From classic vinaigrettes to creamy dressings and bold global flavors, these recipes are quick to make and easy to adapt to your taste.
Salad dressings are one of the easiest ways to transform a salad. With just a few pantry ingredients, you can create fresh, flavorful dressings in minutes - no preservatives, no mystery ingredients, and endless ways to customize. Once you start making your own, it's hard to go back to store-bought.
Here you'll find 25 homemade salad dressing recipes that are simple, reliable, and full of flavor - from classic vinaigrettes and creamy favorites to bright, herb-packed blends and globally inspired sauces. Whether you’re tossing together a quick weeknight salad, dressing up roasted vegetables, or building a hearty grain bowl, there's something here for every season and every table.
Table of Contents
- Classic Everyday Dressings
- Citrus Vinaigrette
- Ranch Dressing
- Greek Dressing
- Classic Caesar Dressing
- Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- Bright and Herby Dressings
- Italian Dressing
- Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Basil Vinaigrette
- French Dressing
- Lemony Leek Dressing
- Tomato Vinaigrette
- Creamy Salad Dressings
- Chipotle Ranch Dressing
- The Best Miso Dressing
- Creamy Cashew Basil Dressing
- Creamy Avocado Dressing
- Creamy Gorgonzola Dressing
- Lightened Up Blue Cheese Dressing
- Unexpected Salad Dressings
- Spirulina Dressing
- Pickled Pepper Vinaigrette
- Mustard Maple Dressing
- Sesame Ginger Dressing
- Healthy Diet-Friendly Dressings
- Green Goddess Dressing
- Vegan Ranch
- Creamy Hemp Dressing
- Tahini Dressing
- Thai Peanut Dressing
- Sweet And Fruity Dressings
- Vanilla Fig Balsamic Dressing
- Ponzu Dressing
- Pomegranate Vinaigrette
- More collections you’ll love!
- 25 Salad Dressing Recipes: Our Favorite Ranch
The Basic Vinaigrette Formula
The classic vinaigrette ratio is 3 parts olive oil to 1 part vinegar, but feel free to adjust to your taste - a little more acid for brightness, or a little more extra-virgin olive oil for a softer, richer finish. Elevate with a teaspoon of Dijon mustard and/or honey, finely chopped shallots, or fresh herbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Classic Everyday Dressings
Classic everyday dressings are the foundation of homemade salad-making. These simple, reliable recipes, like vinaigrettes and familiar favorites, are quick to shake together and work beautifully on just about anything, from leafy greens to roasted vegetables and grain bowls.
Citrus Vinaigrette
This citrus vinaigrette couldn’t be any easier! Made with fresh orange juice, orange zest, shallot, and EVOO, it is wonderfully bright and tangy with a hint of sweetness.
Ranch Dressing
How to make creamy Ranch Dressing from scratch, loaded up with fresh herbs! It’s rich, tangy, peppery, herbaceous, and full of the BEST flavor! Vegan-adaptable
Greek Dressing
This Greek salad dressing recipe is so easy! Made with simple pantry ingredients, it takes only 5 minutes to make, and it keeps for a week in the refrigerator.
Classic Caesar Dressing
Creamy, tangy classic Caesar Salad Dressing is hard not to love. This recipe is perfect for our Caesar salad, pasta salad, or as a dip. A fresh and delicious alternative to store-bought dressing!
Apple Cider Vinaigrette
A simple recipe for Raw Apple Cider Vinaigrette, an easy “Everyday” salad dressing full of healthy probiotics. Made with your choice of honey or maple syrup!
Bright and Herby Dressings
Bright and herby dressings are fresh, vibrant, and full of flavor. Made with ingredients like lemon, vinegar, and a mix of fresh herbs, these dressings bring a burst of brightness that lifts simple greens, roasted vegetables, and grain bowls.
Italian Dressing
How to make homemade Italian Dressing from scratch. A healthier alternative to store-bought dressing that tastes way better. A simple, easy recipe!
Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
This creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing is begging to be on your next salad! Tangy, with a hint of heat from jalapeño, it will make your salad sing! Vegan-adaptable.
Basil Vinaigrette
Bright, bold, and beautiful, this Basil Vinaigrette is a summertime favorite! Make it in under 5 minutes, using your blender.
French Dressing
This easy homemade French Dressing is rich and tangy, with a hint of sweetness and can be made in just five minutes, using simple pantry ingredients. Vegan and gluten-free.
Lemony Leek Dressing
A flavorful, lemony, leek-infused, vegan salad dressing to drizzle over roasted veggies, artichokes, or toss with grain or green salads.
Tomato Vinaigrette
This summery Tomato Vinaigrette recipe is delicious on salads, spooned over fish or chicken, or even used as a marinade for grilling! Made with simple ingredients, it is slightly sweet, tangy, and full of tomato flavor! Vegan!
Creamy Salad Dressings
Creamy salad dressings add richness and body to salads, grain bowls, and roasted vegetables. From classic favorites like ranch and Caesar to dairy-free options made with tahini or avocado, these dressings bring comforting flavor and satisfying texture to everyday meals.
Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Creamy, smoky, Chipotle Ranch Dressing is easy to make at home! Fresh lime juice, cilantro, and chipotle powder add the best zesty flavor. Use Chipotle Ranch as a “dip” for farmers market veggies or fries, or use it as a dressing for pasta salad or green salads. Vegan-adaptable.
The Best Miso Dressing
What you’ll love about this miso salad dressing is how perfectly balanced the flavors are! Easy to make, simple ingredients, and it keeps for a week!
Creamy Cashew Basil Dressing
Creamy Cashew Basil Dressing – tangy, creamy, vegan, and full of summer flavor. Use on crispy-crunchy lettuces like romaine and little gems. Plus, it’s perfect with summer tomatoes!
Creamy Avocado Dressing
Avocado Dressing with cilantro, lime, and jalapeño is creamy and vegan. It’s a delicious addition to salads, bowls, tacos, enchiladas, and burritos, which can be made in 5 minutes.
Creamy Gorgonzola Dressing
How to make the most delicious Creamy Gorgonzola Dressing, similar to blue cheese, only better! Easy, extra creamy, and full of flavor, perfect for dressing salads or using as a dip.
Lightened Up Blue Cheese Dressing
This lightened-up Blue Cheese Dressing recipe is creamy, punchy, and flavorful! Made with yogurt instead of mayo, it contains half the calories of most other recipes, plus healthy probiotics, without lacking in flavor!
Unexpected Salad Dressings
Unexpected salad dressings are where things get a little more creative. These bold, flavorful recipes go beyond the classics, using ingredients like roasted tomatoes, pickled peppers, and even nutrient-rich additions to bring something unique and memorable to the table. Perfect when you want your salads to feel a little more exciting and a lot more interesting.
Spirulina Dressing
This delicious and nutritious Spirulina Dressing is full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Creamy, vegan, and flavorful!
Pickled Pepper Vinaigrette
Add a burst of flavor with Pickled Pepper Vinaigrette! Delicious on fish, seafood, veggies, or tofu, or drizzle over Buddha bowls. You’ll find many uses for this flavor bomb!
Mustard Maple Dressing
Bright and tangy, this Mustard Seed Maple Dressing is the perfect complement to roasted or grilled veggies and hearty salads. Easy and quick to make, and vegan!
Sesame Ginger Dressing
Tangy, sweet, and flavorful, this sesame oil and ginger dressing is delicious on slaws and salads. Easy to make with simple pantry ingredients, it’s vegan, healthy, and gluten-free!
Healthy Diet-Friendly Dressings
Healthy, diet-friendly dressings include vegan dressing options made without dairy. These healthy salad dressing recipes are perfect for everyday salads, with dairy-free, oil-light, and naturally sweetened variations included.
Green Goddess Dressing
This vegan green goddess salad dressing is so creamy, light, and flavorful! Use this on salads or grain bowls, or as a tasty dip for veggies or tortilla chips.
Vegan Ranch
A delicious recipe for Creamy Vegan Ranch Dressing that can be made without oil! Low-calorie and made with silken tofu. Dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free, and ZERO cholesterol! Perfect for salads, wraps, bowls, or as a veggie dip!
Creamy Hemp Dressing
5-Minute Creamy Hemp Dressing is vegan, herby, and delicious. It’s an easy way to spice up your favorite salads and veggie platters! Make this with fresh dill, parsley, or basil! Keto and vegan.
Tahini Dressing
This vegan tahini dressing recipe is creamy, nutty, and zesty, full of punchy flavor. We love it as a salad dressing or sauce, perfect with falafel, Buddha bowls, roasted veggies, and more!
Thai Peanut Dressing
This Thai-inspired Peanut Dressing is delicious tossed with slaws and salad greens. It’s nutty, citrusy, and subtly sweet with a tiny bit of heat that you can kick up a notch to taste. It’s delicious tossed with crunchy slaws!
Sweet And Fruity Dressings
Sweet and fruity dressings add a bright pop of flavor to salads, especially those with nuts, cheese, fruit, or bitter greens. Made with ingredients like fruit and citrus, or a touch of maple or honey, these dressings bring natural sweetness and a refreshing balance, making salads feel vibrant and a little special.
Vanilla Fig Balsamic Dressing
This Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette is infused with vanilla and is perfect for fall salads, like pear salad or apple salad. Vegan and Gluten-free.
Ponzu Dressing
A simple recipe for Ponzu Dressing, a refreshing citrus-based Japanese dressing used as a dipping sauce or a light, refreshing salad dressing. Oil-free.
Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Bright and tangy Pomegranate Vinaigrette is a festive vegan salad dressing recipe made with pomegranate juice, shallots, and orange zest, perfect for holiday salads.
Salad Dressing FAQs
- How long does salad dressing last? Most vinaigrettes keep 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator, while simple oil-and-vinegar dressings can last up to 3-4 weeks.
- What is the basic oil-to-vinegar ratio for vinaigrette? 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar, adjusted to taste.
- Do you have to refrigerate homemade salad dressing? Yes. Most homemade dressings should be refrigerated, especially those made with fresh ingredients like garlic, herbs, yogurt, or mayonnaise.
- Can you freeze salad dressing? Most vinaigrettes can be frozen, but creamy dressings may separate after thawing.
- Why does my vinaigrette separate? Oil and vinegar naturally separate - just shake in a mason jar or whisk before serving.
- Can I make salad dressing without oil? Yes, many dressings can be made with tahini, yogurt, or blended nuts or seeds instead of oil. Try our Nuoc Cham or Flavorful Ponzu Sauce Recipe.
More collections you'll love!
After you try these recipes, let us know how they turn out in the comments below. Your review will help other readers, too! Sign up here to join our community and receive our latest recipes and weekly newsletter! xoxo Sylvia
25 Salad Dressing Recipes: Our Favorite Ranch
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 1/4 cup 1x
- Category: dressing
- Method: Whisked
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
How to make creamy Ranch Dressing from scratch loaded up with fresh dill- this easy recipe is creamy, tangy, peppery, and full of flavor! Vegan-Adaptable, see notes!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup mayo
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1/3 cup sour cream- I like Nancy’s probiotic Sour cream
- 1–2 garlic cloves, finely minced (use a garlic press)
- 1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped
- 2 tablespoons tarragon
- 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped or sub chives
- 1/2 teaspoons salt, more to taste
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, more to tase
- 1 teaspoon white or Apple Cider vinegar
Instructions
- Whisk. Whisk the mayo, buttermilk, and sour cream in a medium bowl until smooth.
- Season. Stir in the remaining ingredients- garlic, herbs, salt, peppercorns, lemon juice, and vinegar.
- Taste and adjust. Taste- you want this slightly salty and tangy- so adjust salt and lemon juice to bump up the flavor.
- Chill. Place in a sealed jar the fridge- and chill. You want this cold!
Notes
Ranch Dressing recipe will keep up to 5 days in the fridge.
Serve Ranch Dressing with this Little Gem Salad, Rainbow Salad, or any crisp/sturdy salad green like romaine, little gems, head lettuce (make a wedge), etc. OR serve as a dip (I’d use less buttermilk and more sour cream so it’s thicker) with farmers’ market veggies!
Vegan option: Make this CREAMY VEGAN RANCH and add 1/2 cup dill and 2 tablespoons tarragon.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 0.9 g
- Sodium: 218 mg
- Fat: 9.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.6 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 0.8 g
- Cholesterol: 10.6 mg
So many good ones here! I loved the leek dressing best!
It’s a good one for sure!