Once you discover how easy it is to make your own salad dressing and how delicious and fresh homemade tastes, those bottled dressings from the store will lose their luster. Making homemade
salad dressing is a simple matter of combining a few liquid ingredients (such as oil, vinegar, lemon juice, etc.), herbs and/or spices, and maybe one or more thickening agents (such as mayonnaise, yogurt, mustard, peanut butter, avocado, etc.) then whisking those ingredients in a bowl or shaking them in a jar. Better yet, chances are you already have most ingredients in your pantry and/or fridge.
Though the salad dressings on this page can be also found on the individual salad recipes on the Salads page, these salad dressing recipes can be used with any leafy greens or any other type of salad that is well complimented by salad dressing. Salad dressings with thicker consistencies such as Avocado Lemon Dill, Yogurt Avocado, Chipotle Ranch and Zesty Ranch can also be used as dips for fresh vegetables as an appetizer or snack. Once you try making your own homemade salad dressing, you may never go back!
Though the salad dressings on this page can be also found on the individual salad recipes on the Salads page, these salad dressing recipes can be used with any leafy greens or any other type of salad that is well complimented by salad dressing. Salad dressings with thicker consistencies such as Avocado Lemon Dill, Yogurt Avocado, Chipotle Ranch and Zesty Ranch can also be used as dips for fresh vegetables as an appetizer or snack. Once you try making your own homemade salad dressing, you may never go back!
Salad Dressing Recipes ▼
Avocado Lemon Dill Dressing
This creamy Avocado Lemon Dill Salad Dressing recipe features avocados, freshly squeezed lemon juice and fresh dill weed, as well as some sour cream and mayonnaise. It is lighter than one would imagine, and is wonderful for a variety of salads, including Chicken and Avocado Salad. This salad dressing is also wonderful used as a dip for fresh vegetables or served with hamburgers, sandwiches, soups and Mexican dishes.
Much like Italian salad dressing, this Balsamic Basil Vinaigrette salad dressing recipe begins with a base of oil and vinegar, though is wonderfully different! This dressing is made with fresh basil leaves, minced garlic, Dijon mustard and a hint of sugar. The key ingredient in this dressing is the Balsamic vinegar, which differs from other vinegars, in that it has a rich and slightly sweet flavor. This salad dressing is fabulous with green salads!
If you love blue cheese dressing and have ever wondered how to make your own blue cheese dressing from scratch, you've really got to try this easy homemade version! This Blue Cheese Dressing recipe tastes fabulous, and will turn having a salad into a glorious event! This dressing is rich and creamy and full of wonderful big chunks of blue cheese, as well as being seasoned with the perfect blend of herbs and spices!
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Buttermilk Ranch Salad Dressing has that tangy, universal flavor that is enjoyed by all ages, and can be used in a variety of food applications. This creamy dressing is made with buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise and rice vinegar, along with minced garlic, fresh parsley leaves, Parmesan cheese and seasonings that give this dressing its "kick." Great with salads, as a dip for fresh vegetables, chicken nuggets and more!
Caesar Dressing
This very tangy and vibrant Caesar Salad Dressing will wake up any salad! This Caesar Salad Dressing recipe does not use any raw eggs (as some recipes do), and anchovy paste is totally optional. This dressing is made with plain yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard and is seasoned with salt and pepper, while a generous amount of Parmesan cheese is added to the salad separately.
Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Chipotle Ranch Dressing is a zesty "pumped up" version of traditional ranch dressing recipes, in that it includes dried chipotle chili powder as well as some smooth salsa. This salad dressing is delicious served with green salads (see Chicken Chipotle Salad), and is as equally delicious served as a dip for a variety of foods, including fresh raw vegetables, buffalo wings, chicken strips or nuggets, fried potato skins and much more.
Citrus Honey Dressing
Citrus Honey Salad Dressing is light with incredibly fresh flavor, and though can be used with any variety of green leafy salads, tastes fabulous with spinach leaves, as with Citrus Spinach Salad with Almonds. This salad dressing is made with orange juice, honey, white wine vinegar, olive or other oil, grated fresh ginger root and red pepper flakes, and has a refreshing flavor that is likely like no other dressing you have ever tried!
This Creamy Garlic Dressing recipe produces a creamy, tangy and glistening dressing that tastes great with any variety of leafy green salads; and like Buttermilk Ranch, can be used as a dip for fresh vegetables and more. This salad dressing recipe combines some mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, a small variety of seasonings and an egg yolk which is kept fresh by the addition of fresh lemon juice.
This Dijon Vinaigrette dressing recipe has a light, fresh and tangy flavor featuring Dijon mustard, shallot, garlic, white wine vinegar, olive oil and freshly ground black pepper. All of these ingredients are briefly emulsified together in a blender or food processor creating a smooth texture similar to light salad dressings such as vinaigrettes and Italian dressings. Visit Garden Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette to see this dressing in action!
This Golden Dressing recipe is the perfect flavor accompaniment to fresh spinach (see Spinach Salad with Golden Dressing) or other leafy green salads as well as fresh or cooked vegetables, and can be whipped up in just minutes. It has a mild and flavorful taste, and a nice golden color that glistens when tossed with leafy greens. For quick and easy salads, leftover salad dressing can be stored in the refrigerator for about one week.
Honey Mustard Dressing
This Honey Mustard Salad Dressing is light, smooth and uniquely tangy with a beautiful sparkly, golden color. With the a complimentary blend of Dijon mustard, honey and lemon and the unique addition of peanut oil, this dressing goes perfectly over spinach and other assorted leafy salad greens, such as red leaf lettuce, romaine, butter lettuce and more. To see a salad tossed with this dressing, visit Spinach Salad with Honey Mustard.
Italian Dressing
This homemade Italian Dressing recipe is proof positive that you don't need to run to the store to grab a bottle of prepared Italian dressing! This Italian Dressing is tangy and full of lively flavor, and can be used with green salad, pasta salad or potato salad, and can be used as a basting sauce for grilling chicken and fish. This dressing is made with olive oil and red wine vinegar with a little garlic, Dijon mustard, honey and lemon juice.
Yogurt Avocado Dressing
Yogurt Avocado Salad Dressing features avocado, lemon and dill, deriving its creaminess from yogurt (plain or lemon) and milk. It is lighter than one would imagine, and is wonderful used with a variety of leafy green salads, This avocado salad dressing can also be used as a topping for omelettes, hamburgers and sandwiches, as a garnish with Mexican dishes, or as a colorful and creamy dip for fresh vegetables.
Zesty Ranch Dressing
This homemade Zesty Ranch dressing recipe features some traditional ingredients found in many ranch dressing recipes, such as buttermilk, mayonnaise and sour cream, along with some seasoning and minced chives. What gives this ranch dressing recipe its distinctive "zest" is the addition of prepared horseradish and wine (or rice) vinegar. This salad dressing is like buttermilk ranch dressing in high gear!
