Hidden Valley Ranch is a popular salad dressing and dip that has many uses beyond just salads. Originally created in the 1950s by Steve Henson at his dude ranch in California, Hidden Valley Ranch has become one of the most popular salad dressings in the United States.
Uses for Hidden Valley Ranch
Here are some of the most common uses for Hidden Valley Ranch dressing:
Salads
Hidden Valley Ranch is most commonly used as a salad dressing. It can be used on green salads, pasta salads, potato salads, coleslaw, and more. The creamy, tangy flavor of the dressing complements the vegetables and other ingredients in the salad. It’s especially popular on salad bars and with homemade salads.
Dips
Hidden Valley Ranch is a popular dip for vegetables, chips, chicken strips, and more. The thick, creamy consistency of the dressing makes it perfect for scooping up with crispy foods. It’s a staple dip served with snacks and appetizers.
Sandwiches and wraps
Adding a drizzle of Hidden Valley Ranch can add flavor and moisture to sandwiches and wraps. It’s commonly used on cold cut sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, turkey wraps, and more. The creamy tang pairs well with deli meats, bacon, cheese, and other sandwich ingredients.
Pizza
Using Hidden Valley Ranch as a pizza sauce or drizzling it over cooked pizza gives the pizza additional flavor. The herbs and spices in the dressing complement the cheesy pizza well. This is especially popular with kids.
Burgers and fries
Adding a dollop of Hidden Valley Ranch to your burger or dipping french fries in it is a popular way to enhance the flavor. The creaminess pairs perfectly with the hot and savory flavors of burgers and fries.
Snacks and appetizers
Hidden Valley Ranch can be used as a flavorful dip for snacks and appetizers like chips, chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, and more. It’s often served as an appetizer dip at parties and get-togethers.
Celery and carrot sticks
Serving crunchy vegetable sticks with Hidden Valley Ranch makes for a quick and healthy snack. The vegetables pair well with the creamy, tangy dressing.
Chicken wings and tenders
Hidden Valley Ranch is commonly used as a dipping sauce for battered chicken wings, chicken tenders, and other fried chicken. The richness of the dressing complements the crispy chicken.
Potatoes
Drizzling Hidden Valley Ranch over baked potatoes, french fries, tater tots, and other potato dishes adds extra flavor. It’s often served as a condiment for loaded baked potatoes as well.
Pasta
Tossing pasta with Hidden Valley Ranch makes a quick and easy pasta salad. The dressing coats the noodles, adding creamy flavor. It can also be drizzled over pasta bakes and casseroles before serving.
Seafood
The tangy zip of Hidden Valley Ranch pairs well with seafood like shrimp, fish, and crab cakes. It’s often served as a dipping sauce alongside breaded or fried seafood dishes.
Eggs and breakfast
Adding a dollop of Hidden Valley Ranch to an omelet or scrambled eggs adds a creamy flavor punch. It also can be served with breakfast potatoes, bacon, and other breakfast foods.
Breads
Drizzling or dipping breads like garlic bread, dinner rolls, and biscuits into Hidden Valley Ranch gives them an extra boost of flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Here are the nutrition facts for 2 tablespoons (30ml) of Hidden Valley® The Original Ranch® Dressing:
| Calories | 120 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 12g |
| Saturated Fat | 2g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 5mg |
| Sodium | 230mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 2g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 1g |
| Protein | 0g |
As you can see, Hidden Valley Ranch is high in fat, containing 12g per 2 tablespoon serving. It also contains 230mg of sodium, which is 10% of the recommended daily value. There are 120 calories in 2 tablespoons of the dressing as well. So while the creamy, flavorful dressing can add a tasty punch to various foods, it should be consumed in moderation.
History of Hidden Valley Ranch
Hidden Valley Ranch was invented in the 1950s by Steve Henson. Henson owned a dude ranch near Santa Barbara, California called Hidden Valley. To serve something special at his ranch, he began experimenting with buttermilk, mayonnaise, and spices until he came up with a creamy, tangy dressing now known as ranch.
It quickly became popular, and guests began asking for bottles of the dressing to take home with them. Sensing he had come up with something special, Henson began bottling and selling the dressing as Hidden Valley Ranch in grocery stores. It was a hit across the U.S. and has become one of the most popular salad dressing brands in the country.
In the 1970s, Hidden Valley Ranch was purchased by Clorox and is now manufactured by the Hidden Valley food products division of Clorox. While some new varieties have been introduced, such as light and fat-free versions, the Original Ranch recipe remains unchanged from Henson’s original creation.
Different Varieties
In addition to the original Hidden Valley Ranch dressing, there are now many different varieties and flavors available:
- Homestyle Buttermilk Ranch – Thick, creamy dressing like the original
- Light Ranch – A lower-calorie ranch with 40% less fat
- Fat Free Ranch – Ranch flavor without the fat and calories
- Bacon Ranch – Ranch with crispy bits of smoky bacon
- Chipotle Ranch – Ranch with a smoky, spicy chipotle flavor
- Jalapeño Ranch – Ranch with spicy jalapeños
- Avocado Ranch – Thick and creamy dressing with avocado
- Roasted Garlic Ranch – Ranch with the rich flavor of roasted garlic
- Lemon Ranch – Zesty lemony ranch dressing
- Chive & Onion Ranch – Ranch with chunks of chives and onions
There are also various dry Ranch seasoning and dip mixes available to quickly add ranch flavor to foods without the calories of the dressing.
Buy Hidden Valley Ranch
Hidden Valley Ranch can be found at most grocery stores, big box stores like Walmart and Target, and online retailers like Amazon. It’s usually in the condiments or salad dressing aisle.
The dressing comes in different size bottles for consumers, ranging from 8 ounce bottles up to gallon jugs for restaurants and food service businesses. There are also single-serve packets of ranch perfect for bringing ranch on-the-go to restaurants, picnics, and potlucks.
Hidden Valley Ranch can be purchased directly from the Hidden Valley website as well. They offer a store locator to find Hidden Valley products locally and the ability to order various Hidden Valley dressings and dips online.
Average Price of Hidden Valley Ranch
Here are some average prices for Hidden Valley Ranch:
- 8 oz bottle – $2.50
- 16 oz bottle – $3.99
- 24 oz bottle – $5.49
- Gallon jug – $12.99
- Single serve packets – $0.25 each
Grocery stores will often put Hidden Valley Ranch on sale or offer promotions like buy one, get one free. Buying larger bottles usually provides a lower per-ounce cost compared to smaller bottles. Store brands or generic versions are typically a bit cheaper than the name brand as well.
How to Store Hidden Valley Ranch
Properly storing Hidden Valley Ranch helps preserve freshness and prevent food safety issues. Here are some tips for storing ranch dressing:
- Store unopened Hidden Valley Ranch bottles in the refrigerator. The cold environment helps maintain quality.
- Once opened, re-refrigerate Hidden Valley Ranch immediately in a sealed container. Keep for up to 2 months past the “best by” date.
- Make sure ranch is not left un-refrigerated for more than 2 hours after opening.
- Store ranch away from extreme temperature changes. Don’t freeze.
- Keep ranch sealed when not in use. Screw lids on tightly or use plastic wrap/foil to seal container.
- Check for signs ranch has spoiled before using, like mold, off smells, or watery texture.
How Long Does Hidden Valley Ranch Last?
Here is how long Hidden Valley Ranch lasts in the fridge or pantry:
| Ranch Type | Unopened Shelf Life | Opened Refrigerator Life |
|---|---|---|
| Bottled ranch | 12 months past the “best by” date | 2-3 months |
| Ranch dressing mix packets | 9-12 months | N/A – mix as needed |
| Shelf-stable ready-to-serve ranch cups | 12-18 months | 1 week |
Be sure to properly seal and store bottles of Hidden Valley Ranch after opening. Keep refrigerated at all times and watch for signs of spoilage.
How to Tell if Hidden Valley Ranch is Bad
Here are some ways to tell if your Hidden Valley Ranch dressing has gone bad and needs to be discarded:
- Mold growing in the bottle – any fuzzy growth means ranch must be tossed
- Curdled, clumpy, or watery texture – should be smooth and creamy
- Sour or bitter smell – ranch should smell tangy and herby
- Expired “best by” date – typically ranch lasts about a year unopened
- Stored un-refrigerated for over 8 hours – heat accelerates spoilage
- Seal on bottle broken – prevents contamination
- Rancid taste – ranch should taste tangy and savory
When in doubt, it’s best to play it safe and discard ranch that looks, smells, or tastes off. Don’t risk foodborne illness from consuming spoiled Hidden Valley Ranch.
Conclusion
Hidden Valley Ranch is a versatile dressing that can add delicious flavor to salads, sandwiches, pizza, snacks, seafood, chicken, and more. While loved for its classic creamy and tangy taste, ranch should be consumed in moderation due to its high fat and sodium content. Be sure to properly refrigerate and store Hidden Valley Ranch after opening to maximize freshness and avoid food safety issues. Used properly, this popular dressing can quickly elevate the flavor of many different dishes and snacks.