Add A Packet Of This Classic Seasoning To A Jar Of Pickles For 10x The Flavor

The American food landscape changed forever in 1954, the year ranch dressing was invented, followed in short order by the seasoning behind it. This tasty blend has found a place in millions of foodies' hearts, us included. We use it to give frozen french fries a zesty boost, and it's a sure-fire way to maximize the flavor of fried chicken. But the latest use for this dried mix requires nothing more than a jar of pickles, some patience, and a bit of culinary daring.

As long as we're not within snacking distance, an opened jar of pickles has a decent shelf life in the fridge, but throw in a bag or generous sprinkle of ranch seasoning and those will vanish. With this trick, as well as those juicy, sharp pickles, you get all the brightness and zing of the ranch, taking this beloved snack to another level entirely. If you are watching your salt intake, it's best to limit yourself to one or two pickles at a time, as the ranch seasoning will hike the sodium levels.

For the best flavor results, we recommend marrying an entire packet of ranch seasoning with a medium-sized jar of pickles. Give it all a good shake to allow all those spices to cling onto the pickles, then let the whole thing sit in the fridge. How long you let the ranch-pickle combo marinate depends on you –  some people wait an hour before diving in, while others go back to their jars after a day.

Social media users are divided about how much difference the ranch seasoning made to their jarred pickles. For some, the flavor impact was immediate, but not for everyone. One commenter on TikTok said, "I tried this, the pickles still just tasted like pickles to me," while another said that though their other half loved the ranch-boosted flavor, they couldn't tell the difference. The secret, as some claim, is to let this combination sit for two to three days or even longer, by which time the ranch seasoning will have made its presence known.

People also suggested air-frying the ranch-infused pickles or adding sriracha with the ranch seasoning for a dash of heat, and we're down for both of those! If you're not as courageous as all that, you can take one or two pickles out of the jar — with or without a little brine — and sprinkle on ranch seasoning powder as an equally yummy alternative. When all the pickles have been eaten, don't be in a hurry to throw that ranch-rich liquid away. It sounds like it could make a delicious marinade for chicken, steak, and even boiled eggs.