Healthy homemade salad dressing recipes that are super easy to make — from a basic balsamic vinaigrette to peanut, honey mustard and cilantro lime. All dressings are gluten-free, vegan-friendly and paleo-friendly.
Regular readers know that I could practically live on salads because I love them so much. They’re such an easy option for healthy eating because you can literally toss a protein and healthy fat over a bed of greens with a ton of veggies or a whole grain and you’ve got yourself a delicious meal. (Check out my tips here –> how to build a meal-sized salad.)
And honestly salads are all about the toppings! Yes, the greens are important, but if you have a ton of flavorful toppings you might not even need a dressing. A drizzle of good balsamic vinegar, a scoop of hummus or even hot sauce will do the trick. Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but I put hot sauce on everything… even salad.
That said, there are definitely times when I’m in the mood for a salad with actual dressing. For times like this I like to whip out one of my homemade salad dressing recipes. The six I’m sharing are my go-tos. I make them all the time, but they’ve never really been featured on the blog because they’re all hidden within different salad recipes. Now they’re all are in one spot for easy reference.
Why Make Homemade Salad Dressing?
Many store-bought dressings are loaded with processed ingredients, preservatives and sugar so making your own dressing is much healthier. Plus, it’s cheaper! And once you get started making your own you’ll figure out what ratios you like best and it becomes so easy to whip up different variations.
As you’ll notice most of these healthy homemade salad dressings I’m sharing have recurring ingredients — garlic, apple cider vinegar, tamari, maple syrup, sea salt and pepper. So once you have these items in your pantry/fridge you can make a bunch of different dressings!
All of the dressings are made with whole ingredients and yield about 3/4 cup, which is about 12 Tablespoons and 6 servings. Each serving size is 2 Tablespoons. Oh, and if you’re looking for sugar-free options, check out the zesty tahini and the apple cider vinegar dressings.
How to Make Homemade Salad Dressing
Each of these recipes are made with minimal ingredients. There are a few ways to mix up homemade salad dressings:
Put all of the ingredients in a mason jar and shake it up! I like using this method for oil-based dressings like vinaigrettes.
Put all of the ingredients in a high powered blender and blend! I like using this method for creamier dressings that use ingredients like avocado but it also works great for vinaigrettes!
How to Store Homemade Salad Dressing
I recommend storing your homemade dressing in a glass container in the refrigerator. I like to use mason jars! One thing to note: homemade dressings made with olive oil tend to harden and separate when stored in the fridge. This is completely normal! Take the dressing out of the fridge about 20 minutes before using so it can come to room temperature and then give it a quick shake to recombine the ingredients.
How Long Does Homemade Salad Dressing Last?
When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, your homemade dressing will last about two weeks.
Everyone needs a go-to balsamic vinegar dressing and this one is absolutely delicious and works on just about any salad imaginable. Try it on my Detox Salad or for a Salad in a Jar.
Nutrition per 2 Tablespoons: 103 calories, 9g fat, 5g carbs, 4g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g protein
One of my favorite salad dressings growing up was honey mustard and I still love it to this day. This version is lighter than regular honey mustard but still just as flavorful! Try it as a dipping sauce for my Baked Paleo Chicken Tenders.
Nutrition per 2 Tablespoons: 106 calories, 9g fat, 7g carbs, 6g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g protein
If you try one of these healthy homemade salad dressings please leave me a comment letting me know how it turned out! I’d also love to know what salad you tried it on. 🙂
Healthy homemade salad dressing recipes that are super easy to make — from a basic balsamic vinaigrette to peanut, honey mustard and cilantro lime. All dressings are gluten-free, vegan-friendly and paleo-friendly.
Ingredients
Apple Cider Vinegar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon sea salt + more if needed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper + more if needed
Zesty Tahini
1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup low-sodium tamari or soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
Peanut
¼ cup peanut butter
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, chopped
2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
2 Tablespoons low sodium tamari or soy sauce
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
a pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
water, to thin
Honey Mustard
1 lemon, juiced
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons honey (or maple syrup for a vegan version)
Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until combined. Add water to thin if needed.
Alternatively some of these dressings (balsamic, cilantro lime, apple cider vinegar, etc) work fine without blending. simply add to a mason jar and shake until all the ingredients are well combined.
Hi there! To start with, I love your website, and I think the recipes you post are amazing!!! I have been wanting to try out tahini for awhile now, and I was wondering what brand you use for your recipes?
Hey Paula – If you click the recipe links to head over to the recipe page for each dressing, there is a print button. Let me know if you need help finding them.
These are literally the BEST dressings of all time. I love them all. I think my fav is probably the tahini but I have loved them all. Thank you for sharing these!
Yes, if you click the recipe link(s) to head over to the recipe page for each dressing, there is a print button. Let me know if you need help finding them.
Made the Honey Mustard today! So easy and delicious. The kids helped and they loved it too. I had all the ingredients in my pantry and fridge. Winning 😃
I am doing a detox workshop on friday and looking for an easy salad dressing. Thank you for a lovely article and easy to read ingredients plus love the video ! 🙂 I am a health coach too and feel so happy with what you are sharing to the world . Definitely opting for both the apple cider vinegar and cilantro lime one.
Just made the honey mustard and love it! I plan to work my way through the different recipes :). Is there any issue with the honey getting hard if stored in the fridge? Should I store it on the counter?
I made the Tahini salad dressing tonight because I had all those things in my pantry. I haven’t found a Tahini salad dressing that I like very much but this one was really great. The only ingredient I changed was the tamari. I used coconut aminos instead. Very nice balance of tastes. Thank you for putting these out here. I intend to try the other ones too.
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed the tahini salad dressings. That is one of my absolute favorites. And I’m sure it was good with the coconut aminos. I bet they added a little hint of sweetness. YUM!
LOVE these awesome salad dressings! I stopped buying salad dressings because as you said they are not healthy. Thank you so much for these incredible dressing recipes, which I will definately be making. Love the Cilantro Lime!
Hi! I’m going to make the apple cider dressing today. How do you store it after it’s made? Can I leave it out on be counter or should I refrigerate? The oil will usually harden when I refrigerate so I figured I’d ask what you do! Thanks!
I’d definitely store the acv dressing in the fridge. The oil might harden… just take it out of the fridge about 20 minutes before serving and shake it well. This will warm up the oil and allow it to become liquid again.
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I make the apple cider vinegar dressing all the time. My family loves it
★★★★★
I’m so glad this dressing it a hit with your family, Renee. Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it. 🙂
Hi there! To start with, I love your website, and I think the recipes you post are amazing!!! I have been wanting to try out tahini for awhile now, and I was wondering what brand you use for your recipes?
I usually use the Whole Foods brand. 🙂
Do you have a recommendation for a coconut curry dressing.
Love love all of these!! Where do you buy your little salad dressing jars!!
I think they were from World Market! 🙂
Thank you for all the lovely recipes. A wonderful blend of talent, herbs and spices. Kudos!!
I am going to try them all. Thank you so much for sharing.
Would love to have print!
How do I print these recipes? I don’t see an option to print individual dressings WITHOUT all the pictures!
Hey Paula – If you click the recipe links to head over to the recipe page for each dressing, there is a print button. Let me know if you need help finding them.
These are literally the BEST dressings of all time. I love them all. I think my fav is probably the tahini but I have loved them all. Thank you for sharing these!
Yay!! That makes me so happy to hear Tiffany. Thanks for coming back to leave a comment, I really appreciate it!
We do not use oil. Can we just leave it out, maybe use water instead?
Love all of these!! Where do you buy your little salad dressing jars!!
Is there a print option for these recipes?
Yes, if you click the recipe link(s) to head over to the recipe page for each dressing, there is a print button. Let me know if you need help finding them.
Hahaha, tricky girl! Worked, thanks! 🙂
Made the Honey Mustard today! So easy and delicious. The kids helped and they loved it too. I had all the ingredients in my pantry and fridge. Winning 😃
How long do the salad dressings keep in the fridge? They all look so delicious will make a few. thank you
I am doing a detox workshop on friday and looking for an easy salad dressing. Thank you for a lovely article and easy to read ingredients plus love the video ! 🙂 I am a health coach too and feel so happy with what you are sharing to the world . Definitely opting for both the apple cider vinegar and cilantro lime one.
Do any of these salad dressings need to be refrigerated?
Yes, they all need to be refrigerated.
Brittany have tried 3of your dressing and loved them .eating more salad do to u
Thank u send more.
Ahh!! This makes me so happy. Which has been your favorite so far?
I made the Peanut Dressing. Wonderful. I served it over a tossed salad. I also tossed it with spaghetti and matchstick Carrots.
Love these dressings! I make the apple cider vinegar often. How big is a serving size?
Awesome! The serving size is 2 Tablespoons. 🙂
I just made the Apple Cider Dressing, it is amazing! So full of flavor. Thanks for the recipe.
Hooray! It’s one of my favorites. So glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
I just made the honey mustard for a veggie salad and it’s so good!! Definitely saved this page for future reference to try the others as well!
I love that they are all dairy free. I’v tried the honey mustard and apple cider ones a few different times. they are delicious. Thank you
Just made the honey mustard and love it! I plan to work my way through the different recipes :). Is there any issue with the honey getting hard if stored in the fridge? Should I store it on the counter?
I made the Tahini salad dressing tonight because I had all those things in my pantry. I haven’t found a Tahini salad dressing that I like very much but this one was really great. The only ingredient I changed was the tamari. I used coconut aminos instead. Very nice balance of tastes. Thank you for putting these out here. I intend to try the other ones too.
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed the tahini salad dressings. That is one of my absolute favorites. And I’m sure it was good with the coconut aminos. I bet they added a little hint of sweetness. YUM!
LOVE these awesome salad dressings! I stopped buying salad dressings because as you said they are not healthy. Thank you so much for these incredible dressing recipes, which I will definately be making. Love the Cilantro Lime!
Hi! I’m going to make the apple cider dressing today. How do you store it after it’s made? Can I leave it out on be counter or should I refrigerate? The oil will usually harden when I refrigerate so I figured I’d ask what you do! Thanks!
I’d definitely store the acv dressing in the fridge. The oil might harden… just take it out of the fridge about 20 minutes before serving and shake it well. This will warm up the oil and allow it to become liquid again.