Jimmy John's Kickin Ranch Recipe: Add Some Heat to Your Dishes

A dip or dressing always makes the difference between a good dish and a delicious one. Jimmy John’s copycat ranch recipe is a fast, aromatic, refreshing, fresh, and delicious sauce that can be used as a dressing for grilled meat, fries, or salads. 

Many store-bought ranch dressings contain additives, preservatives, and other unwanted ingredients that can be unhealthy or even harmful in large amounts. This delicious ranch dip allows you to control the ingredients and lets you experiment with different spices.

After trying this ranch recipe, you will likely want to keep it readily available in your refrigerator to use with various dishes!

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Pro tips
• Serving suggestions
• Jimmy John's Kickin Ranch Recipe
• Comments

Ingredients

• Jalapeños — 1 ½ cups.
• Ranch dressing — 2 cups.
• Sriracha — ¼ cup.
• Buttermilk — ½ cup.
• Barbeque sauce — 2 tbsp.
• Salt — ¼ tsp.
• Ground black pepper — ¼ tsp.

Instructions

1. Put the jalapeños into a blender or food processor and blend them until they are roughly crushed.

2. Add the dressing, sriracha, buttermilk, and barbeque sauce. Pulse until well combined.

3. Add salt and pepper and blend again.

4. After putting it in a jar, refrigerate it for at least 1 hour before serving.

Substitutions

• Jalapeños — Jalapeños are used to add a spicy kick of flavor. Use red pepper flakes to add a spicy kick to the ranch if they aren't available.

• Sriracha — Sriracha enhances the spiciness of the recipe and beautifully complements the jalapeños. Some good alternatives for sriracha are hot sauce, harissa, or chili paste.

• Barbeque sauce — Barbecue sauce adds a sweet and smoky flavor to the dip. If you want to replace it, consider using hoisin or teriyaki sauce instead.

Variations

• Add color — Add fresh herbs such as parsley, cilantro, or dill to give the ranch a vibrating green touch of color.

• Add flavor — For a hint of a citrusy taste, add a few drops of lemon or lime juice. Adding minced garlic or garlic powder to the ranch recipe can give it an intense, savory flavor that pairs well with the tangy and creamy base.

• Dairy-free — If you want to turn this recipe into a dairy-free recipe, replace the ranch dressing with tahini or hummus. Combine 1 cup of unsweetened plain almond milk with 1 tbsp. of lemon juice or white vinegar in a small bowl for a dairy-free buttermilk substitute. Mix thoroughly and allow the blend to rest at ambient temperature for 10-15 minutes until it thickens and curdles.

• Low-fat — For a low-fat ranch, simply replace the buttermilk with low-fat Greek yogurt. Combine it with water to create a thinner buttermilk-like consistency that works well in ranch dressing.

Equipment

• Measuring spoons and cups.

• Blender or food processor.

• Jar.

Storage

• Put it in the refrigerator in a tightly closed jar. It will keep its flavor for up to 1 week.

• If you have some leftover ranch dressing that you won't be able to consume within a week, it is possible to freeze it for later use. Just freeze the dressing in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Before using it, thaw it in the refrigerator, and give it a good stir to mix well.

Pro tips

• If you prefer a thicker sauce, discard the liquid from the jalapenos. Including the liquid will result in a thinner version of the dip.

• For optimal consistency, make sure to give the dip a thorough stir before using it, as the ingredients can sometimes separate over time.

• Use full-fat buttermilk for a creamy texture.

Serving suggestions

• Use it conventionally as a dip for fried chicken and fries.

• Spice up your regular salads by adding 2-3 tablespoons of Jimmy John’s kickin’ ranch to your salad bowl and toss gently to combine.

• The ranch can be utilized as a spread for sandwiches or wraps, as well as to enhance the flavor and creaminess of your dish.