Ranch Bacon Recipe

1. Preheat and arrange

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil for easier cleanup and place a wire rack on top of the sheet. Arranging bacon on a rack allows fat to drip away and yields crispier slices.

2. Lay the 8 slices of thick-cut bacon in a single layer on the wire rack, not overlapping. If necessary, trim slices to fit while keeping most of each slice intact.

3. Bake for 15–22 minutes, checking at 12 minutes if your bacon is thinner. Bake until the bacon reaches your preferred crispness. For chewy bacon stop on the lower end; for very crispy, up to 22 minutes.

4. Remove the bacon from the oven and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain and cool. While still slightly warm, chop half of the bacon into roughly 1/4–1/2 inch pieces for mixing into the ranch if desired; reserve the remaining slices whole or halved for garnish.

5. Finely chop 2 tbsp chives and 2 tbsp parsley. Reserve about 1 tsp of chives for final garnish.

6. In a medium mixing bowl, combine 1 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup sour cream, and 3/4 cup buttermilk. Whisk until smooth and homogenous. The buttermilk controls thickness: add up to 2 tbsp more if you prefer a looser consistency for dipping.

7. Add dried herbs and seasonings: 1 tsp dried dill, 1 tsp dried parsley, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Whisk thoroughly to incorporate.

8. Stir in 1 tsp fresh lemon juice and 1/2 tsp hot sauce (optional) to brighten flavor. Taste and adjust seasoning — add a pinch more salt or 1–2 tsp sugar if you prefer a slightly sweet balance.

9. Fold in chopped bacon (from Bacon & Garnish) and most of the chopped chives and parsley, reserving a small amount for garnish. If you prefer plain ranch with bacon on the side, skip adding bacon into the sauce and instead sprinkle bacon on top when serving.

10. Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, preferably 2–4 hours, to let flavors meld. If you need it sooner, 15–20 minutes will still be acceptable but less developed.

11. Before serving, give the ranch a final stir. Taste and adjust: if too thick, whisk in 1–2 tbsp buttermilk; if too thin, stir in 1–2 tbsp sour cream or mayonnaise.

12. Transfer the ranch to a serving bowl. Sprinkle reserved crumbled bacon pieces, the remaining chives, and parsley on top as garnish. Serve chilled or at cool room temperature with vegetables, fries, wings, or as a sandwich spread.