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Close-up of Cowboy Butter Ranch Dressing showing the creamy buttermilk base and golden butter hue with red chili flakes.

Cowboy Butter Ranch Dressing: The Ultimate Zesty Garlic Dipping Sauce

This Cowboy Butter Ranch Dressing combines melted golden butter, fresh garlic, and buttermilk for a velvety, rich condiment. Perfect for dipping steak, chicken, or tacos with a zesty, herbal kick.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 1.5 cups
Course: Appetizer, Dressing, Sauce
Cuisine: American
Calories: 145
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter Melted and slightly cooled (115g)
  • 1/2 cup Buttermilk Full-fat preferred (120ml)
  • 1/2 cup Mayonnaise 120g
  • 1/4 cup Sour Cream 60g
  • 3 cloves Garlic Minced fresh (15g)
  • 1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes 2g
  • 2 tbsp Fresh Parsley Finely chopped (8g)
  • 1 tsp Dried Dill 1g
  • 1 tsp Lemon Zest Freshly grated
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper Cracked
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt Adjust to taste

Equipment

  • 1 Glass Jar For mixing and storage
  • 1 Balloon Whisk To ensure a smooth emulsion
  • 1 Microplane For zesting lemon and grating garlic

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a medium bowl or large jar, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk until no lumps remain.
  2. Slowly pour the melted, tempered butter into the dairy mixture while whisking constantly to create a golden, velvety emulsion.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic, red pepper flakes, dried dill, lemon zest, salt, and cracked black pepper until evenly distributed.
  4. Gently fold in the chopped fresh parsley until the dressing is filled with visible green flecks.
  5. Seal the jar and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the texture to thicken and the flavors to meld.

Notes

If the dressing gets too firm in the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.
Use fresh lemon zest for the best citrus aroma.