At The Best Things, we take our food seriously—especially when it involves America’s favorite dressing: ranch. Whether you’re using it to drown your plate or just add a little drizzle, ranch dressing has become more than just a condiment… it’s a lifestyle.

So naturally, we had to do what any responsible podcast hosts would do: rank things dipped in ranch using a completely arbitrary but totally accurate tier system. S is the chef’s kiss of dipping. D is… well, don’t. And yes, we’re very aware that “salads” exist, but let’s be real—we’re not here to be healthy. Let’s dive in.

🟩 S TIER: The Holy Trinity of Ranch

These are the elite. The royalty of ranch. The absolute best of the best. If you’re not dipping these in ranch, are you even living?

WINGS

Buffalo wings and ranch go together like Netflix and “just one more episode.” It’s spicy, creamy harmony.

PIZZA

A little ranch with that crust? Yes, please. Even if you’re a purist who clutches their pepperoni with pride, ranch still manages to elevate pizza to god-tier levels.

CHICKEN TENDERS

The gold standard of ranch dipping. The moment a crispy tender hits that cool ranch pool? Pure magic.

🟨 A TIER: The Solid Squad

Still top-notch, these foods are only a whisper away from S-tier glory.

• Potato Skins

Bacon, cheese, potatoes… and now ranch? Yes. It’s like turning cheat day into a lifestyle.

• Fries

Whether you’re team curly, crinkle, or shoestring—ranch don’t discriminate.

• Fried Jalapeño Poppers (yes, they MUST be fried)

Cream cheese and jalapeño already slap. Add ranch? Now we’re cookin’.

• Fried Pickles (or honestly, anything fried)

Rule of thumb: if it’s fried, it probably loves ranch. That’s just science.

🟦 B TIER: Respectable Dips

They’re not changing lives, but they’re still good for the soul (and tastebuds).

• Chicken Nuggets

Somehow these feel different than tenders. Maybe it’s the shape? The breading? Either way, ranch is a solid co-pilot.

• Mozzarella Sticks

Look—ranch is good here, but marinara’s got tenure. Still, we respect the double dip.

• Quesadilla

Ranch and Mexican food? It’s not traditional, but it works. Like adding hot sauce to mac & cheese—wrong but oh so right.

• Onion Rings

Not the first dip choice, but when it works, it works. Especially if they’re extra crispy.

🟧 C TIER: A Bit of a Stretch

Not bad, just… confusing. These are the “don’t knock it till you’ve tried it” tier.

• Hard Boiled Eggs

Works in a salad, so there’s precedent. But by itself? It’s giving “desperate snack energy.”

• Burgers

Ranch on a burger? Absolutely. Dipping one like a nugget? A little chaotic, but we won’t judge (much).

🟥 D TIER: Just Don’t…

We tried it so you don’t have to.

• Cornbread

Look, we love both ranch and cornbread. Separately. Together? It’s like dipping a cupcake in soy sauce. Why would you ruin a good thing like this??

🏅 Honorable Mentions: The Healthy Ones

We didn’t forget the OGs of ranch dipping: carrots, celery, broccoli, bell peppers, and of course, salad. Ranch built its empire on the back of vegetables. But let’s be honest—those are just vehicles for the dressing. We’re not health influencers. We’re snack connoisseurs.

What did we miss? Did we offend your favorite ranch-dipper? Let us know—unless you’re dipping Oreos or something weird like that. Even ranch has limits.

Check out the full discussion on our podcast!

We break down all these picks and more in our recent episode of The Best Things! Hit play, grab some ranch, and join the delicious debate.

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The Definitive Ranch Dipping Tier List