Hidden Valley Ranch dressing is a popular salad dressing in the United States. It comes in various flavors and forms including original ranch, garlic ranch, bacon ranch, avocado ranch, lite ranch, and more. Ranch dressing is known for its tangy, creamy flavor and is commonly used as a dip for vegetables, wings, pizza, and more.
But how many carbs are actually in Hidden Valley Ranch dressing? The answer depends on the specific type of ranch dressing. Ranch can have a high carb count, which is important for people monitoring their carbohydrate and calorie intake. In this article, we’ll break down the nutrition facts and carb counts in Hidden Valley’s various ranch dressings.
Nutrition Facts for Hidden Valley Original Ranch
Hidden Valley Original Ranch dressing has the following nutrition facts for 2 tablespoons (30ml) of dressing:
| Calories | 90 |
| Total Fat | 10g |
| Saturated Fat | 1.5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 5mg |
| Sodium | 240mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 2g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Sugars | 2g |
| Protein | 0g |
So a 2 tablespoon serving of original Hidden Valley ranch dressing contains 2g net carbs.
Serving Sizes and Carb Counts
Here’s how the carb count breaks down for different serving sizes of Hidden Valley original ranch:
– 1 tablespoon (15ml): 1g net carbs
– 2 tablespoons (30ml): 2g net carbs
– 1/4 cup (59ml): 4g net carbs
– 1/2 cup (118ml): 9g net carbs
As you can see, the carb count adds up quickly if you use more than a couple tablespoons of regular Hidden Valley ranch dressing.
Nutrition for Lower Carb Hidden Valley Ranch
Hidden Valley also offers some lower carb ranch dressing options with fewer net carbs:
Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Light Dressing
| Calories | 45 |
| Total Fat | 4.5g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 5mg |
| Sodium | 450mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 1g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Sugars | 1g |
| Protein | 0g |
The nutrition stats are for 2 tablespoons (30ml). As you can see, the light version has significantly fewer calories and 1g of net carb per serving.
Hidden Valley Ranch Dips
Hidden Valley also offers pre-made ranch dips in flavors like garlic, bacon, avocado, and more. Here are the nutrition facts for 2 tablespoons (30ml) of Hidden Valley Bacon Ranch dip:
| Calories | 35 |
| Total Fat | 3g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 5mg |
| Sodium | 125mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 1g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Sugars | 1g |
| Protein | 0g |
The ranch dips tend to be lower in calories, fat, and carbs compared to the regular dressings. The bacon ranch dip has just 1g of net carb per 2 tablespoon serving.
Low Carb Ranch Dressing Options
If you’re following a low carb or keto diet, you may want to limit your ranch dressing intake or choose lower carb options. Some tips:
- Use lighter, reduced fat ranch dressings
- Stick to 2 tablespoons or less per serving
- Try mixing greek yogurt with ranch packet mix for a lighter option
- Choose ranch dips instead of regular dressings
- Read labels and compare carb counts
- Opt for full fat ranch if doing keto, just watch portions
Making your own homemade keto ranch dressing is also an option. You can find various recipes online that swap out high carb ingredients for lower carb options like Greek yogurt or heavy cream.
Carb Counts in Other Ranch Brands
Here’s how Hidden Valley ranch dressings compare to some other popular brands when it comes to net carbs:
| Ranch Dressing | Net Carbs (2 Tbsp) |
| Hidden Valley The Original Ranch | 2g |
| Hidden Valley The Original Light Ranch | 1g |
| Ken’s Steak House Ranch | 1g |
| Ken’s Steak House Light Ranch | 2g |
| Newman’s Own Ranch | 2g |
| Kraft Classic Ranch | 2g |
| Wishbone Ranch | 2g |
| Marie’s Ranch | 2g |
| Brianna’s Creamy Ranch | 1g |
| Bolthouse Farms Classic Ranch | 1g |
As you can see, most regular ranch dressings contain 2g of net carbs per 2 tablespoon serving. The lighter, reduced fat versions tend to be slightly lower in carbs.
Making the Healthiest Choice
When choosing a ranch dressing, read nutrition labels and look for options lowest in carbs and calories. Lighter ranch dressings can save you grams of carbs and calories per serving.
If you need to limit carbs, your best bets are Hidden Valley light ranch, Ken’s Steak House light ranch, or Brianna’s creamy ranch based on the nutrition stats.
Even if you go for regular full-fat ranch dressing, you can make it fit into a low carb diet by measuring portions and tracking intake through the day. Just be mindful of portions, as ranch can quickly add up in carbs, calories, and fat.
Tips for Using Ranch Dressing While Watching Carbs
Here are some tips for enjoying ranch dressing on a low carb or keto diet:
- Dip vegetables instead of dressing full salads
- Use ranch for wings, chicken tenders or other protein instead of fries
- Drizzle over cooked vegetables versus raw salads
- Thin it out with a bit of water or milk to make it spread further
- Mix with plain Greek yogurt for a thicker, lower carb dip
- Use it sparingly to top keto-friendly pizza crust or cauliflower pizza bites
- Mix in hot sauce or other zero carb flavors to give it a kick
Ranch dressing can absolutely fit into a lower carb diet when used mindfully and in moderation. Just be sure to measure out servings instead of free pouring.
Should You Give Up Ranch Dressing on Keto?
You definitely don’t have to give up ranch dressing completely if you’re following a keto diet. Just pay attention to portion sizes and prep methods.
Some keto-friendly ways to enjoy ranch dressing:
- As a veggie dip (2 tbsp serving size)
- Mixed into casseroles or frittatas for flavor
- Drizzled over grilled or roasted chicken or pork
- As a topper for keto-friendly pizzas or fathead dough
- Thinned out and used as a salad dressing
- Incorporated into egg salad, tuna salad, or chicken salad
- As a sauce for low carb crackers or cheese crisps
Just avoid eating it by the spoonful or drowning your salads in a ton of ranch. Measuring your portions and tracking intake will keep ranch dressing keto-friendly.
Low Carb Ranch Dressing Recipes
Want to make your own keto-friendly ranch dressing at home? Here are some tasty recipes to try:
Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix (or equivalent dry ranch seasoning)
- 1-2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1-2 tbsp milk, cream or water to thin
Whisk together all ingredients until smooth and creamy. Keeps well in the fridge for up to a week.
Creamy Keto Ranch Dressing
Ingredients:
- 1 cup mayo
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tbsp water
Whisk all ingredients together until fully blended. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Easy Ranch Dip
Ingredients:
- 16 oz full fat Greek yogurt
- 1 packet dry ranch dressing mix
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, minced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Stir all ingredients together. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Hidden Valley Ranch Products for Low Carb Diets
In addition to their classic ranch dressings, Hidden Valley offers some other products that can fit into a low carb lifestyle:
Ranch Cracker Seasoning
This can be sprinkled onto protein, vegetables, eggs, avocado, and more. With just 1g net carb per 1/4 teaspoon serving, it’s a tasty low carb ranch flavor boost.
Ranch Dry Seasoning Mix
Use the packets of Hidden Valley ranch seasoning to make your own keto-friendly ranch dressing or dips at home. Two tbsp of the dry mix has 2g net carbs.
Ranch Dips
The pre-made bacon ranch, garlic ranch, and other ranch dips are lower in carbs than the dressing varieties. Just track serving sizes.
Salad Dressing & Dip Cups
Using the convenient single-serve cups allows for better portion control when dipping veggies or dressing a salad.
Ranch Seasoned Popcorn
At 18g net carbs per serving, it’s not keto-friendly. But the seasoning could be used on low carb popcorn alternatives.
Is Homemade or Store-Bought Ranch Lower Carb?
When it comes to carbs, homemade ranch dressing made with Greek yogurt or heavy cream is comparable to light, low-fat bottled ranch dressings:
- Homemade ranch with Greek yogurt: Approximately 2g net carbs per 2 tbsp
- Bottled light ranch dressings: 1-2g net carbs per 2 tbsp on average
The thicker, cream-based homemade recipes may be slightly higher in fat and calories if using full-fat dairy products but have similar carb counts as light bottled dressings when portioned the same.
One benefit of homemade is controlling the ingredients – many store-bought dressings can contain added sugars. But for convenience, both options can fit into a keto diet.
Ranch Dressing Carb Count: The Bottom Line
So how many carbs are in Hidden Valley Ranch dressing? Here’s a quick recap:
- Original Hidden Valley Ranch: 2g net carbs per 2 tbsp serving
- Hidden Valley Light Ranch: 1g net carbs per 2 tbsp
- Hidden Valley ranch dips: 1g net carbs per 2 tbsp
- Homemade ranch with Greek yogurt: around 2g net carbs per 2 tbsp
When used in sensible portions, ranch dressing can be included as part of a healthy low carb or keto diet. Just pay attention to serving sizes and prep methods for the best nutrition. Measuring out ranch and tracking daily carb intake makes it easy to work it into your diet if you’re watching carbs.