Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes

From classics like ranch to amped-up sauces like pesto, or mouth-watering copycats, there are so many salad dressing recipes for you in this collection!

More Collections: Green Salad Recipes, Easy Salad Recipes, Pasta Salad Recipes

Always Better Than Store bought!

Store-bought salad dressings are always a convenient way to go, but have you ever made your own homemade dressing??

The flavor of the homemade dressing is SO much better, and they’re actually pretty simple to put together! Often all you need is a whisk and a bowl, or a blender to whip one up.

I’ve rounded up all of our homemade salad dressing recipes for you to check out. And to go along with them, here are some tips on making salad dressing!

A healthier option

Making homemade salad dressing recipes for your salad is already healthier than the ones you can buy in the store because they are free of all the added preservatives and artificial flavorings. I always feel better knowing exactly what ingredients are included in my dressing, especially without any preservatives.

Vinaigrettes tend to be a better choice than creamy dressings for a healthy salad dressing because they don’t have the added sugar and fat from dairy.

Healthy alternatives. Even so, when making your own cream-based dressing, there are small changes you can make for healthier versions. Try using low-fat or Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

Use low-fat milk instead of whole milk or heavy cream. Sweeten dressings up with a bit of honey instead of using added sugar.  

Dressing Tips

Make the best salad dressing recipes using these simple tips!

3 types of dressing:

• Vinaigrettes. Typically oil and vinegar (balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, sherry vinegar, white wine vinegar), or lemon juice, is used as the base with herbs, spices, and fruits being added to season it.
• Creamy. Often made with a base of mayonnaise or dairy such as buttermilk, yogurt, milk, or sour cream. 
• Cooked dressing. These are typically creamy and are gently heated with egg yolks used to thicken the dressing.

Zest it. Many dressings call for citrus juice. Elevate the flavor by adding in the citrus zest as well. Buy a zesting tool or use the small side of a cheese grater to grate the peel on the citrus. Stop grating when you get to the white part under the peel.

Oils. The better the quality of the oil, the better the dressing will be. I also recommend using extra virgin olive oil when olive oil is called for. 

Oil-free. If your recipe calls for oil, but you would rather use a substitute you can easily make one using cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water.

• In a small saucepan, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 cup of water.
• Heat the mixture over medium heat. Mix until thickened. Cool.
• Use this mixture as an even 1:1 substitute for oil. 

Herbs. Fresh herbs really bring the best flavor, but dried herbs are easy and convenient. If using dried herbs, let the dressing rest for 5-10 minutes to soften the herbs and let the flavors mix.  

Many dressings rely on various herbs and spices for flavoring. Increase or decrease the amounts to get just the right taste that you are looking for. Some common herbs/spices used in dressings include parsley, dill, chives, garlic salt, ginger, salt, black pepper, oregano, basil, and onion salt.

Taste as you go. Note that if you taste it alone, it will be quite strong. Instead, dip a piece of lettuce into the dressing. This will give you a more accurate assessment of what may still need to be added.

Not just for salads

Dressings can be used to flavor many other dishes as well. 

• They make a great marinade for steak and chicken.
• Brush over skewers headed for the grill.
• Flavor-cooked pasta.
• Toss with potato cubes and then roast.
• Dip for vegetables and appetizers like these Fried Zucchinis
• Condiment for burgers, wraps, and sandwiches.
• Spread over burritos or tacos.

Storing Info

My favorite way to store dressing is in a mason jar with a lid, but any airtight container will work. Most dressings can be stored in the fridge for about one week. Stir or shake the jar, especially after storing a vinaigrette, before pouring.

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favorite salad dressing recipes

We hope you’ll enjoy this list of some of our very favorite salad dressing recipes. We’re sure they will soon become staples in your home too!

Strawberry Vinaigrette

Quick and simple, this strawberry vinaigrette is delicious. It’s sweet, tart, and goes wonderfully on top of a bed of greens.

Creamy Pesto Dressing

This simple creamy pesto dressing is delicious on any salad! Plus, it only requires 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to make.

Caesar Dressing

Delicious homemade Caesar salad dressing with crispy homemade croutons. This simple salad dressing will become your new go-to for salads!

Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

Cilantro lime vinaigrette is light and refreshing. The lime adds a brightness and cilantro a flair of flavor!

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Delicious homemade buttermilk ranch dressing is made in minutes and is better than any store bought version!

Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

A delicious salad with tomatoes, chicken, craisins, sunflower seeds and a delicious homemade lemon poppy seed dressing. The dressing only requires 4 ingredients and takes minutes to make!

Chipotle Ranch

Chipotle ranch has just the right amount of kick. Drizzle it over salads, dip tortilla chips, or serve it on the side of your Mexican entrees.

Cilantro Lime Dressing

Easy, creamy and delicious cilantro lime dressing that is great for salads, but also served over veggies, meat or even in tacos and burritos!

Cafe Rio Cilantro Ranch Dressing

Copycat recipe for Café Rio Cilantro Ranch Dressing is fresh and creamy with a hint of spice. We LOVE this stuff!

Greek Dressing

Flavorful homemade Greek dressing is perfect for salads and marinades! It comes together quickly with only a handful of ingredients.

Taco Salad Dressing

Creamy taco salad dressing has the perfect amount of spice, but can be adjusted to your liking. It’s perfect for any Mexican dish!

Honey Mustard Dressing

Honey mustard chicken salad is one of the heartiest, most delicious salad recipes you’ll try! With greens, fruits, nuts, and a tangy dressing, it’s a real winner.

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Fantastic Salad Dressings

There are so many fantastic Salad Dressings to choose from on the list above. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to take your homemade salads up a notch with these flavorful recipes!

More Collections: Spring Salad Recipes, Summer Salads, Summer Soups