Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes

Salad dressings are also the only way some parents ever succeed in getting kids to eat vegetables. They certainly have their place, but the store bought ones are loaded with omega-6 oils and preservatives. Healthy salad dressings, on the other hand, can be a great way to get a good serving of healthy fats in.

Salad dressings were my former vice. I would eat ranch on anything. In fact, I will be forever grateful to it for getting me to love broccoli. Now that we eat real foods, I keep a recipe tab specifically for homemade dressings, and have come to love these. I can even whip one up at a restaurant by having them bring me all the ingredients “on the side.”

My current favorite homemade dressings recipes are:

Creamy Homemade Caesar Dressing

Ingredients:

• One room temperature egg yolk (it’s very important that it is not cold!)
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• ½ tsp mustard or ground mustard
• 1 TBSP fresh lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp Worcestershire
• 2 TBSP Parmesan cheese
• salt, pepper, and spices to taste
• 1/3 cup olive oil

Instructions:

1. Whisk egg yolk with whisk or blender on low speed.
2. Once creamy, add the vinegar and all other ingredients except the oil and blend until creamy.
3. Slowly add the oil, stirring constantly until incorporated.
4. If it doesn’t incorporate well, your egg might still have been too cold!

Great with: Dark lettuces, chicken dishes, or on asparagus.

Print the recipe here.

Zesty Italian Dressing

Ingredients:

• 3 TBSP white wine vinegar
• 1½ tsp Dijon mustard
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ tsp onion powder
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ tsp each of thyme, basil, and oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Pull all ingredients in a small jar and shake vigorously.

Great with: any salad or as a marinade.

View or print the recipe here.

Tangy Greek Dressing

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 TBSP red wine vinegar
• 1½ tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp each of oregano and marjoram
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Put all ingredients in small jar with lid and shake until well mixed.

Great with: dark lettuces, feta cheese, olives, and cucumbers. Also a good marinade for a cucumber and onion salad.

Print this tangy Greek Salad Dressing recipe here.

Sweet Asian Dressing

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 3 TBSP apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp coconut aminos
• 2 tsp honey
• ½ tsp fresh ginger, grated
• spices to taste

Instructions:

1. Put all ingredients in small jar with lid and shake vigorously. You can also mix in blender or small food processor.

Great with: Sesame chicken (as a marinade and dipping sauce), on a spinach salad with cashews, on cauliflower fried rice.

Print this recipe here.

Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
• 2 tsp honey

Instructions:

1. Put all ingredients in blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Great with: salad with feta and cashews, grilled chicken salad, marinade on pork.

Print the recipe here.

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Ingredients:

• ½ cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1½ tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 TBSP honey
• salt, pepper, and basil to taste

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients in small jar or blender.

Great with: any type of salad or as a marinade on beef, chicken or pork.

Print or save the recipe here.

Roasted Garlic Dressing

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup roasted garlic
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tsp honey
• ¼ tsp paprika
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper

Instructions:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor.
2. Pureé until completely smooth.
3. Refrigerate leftovers.

Print this recipe here.

French Dressing

Ingredients:

• 1 TBSP mustard
• 1 TBSP tomato paste
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• ¼ cup white wine vinegar
• 1 TBSP honey
• 1/2 tsp onion powder

Instructions:

1. Put all ingredients in a small blender and blend until smooth.

Great with: any type of salad (I like it on chef salads), kids like to dip things in this dressing.

Print this recipe here.

Other great things to throw on a salad:

• nuts: especially pecans, walnuts, and macadamia
• olives
• chopped veggies
• chopped apples
• sliced strawberries
• blueberries
• grilled or baked chicken
• sliced steak
• shrimp
• all of the above!

What is your favorite salad dressing? Do you have a healthy variation? Please share below!