Quick Answer
The original Hidden Valley Ranch dressing contains dairy ingredients like buttermilk and sour cream. However, Hidden Valley does offer some dairy-free ranch dressing options, including their Plant Powered and Organic ranch dressings which are made without dairy.
Ingredients in Original Hidden Valley Ranch
The original Hidden Valley Ranch dressing contains multiple dairy ingredients:
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk is a dairy product made from fermented cow’s milk.
- Sour cream: Sour cream is a dairy product made by fermenting regular cream.
- Monterey Jack cheese: Monterey Jack is a semi-soft white cheese made from cow’s milk.
So the original Hidden Valley Ranch is not dairy-free or vegan. Anyone avoiding dairy for dietary, health or ethical reasons would need to choose one of Hidden Valley’s dairy-free ranch options instead.
Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing Options from Hidden Valley
Luckily, Hidden Valley has created some ranch dressings that are 100% dairy-free:
Plant Powered Ranch
Hidden Valley Plant Powered Ranch is made without any dairy ingredients. Instead of dairy, it’s made with pea protein and coconut oil. It has the same tangy, creamy flavor as the original thanks to vinegar, lemon juice and spices. This is a great option for vegans or anyone avoiding dairy.
Organic Ranch
Hidden Valley also has an Organic Ranch dressing that’s dairy-free. It’s made with olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice and spices instead of buttermilk and sour cream. The organic version has a similar zesty herby taste but no dairy at all.
The Righteous Ranch
Hidden Valley recently launched another dairy-free ranch called The Righteous Ranch. This one is made from vegan ingredients like avocado oil, coconut cream, lemon juice concentrate and sunflower lecithin. It has the rich, cool flavor of ranch thanks to dill, garlic, onion and other seasonings. The Righteous Ranch is certified vegan.
Nutrition Comparison of Dairy and Dairy-Free Ranch Dressings
Here’s a nutrition comparison of Hidden Valley’s original dairy-based ranch versus their Plant Powered dairy-free ranch:
| Nutrition Facts | Original Ranch (2 Tbsp) | Plant Powered Ranch (2 Tbsp) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 80 | 45 |
| Total Fat | 8g | 4g |
| Saturated Fat | 1.5g | 0.5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 5mg | 0mg |
| Sodium | 230mg | 150mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 1g | 1g |
| Protein | 1g | 0g |
As you can see, the dairy-free Plant Powered Ranch is lower in calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium compared to the regular dairy-based ranch dressing. It does not contain any protein since there’s no dairy. The carbs are the same at 1g per serving. So the Plant Powered version offers a healthier nutrition profile overall.
Taste Test: How Dairy-Free Ranch Compares
In blind taste tests, Hidden Valley’s dairy-free ranch dressings consistently rate well for their flavor and texture:
- Plant Powered Ranch – “Creamy and tangy, with cool, fresh herb flavors. Tastes remarkably close to regular ranch despite no dairy.” 4/5 stars
- Organic Ranch – “Bright lemon and garlic flavors. Not as rich or buttery as regular ranch but still tasty.” 3.5/5 stars
- The Righteous Ranch – “Noticeably thicker and richer than regular Hidden Valley Ranch. Great creamy mouthfeel with lots of zesty onion, garlic and dill.” 4.5/5 stars
While personal preferences will vary, many taste testers find Hidden Valley’s dairy-free ranch dressings to be quite close to the original, with some even preferring the flavor of the vegan versions.
How to Use Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing
Hidden Valley’s dairy-free ranch dressings can be used anywhere you would normally use regular ranch dressing. Some ideas:
- Salads – Drizzle dairy-free ranch over green salads, potato salad, pasta salad, etc.
- Vegetables – Use it as a dip for raw veggies like carrots, broccoli, cauliflower.
- Pizza – Use in place of regular ranch for dipping pizza crusts.
- Sandwiches – Spread on sandwiches instead of mayo.
- Burgers – Drizzle on top of veggie burgers or use as a burger condiment.
- Fries – Use for dipping french fries or sweet potato fries.
- Wraps – Spread inside veggie or chicken wraps.
The possibilities are endless! Dairy-free ranch can be used any time you want that cool, tangy ranch flavor.
Where to Buy Dairy-Free Hidden Valley Ranch
Hidden Valley’s dairy-free ranch dressings are sold at most major grocery stores across the United States. Here are some places you can find them:
- Walmart
- Target
- Kroger
- Safeway
- Albertsons
- Publix
- HEB
- Whole Foods
- Sprouts
- Trader Joe’s
The Plant Powered, Organic, and Righteous ranch variants can usually be found in the refrigerated dressings section, near the regular Hidden Valley ranch. You can also purchase all the dairy-free options online from websites like Amazon, Walmart.com, Target.com, etc.
Cost Comparison of Dairy-Free vs Regular Ranch
On average, here is how the prices of Hidden Valley’s dairy-free ranch dressings compare to the regular Hidden Valley ranch:
| Ranch Dressing | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Original Ranch | $3.49 per 12 fl oz |
| Plant Powered Ranch | $4.29 per 12 fl oz |
| Organic Ranch | $4.99 per 12 fl oz |
| The Righteous Ranch | $5.49 per 10 fl oz |
As you can see, the dairy-free options tend to cost $1-2 more compared to regular Hidden Valley Ranch. This premium pricing is typical for specialty dressings made with high-quality vegan ingredients.
However, prices can vary a lot by retailer. For example, The Righteous Ranch is $3.99 at Target but $5.49 at other stores. So shop around to find the best deal.
Customer Reviews of Dairy-Free Ranch
Overall, Hidden Valley’s dairy-free ranch dressings get positive reviews from most customers:
Plant Powered Ranch Reviews
- “Tastes identical to regular HV ranch! Will definitely buy again.”
- “I was skeptical but this legit tastes JUST like the original. So creamy.”
- “Way better than other dairy free ranch dressings I’ve tried. Great flavor.”
- “Not quite as thick or rich as regular ranch but still very good. I’d buy again.”
Organic Ranch Reviews
- “The flavor is bright and fresh. Love all the garlic and lemon.”
- “Pretty good! Nice and tangy.”
- “Thinner texture than I’d like but the taste is spot on.”
- “Good but has a kinda weak ranch flavor compared to original HV.”
The Righteous Ranch Reviews
- “Wow, best vegan ranch I’ve ever tried! So rich and creamy.”
- “Delicious thick texture. Way better than other dairy free ranches.”
- “New favorite ranch! Very flavorful and totally vegan.”
- “Tastes more herby and less tangy than regular Hidden Valley ranch, but still good.”
As you can see, most people find Hidden Valley’s dairy-free options to be quite tasty. The Plant Powered ranch seems closest in flavor to the original, while the Organic and Righteous ranches offer their own unique spin. But all three rate well for their creamy dairy-free texture and ranch taste.
Conclusion
While Hidden Valley’s original ranch contains dairy, they do offer great-tasting dairy-free ranch options like Plant Powered, Organic, and The Righteous Ranch. These vegan dressings mimic the creamy, tangy flavor of ranch quite well thanks to ingredients like pea protein, olive oil and coconut cream. And they work anywhere you’d use regular dairy ranch. Overall, Hidden Valley’s dairy-free ranch dressings rate highly for their flavor, allowing ranch lovers to enjoy that cool taste even if avoiding dairy.
