Honey Lemon Vinaigrette Salad Dressing Recipe — A Full Living (2024)

❤️Why we love this recipe

• Made with simple ingredients. You most likely have everything you need for this lemon vinaigrette dressing at home already. Anything you don't already have can be picked up at any grocery store!
• Quick and easy. This dressing is ready in under 15 minutes, and that's including the prep time!
• Super-versatile. The options are endless with this recipe. Use it on nearly any salad you can think of for a great pop of flavor. Make perfect spring and summer salads, or everyday salads any time of the year.
• No special equipment needed. While our preferred method for making this dressing is a food processor or a high-powered blender, it can also be made by hand with a whisk, or shaken up in a mason jar!
• Wholesome recipe that suits multiple diets. This recipe is made with just a few simple, wholesome ingredients. It's naturally free of refined sugars, since it's sweetened with honey. It's also naturally gluten free, low carb, and dairy free. It can also easily be made vegan.

🍯Ingredients

Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions and variations below.

✨Substitutions

Here are a few suggestions on additional flavors to try, or simple variations to this recipe.

• No fresh garlic. Swap fresh garlic for garlic powder if you prefer!
• Swap the olive oil. Avocado oil or another neutral oil would so make a great choice for the dressing.
• Different vinegar. You could use white or red wine vinegar, white balsamic, or even regular balsamic.
• No Dijon. If you don't have Dijon, swap it for stone ground mustard. We don't recommend using regular yellow mustard, however. The flavor would be altered too much.
• Swap the herbs. You could also add in some other herbs like dried thyme, basil, rosemary, or whatever you'd like if you don't have oregano.

✨Variations

• Vegan. Swap the honey for a vegan alternative, or use agave or maple syrup.
• Sugar free. Use your favorite sweetener instead of honey. You can use a sugar free honey variety if you'd like.
• Add a bit of heat. Love a hint of spice? Try adding a bit of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
• Adjust the sweetness. Add more or less honey to taste to suit your preference.

Add olive oil (Image 1) and apple cider vinegar to a food processor (Image 2).

If whisking by hand, we'd recommend adding all ingredients to a bowl except for the olive oil. Whisk vigorously while slowly streaming in the olive oil in a thin stream. This will help emulsify the mixture better.

Now add the oregano, black pepper, salt (Image 3), dijon mustard, honey, garlic (Image 4) and lemon juice (Image 5).

Food process until smooth and completely emulsified. (Image 6)

Allow the dressing to chill in the fridge for a moment before using it if possible. This helps the flavors develop, plus it may be a bit warm after whisking or blending.

Serve and enjoy! (Image 7)

Try it with this , a simple spinach arugula salad, this blackberry salad, or this grilled peach salad, and more!

✨Tips and Tricks

• Use fresh ingredients. Using fresh garlic and lemon juice will make a huge difference in the flavor. Go for fresh whenever possible and definitely avoid bottled lemon juice.
• If making the dressing without a blender or food processor, it may help to heat the honey for a few seconds so that it emulsifies quickly and easily. Finely mincing the garlic helps it become well dispersed in the dressing.
• Adjust the sweetness to taste. The sweetness level of the dressing can be adjusted according to personal preference. If you prefer a sweeter dressing, you can add a bit more honey. Conversely, if you prefer it less sweet, reduce the amount of honey slightly.
• Emulsify thoroughly. This is key to achieving a smooth and creamy texture to the dressing. Gradually drizzle in the olive oil while continuously whisking or blending to help the ingredients emulsify properly.

🍋What to Serve with this Dressing

• This dressing would be perfect to dress a pasta salad, check out our Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe.
• Serve it with a quick salad and some protein like chicken or fish. You may like our Lemon Herb Chicken or our Pesto Butter Salmon Recipe.
• Pair with our Green Bean Feta Salad or our refreshing Cold Asparagus Salad!

Can I make this dressing with a whisk or mason jar?

Yes, you can definitely make this dressing with a whisk or in a mason jar, but you will just need a bit more elbow grease. A dressing made with this method will probably separate in the fridge, and you will likely need to re-shake or whisk it each time before using.

How do I store the dressing?

Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 10 days. Do not freeze.

What should I do if the dressing breaks?

Honey Lemon Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

Briana

Looking for a delicious salad dressing? This homemade dressing is perfect for all of your favorite salads. It's simple to make, with so much flavor, and a great way to dress up a simple green salad. Made with staple ingredients, and ready in no time!

Nutrition

Calories: 98kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 125mgPotassium: 12mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg