’re welcome! So glad you liked them!
HOLY CATS!
Okay, seriously people, this is GOOD stuff! And it is totally plant-based and oil free. What!? It tastes like the best ranch ever. I have been addicted to ranch since I was a kid and always in search of even at least an MSG version, and now that I am trying to be as close to 100% plant-based as possible, vegan. And it is IMPOSSIBLE to find either that are good. I have tried them all. Seriously, gone through and trashed probably at least a dozen or more kinds in search of the holy grail. Here it is. In my kitchen, made by my hands thanks to Nora! This is just so magical I could not believe it. I JUST made it, so I know the taste will marry and be different tomorrow, but I can only imagine it will be even BETTER than what I tasted when I tried it. Also, this makes a huge batch! I am so thankful to you! Thank you so much for this.
I am also thankful I trusted the recipe, as I am notorious for diverging for my flavors. I am a HUGE dill fan and I know most are not. You have JUST the right amount of dill in this recipe for someone like me.
My only remarks are, keep blending, blending, blending to get the right texture.
Thank you!!!!
Thanks so much for the great comment! I’m so glad you like the ranch!
This is seriously the best ranch! My husband and I both agree it’s way better than regular!!! I added twice as much dill (because I love it), some parsley and a titch more salt. Either way, it’s delish! Thanks for the recipe!
You’re so welcome! I’m glad you both like it.
This ranch is amazing! This is the first ranch sauce I made and probably the last since there’s no need to experiment or do anything extra. I was worried the dill would be a bit too dilly but it was not at all. The only thing I added was a dash of pepper but it wasn’t even necessary. Thanks!!!!!!
You’re welcome! Glad you like it!
Wow! This is THE BEST wfpb ranch dressing -& I feel like I’ve tried them all! And it’s oil-free! It’s our favorite salad dressing I bring some to work with carrots, celery & bell peppers, & it’s ALWAYS a hit served with Buffalo cauliflower! Thanks Nora, it is SO DELICIOUS!
Thank you! So happy you loved the ranch!
What could be subbed for the rice vinegar?
Another vinegar (apple cider, white) or more lemon juice. Thanks!
I had almost given up on finding a good vegan ranch, I am so glad I tried one more…this is delicious! I also made your lasagna and can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
I’m so glad you liked it and hope you will enjoy other recipes too!
Hey Nora!! So I just needed to come back here and comment. I ALWAYS MAKE THIS IT IS SOOOO DAMN GOOOOD and I’m so happy you shared this recipe with us (One of the many many bomb recipes!). I’m literally sitting down eating fresh cut up peppers with this and thought “am I having some bell peppers with ranch or ranch with some bell peppers?” Definitely ranch with some bell peppers!! Hahaha it’s sooooo good I can eat the whole thing out of the Tupperware with a spoon! Though I have to restrain myself hahah YOUR RECIPES ARE THE BESTTTTT
Wow, thanks so much for the wonderful comment!
This ranch was awesome! I blended the fresh dill into the sauce so it was light green and used as a dip for fresh veggies tonight to guests. So creamy and delicious.
I’m so glad it was good!