Ditch the Bottle! 19 Delish Salad Dressing Recipes
on Mar 17, 2025
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Discover quick and easy homemade salad dressing recipes that will transform your salads! From classic balsamic vinaigrette to creamy ranch and zesty Asian sesame ginger, these easy, preservative-free dressings take just 5 minutes to make. Save money and elevate your salads with these expert tips and make-ahead ideas.
Making your own salad dressings isn’t just about flavor (though trust me, the difference is night and day!) – it’s about taking control of what goes into your food. Once you start making these homemade dressings, I promise you’ll never look back.
From creamy classics to zippy vinaigrettes, these recipes will ensure you never reach for the store-bought bottles again!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Salad Dressing Recipes
- Fresh & Vibrant: Flavors that make store-bought dressings taste flat in comparison.
- Good Ingredients: No preservatives or artificial ingredients – just real, wholesome, easy to find ingredients.
- Budget Friendly: Only pennies per serving compared to $4-5 bottles at the grocery store!
- Customizable Taste: Want it tangier? More garlicky? It’s all in your hands, and there’s not limit to all of the changes you can make for new flavors.
- Quick to Prepare: Most salad dressings take less than 5 minutes to throw together and can also be made ahead and kept in the fridge for at least a week.
Salad Dressing Recipes
I’ve been making my own dressings for years, and I promise it’s ridiculously easy (and economical!) to whip up a delicious salad dressing from pantry staples. These salad dressing recipes are my absolute favorites – the ones I return to again and again, tweaking and perfecting until they’ve become second nature.
I hope you find your family’s new favorite, too!
Salad Dressing FAQs
This is natural! Oil and vinegar don’t want to stay combined. Adding a small amount of mustard or honey helps them stay together longer. Always give your dressing a quick shake before using.
Absolutely! For creamy dressings, substitute vegan mayo and plant-based yogurt. For honey, use maple syrup instead. The lemon tahini dressing is already naturally vegan.
Raw garlic can be potent! Try one of these tricks: 1) Mince the garlic and let it sit in the vinegar or lemon juice for 5-10 minutes before adding other ingredients, 2) Use a microplane to grate it super fine, or 3) Substitute garlic powder for a milder flavor.
Generally, I don’t recommend freezing dressings. Vinaigrettes tend to separate oddly, and creamy dressings can break or become grainy when thawed. They’re so quick to make fresh that freezing isn’t necessary!
Expert Tips
For Vinaigrettes:
- Temperature matters! Ingredients at room temperature emulsify more easily.
- Add a small dollop of Dijon mustard (even if not called for) to help emulsification.
- The general ratio to remember: 3 parts oil to 1 part acid (vinegar or citrus).
- Shake in a jar rather than whisking for the quickest, most thorough blending.
For Creamy Dressings:
- Full-fat ingredients provide the best flavor and texture.
- Let them sit for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to develop.
- If too thick, thin with a splash of water, milk, or buttermilk.
- Fresh herbs are worth the extra effort when making creamy herb dressings.
Batch Cooking and Make-Ahead Ideas
These dressings aren’t just delicious – they’re practical time-savers, too! Here’s how to make the most of them.
Storage Tips:
- Most vinaigrettes (oil-based dressings) will keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator
- Creamy dressings with dairy are best within 5-7 days
- Store in glass jars with tight-fitting lids for best results
Weekly Prep Ideas:
- Make 2-3 different dressings on Sunday for the week ahead
- Prep individual salad ingredients in separate containers
- Create a “salad bar” in your fridge for quick assembly
Serving Suggestions:
- The balsamic vinaigrette and honey mustard double as marinades for chicken
- Greek yogurt ranch makes a wonderful veggie dip for snacking
- Lemon tahini and green goddess can moonlight as sandwich spreads
- Asian sesame ginger works beautifully as a quick stir-fry sauce
Awesome Salad Recipes To Try
Did you make any of these salad dressing recipes? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
