More than a Dijon vinaigrette recipe, this sweet and tangy blend can be used as a sauce, dip, or marinade!

Dijon mustard, oil, and lemon juice are whisked with savory seasonings to create a multi-purpose dressing you’ll use again and again!

Easy Dijon Vinaigrette and a salad

Easy Dijon Vinaigrette Dressing

  • A quick and easy vinaigrette made with fresh and natural ingredients without added sugars, chemicals, or preservatives!
  • Prepare this dressing in about 5 minutes.
  • Easy to experiment with the basic ingredients and tailor the dressing to your recipe!

Ingredients for Dijon Vinaigrette

Basic vinaigrettes are an emulsification of fat (oil) and acid (vinegar/lemon). We use a ratio of 3 parts oil to one part acid. Ingredients like Dijon and honey help keep the oil and vinegar from separating.

Oil Basic salad (vegetable) oil is lighter and has a milder flavor than olive oil, which can be bitter for this recipe. Canola or avocado oil will also work. If using olive oil, ensure it’s a light flavored oil.

Lemon Juice Lemon juice is the acidic part of this dressing, you can experiment with vinegar in place. Try apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, or white wine vinegar. Balsamic vinegar can be too heavy and sweet for a light vinaigrette like this one, but if it’s what’s on hand, then pair it with extra-virgin olive oil.

Dijon MustardThis not only adds great flavor, Dijon helps keep the mixture emulsified (so it doesn’t separate).

Seasonings – Choose garlic powder over fresh for a subtle flavor and longer storage. Tarragon, parsley, thyme, or basil are great additions if you’d like to add herbs.

Variations – Horseradish has a similar purpose to mustard but adds more tang, just a little will do! Sugar can be switched out for your favorite sugar-free substitutes like monk fruit or stevia, or you can use honey or maple syrup.

sugar , oil , lemon dijon , garlic powder , salt and pepper with labels to make Easy Dijon Vinaigrette

How to Make Dijon Vinaigrette

  1. Combine all ingredients except oil in a bowl and slowly add the oil while whisking. Alternatively, place all ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake until fully blended.
  2. Refrigerate until ready to use.

A Smooth Mixture

Adding oil VERY slowly while whisking emulsifies the mixture which means that the oil won’t separate from the other liquids. Shaking in a jar works as well.

Don’t skip the dijon, this helps keep the dressing together!

salad in a bowl and jar of Easy Dijon Vinaigrette

How to Store

Dijon vinaigrette only lasts in the fridge for about a week.

It’s great over hearty salad greens like lettuce, spinach, kale, or arugula. It can also be used as a chicken marinade for grilled chicken.

More Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes

Did you enjoy this Dijon Vinaigrette? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! 

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Easy Dijon Vinaigrette and a salad
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Easy Dijon Vinaigrette

Sweet, savory, and so easy to make, this easy dijon vinaigrette pairs perfectly with any crisp, fresh salad!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 12 servings

Equipment

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Ingredients  

  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar or honey
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • teaspoon salt or to taste
  • teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, mustard, sugar (or honey), garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk until combined.
  • While whisking, very slowly drizzle in the oil a little bit at a time whisking until incorporated. This should take a couple of minutes.
  • Refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Notes

For a Maple Dijon Vinaigrette, replace the sugar with maple syrup.
Recipe tip: Drizzle the oil in as slowly as possible, this will emulsify the dressing to keep it from separating.  Alternatively, place all ingredients in a mason jar with a tight fitting lid and shake to combine.
5 from 25 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 94 | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 126mg | Potassium: 15mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dip, Dressing, Salad
Cuisine American
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Easy Dijon Vinaigrette before and after mixing ingredients with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. Oh my goodness – this dressing is so delish! Simple ingredients, tasty and good for you? Yes please!! Thanks for sharing! I will be making this weekly.5 stars

  2. I made the Easy Dijon Vinaigrette tonight. I don’t even like vinaigrettes, but we were having company and I wanted to make something nice for the spinach salad. It is so delicious!!! And it tastes special, not ordinary. Everyone liked it. This is my new favorite salad dressing!5 stars

  3. I’m wondering why it only lasts a week in the fridge? There isn’t anything in the ingredients that spoil quickly ate all.

    1. Hi Jim, the garlic can cause botulism in an oil based dressing if stored longer than this. I hope this helps.

  4. This Easy Dijon Vinaigrette dressing is quick and easy to make and delicious! The horseradish really gives it a kick. Love it!5 stars

  5. Where does the “Maple” come into the maple dijon mustard dressing. It isn’t listed in the ingredients.