This Simple Salad Dressing Recipe is a perfect everyday staple but is delicious enough to serve to company. Made with just a few pantry ingredients, it takes 5 minutes or less. Super versatile and packed with flavor, it'll have you skipping the store-bought stuff for good - because homemade just tastes better!
As soon as we served this at a family get-together, we knew it was here to stay. It quickly became the go-to dressing, mainly because it has just a handful of ingredients and a great balance of flavors: a little tang, a hint of sweetness, and a touch of brightness.
If you are into homemade dressings, you will also love our hot honey vinaigrette and white balsamic dressing. They are the kind of dressings that taste straight out of a restaurant - super simple to make but perfectly balanced in flavor.
This was inspired by the Best Salad on Cooking Classy, but adjusted to a larger amount and to our taste.
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Why this recipe is great
- Fast: You can whip this homemade dressing together in just 5 minutes or less!
- Customizable: You get to decide which ingredients you want to put in it. No mystery ingredients like the store-bought dressings.
- Versatile: Not only can it be used on salad, but also as a marinade, or tossed with grains like quinoa or pasta for a light and refreshing dressing.
Simple salad dressing ingredients
This recipe only requires a small handful of simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand! Quantities are in the recipe card below, but here are a few noteworthy tips.
- Oil: Any neutral oil will work, but our favorite is light olive oil.
- Honey: Just a touch for natural sweetness.
- Mustard: Dijon mustard offers a tang without being too sharp.
- Lemon: Fresh lemon juice is the acid component. Bottled lemon juice will not have the same flavor so stick with fresh in this case.
- Garlic: Feel free to mince your own or purchase the already minced in the produce section of the grocery store.
- Salt and pepper: Just a pinch of kosher salt and pepper to season it.
Helpful kitchen tools
How to make a simple salad dressing
This recipe is so very simple. Add the ingredients into a bowl or a glass jar.
Alternatively, this can be made in a blender or with an immersion blender to help it hold together once stored.
Whisk vigorously until the ingredients combine into one. Store in the refrigerator. If it separates, shake or stir before serving.
Hint: If using a fresh garlic clove, grate it on a microplane for the smoothest texture.
Storage tips
- This dressing will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. My favorite is this glass jar or this dressing dispenser. If serving immediately, though, we love these timeless cruets.
- If it solidifies while in the fridge, allow it to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, and give a good shake before serving. Or place it in the microwave on defrost (or 30% power) in increments of 10 seconds until it is liquified.
Ways to serve
- Drizzle on this Everyday Romaine Salad.
- Perfect on all green salads but especially great on butter lettuce.
- Toss with Perfectly Cooked Quinoa.
- Use as a marinade for chicken.
- Spoon over grilled vegetables.
FAQs
There is nothing like fresh lemon juice. We highly recommend that you juice a lemon for the very best flavor. In a pinch try bottled lemon juice, but know that it will change the final product.
Depending on the kind of oil used, salad dressing can solidify when it is cold. Allow it to come to room temperature before using. And give a good stir or shake if in a sealed container.
Tips & tricks
- Since this recipe has just a few ingredients, it is worth it to make sure that they are quality ones.
- Vinaigrette dressings like this one commonly separate when stored in the refrigerator. To keep it together longer, feel free to place in a blender on low speed for 30 seconds to a minute. Keep the speed low so that you don't add in too much air. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to blend it in a glass jar or measuring cup.
- If using a fresh garlic clove, try grating it into the other ingredients with a microplane for a really smooth dressing.
More delicious salad dressing recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Simple Salad Dressing Recipe (Quick & Versatile)
Ingredients
- ¾ cup light olive oil
- ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¾ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients in a jar, whisk until combined, and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.¾ cup light olive oil, ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice, 2 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon honey, ¾ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Notes
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- Since this recipe has just a few ingredients, it is worth it to make sure that they are quality ones.
-
- Vinaigrette dressing like this one commonly separate when stored in the refrigerator. To keep it together longer, feel free to place in a blender on low speed for 30 seconds to a minute. Keep the speed low so that you don't add in too much air. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to blend it in a glass jar or measuring cup.
-
- If using a fresh garlic clove, try grating it into the other ingredients with a microplane for a really smooth dressing.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Tondra says
My favorite dressing! Sooo yummy!
Misty says
So happy you liked it!
Misty says
A quick and versatile dressing that's packed with flavor. Who could ask for anything better?