Salad Dressing Recipes

My go-to everyday salad dressing recipe that’s quick and easy to make, full of zippy fresh flavors, and versatile enough to go with just about any type of salad!

I’ve been in the habit of making my own salad dressings for years — partly because I prefer to avoid the additives found in many store-bought salad dressings, but mostly because delicious salad dressing is super quick and easy to make from scratch, and it always tastes extra fresh and flavorful!

We fondly call this particular recipe my “everyday” salad dressing in our house, because we quite literally make some version of it nearly every day of the week. (Yes, we eat a lot of salads in our casa.) It’s a basic recipe made simply with olive oil, lemon juice (or vinegar), garlic, Dijon, salt and pepper that can be whipped up in just 5 minutes. And I’m telling you — this salad dressing somehow magically works with just about any type of salad you might be craving!

It’s also an incredibly versatile base recipe that can be easily tweaked and customized, if you would like to play around with using different types of vinegar, mustards, added herbs, or added sweeteners too. Leftovers also keep well in the fridge, if you would like to make a larger batch to stretch out over the course of a week. (Which I find to be excellent motivation to eat more salad — it’s always easier to toss one together when you have some delicious dressing ready to go!) And this salad dressing recipe just so happens to be naturally gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan too.

Anyway, I first introduced this dressing a few years ago when I shared our favorite everyday side salad recipe, and many of you have shared since that it has become a regular staple in your homes as well. So for anyone who may have missed that other post or would just like a stellar salad dressing recipe to bookmark, I promise this one won’t let you down. Let’s make a quick batch!

Everyday Salad Dressing

My favorite everyday salad dressing recipe that goes with just about anything! Feel free to double or triple the batch size if needed.

Prep: 5min

Total: 5min

Yield: 1

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small garlic clove, pressed or minced (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
• 1 tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice (or red wine vinegar)
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper

Instruction:

1. Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl (or shake all ingredients together vigorously in a sealed jar) until completely combined.
2. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for between 1-7 days. (See notes on storage times below.) If you choose to refrigerate the dressing, it will need to be stirred or shaken again prior to serving.

How to Make Homemade Salad Dressing: 9 Easy Recipes

9 Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes that you’ll make over and over again. Recipes include ranch, creamy Italian, honey poppy seed dressing and more! [adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”ERDghAg2″ upload-date=”2022-11-08T19:33:44.000Z” name=”Homemade Garlic Dressing” description=”Homemade salad dressing recipes.” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]

Prep: -467165h52min14sec

Total: 52min

Yield: 1

Serving Size: 2 tablespoons

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 2 tablespoons, calories 150 calories, Sugar 0, Sodium 15, Fat 7, Saturated Fat 7, unSaturated Fat 0, Trans Fat 0, Carbohydrate 5, Fiber 0, Protein 5, Cholesterol 0

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons each chopped parsley and chives
• 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
• 1/4 teaspoon each kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoon each sour cream and olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste
• 1/3 cup olive oi
• 1 head garlic
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons each of honey, Dijon mustard, white vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoon black poppy seeds
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher sal
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated peeled ginger
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil (or other neutral oil
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons water
• juice of one lime
• 1 tablespoon each rice or white vinegar, chopped peeled ginger, soy sauce, and honey
• 1/4 cup each butter milk and sour cream
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1/2 a lemon
• and salt and hot sauce to taste

Instruction:

1. Classic Ranch: whisk 1/3 cup buttermilk, 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons each chopped parsley and chives, 1 teaspoon dried dill weed, 1/4 teaspoon each kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. (You can sub 1 tablespoon each of dried parsley and chives for the fresh) Once you start making homemade ranch, you’ll never go back to the store-bought stuff again. SO GOOD! This is perfect for cob salads, to dip fries in, over chicken salads, and most any other salads with romaine and other leaf lettuces as the base.
2. Creamy Italian: Blend 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoon each sour cream and olive oil, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 clove garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt in a blender. Stir in 1 tablespoon chopped parsley.
3. Classic Vinaigrette: Whisk 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste. Gradually whisk in 1/3 cup olive oil.
4. Roasted Garlic: Slice the top off 1 head garlic; drizzle with olive oil, wrap in aluminum foil and roast at 400 degree until tender, about 35 minutes. Cool and then squeeze out the cloves. Blend the roasted garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan, 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste in a blender. I’m obsessed with this one. SO good! Make a double batch and use part of it for a marinade for chicken breast. It’s also amazing on roasted vegetables. I made my freezer to slow cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs and served it with a simple side salad and this dressing last night and I couldn’t get enough. Super easy, healthy, delicious, whole food meal the whole family loves.
5. Honey Mustard: Whisk 2 tablespoons each of honey, Dijon mustard, and white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and pepper to taste. Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup olive oil. So easy, super classic, I love honey mustard dressing on all the things.
6. Honey Poppy Seed: Whisk 2 teaspoon black poppy seeds, 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Gradually whisk in 1/3 cup olive oil. This one I have around most of the time because it always hits the spot. This is great on salads with berries and other sweet fruits in them, it compliments them nicely.
7. Asian Sesame: Whisk 2 tablespoons cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 1/2 teaspoons grated peeled ginger, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 1/3 cup vegetable oil (or other neutral oil), 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste, and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder. This dressing is also excellent on Asian inspired noodle recipes and chicken salads.
8. Peanut-Lime: Blend 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter, 2 tablespoons water, the juice of one lime, 1 tablespoon each rice or white vinegar, chopped peeled ginger, soy sauce, and honey in a blender. This dressing is awesome on “quinoa” bowls (roasted veggies/protein/quinoa) and it’s also excellent on fish.
9. Creamy Blue Cheese: Whisk 1/4 cup each butter milk and sour cream, 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, the juice of 1/2 a lemon, and salt and hot sauce to taste. Here’s a little secret, if blue cheese is too strong for you, you can actually make this with crumbled feta for a more mild dressing that is still wonderfully creamy and cheesy. Dip everything in this including hot wings.

25 Easy Salad Dressing Recipes

These top homemade salad dressing recipes are easy to make and taste fresh and delicious! Pick from favorites like Caesar, Italian, and balsamic: or see the list above for more ideas.

Prep: 5min

Total: 5min

Yield: 1

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or honey)
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 small garlic clove, minced (about ¼ teaspoon) or ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon each dried oregano, dried thyme, and dried basil
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium clove garlic
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (1/2 lemon)
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon anchovy paste (optional but recommended)
• 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon each kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

Instruction:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and salt until fully combined. Gradually whisk in the olive oil, adding 1 tablespoon at a time and whisking until it incorporates, until an emulsion forms. Serve immediately. Makes 3/4 cup. Store refrigerated and bring to room temperature before serving (keeps at least 2 weeks).
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, garlic, oregano, thyme, basil, and kosher salt. Gradually whisk in the olive oil, adding 1 tablespoon at a time and whisking until it incorporates, until an emulsion forms. Serve immediately. Makes 1/2 cup. Store refrigerated and bring to room temperature before serving (keeps at least 2 weeks).
3. Mince or grate the garlic. Grate the Parmesan cheese as finely as possible (it’s helpful to use a microplane or the fine holes on a grater). Juice the lemon. Whisk together all the ingredients in a bowl. Makes 1 cup. Store refrigerated (keeps at least 1 week).

6 Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes To Spice Up Your Salads!

FAQ

What is the most popular salad dressing?

1. Ranch Dressing. The ranch is a salad dressing or dip made with buttermilk, salt, garlic, onions, herbs (dill, parsley, chives, etc.), and spices (mustard seeds, black pepper, paprika, etc.) …
2. Fry Sauce. …
3. Chermoula. …
4. Blue Cheese Dressing. …
5. Thousand Island Dressing. …
6. Italian Dressing.

What is the healthiest salad dressing option?

What is the basic formula for salad dressing?

How do you make a salad dressing?