In just five minutes, whip up this irresistible Hot Honey Ranch Recipe, perfect for slathering on sandwiches, dipping fresh veggies, pouring over salads, or dunking chicken wings, pizza, and fries. The classic ranch dressing base of buttermilk, mayonnaise, herbs, and spices gets an addictive twist with the sweetness of honey and a kick of heat from cayenne and red chili flakes. Plus, we offer the option of using your own spicy honey for an extra punch!
Can't get enough Hot Honey Recipes? You're in luck! We have everything from chicken to meatballs to pasta salad, infusing each dish with an exciting new flavor profile!
So long regular ranch dressing! What makes this recipe extra special is:
- A magical combination of heat and sweet that means this creamy hot honey ranch goes with almost everything!
- The heat level is adjustable depending on how much kick you prefer.
Hot honey is a big theme on our collection of Game Day Recipes, along with many other crowd-pleasing favorites you'll be excited to serve again and again! Our obsession with spicy and sweet started with our hot honey sauce, but now includes a homemade hot honey recipe too. We've made it our mission to test out this trendy new condiment in every possible dish, making us somewhat of a sweet heat aficionados.
So grab a bottle of honey and some spicy peppers and let's jazz up this simple salad dressing!
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Hot honey ranch ingredients
This recipe only requires simple ingredients that are pantry staples! Ingredient quantities are in the recipe card below, but here are a few noteworthy tips.
- Mayonnaise: This is a classic base for ranch dressing, but equal parts mayo and Greek yogurt is equally delicious.
- Honey: A mild natural sweetener that balances the dressing. Feel free to use store-bought heat-infused honey or a homemade hot honey recipe in place of regular honey. Adjust the spice level by changing the amount of chili flakes or cayenne.
- Buttermilk: Adds the perfect amount of tanginess. Homemade buttermilk is really not the same, so we suggest buying it for best results.
- Herbs: For ease this recipe calls for dried chives, dried parsley, and dried basil, but fresh is also delicious. Just triple the amount called for when substituting with fresh herbs.
- Spices: The dried spices are what really set this recipe apart. Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and dry mustard powder are pretty standard, but smoked paprika, cayenne, and red pepper flakes takes this spicy honey ranch dressing over the top.
Helpful tools for making spicy ranch
Flute Mason Jars
Stainless Steel Whisk SetMeasuring Cups and Spoons SetSmoked Paprika
How to make hot honey ranch dressing
This creamy homemade dressing recipe is super easy to make. Plus, all you need is just a few minutes.
Measure all ingredients into a medium bowl. Pro tip: Shake your buttermilk before pouring it.
If you want to adjust the heat level, add in half the amount of the cayenne and chili flakes that are called for. Once it is mixed, taste and adjust to your liking.
Whisk until fully combined and smooth.
Taste and adjust the cayenne pepper and/or dried chili flakes to taste.
Hint: The dressing thickens as it sits. If it gets a bit too thick add in one tablespoon of buttermilk at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
Substitutions
Spicy ranch dressing is very flexible. Here are a list of ways you can make it with whatever you have on hand.
- If you prefer, use half mayonnaise and half Greek yogurt.
- Feel free to use fresh herbs in place of dried, but use triple the amount.
- If substituting plain honey with either store bought or homemade hot honey, keep in mind that the levels of spice in each kind will vary depending on the heat level of the chili peppers used. Start by making the recipe without any of the cayenne or chili flakes. Once it is mixed, taste it and add in more spice to taste.
- Regular milk instead of buttermilk will work, but it will lack a certain tanginess. Also, milk is thinner so use a little less to keep it from being too liquidy.
Is hot honey ranch dressing spicy?
Sweet & Spicy Ranch is the perfect hint of heat balanced by the honey and the creaminess of buttermilk. If you are nervous about the level of heat leave out the chili flakes, but if you want to increase the spice level, feel free to add additional cayenne or chili flakes.
How to store spicy ranch?
Store Hot Honey Ranch in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7-10 days. For ease of pouring we love these jars but any jar will work.
FAQ
Ranch dressing gets its name from the place where it was originally served, Hidden Valley Ranch in California. Here is the full history of ranch dressing.
Yes. Just use a large bowl to mix it in. Start with the lowest amount of buttermilk and increase slowly. Too much liquid will make it very thin.
Tips and tricks
- Don't leave out the smoked paprika. It adds the perfect depth to the dressing.
- Whisk vigorously if the honey doesn't want incorporate. It will easily combine with a couple firm spins around the bowl.
- Ranch dressing thickens after it sits. Feel free to loosen it by adding one tablespoon of buttermilk at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
Serving ideas
- Jazz up your dinner salad.
- Dip your Spicy Honey Chicken Wings in it for a creamy finish.
- Try it on french fries or extra-crispy baked potatoes.
- A creamy but spicy dip for pepperoni pan pizza or hot honey pizza.
- Fun new flavor for chicken tenders.
- Serve it with a veggie tray.
- Layer it on your sandwiches, chicken wrap, or even burritos.
More condiment recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Easy Hot Honey Ranch Recipe (Irresistible Dressing!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup buttermilk plus more if needed
- 4 tablespoon honey if using hot honey see notes below
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried chives
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon red chili flakes
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon dry mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium bowl.1 cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup buttermilk, 4 tablespoon honey, 1 ½ teaspoon dried chives, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon cayenne, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon red chili flakes, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon dry mustard, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- Whisk until thoroughly combined.
- Store in the refrigerator for 7-10 days in an airtight container.
Notes
-
- Don't leave out the smoked paprika. It adds the perfect depth to the dressing.
- Whisk vigorously if the honey doesn't want incorporate. It will easily combine with a couple firm spins around the bowl.
- Ranch dressing thickens after it sits. Feel free to loosen it by adding one tablespoon of buttermilk at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
-
- If you prefer, use half mayonnaise and half Greek yogurt.
-
- Feel free to use fresh herbs in place of dried, but use triple the amount.
-
- If substituting plain honey with either store bought or a homemade hot honey recipe keep in mind that the levels of spice in each kind will vary depending on the heat level of the chili peppers used. Start by making the recipe without any of the cayenne or chili flakes. Once it is mixed taste and add in more spice to taste.
-
- Regular milk instead of buttermilk will work, but it will lack a certain tanginess. Also, milk is thinner so use a little less to keep it form being too liquidy.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Missy says
Delicious! Thank you for the recipe!
Danielle says
So happy to hear that you liked it!
Brittney Imb says
so good! you have to try this! i am a huge ranch fan and this just made it so much better!