Copycat Popeye's Blackened Ranch Recipe Rich, creamy, and with a subtle spice, this copycat recipe is quick, easy to prepare, and perfect for dipping, dunking, or drizzling.
This recipe for blackened ranch is so flavorful you'll wonder why you never made it before. Grab some chicken tenders, your favorite veggies, or potato chips, and get ready for a mouthful of flavor.
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What is Blackened Ranch
The blackened ranch combines everyone's favorite creamy ranch dressing with blackened spices like black pepper, cayenne, and smoked paprika.
"Blackened" food is typical Cajun food. This way of cooking involves using seasonings to create a 'black' appearance on the food. The result is a deep, savory flavor with a touch of spice.
Blackened ranch is a combination of blackened seasoning and ranch dressing. It is loaded with typical ranch flavoring but with a slight kick of spice.
Popeye's Blackened Ranch Sauce
The American-based chain Popeyes is a fast-food restaurant that serves fried chicken. Initially opened in 1972 in New Orleans, Popeyes now has locations in over 46 states and 30 countries worldwide, serving their unique Louisana-style food.
To go along with their many different chicken dishes, Popeyes offers a variety of signature sauces because what would a chicken be without a dipping sauce?
Taking the ever-popular ranch dressing and creating a 'blackened ranch' is the perfect way to take everyone's favorite dipping sauce and make it uniquely theirs.
The blackened ranch takes your favorite creamy and refreshing ranch dressing and adds a whole new level of flavor and depth.
This copycat Popeye's blackened ranch recipe uses simple ingredients and ready in just 5 minutes. Rich and creamy this delicious sauce is made with mayonnaise, sour cream and buttermilk for a silky smooth texture.
The combination of blackened spices adds that touch of spice for a truly unique flavor; smoky and savory with a slight kick that lingers in your mouth.
Add a touch more buttermilk for a pourable salad dressing, and you can dress your favorite greens. Prepare as is, and the ranch dressing is perfect for dipping or dunking.
Ingredients Needed
Ingredients you'll require to make this copycat Popeye's blackened ranch recipe:
Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise adds a rich, smooth texture to this ranch dressing. Any mayonnaise will work.
Sour cream: Sour cream adds creaminess and richness. Choose full fat for the best flavor and texture.
Buttermilk: Buttermilk adds a bit of tang. You can use store-bought or make your own by adding lemon juice or vinegar to plain milk. Shake the carton of buttermilk well so the ingredients are well distributed.
Onion powder: Onion powder adds a nice onion flavoring.
Garlic powder: Garlic powder enhances the flavor with some garlic notes.
Dried dill: Or use fresh. Dill complements the taste of the sauce.
Dried parsley: Or fresh parsley. Add a bright, herbaceous flavor.
Dried chives: Chives add a mellow onion flavor but it is completely optional.
Ground black pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds an earthy flavor to this ranch dressing.
Cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper adds a touch of spice. Use as much or as little as you like.
Smoked paprika: This type adds a touch of smoke flavor. Regular paprika can be substituted but you won't get the same flavor.
Salt: A true flavor enhancer, I like to use sea salt, but table salt will also work.
How to make blackened ranch
- Since this recipe has quite a few spices, ensure you have them all on hand before you begin preparing the dressing.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk and stir well using a whisk.
- Mix the spices with a whisk until well combined.
- If you want a thinner consistency, add little more buttermilk while stirring.
- Transfer to an airtight container or mason jar.
- Place the ranch dressing in the fridge for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
Storage Suggestions
This blackened ranch dressing will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Keep the dressing in an airtight container or mason jar for easy pouring.
FAQs
Ranch dressing has a light tangy flavor but blackened ranch has a deeper, smoky flavor due to the addition of blackened spices.
Blackened ranch is peppery and smoky.
Blackened ranch is not spicy perse but flavorful. You can adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or less of the spicy ingredients like black pepper, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika to suit your taste.
You might be able to find premade blackened ranch dressing or seasoning blends at the grocery stores or online retailers to see if it's available to purchase.
It seems that Popeyes has the blackened ranch available at some locations.
Tips
- Use a whisk to mix the ingredients so they are well combined.
- Let the dressing sit for a few minutes so the flavors can develop.
- Store leftovers in the fridge, as these ingredients do not keep well at room temperature.
- Make your blackened ranch spicier by increasing cayenne pepper, adding a hottest hot sauce, or incorporating some red pepper flakes or fresh jalapenos. Adjust and taste as you go to reach your desired level of spiciness.
- No buttermilk? You can make your own if you don't have any buttermilk on hand. You can use one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice for every cup of milk. Allow the milk to curdle slightly.
Possible Variations
- Mix in some fresh herbs like chives or green onions.
- Add a teaspoon of lemon or lime juice for a refreshing twist.
- Make it vegan and use vegan mayonnaise and non-dairy alternatives for the dairy products.
- Pick up a container of blackened seasoning if you don't have all the individual seasonings on hand.
- For a spicier ranch, add some hot sauce or sriracha.
- Add a Hidden Valley ranch mix for a richer ranch flavor.
Suggest Pairing Options
This ranch dressing goes well with the following:
- Chips, pretzels, french fries
- Pita, crackers, or cut-up slices of a baguette
- Chicken nuggets, Chicken strips, or crispy chicken tenders
- Zucchini or potato fritters
Looking for more dressing recipes?
If you try the recipe, please take a moment to leave a comment and rating. I love hearing from you and it also helps other readers who are thinking of making the recipe.
Recipe
Copycat Popeye's Blackened Ranch Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup buttermilk
For Blackened Ranch Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ⅓ teaspoon dried chives
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
- ⅙ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
- Since this recipe has quite a few spices, ensure you have them all on hand before you begin preparing the dressing.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk and stir well using a whisk.
- Mix the spices with a whisk until well combined.
- If you want a thinner consistency, add little more buttermilk while stirring.
- Transfer to an airtight container or mason jar.
- Place the ranch dressing in the fridge for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
Notes
- Use a whisk to mix the ingredients so they are well combined.
- Let the dressing sit for a few minutes so the flavors can develop.
- Store leftovers in the fridge, as these ingredients do not keep well at room temperature.
- Make your blackened ranch spicier by increasing cayenne pepper, adding a hottest hot sauce, or incorporating some red pepper flakes or fresh jalapenos. Adjust and taste as you go to reach your desired level of spiciness.
- No buttermilk? You can make your own if you don't have any buttermilk on hand. You can use one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice for every cup of milk. Allow the milk to curdle slightly.
Kimbarly
If you're looking to make a Popeyes Blackened Ranch at home, this recipe is perfect! It's simple, uses easy-to-find ingredients, and only takes about 10 minutes to prepare. I found another version here: https://www.simplerecipebox.com/popeyes-blackened-ranch-the-secret-sauce-revealed/ with a detailed step-by-step guide. Perfect for dipping chicken, fries, or even as a salad dressing!