Quick Fix Franch Dressing

Franch dressing is more proof that sometimes easy is best. Sure, I could’ve made some French dressing from scratch. And I could’ve made some Ranch dressing from scratch. But hey, it was a busy week night and I wanted something a little different. So out came the bottled dressings. Boom, done. And what a delicious combination the two make! Quick fix Franch dressing is way better than just French and just Ranch dressings.

Quick Fix Franch Dressing

I used a creamy French dressing and a buttermilk Ranch dressing when I made quick fix Franch dressing. You could also use a sweet French dressing, but to offset the sweetness you might want to then use a spicy Ranch or even Buffalo Ranch.

Also try my quick fix BBQ Ranch dressing.

Quick Fix Franch Dressing
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5 from 1 vote

Quick Fix Franch Dressing

Franch dressing is more proof that sometimes easy is best.
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Keyword French, homemade salad dressing, Ranch
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 cup
Calories 1152kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together all ingredients in a medium bowl.
  • Refrigerate until ready to use.

Nutrition

Calories: 1152kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 118g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 2358mg | Potassium: 158mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 626IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat Popeye’s Blackened Ranch Dipping Sauce

There’s no reason to go through the trouble of making homemade chicken nuggets and then serving them with a boring sauce. Heck, there’s no reason to heat up pre-made nuggets (or homemade) and dip them in a lame sauce either. Indeed, this copycat Popeye’s blackened ranch dipping sauce isn’t boring or lame. It’s nothing but creamy spicy yumminess. You won’t be able to dunk your chicken bites quick enough. Or deep enough.

Copycat Popeye's Blackened Ranch Dipping Sauce

You don’t just need to make this copycat Popeye’s blackened ranch dipping sauce for dipping nuggets. It’s great on a po boy sandwich. It’s fantastic on a crispy fried fish sandwich. Or use it for dipping fries. Or veggies. It’s a great all-around sauce, but it’s perfect for nuggets or chicken tenders too! Consequently, if you like your sauce a little thinner, add a bit more buttermilk. Thicker? Yep, you guessed it. Add less. Just make the decision for less sooner rather than later!

By and large, I like to use these little dipping sauce cups for serving. They’re the perfect size for dipping nuggets or tenders. And they help keep me from over-serving myself, which can be a problem with a sauce as good as this one!

Also try a copycat Popeye’s Delta dipping sauce.

Copycat Popeye's Blackened Ranch Dipping Sauce
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4 from 1 vote

Copycat Popeye’s Blackened Ranch Dipping Sauce

There’s no reason to go through the trouble of making homemade chicken nuggets and then serving them with a boring sauce. Heck, there’s no reason to heat up pre-made nuggets and dip them in a lame sauce either. 
Course Dipping Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword copycat, dipping sauce, Popeye’s
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 2 cups
Calories 811kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • cup fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons onion lightly chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic lightly chopped
  • 4 teaspoon blackened seasoning
  • pinch paprika or more, for color

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a food processor. Puree until just smooth.

Nutrition

Calories: 811kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 86g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 1846mg | Potassium: 185mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1015IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Jalapeno Beer Mustard

It’s rare that I make my own mustard. There are so many amazing varieties available in the store that I have a hard time convincing myself to make one from scratch. Jalapeno beer mustard is not something I can find in my grocery store. So I made some. And wow, what an amazing mustard this is. I found it to be smooth, without that sometimes-overwhelming vinegar-mustard flavor you find. It has just a hint of spiciness. This was the perfect mustard for grill sausage sandwiches. Perfect.

Jalapeno Beer Mustard

The key to this jalapeno beer mustard is using a quality coarse ground mustard. As you can see, I used one that was full of pop-in-your-mouth mustard seeds. It looked amazing and it tasted fantastic. So don’t skimp on that part.

Jalapeno Beer Mustard
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4 from 1 vote

Jalapeno Beer Mustard

This jalapeno beer mustard is the perfect mustard for grill sausage sandwiches. Smooth, with just a hint of spiciness, it's a real winner.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword jalapeno, mustard, spicy
Prep Time 12 hours 30 minutes
1 hour
Total Time 13 hours 30 minutes
Servings 2 cups
Calories 144kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • The night before you are going to make the mustard, place the beer, mustard seeds, mustard powder, vinegar and pepper flakes in a sauce pan. Whisk and refrigerate overnight.
  • Remove the pan from the fridge and place on the stovetop over high heat.
  • Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer. Continue simmering until reduced by half.
  • Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  • Stir in the remaining ingredients.
  • Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Nutrition

Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1425mg | Potassium: 283mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 419IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat Outback Steakhouse Ranch Dressing

Perhaps the last thing I needed was an even better-tasting Ranch dressing. This copycat Outback Steakhouse Ranch dressing is fantastic. I know I used too much on my salad. Yes, I added more after this picture, I didn’t want to have photographic proof of my obsession but I just couldn’t stop.

Copycat Outback Steakhouse Ranch Dressing

I definitely recommend making at least a double batch when you make this copycat Outback Steakhouse Ranch dressing. It’s crazy good and won’t last at all. Do not skimp on the fridge time. The dressing needs it to set up and let the flavors come together. And don’t be surprised if it’s a little thick after resting. Right then it’s perfect for dipping. Perfect for wings, vegetables, chips, whatever. For salads, you might want it a little thinner so just whisk in a bit (like a tablespoon at a time) of buttermilk and see how you like it.

In my opinion, the brand of mayonnaise you use in a dish is just as important, if not more so, than the quality of the rest of the ingredients. That’s why I use Blue Plate. Always.

I recently discovered Blue Plate mayonnaise, which I think is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Also try my copycat Outback Steakhouse blue cheese salad dressing.

Copycat Outback Steakhouse Ranch Dressing
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5 from 1 vote

Copycat Outback Steakhouse Ranch Dressing

Perhaps the last thing I needed was an even better-tasting Ranch dressing. This copycat of the Outback Steakhouse Ranch dressing is fantastic.
Course Dressing
Cuisine American
Keyword copycat, Outback Steakhouse, Ranch
Prep Time 5 minutes
30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 210kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together all ingredients in a medium bowl.
  • Cover bowl and chill dressing for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  • If dressing is too thick add a bit of buttermilk (a little at a time) and whisk.

Nutrition

Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 459mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 46IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat Outback Steakhouse Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

Goodness gracious me. I don’t know why but I wasn’t expecting much from this copycat of the blue cheese salad dressing from Outback Steakhouse. Maybe I was afraid that it’d be too funky from the blue cheese. Whatever it was, I was wrong because this instantly became my favorite salad dressing. And my favorite wing dipping sauce. Oh, and it’s great for dipping bacon-wrapped shrimp too. I know this for a fact.

Copycat Outback Steakhouse Blue Cheese Dressing

You really need to let this copycat Outback Steakhouse blue cheese salad dressing ‘get happy’ in the fridge for at least an hour before serving. I actually prefer to let it sit overnight. The flavors get blended as you wait, and the wait is worth it. If you taste the dressing just moments after you make it you might disappointed as it won’t have much flavor. That flavor comes later, so be patient!

More and more, I’ve been serving my salad dressings in the same little sauce cups I use for serving dipping sauces. I like them for wings and nuggets, and even chicken tenders. They have the added bonus of helping me control my serving size, something I need help with with this dressing for sure!

Also try my copycat Outback Steakhouse Ranch dressing.

Copycat Outback Steakhouse Blue Cheese Dressing
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5 from 1 vote

Copycat Outback Steakhouse Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

You really need to let this copycat Outback Steakhouse blue cheese salad dressing 'get happy' in the fridge for at least an hour before serving. I actually prefer to let it sit overnight.
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Keyword copycat, homemade salad dressing, Outback Steakhouse
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 2 cups
Calories 1569kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Refrigerate for 1-4 hours before serving

Nutrition

Calories: 1569kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 171g | Saturated Fat: 28g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 1552mg | Potassium: 113mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 250IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat Red Lobster Tartar Sauce

It was fish-and-chips week here. I’m a big fan of fish-and-chips, and I find myself ordering it regularly when we eat out. Usually I just like mine hit with a few good shakes of malt vinegar and maybe a squeeze or two of lemon. This time I decided to make a copycat Red Lobster tartar sauce. And all I can say is… Wow! Now this is a great tartar sauce. I thought my beer-battered fish would be the winner-winner, but the tartar sauce really came through!

Copycat Red Lobster Tartar Sauce

The perfect thickness for dipping fish or spreading onto a fish sandwich and packed with flavor, this copycat Red Lobster tartar sauce is really fantastic. I find myself looking forward to my next fish-and-chips lunch more and more now. Will it replace malt vinegar as my favorite? Yeah, it might actually. It’s just that good.

I have to admit that my usual order at Red Lobster is the shrimp. I’m a shrimp-aholic. I love fried shrimp. Walt’s fried shrimp is probably my favorite. And even though cocktail sauce is my go-to dipping sauce, I’ve found that I like dipping my shrimp in tartar sauce more and more!

I recently discovered Blue Plate mayonnaise, which I think is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Also try my copycat of Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay biscuits. Love tartar sauce as much as I do? Try my spicy Old Bay version too!

Copycat Red Lobster Tartar Sauce
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4.50 from 2 votes

Copycat Red Lobster Tartar Sauce

I’m a big fan of fish-and-chips, and I find myself ordering it regularly when we eat out. Usually I just like mine hit with a few good shakes of malt vinegar and maybe a squeeze or two of lemon.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword copycat, Red Lobster, tartar sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Chill time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 203kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or container.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 210mg | Potassium: 18mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 373IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat TGI Friday’s Mandarin Orange Sesame Dressing

I am always looking for new salad dressing recipes for when we have salad week. We usually have salad week if we have over-indulged the week before or if we have eaten out too many meals while traveling. This copycat TGI Friday’s Mandarin orange sesame dressing is so good! I like that it has chopped Mandarin oranges for texture. I also added Mandarin oranges to the salad to tie it all together. The orange marmalade and the honey balance out the sesame oil. Sesame oil is such a strong flavor so you can use a little less if preferred, but I love the taste of it.

Copycat TGI Friday’s Mandarin Orange Sesame Dressing

This copycat TGI Fridays Mandarin orange sesame dressing is one of the best homemade dressings that we have made! This dressing would be good as a dipping sauce for chicken nuggets. It would also be great as a sauce for crudités.

I find myself using these little cups more and more for my salad dressings. Normally I use them for dipping my chicken nuggets, wings, or chicken tenders. But they’re also great for salad dressings. As a bonus, they help me control my serving amount, which is needed around salad dressings like this one.

Copycat TGI Friday’s Mandarin Orange Sesame Dressing
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5 from 1 vote

Copycat TGI Friday’s Mandarin Orange Sesame Dressing

This copycat TGI Fridays Mandarin orange sesame dressing is one of the best homemade dressings that we have ever made!
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Keyword copycat, salad dressing, TGI Friday
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 2 cups
Calories 1036kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place everything except for the mandarin into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, about 30 seconds.
  • Transfer to a resealable container. Add the oranges, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Nutrition

Calories: 1036kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 94g | Saturated Fat: 62g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Sodium: 1038mg | Potassium: 119mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 52g | Vitamin A: 551IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Catalina Salad Dressing

I’d say that about half the time, we make our own salad dressings and the other half of the times we buy them. There’s nothing wrong with bottled dressings, but sometimes we prefer something fresh and something we can ‘tweak’ a bit if we want. This Catalina salad dressing is one of our all-time favorites. It’s quite easy to make and always delicious. It also uses ingredients that we almost always have on hand, and that’s a definite plus too!

Catalina Salad Dressing

The grated white onion is one of the key ingredients in this Catalina salad dressing. Don’t skip it and don’t skimp on it. I used about a tablespoon, but you might want more. Or less. I used a Microplane grater to get the onion just perfect. It’s easy to hold and does a fantastic job.

This dressing gets even better after sitting in the fridge for a few hours. Just make sure to give it a good shake before serving.

I always double this recipe when making it.

I also find myself using these sauce dipping cups more and more when serving salad dressings. They help me control my servings a bit better.

Also try my Honky Tonk Sweet and Spicy salad dressing.

Catalina Salad Dressing
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5 from 1 vote

Catalina Salad Dressing

We loved this simple and delicious homemade Catalina salad dressing. Why would you buy dressing at the store when you can make an even better version at home?
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Keyword salad dressing
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 2 cups
Calories 1434kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all but the onion in a blender. Pulse a few times. Add white onion to taste and blend until smooth. Store in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 1434kcal | Carbohydrates: 122g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 110g | Saturated Fat: 89g | Sodium: 3062mg | Potassium: 277mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 117g | Vitamin A: 578IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Homemade Thousand Island Dressing

There are certainly a lot of homemade Thousand Island dressing recipes out on the internet. But I found this one to be slightly different. The flavor is richer. It’s deeper. And it has just a little kick to it. It’s just better than the rest. And it uses ingredients that I have on-hand. That’s a plus. Perfect on a salad, and even better on a Reuben sandwich.

Homemade Thousand Island Dressing

I wasn’t shy with the hot sauce when I made this homemade Thousand Island dressing. Now, I wasn’t making spicy wing sauce, no, but I wanted to get that spiciness. So many dressings are just creamy. Or just vinegary. A little heat changes things up.

So why is it called Thousand Island dressing? Because it came from the Thousand Island region between the US and Canada. I didn’t know that either.

Also try my 18000 Island dressing.

Homemade Thousand Island Dressing
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5 from 1 vote

Homemade Thousand Island Dressing

There are certainly a lot of homemade Thousand Island dressing recipes out on the internet. But I found this one to be slightly different. The flavor is richer. It’s deeper. And it has just a little kick to it.
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Keyword homemade salad dressing, Thousand Island
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 3 cups
Calories 703kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine everything in a bowl.
  • Refrigerate for 1 hour then check for seasoning.

Nutrition

Calories: 703kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 72g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 1415mg | Potassium: 209mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 823IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Wood Shop BBQ Sauce

This sauce originates from a BBQ joint in Seattle, Washington, called Wood Shop BBQ. It’s pretty much a traditional (great) BBQ sauce but with a pretty healthy dose of Worcestershire sauce to boot. I used it on my awesome pulled pork BBQ, but I think this sauce would be even better on smoked brisket or beef ribs.

Wood Shop BBQ Sauce

It has been a while since my wife and I sort of disagreed on a recipe. While this Wood Shop BBQ sauce is pretty Worcestershire-sauce-y, I thought it was pretty darned good. But my wife couldn’t get passed the amount of Worcestershire sauce. I also thought that the sauce got way better after sitting in the fridge for a few days. So, I recommend you start with half of what the recipe states and go from there. I am a huge Worcestershire sauce fan, so I used almost the full amount.

Also try my copycat of Dreamland’s BBQ sauce.

Wood Shop BBQ Sauce
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4 from 1 vote

Wood Shop BBQ Sauce

I would recommend that you use half of the Worcestershire sauce stated, taste, and add more if desired.
Course BBQ Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 1 quart
Calories 3518kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine the ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire, molasses, brown sugar, hot sauce and lemon juice together in a large pot and whisk until blended. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer, then add the chili powder, granulated garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper and cayenne. Continue to simmer 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep from burning.

Nutrition

Calories: 3518kcal | Carbohydrates: 825g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 32496mg | Potassium: 13724mg | Fiber: 54g | Sugar: 648g | Vitamin A: 44869IU | Vitamin C: 134mg | Calcium: 1681mg | Iron: 57mg

Nutritional values are approximate.