Zaxby’s Ranch Sauce Recipe (Easy Copycat Buttermilk Ranch)

This copycat Zaxby’s ranch sauce is thick, tangy and peppery, just like the cup that comes with your Chicken Fingerz. It takes 10 minutes to stir together with mayo, buttermilk, sour cream, dried herbs and a splash of vinegar. Then it chills for an hour so the flavors come together.

At our house, Zaxby’s ranch goes with everything. We use it for my copycat Zaxby’s chicken fingers, air fryer Zaxby’s fried pickles, crinkle fries and even salads. Since there’s no bottle of it at the store, this is the version I keep in the fridge.

What ranch does Zaxby’s use

Zaxby’s doesn’t use a store brand like Hidden Valley. It makes its own proprietary buttermilk ranch, flavored with garlic, onion and vinegar. The restaurant calls it “ranch sauce,” but it doubles as the ranch dressing on its Zalads. Zaxby’s ranch is thicker and tangier than most bottled ranch, with a noticeable black pepper bite.

Why you’ll love this copycat Zaxby’s ranch

• Tastes like the restaurant cup: buttermilk tang, a hit of vinegar and plenty of black pepper.
• 10 minutes of hands-on time: no blender, just a bowl and a whisk.
• Pantry ingredients: dried herbs and spices you likely already have.
• Two textures from one recipe: thick for dipping, or thinned out as a Zaxby’s ranch dressing for salads.

Zaxby’s Ranch Ingredients

Zaxby’s ranch is built on buttermilk, garlic, onion and vinegar. This copycat keeps all four and adds a creamy base to match the restaurant’s thick texture. Exact amounts are in the printable recipe card below.

• Mayonnaise: the creamy base. Duke’s or Hellmann’s gives the closest Southern-restaurant flavor.
• Buttermilk: the signature tang of Zaxby’s ranch. Full-fat buttermilk keeps the sauce thick.
• Sour cream: adds body so the sauce clings to chicken instead of running off.
• White vinegar: the sharp tang that separates Zaxby’s ranch from bottled ranch. Don’t skip it.
• Dried parsley and dried dill: the classic ranch herbs, and the green flecks you see in the cup.
• Garlic powder and onion powder: two of the core flavors in Zaxby’s own ranch.
• Black pepper: be generous. The pepper bite is what makes it taste like Zaxby’s.
• Salt: brings all the flavors forward.
• Paprika: a pinch for warmth and color.

Ingredient swaps

• No buttermilk: stir 1/2 tablespoon white vinegar into 1/2 cup milk and let it sit for 5 minutes.
• No sour cream: use plain full-fat Greek yogurt.
• Fresh herbs: use 1 tablespoon fresh parsley and 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh dill (about 3 times the dried amount). Fresh-herb ranch keeps for 4 to 5 days instead of a week.

How to Make Zaxby’s Ranch at Home

Step 1: Whisk the base. In a medium bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream and vinegar until completely smooth.

Step 2: Add the seasonings. Stir in the parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt and paprika.

Step 3: Taste and adjust. Want more tang? Add another 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar. Want more bite? Add more black pepper.

Step 4: Chill for at least 1 hour. The dried herbs need time to soften and bloom. Right after mixing, it tastes like seasoned mayo; after an hour, it tastes like Zaxby’s.

Step 5: Serve cold. Pour it into small dipping cups or a squeeze bottle, or spoon it over a crispy chicken sandwich.

Thick for dipping or thin for dressing: For a Zaxby’s-style dipping sauce, follow the recipe as written. For Zaxby’s ranch dressing on a salad, whisk in 2 to 4 more tablespoons of buttermilk until it pours.

Tips for the Best Copycat Zaxby’s Ranch

• Make it the day before. Overnight chilling gives the deepest, most restaurant-like flavor.
• Use full-fat dairy. Light mayo and low-fat buttermilk make the sauce thin and sharp.
• Crush the dried herbs. Rub the parsley and dill between your fingers as you add them. This releases more flavor.
• Grind the pepper fresh. Pre-ground pepper is milder. Zaxby’s ranch has a noticeable pepper kick.
• Store it right. Keep it in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. Stir before serving. Don’t freeze it, because the dairy separates.

Zaxby’s Ranch vs. Regular Ranch vs. Zax Sauce

Zaxby’s ranch gets mixed up with both bottled ranch and Zaxby’s signature sauce. Here’s how they compare.

	Zaxby’s ranch	Bottled ranch dressing	Zax Sauce
Base	Buttermilk, mayo, sour cream	Buttermilk or oil, mayo	Mayo and ketchup
Flavor	Tangy, peppery, herby	Mild and herby	Sweet, tangy, peppery
Texture	Thick, made for dipping	Pourable	Thick
Color	White with green flecks	White	Orange-pink
Best with	Chicken fingers, fried pickles, wings, salads	Salads, veggies	Chicken fingers, fries

If you love the orange sauce, too, try my copycat Zax Sauce. Serve both side by side for a true Zaxby’s spread.

Zaxby’s Ranch Variations

Buffalo ranch: mix 2 tablespoons of buffalo sauce into the finished ranch for wings and tenders. the kitchen and discover your favorite ranch sauce remix!

Spicy ranch: stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons of hot sauce and a pinch of cayenne.

Chipotle ranch: add 1 minced chipotle pepper in adobo plus 1 teaspoon of the adobo sauce.

Avocado ranch: blend in half a ripe avocado for a thick, green dip.

What to Serve with Zaxby’s Ranch

Zaxby’s serves its ranch alongside fried chicken and fried sides, and that’s where it shines at home too.

• Chicken fingers: my air fryer Zaxby’s chicken finger recipe is crispy without a deep fryer.
• Fried pickles: Zaxby’s serves its fried pickles with ranch, and the cool tang balances the salty pickle.
• Crinkle fries: sprinkle on homemade Zaxby’s fry seasoning, then dunk them in ranch.
• Buffalo tenders: ranch cools the heat on these copycat Buffalo Wild Wings chicken tenders.
• Salads, wraps and sandwiches: thin it into Zaxby’s ranch dressing for a Zalad-style salad, or spread it on a chicken wrap.

Want a sweeter dip on the side? This copycat honey mustard sauce is a classic chicken-finger partner.

Zaxby’s Ranch FAQs

What ranch does Zaxby’s use?

Zaxby’s uses its own proprietary buttermilk ranch, not a grocery-store brand. It’s flavored with garlic, onion and vinegar, which gives it more tang than typical bottled ranch.

What are the ingredients in Zaxby’s ranch?

Zaxby’s ranch is a blend of buttermilk, garlic, onion and vinegar, plus herbs and black pepper. The exact recipe is secret. This copycat uses mayo, buttermilk, sour cream, white vinegar, parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt and paprika.

Can you buy Zaxby’s ranch in stores?

No. In 2024, Zaxby’s started selling bottled sauces in Southeast grocery stores and on Amazon. The lineup is Zax Sauce, Spicy Zax Sauce and Tongue Torch, and it doesn’t include ranch. Making it at home is the way to get it.

Is Zaxby’s ranch a sauce or a dressing?

Both. Zaxby’s calls it ranch sauce when it’s served for dipping, and uses ranch dressing on its salads. To use this recipe as a dressing, thin it with a few extra tablespoons of buttermilk.

How do you make Zaxby’s ranch thicker?

Cut the buttermilk to 1/4 cup and chill it overnight. It thickens as it rests.

How long does homemade Zaxby’s ranch last?

Up to 1 week in an airtight container in the fridge. If you use fresh herbs, use it within 4 to 5 days.

Is this Zaxby’s ranch recipe gluten-free?

The ingredients are naturally gluten-free. Check your mayonnaise and spice labels to be sure.

More Zaxby’s Recipes

• air fryer zaxby’s fried pickle recipe
• air fryer copycat zaxby’s chicken fingers
• Zaxby’s Zax Sauce