There are some products on the market that you just know are going to be good. And if they come from Hidden Valley Ranch, we pretty much know it’s going to be delicious. Is it always going to be for us, maybe not. But they understand quality and flavor.
Recently, Hidden Valley Ranch released a new lineup of dips and seasoning packets, perfect for people looking to branch out from the traditional ranch flavor. And we have the opportunity to try them, so we could share our thoughts.
But first, let’s go over what’s new from Hidden Valley Ranch:
- “Blue Cheese Ranch – The ultimate condiment for wing dipping
- Kickin' Cajun Blackened Ranch – Classic ranch with a bold Cajun kick
- Cilantro Lime Ranch – Perfect for drizzling on nachos and tacos
- Cracked Pepper Ranch – A creamy, peppery ranch ideal for salads or grain bowls
- Sweet BBQ Ranch – A sweet and smoky ranch, perfect for fried chicken and BBQ favorites
- Garlic Ranch Seasoning – A bold garlic twist to enhance any protein, potato, or vegetable
- Creamy Jalapeño Ranch Seasoning – A zesty seasoning with jalapeño, herbs, and spices for an extra kick”
Hidden Valley Ranch goes all out with their latest lineup of flavors
I have to admit, the one I was the most excited for was the Cilantro Lime Ranch. The flavor alone reminded me of chipotle, and I knew going in that I would want to make my very own rice bowl with this dressing/sauce. It’s even their recommendation for it, and I am so glad that I did. It really did bring a zip to the bowl, and it had a nice flavor. It wasn’t overwhelming, But it absolutely added to the dish. I would say that this flavor might even be great as a classic salad dressing.
Another item in the lineup that was very excited about was the ranch and blue cheese combo. While I am partial to ranch on chicken wings, I used to love dipping wings in blue cheese. So combining them both in one bottle made perfect sense. I do have to say that if you don’t like blue cheese, this one will not be for you. But I loved the tangy zip of the ranch with the funk of the cheese
The Cracked Pepper Ranch was a perfect salad dressing flavor. And it’s actually a dressing flavor that I know my father will love. It’s a more simple option, but done well.
I wasn’t sure what I would think of the Sweet BBQ Ranch, but I ended up using it in a dish that I’ve made many times before. In the past, I have done a buffalo ranch chicken mac & cheese. And I thought why not try this new Sweet BBQ Ranch instead. And I have to say it delivered that smoky sweetness that you expect from a nice barbecue sauce. That being said it also had that creamy ranch flavor. This one I don’t know how else I would use, maybe as a dip on chicken wings, but as an addition to the mac & cheese, it was amazing.
Perhaps the only one of the flavors that really wasn’t for me was the Kickin’ Cajun Blackened Ranch. I like Cajun flavors, but I don’t think I like Cajun flavors with ranch. So for me, this was a bit of a mess. However, I could appreciate the flavor of it all. I think they’re going to be plenty of fans of this particular flavor, and it’s definitely a bold addition to the lineup.
Moving beyond the bottled flavors were the seasoning packets. And I have to say that the seasoning packets were fascinating. I don’t normally make my own ranch or ranch dip, but as soon as I saw the two new flavors, I knew I had to give them a try. And there’s no denying that anytime you add garlic to the mix I’m sold. So of course the Garlic Ranch Seasoning was the real winner for me. However, the Creamy Jalapeno Ranch Seasoning mix was also quite tasty with that added kick of heat.