How to Make Homemade Salad Dressing + 5 Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes

Try these 5 easy and heathy salad dressing recipes plus get tips for how to make homemade salad dressing!  You'll never buy the store-bought stuff again!

this RECIPE

I'm such a fan of homemade salads -- they're easy to make, great for meal prep (looking at you, Mason Jar Salads!), filling, and super tasty!

When it comes to salad dressings, there are so many different options and flavors, sometimes, I even find it difficult to pick one to put on my salad. So, I’m sharing with you not just one, not two, but 5 of my current faves!

One of the biggest annoyances about starting to eat healthy is the misinformation out there about store-bought salad dressings.  Sadly, there are so many unhealthy and unnecessary ingredients in most store-bought salad dressings.  This is a great example of what's so important to pay attention and read the labels because there are hidden sugars, salts, fats, and other chemicals that can easily be avoided by making your own salad dressing at home.  More on that in my post how to quit sugar.

TYPES OF SALAD DRESSINGS

While it may seem like there are a TON of salad dressing types out there, try to think of it like there are actually two basic types of salad dressings.

Vinaigrettes

First off, we have vinaigrettes, which are simple salad dressings based on the mixture of oil and vinegar. A vinaigrette is made by mixing oil with something acidic. In most cases, it’s either vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice.

When it comes to the kind of oil, you can use pretty much any tasty oil you like. I love using olive oil that is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances. Once you’ve got your base, feel free to add herbs and spices for some extra flavor.

Creamy Salad Dressings

The other type comprises creamy salad dressings, which often use mayonnaise or other milk products, such as yogurt or sour cream as the base. When I make my own creamy dressings, I prefer to use full fat greek yogurt.

HOW TO STORE HOMEMADE SALAD DRESSING

You made extra? No worries! Whether you made a vinaigrette or a creamy salad dressing, you can safely store it in the fridge and use throughout the week.  This makes homemade salads way easy!

When storing homemade salad dressing, make sure you transfer it to a glass jar and cover it with a tight lid before placing in the fridge. I think glass is a much better choice for storing your homemade salad dressing than plastic containers, like I use these easy mason jar salad recipes for my Mason Jar Salad Dressing. You can also use the dressing containers pictures above.

HOW LONG DOES HOMEMADE SALAD DRESSING LAST?

When stored properly, in a glass jar with a tight lid, homemade salad dressing can easily last up to a week in the fridge.

If you’ve made a vinaigrette, you can even use it for up to two weeks, which makes salads and homemade salad dressings a great choice for your meal prep.  Make sure to store any dairy-based salad dressings in the refrigerator so they don't spoil.

5 Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes

1. Lemon Vinaigrette – This Lemon Vinaigrette has a combo of lemon and honey and is so vibrant, tart, and sweet all at the same time.  So good! 

2. Honey Mustard Dressing – This Honey Mustard Dressing is so dang good and only requires 4 simple ingredients.

3. Avocado Dressing – This Avocado Dressing is my go-to for cobb salads and is so creamy and delicious. 

4. Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing – This Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing is a cool, creamy, and tangy ranch dressing you can feel good about. 

5. Sesame Ginger Dressing – I love this Sesame Ginger Dressing because the flavors are so vibrant and delicious.  

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