With spring and summer around the corner (and all year long in my house!), a salad is the most delicious way to enjoy the harvest of the season. Homemade salad dressings are so easy to make and taste so much better than bottled.

To make the process of choosing the perfect dressing easier we have gathered some of our best salad dressing recipes for you.

jars of The Best Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes with writing

Homemade Dressings are the Best

  • Homemade dressings are by far healthier than their store-bought counterpart as they’re made with less sodium and fewer unpronounceable ingredients.
  • They are quick and easy to make, most are less than 5 minutes.
  • Most of these easy salad dressing recipes call for simple ingredients that you have on hand!

The following dressings are so tasty as a topper for salads, a dip for chicken wings, zucchini fries, or as a marinade for chicken.

Classic Salad Dressing Recipes

There are a few tried and true salad dressing recipes that have remained popular for a reason. Here are just a few of them.

Quick Caesar Salad Dressing is an easier version of the classic caesar salad dressing, but just as delicious and flavorful.

close up of Quick Caesar Salad Dressing in a jar
Quick Caesar Salad Dressing
This Caesar Salad Dressing is creamy, tangy, and so easy to make!
View the recipe

Spinach Salad Dressing is made with a few easy-to-find ingredients like oil and vinegar. A little shake and this dressing’s done.

jar of Spinach Salad Dressing with a bowl full of salad in the background
Spinach Salad Dressing
Sweet, creamy, and a little bit tangy, this Spinach Salad Dressing pairs perfectly with a crispy, fresh spinach salad!
View the recipe

Easy Coleslaw Dressing is a fabulous way to turn that cabbage into a creamy, tangy, and sweet summer dish.

Easy Coleslaw Dressing in a jar
Easy Coleslaw Dressing
This dressing is rich and creamy, it's perfect mixed in with salad for those backyard BBQs!
View the recipe

Homemade Ranch Dressing has a creamy tang that is better than anything bought in a bottle with fresh herbs and lots of dill.

jar of Ranch Dressing Recipe with salad in a bowl
Ranch Dressing Recipe
This copycat of the Hidden Valley classic is creamy, savory, and always popular as a dip, salad dressing, or spread.
View the recipe

Balsamic Vinaigrette is a classic dressing that suits most greens. Simple, classy, and full of flavor.

jar of Balsamic Vinaigrette
Balsamic Vinaigrette
Homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing is so quick to put together, you'll never need the bottled kind again!
View the recipe

Creamy Salad Dressing

There is something so comforting and versatile about a creamy salad dressing. Perfect for adding to greens, or using as a dip for vegetables or appetizers, a creamy salad dressing will always be a hit.

Avocado Ranch Dressing takes a healthy spin on the traditional ranch dressing, with the addition of some avocado.

Avocado Ranch Dressing in a jar with avocados in the background
Avocado Ranch Dressing
Bright, tangy, & flavorful, this avocado ranch dressing can be used as a dressing, dip, sauce, or marinade!
View the recipe

Thousand Island Dressing is creamy, sweet, and tangy, and all rolled up in one quick and easy-to-make dressing.

Thousand Island Dressing prepared in a jar
Thousand Island Dressing
The best Thousand Island Dressing has a few simple ingredients like mayonnaise, ketchup, and sweet pickle relish.ย 
View the recipe

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing is made with fresh herbs (like parsley & dill) and it’s one of my favorite salad dressings. This is also so good as a dip for chicken wings or your favorite veggies!

Ranch Dip with veggies
Ranch Dip
Creamy ranch dip is easy to make and adds bold flavor to all your favorite dippers.
View the recipe

Blue Cheese Dressing is great for a wedge salad or for using as a dip.

jar of Blue Cheese Dressing
Blue Cheese Dressing
This blue cheese dressing is the perfect dip or dressing for chicken wings, dipping carrots, or drizzling over salad!
View the recipe

Honey Mustard Salad Dressing is great for a basic cold crisp salad of greens or as a dip for some vegetables.

Pouring honey mustard dressing over a salad
Honey Mustard Dressing
This dressing is perfect over salads, used as a dip or even a marinade for your favorite meats! 
View the recipe

Chipotle Ranch Dressing is a combination of sour cream, mayonnaise, and seasonings. So creamy and tart.

glass jar with salad dressing
Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Creamy, flavorful, with a bit of a kick. This Chipotle Ranch Dressing is great on salads, with veggies, or in a wrap!
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Poppyseed Dressing has bits of delicious poppy seed and is perfect for a spinach salad.

jar of Poppy Seed Dressing with a spoon
Poppy Seed Dressing
Poppy Seed Dressing is creamy and tangy and the perfect topping for spinach salad, or chicken wraps.
View the recipe

Creamy Italian Dressing is a favorite creamy vinaigrette with lots of flavor and a pinch of Italian seasoning.

jar of Creamy Italian Dressing with salad in the back
Creamy Italian Dressing
This creamy Italian dressing is made with mayo, sour cream and Parmesan, & pairs perfectly with pasta or garden salad. It can even be used as a marinade!
View the recipe

Creamy Garlic Dressing is so creamy and punched full of flavor.

Creamy Garlic Dressing with salad in the background
Creamy Garlic Dressing
This homemade dressing is creamy & garlicky. Use as a dip for veggies or as a dressing for salad!
View the recipe

Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

A little oil and vinegar with varying added ingredients like herbs, spices, or sugar, these healthy salad dressing recipes will brighten even the simplest bowl of greens!

Strawberry Salad Dressing is a colorful and bright dressing that will perk up any salad with fruit or nuts. Swap out the red wine vinegar for champagne vinegar if you have some.

Strawberry Salad Dressing in a clear jar
Strawberry Salad Dressing
Bright & flavorful, this Strawberry Salad Dressing is easy to make and only uses fresh ingredients!
View the recipe

Cilantro Lime Dressing is bursting with pizzaz and just the right amount of sweetness.

cilantro lime dressing in a jar with fresh cilantro beside it
Cilantro Lime Dressing
This easy recipe combines the flavors of cilantro, cumin, lime juice, garlic, and olive oil into a dressing thatโ€™s bursting with fresh flavors!
View the recipe

Greek Salad Dressing can be used as a marinade, a dressing, or a glaze. So versatile and delicious.

Greek salad dressing in a jar.
Greek Salad Dressing
Greek Dressing is a delicious combination of olive oil, lemon juice, feta cheese, herbs & spices!
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Sesame Ginger Dressing is as the title suggests, a dressing with a bit of an Asian flair. It’s especially great on chicken salads.

Sesame Ginger Dressing in a jar with a whisk and salad in the background
Sesame Ginger Dressing
This easy concoction will give your salads an Asian flair.
View the recipe

Easy Dijon Vinaigrette is a slightly sweet, and tangy dressing that pairs nicely with almost any green salad and this one is also great on kale salads.

Easy Dijon Vinaigrette and a salad
Easy Dijon Vinaigrette
Sweet, savory, and so easy to make, this easy dijon vinaigrette pairs perfectly with any crisp, fresh salad!
View the recipe

Italian Vinaigrette Dressing is a classic dressing that is great for a salad but also superb for dipping bread.

jar of Italian Dressing
Homemade Italian Dressing
This Italian dressing recipe is way better than store-bought! Italian seasonings are blended with dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, and oil.
View the recipe

Lemon Vinaigrette is a fresh and light salad with a little zing to it!

Lemon Vinaigrette in a jar with lemon slices
Quick Lemon Vinaigrette
The possibilities are endless with this lemon vinaigrette! Mix up an extra big batch and pour over pasta salad, use as a dip or a marinade! 
View the recipe

Peanut Dressing is a thick dressing with the perfect amount of nuttiness.

Peanut Dressing in a jar with salad behind
Peanut Dressing
Peanut Sauce has an easy, savory sauce that goes with nearly anything!
View the recipe

Dressing Tips

  • For a vinaigrette that doesn’t separate, whisk all ingredients except the oil. Add the oil in a very slow drizzle while whisking. Do not skip dijon mustard or honey if the recipe calls for them, they help emulsify the dressing (so it doesn’t separate).
  • Most dressings can be stored in a mason jar or a jar with a lid for up to 1 week in the fridge (the exception is if the dressing has garlic in oil, this should only be kept for 2 days).

Variations

Oil: I find the best oil for salad dressings is mild in flavor (like light olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil). Use caution with extra virgin olive oil as the flavor can be a bit bitter and strong for dressings depending on the mixture.

Vinegar: In most dressings, the vinegar can be swapped and changed with other types of vinegar or lemon juice. Try any of the following:

  • red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, champagne or sherry vinegar

Flavorings:ย For the most part, flavorings can be altered based on what you have on hand. If using fresh herbs in place of dry, you’ll need 3x more (so instead of ยฝ teaspoon dry use 1 ยฝ teaspoons fresh).ย  Add lemon or orange zest, parmesan cheese, or your favorite spices.

Emulsifiers:ย  The use of dijon mustard and/or honey are added to emulsify the dressing. This helps keep the oil and vinegar parts of the dressing from separating.

Leave a comment below and let us know what your favorite Dressing recipe is!

jars full of The Best Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes and pouring one over salad with writing

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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. I have been following your recipes for a long time and enjoy many of them with my family.

    Thank you so much for the wonderful collection of Salad Dressings. I have never known how to do this myself and now I can say “Goodby” to all store-bought selections I have used over the years. So much healthier to make my own now!

    1. I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes Elizabeth! I only make salad dressing at home now, so easy and so much better than store bought!

  2. Holly, this list is fantastic!! I looked it up on a multi recipe email you sent. This list is worth its weight in gold. Thanks so much for creating this. Your emails are always my favorites and I look forward to them

    1. This made my day! Thank you for the kind words Susan. I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe!

  3. Thank you for all of these salad dressings in one message. I now have them all in one file and it is so helpful.