Yes, It's OK to Love Ranch as a Grown-Up

Don’t worry—we’re giving you permission to love chicken nuggets as a grown-up, too. To upgrade this classic from childhood staple to adult indulgence, make your own ranch dressing with fresh cilantro mixed in. From there, it’s super easy to cut up a few chicken breasts into nuggets, coat them with bread crumbs, and bake.

Looking for a healthier alternative to fried pickles? Just grab your air fryer! Instead of frying in oil, these pickle chips get the crispy, crunchy coating from a quick trip to the air fryer, so you can snack on them guilt-free. And, of course, fried pickles always need a dipping sauce—this one is made with creamy ranch dressing and spicy sriracha.

You might not be able to spot the ranch just by glancing at this slow cooker mac and cheese, but you’ll definitely taste it! This simple five-ingredient supper takes everything we love about gooey macaroni and gives it a mouthwatering upgrade. In addition to cheese and pasta, ranch seasoning mix and spicy cayenne pepper sauce make this dinner even more delish than the classic.

Ranch dressing and salads are obviously a match made in heaven, but instead of reaching for a bottle, just make your own! Including the time needed to make the dressing, this simple salad can be tossed together in just 20 minutes. Plus, you can store any leftover ranch in the fridge for up to a week afterward. (Goodbye, store-bought dressing!)

Deviled eggs, meet ranch dressing. To add a taste of your favorite dressing to the appetizer table, mix in dry ranch dressing mix with the yolks, yogurt, and green onion. Then use this dressed-up mix to fill egg whites, jalapeño peppers, and roma tomatoes for a new and tasty take on classic deviled eggs.

This chicken recipe is a full-on fiesta! Let it marinate for a few hours before grilling, then cover it in a delicious mix of ranch dressing and lime seasoning. To take this chicken recipe to the next level, add melted cheese and serve with Spanish rice.

This easy pasta salad tastes just like the favorite sandwich. A mix of bow tie pasta, romaine lettuce, crispy bacon, and cherry tomatoes bring BLT flavors, while creamy ranch dressing and mayo transform it into a yummy pasta salad. Take this salad to a summer picnic for a much quicker way to serve up BLTs to a crowd.

If you can’t resist dipping a slice of pizza into a cup of ranch, then this extreme pizza cake is for you! The layers of dough and classic toppings like mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, sausage, and mushrooms are delicious all on their own, but this recipe becomes next-level when you drizzle ranch dressing on top of your slice. If you have a family of ranch-lovers, you can drip it over the entire cake, or just let everyone squiggle as much as they want on their own slice.

Want a lighter alternative to buffalo wings? These cauliflower bites have all the spicy flavor of classic wings, but you’ll sneak in a serving of veggies instead. Just like any other buffalo snacks, these cauliflower "wings" are at their best when dipped in creamy ranch dressing.

When you make this easy mix, your snacks will be the life of the party. You can mix and match your cereal, nuts, and seasonings. (We’re definitely going to make the version with dry ranch seasoning!) Plus, you can make it right in your slow cooker. Party snacks don’t get much easier than this!

Want a way to make chicken fajitas extra creamy and delicious? When the chicken and peppers are fresh out of your skillet, toss them with ranch dressing for a wrap recipe that magically makes fajitas even tastier than usual. Add fresh salsa and cheddar cheese before wrapping the mix in a tortilla, and this easy recipe gets even yummier.

This easy potato salad recipe is a mix of classic ingredients and new twists. Give this dish an extra kick by mixing ranch dressing mix and a dash of cayenne pepper into the mayo—it’ll be just as creamy as classic potato salad but with even more flavor. Classic red potatoes and hard-cooked eggs also play a role in this recipe, and it’s dressed up even further with avocado and corn.

Put a slightly new spin on a classic tuna melt by topping it with ranch dressing. To be more specific, we mixed trendy mashed avocado with ranch dressing and broccoli slaw to top off creamy tuna salad. Anything else you add to this open-face sandwich is up to you, but we like to keep it simple with melted cheddar cheese and a pickle spear.

Let this pork roast cook low and slow in your slow cooker all day long, and you'll walk in the door at the end of the day greeted with a mouthwatering dinner. You can cook red potatoes right alongside the roast, so you’ll also have a yummy side dish ready to go. And the best part? The whole thing is covered in creamy, craveable ranch sauce.