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Deliciously sweet poppy seed dressing uses mostly shelf-stable ingredients and mixes in minutes for a tasty salad in no time at all!

Dress your favorite salads from Strawberry Spinach Salad to Fruit Salad and beyond!

A glass cruet filled with poppy seed dressing.
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A Sweet Dressing to Love!

It’s no secret that I am a big salad eater! I order them at restaurants and frequently make them for a light dinner.

With every great salad, you also need to have a good salad dressing to make it taste even more delicious. One of our favorite dressings is Poppy seed dressing.

This homemade version is on the sweeter side which pair perfectly with our Strawberry Harvest Salad and sweet Kale Salad, but it would even be a fabulous topping for fresh Fall Fruit Salad!

Why we love it:

  • Fresh in minutes. Poppy seed salad dressing has a quick prep time and can be stored in the fridge for up to a week for an easy homemade salad dressing at a moment’s notice.
  • Whip up any time. This uses mostly shelf-stable ingredients so a fresh dressing is always just a mix away!
  • Sweet. As I mentioned earlier, this creamy poppyseed dressing is on the sweet side so it’s perfect for all of your favorite sweet salads! I love it on pasta salad, strawberry salad, or any spring salad recipe!
A white bowl filled with chopped romaine lettuce.

Ingredients

  • mayonnaise or use Greek yogurt (this will change the flavor a bit)
  • milk use whole milk or half and half for a creamier dressing
  • sugar adjust the sweetness to taste or use honey
  • apple cider vinegar red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or champagne vinegar
  • poppy seeds
  • dry mustard or an equal amount of liquid yellow or Dijon mustard
  • garlic powder
  • salt
A bed of greens topped with pecans, diced apples, feta cheese and poppy seed dressing.

Just Mix and Enjoy!

  1. COMBINE. In a medium bowl, whisk mayo, milk, and seasonings until smooth.
    • Before serving, toss the salad and drizzle with the dressing.

Build a Perfect Salad

  • greens. start with a bed of greens such as baby spinach, romaine, and butterhead lettuce
  • fruit. diced apples, pears, strawberries (red onion would be a nice addition)
  • nuts. pecans halved, walnuts, sliced almonds
  • cheese. feta cheese, blue cheese, goat cheese, mozzarella cheese
  • season with a bit of black pepper and this poppy seed dressing recipe
Homemade poppy seed dressing on a fresh salad.

Recipe Tips + Storing

  • Poppyseeds are often added to provide a bit of a nutty flavor to a variety of dishes. They are generally considered safe when eaten in small amounts and not known to be a risk during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
    • Unused poppy seeds can be stored in the fridge for up to 6 months.
  • Chill the creamy poppy seed dressing before serving to help the flavors meld together.
  • Shake. The ingredients can sometimes separate after sitting for a bit, just give it another stir or shake.
  • STORAGE. I like to keep homemade poppy seed dressing in a mason jar with a lid, but any airtight container will work. It will keep in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. Give it a good shake before pouring.
A glass cruet filled with poppyseed dressing.

Use This Dressing On:

5 from 3 votes

Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Deliciously sweet poppy seed dressing uses mostly shelf-stable ingredients and mixes in minutes for a tasty salad in no time at all!
Servings: 6
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes

Ingredients 

  • ยพ cup mayonnaise
  • ยผ cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • ยฝ teaspoon dry mustard
  • ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder
  • pinch salt

Instructions 

  • In a medium bowl, add mayonnaise, milk, sugar, apple cider vinegar, poppy seeds, dry mustard, garlic powder and salt. Whisk together until smooth.
  • Before serving, toss the salad and drizzle with dressing.

Notes

Shake. The ingredients can sometimes separate after sitting for a bit, just give it another stir or shake.
STORE. I like to keep homemade poppy seed dressing in a mason jar, but any airtight container will work. It will keep in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. Give it a good shake before pouring.

Nutrition

Calories: 344kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 31g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 349mg, Potassium: 283mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 2922IU, Vitamin C: 10mg, Calcium: 136mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and Iโ€™m the mom of SIX stinkinโ€™ cute kids and the wife to my smokinโ€™ hot hubby, Lo. My momโ€™s maiden name is Luna, and Iโ€™m one of the many crafty โ€œLilโ€™ Lunasโ€ in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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5 from 3 votes

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Recipe Rating




3 Comments

  1. Natasha says:

    5 stars
    Poppy seed dressing is so creamy and delicious! I use it all the time and everyone at home loves this!

  2. Sheila G says:

    5 stars
    So fresh and delicious! I will make this all summer long and use it for everything!

  3. Sha says:

    5 stars
    Used this dressing for my lunch and I love the outcome! It turned out sooo creamy and extra delicious!