Easy Blackened Ranch Sauce Recipe

This Popeyes-inspired blackened ranch sauce is so good that you’d want to put it on everything! Use it as a dip, a spread, or a dressing. However you choose to use it, one thing’s for sure – you won’t be able to get enough of this creamy, smoky, and slightly spicy sauce that only takes five minutes to make!

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What Is Blackened Ranch Sauce?

I don’t know about you, but I love making homemade dips and sauces. They’re super easy to whip up and they make simple snacks taste amazing. I fell in love with Popeyes blackened ranch sauce a few months back and I knew I had to make some at home. Great timing because I just perfected my copycat recipe of Popeyes Blackened Chicken Tenders – these two are just perfect together!

So what exactly is blackened ranch? Simply put, it’s classic ranch dressing infused with a special spice blend called blackening seasoning. This seasoning consists of different spices including hot and smoky spices. The result is a light and creamy sauce with incredible flavor and hint of heat. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

This copycat blackened ranch sauce is ideal as a dip, a spread for sandwiches and wraps, or as a salad dressing. It’s great for casual snacking at home or to serve at gatherings – I’ve served it at a backyard BBQ, a birthday party, and a few summer parties and it never failed to please a crowd! It’s also one of the first dips to disappear whenever we have a baked potato bar set up at a party.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and Simple: Ready in just 5 minutes with simple ingredients, making it perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute get-togethers. It’s meal-prep friendly, too – make ahead, store in the fridge, and enjoy later.
• Homemade Goodness: Unlike store-bought dips and sauces, this homemade blackened ranch sauce does not contain any artificial flavors and preservatives. You know exactly what’s in it.
• Budget-Friendly: Uses affordable, easy-to-find ingredients. No special equipment needed, either.
• Customizable: Adjust the spice level to suit your taste, whether you prefer a mild kick or a fiery punch.
• Versatile: Serve with any foods you would serve with traditional ranch dressing. Use as a dipping sauce for veggie sticks, grilled vegetables, bread sticks, chips, crackers, fries, chicken tenders, chicken wings, fried chicken, and more.
• Ultimate Crowd Pleaser: Serve it with your favorite dippers or snacks and it’s sure to be a hit with a crowd!

How to Make Blackened Ranch Sauce

6 simple ingredients, 3 steps, and 5 minutes. That’s all you need to make this insanely good ranch sauce. And the best part? It’s so easy that even your kids can make it!

Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.

Ingredients You Need

• Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise serves as the base of the sauce and binds the ingredients together. It also gives the sauce a rich and creamy texture.
• Sour cream: Sour cream adds a delicious tanginess and gives the sauce a thicker consistency.
• ​Buttermilk: Buttermilk is used to achieve that ideal ranch-like consistency, thinning down the mixture while adding a nice depth of flavor and a subtle, creamy richness.
• Dried herbs: Parsley and dill weed bring the classic Ranch flavor to the creamy buttermilk texture.
• Blackening seasoning: Also called blackened seasoning, this spice blend adds a smoky, spicy flavor that defines the signature tastes of blackened ranch sauce. You can purchase ready-made blackened seasoning from the store or you can make your own (ingredients below!)
• Salt
• Lemon juice: Lemon juice provides a fresh, zesty acidity that cuts through the richness of mayonnaise and sour cream while adding brightness to the overall flavor of the sauce.

DIY Blackened Seasoning

• Smoked paprika
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Dried thyme
• Ground black pepper
• Cayenne pepper
• Dried basil
• Dried oregano

Step-By-Step Instructions

Making blackened ranch sauce is as easy as one, two, three. In 5 minutes or less, you’ll have an unbelievably tasty sauce that’s uniquely savory, zesty, and slightly spicy!

Step 1: Mix Ingredients

Mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk in a bowl. Whisk until the mixture is smooth.

Step 2: Add Seasoning

Add the herbs, blackened seasoning, and salt to the bowl and stir well until combined with the rest of the ingredients. Add the lemon and whisk again to combine. Taste the dressing and adjust seasonings or lemon juice as desired.

Step 3: Chill

Transfer the sauce to a small jar or container, cover, and  chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. 

Substitutions

This super tasty blackened ranch sauce uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients. However, if you happen not to have some of the ingredients at home, you can substitute with these:

• Mayonnaise and Sour Cream: Don’t have one of these two? Swap mayo or sour cream for 1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt for a healthier option.
• Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk at home, substitute it with a mixture of milk and vinegar. Mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 1 cup of milk in a bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes. This mixture will give you the same flavor and consistency of buttermilk.
• Lemon: I love the acid of the lemon. If you don’t have some then it’s okay to omit but really tasty if you can put it in. Apple cider vinegar can also work as a substitute. Replae in equal proportions.
• Smoked Paprika: Use regular or sweet paprika if you don’t have smoked paprika available.

Expert Tips

• Use Fresh Ingredients: Use fresh mayo, sour cream, and buttermilk for the best flavor and consistency. I prefer using freshly-squeezed lemon juice over store-bought because it adds a brighter, fresher taste. 
• Adjust the Heat: Customize the heat level according to your taste. If you prefer mild heat or if you’re serving kids, use less blackened seasoning. Add more of the seasoning or a bit of chili sauce or hot sauce for a spicier kick.
• Adjust the Consistency: Adjust the consistency of the sauce according to where you plan to use it. I prefer it thick as a dipping sauce and thinner when I plan to use it for wraps and salads. Add extra mayonnaise or lessen the amount of buttermilk for a thicker ranch consistency. Add more buttermilk for a thinner, more pourable sauce.
• Taste and Adjust: I recommend that you taste the sauce and adjust as needed before serving. A little adjustment in the blackened seasoning, salt, or lemon juice can make a huge difference in the final flavor.
• Chill It: Blackened ranch sauce can be served immediately, but I recommend that you chill in the fridge for at least an hour to allow the flavors come together. Chilling it overnight would be even better!
• Add Fresh Herbs: This is optional, but you can add fresh herbs like dill, parsley, or chives for an extra layer of flavor and colorful garnish.

How to Store This Recipe

When stored properly, homemade Popeyes blackened ranch sauce will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. I transfer the sauce to a transparent airtight container, a mason jar, or a recycled glass bottle before storing in the fridge.

I don’t recommend storing your sauce in the freezer since it contains dairy. Dairy has a tendency to separate when frozen, so you’ll likely have a lumpy sauce once you thaw it.

What to Serve with Blackened Ranch Sauce

This quick, easy, and incredibly tasty sauce goes well with almost anything. As an appetizer or snack, serve it with dippers like chips, crackers, veggie sticks, french fries, onion rings, breadsticks, and chicken nuggets, tenders, or wings. My current favor dippers for this sauce are air fryer zucchini fries and air fryer sweet potato fries!

For a more filling meal, drizzle it on top of homemade pizza or herb-crusted texas roadhouse chicken. Make Jimmy John’s bread and use this delicious blackened ranch sauce as a spread to make a hearty sub sandwich. It’s also a great addition to your small charcuterie board or charcuterie table for any occasion. Don’t forget to complete your meal with refreshing drinks like electric lemonade or sangria!

More Popeyes Copycat Recipes To Try

I’m guessing you’re a fan of Popeyes since you’re here. I am a big fan myself! In fact, I made quite a few copycat versions of popular items from their menu. I made Popeyes Coleslaw at home and everyone loved it – it goes well with everything, from tacos to grilled meat!

And since I love sauces, I also made my own version of the Popeyes Spicy Mayonnaise that goes in their chicken sandwich. Like blackened ranch sauce, tiger sauce, or Mcdonald’s breakfast sauce, you won’t get enough of this delicious spicy mayo!

If you make this Blackened Ranch Sauce, please leave a review. I really appreciate each and every 5-star rating and review comment!