What Is Ranch Flavor, Anyway?

Ah, ranch. A Buffalo wing’s partner in crime, ranch is a juggernaut of a flavor that thrived as dressing and asked, “What more could I do? What else can I flavor?” And the world answered, “Anything!” And ranch flavoring was born. But what is ranch flavor? Here’s everything you ever wanted to know (and more) about ranch flavor, the flavor sensation sweeping the nation. 

What is ranch flavor?

Originally a dressing, ranch has stepped outside of the bottle and came to be the name encompassing the distinct flavor profile of tangy buttermilk, garlic, onion, and herbs. Now, ranch flavor can be found everywhere from chip flavors to ice cream. Dropping the “dressing” is a power move that puts ranch squarely in the same category as Beyoncé and Cher. 

How to describe ranch flavor? 

Ranch flavor can be described primarily as savory, herby, and slightly tangy. Of course, ranch dressings and dips are often creamy, as well, since they’re normally made with mayonnaise or sour cream, but even ranch seasoning packets and ranch-flavored chips can be described as creamy since they’re often made with powdered buttermilk. 

What is in ranch flavoring?

Wonder what’s in ranch that makes it so dill-icious? Shoot, maybe we should have saved that killer joke until after we told you that ranch has dill in it. Ranch’s key ingredients include buttermilk (buttermilk powder if you’re dealing with dried flavor mixes), garlic powder, onion powder, dill, parsley, and chives. Many recipes can include added ingredients such as thyme, dried mustard powder, and onion flakes. 

What flavor is cool ranch?

Contrary to popular belief, Cool Ranch flavor is not just ranch wearing sunglasses. We couldn’t believe it either. The flavor, synonymous with Doritos, isn’t quite a direct dressing-to-chip translation of the original ranch. It does share enough of the ingredients to approximate the familiar flavor, but Cool Ranch’s ingredients list also includes some flavor boosters like tomato powder, cheddar cheese, and don’t forget the MSG! It’s not listed, but an honorary underlying flavor is sweat and chlorine from licking the Dorito dust off of your fingers at a childhood pool party.