21 Vinaigrette Recipes to Liven Up Your Salads

Christine Johnson

By Christine Johnson

Updated

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5 from 2 votes

Wanna shake up your salads? Check out this list of the best vinaigrette dressing recipes.

You won’t believe how many mouthwatering types of vinaigrette dressing there are out there.

You may already know a couple, like balsamic and lemon, but hopefully, you’ll learn a few more to add to your recipe box.

For instance, did you know you can make cilantro-lime or orange vinaigrette?

Vertical image of vinaigrette dressing pouring from a spoon onto a fresh fruit salad with mixed greens.
DronG/Shutterstock

These recipes take under 5 minutes to prepare and use less than a handful of ingredients. After giving one of these a try, you may never return to store-bought dressing again.

Intrigued to learn more? Keep reading this list of vinaigrette dressing recipes for great ideas for how to liven up your favorite salads.

1. Blueberry Vinaigrette

This blueberry vinaigrette provides another way to get some much-needed antioxidants into your diet. It’s simple yet packed with so many incredible flavors.

Who knew that combining blueberries, balsamic, honey, lemon juice, and olive oil could result in something so tasty?

In 5 minutes, you can have a jar of this pretty pink vinaigrette ready to delight your dinner guests. Prepare to be swept off your feet by sweet, tangy, and mouthwatering flavors.

Next time summer rolls around, stop by your local farm stand and buy blueberries in bulk to make this wonderful recipe.

2. Balsamic Vinaigrette

Sweet and tangy ingredients fuse together to create this delectable balsamic vinaigrette.

Simply drizzle this dressing on any salad to add life to plain greens. But why stop at salads? This delightful vinaigrette can also brighten up roasted veggies, sandwiches, and wraps.

You won’t believe how easily this dressing comes together. Combine honey, Dijon mustard, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil to create this mouthwatering vinaigrette.

This flavorful dressing can be ready on the table in 5 minutes, making it an effortless addition to your weeknight dinner.

3. Lemon Vinaigrette

If you’re looking for the perfect dressing to brighten up your life, this lemon vinaigrette will accomplish all that and more.

Every taste will enchant your palate with zingy, lemony flavors that pack a mean punch of flavor.

After realizing how easy it is to make this vinaigrette, you’ll have difficulty returning to storebought.

You craft this recipe using fresh lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, and thyme.

After whipping this vinaigrette together, you can use it on salads, cooked grains, or even as a marinade. No matter how you use it, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

4. Red Wine Vinaigrette

This red wine vinaigrette will serve you well if you’re looking for an ultra-versatile dressing that comes together in minutes.

The base recipe calls for olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, Dijon mustard, and some spices, but you can also shake things up with a few additional ingredients.

Add a tablespoon of Greek yogurt to make it creamy, or toss in some tahini to give it a Mediterranean twist.

Whether you use this red wine vinaigrette on salad, pasta, or roasted veggies, you’ll love it every time.

5. Raspberry Vinaigrette

Are you looking for the perfect dressing to ring in the summer season? If so, you’ll fall in love with this raspberry vinaigrette.

It’s fruity, sweet, and adds a nice pop of tart flavor to any recipe. This recipe is a great way to use up fresh raspberries when they’re in season.

If you bought an overabundance at the local farmstand and don’t know what to do with your bounty, try making this delectable dressing.

All you have to do is toss some raspberries along with a few simple ingredients into a food processor, then let the appliance work its magic. It’s as easy as that.

6. Champagne Vinaigrette

Add some elegance to your cuisine with this show-stopping champagne vinaigrette. This recipe sounds expensive and fancy, but it’s easier than you might think.

Champagne vinegar is a key ingredient in this dressing. As the name suggests, this vinegar stems from champagne and has a light, delicate taste compared to other vinegar on the market.

You can expect this vinaigrette to have the same gentle sweetness and acidity that compliments salads to perfection.

It mellows out sharp flavors like red onion and shallot, adding a bright contrast to savory notes.

7. Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette

Are you a big fan of the Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette? Now, you can make it at home!

This copycat recipe shows you how to create a delicious honey vinaigrette that tastes just like the one Chipotle makes.

This effortless vinaigrette requires a handful of simple ingredients, including red wine vinegar, honey, and canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

Simply blend every together, and you have a scrumptious dressing bursting with flavors. Every taste leaves a nice hint of spice on your palate, making you crave more instantly.

8. White Balsamic Vinaigrette

You’ve heard of balsamic vinaigrette, now prepare to meet your new BFF: white balsamic vinaigrette.

If you’ve never tried white balsamic before, I implore you to try this unique vinegar. You’ll love the light, mellow sweetness, and bright acidity.

White balsamic makes a mean vinaigrette too. This recipe shows you how to create a sweet-and-sour dressing that’s perfect for livening up salads.

To create this wonderful concoction, simply mix white balsamic with olive oil, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning. In just 5 minutes, you can have a delightful dressing bursting with brilliant citrusy flavors.

9. Strawberry Vinaigrette

Are you looking for a way to sweeten up your salads? If so, check out this strawberry vinaigrette.

The only thing better than the tart, sweet flavor is the stunning red color. Imagine how nice this would look in a glass carafe on your dining table.

This vinaigrette is insanely easy to make if you have a blender. Just toss strawberries, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil together and let the machine do its thing.

In 5 minutes, you can have this delightful dressing that’s perfect for livening up greens, fruit, cheese, or anything that can benefit from a touch of sweetness.

10. Greek Vinaigrette

You can have this authentic Greek vinaigrette ready in just a few minutes using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

You don’t need any fancy equipment to prepare this recipe, a mason jar or container with a lid will work perfectly.

Combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon, garlic, and oregano into your vessel, then shake it up!

You can drizzle your delicious Greek dressing over greens, quinoa, orzo, and pasta salads. This vinaigrette stays fresh in your fridge for a week, so you can access it anytime you want to punch up the flavor in a dish.

The bright taste of lemon juice, olive oil, and oregano will dance on your tastebuds.

11. Dijon Vinaigrette

Are you looking for a zesty, flavorful vinaigrette to pack a mean punch? You can’t beat the deliciousness of this Dijon vinaigrette.

You start with a base of Dijon mustard, which is made from black mustard seeds and is spicier than yellow.

Then add white wine vinegar, minced garlic, and olive oil to the mix. After a good stir, you’re ready to start using your heavenly dressing.

This versatile vinaigrette can liven up any recipe and adds a nice touch of spice to food. If you have a wrap, sandwich, or salad that needs more flavor, try drizzling this dressing on top.

12. Apple Cider Vinaigrette

After you taste this apple cider vinaigrette just once, you’ll want to pour it on everything. It’s that good.

The key ingredient behind this recipe is, you guessed it, apple cider vinegar. Unlike white vinegar, apple cider is made from fermented apples, creating a unique sour-sweet flavor.

Be sure to use unfiltered apple cider vinegar to reap the benefits of gut-friendly bacteria and enzymes.

The tartness of the vinegar is offset by honey, lemon juice, and olive oil, along with a few spices. Every taste is sweet, spicy, and sour in the best way possible.

13. Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

Keep this recipe in mind next time it’s Taco Tuesday. After discovering how much flavor is in this dressing, you’ll have difficulty omitting it from your taco garnishes.

The best part about this recipe is that it’s endlessly customizable. You start with a base that consists of cilantro, garlic, lime juice, honey, and coriander, then decide if you want to stop or keep going.

You can add avocado to add more thickness or toss in some Greek yogurt to make a creamy ranch-like dressing. No matter which option you choose, you simply can’t go wrong.

14. Italian Vinaigrette

Do you love going to Olive Garden and ordering a garden salad with an Italian vinaigrette? Now you can recreate the restaurant experience at home with this delicious recipe.

After just one taste of this Italian vinaigrette, your mouth will be watering for more. This dressing is exploding with so much flavor thanks to the extra dose of fresh garlic.

After being hit with the first wave of garlicky goodness, your palate will be treated to yummy flavors of lemon juice, oregano, and Dijon mustard.

Drizzle this dressing on a fresh salad to create an uber-flavorful feast.

15. Orange Vinaigrette

If you love the heavenly combination of sweet and savory, you must check out this orange vinaigrette recipe.

All you need is 5 minutes and 4 simple ingredients to create this wonderful concoction. Combine raw orange juice, honey, white wine vinegar, and olive oil, and then blend until smooth.

You can store this vinaigrette in your fridge for up to a month, which gives you plenty of time to use it all up. Anytime your salad needs a fresh twist of flavor, pour some of this delightful dressing overtop.

16. Shallot Vinaigrette

If you’ve never discovered the magical powers of shallots, this is your sign to add this allium to your pantry.

Shallots taste mild and sweet with a hint of garlicky flavor. They don’t contain the same harsh bite found in onions and can easily be consumed raw.

This shallot vinaigrette allows the tiny onion variety to shine. You add fresh lemon juice, rice vinegar, and olive oil to the batch, which helps enhance the sweet, savory flavor of shallots.

You can keep this vinaigrette in the fridge for up to a week, allowing for easy meal prep.

17. Parmesan Vinaigrette

If you consider yourself a parmesan connoisseur, you must try this recipe.

You start with a heavy helping of parmesan cheese before adding olive oil, white vinegar, garlic, and Dijon mustard.

You’ll find a nice sharp flavor thanks to the Dijon and vinegar. The olive oil helps balance out the pungent tastes and creates a silky texture that’s too-die-for.

Whether you use this dressing on pasta salads, wraps, or greens, you’ll love it every time.

18. Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Are you looking for the best way to dress up salads? Well, look no further because this pomegranate vinaigrette has you covered.

You won’t know what to love more, the tart, sweet flavor, or the striking pink color.

This magical dressing comes together in less than 5 minutes and uses healthy, good-for-you ingredients, including pomegranate seeds, olive oil, lemon juice, and white balsamic vinegar.

You’ll need a high-powered blender to create this dressing, but the results are so worth it.

19. Pesto Vinaigrette

Can you believe this pesto vinaigrette uses just 3 ingredients? If you’re looking for ways to cut corners in the kitchen, you need to try out this amazing recipe.

It’s the easiest way to create a super tasty dressing without fuss. Just stir together pesto, white wine vinegar, and parmesan cheese. That’s it.

You can dollop this light vinaigrette over salads, pasta, wraps, or anything that needs a touch of herbaceousness.

20. Maple Vinaigrette

Maple vinaigrette is another fantastic dressing option if you like the sweet and savory flavor duo. Maple syrup has a great sweetness to balance out the vinegar and lemon acidity.

You make this delectable vinaigrette by mixing olive oil, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and lemon. It comes together quickly, making it perfect for last-minute lunches.

This dressing can turn plain greens into something extraordinary.

21. Basil Vinaigrette

This simple vinaigrette is a refreshing way to use up leftover basil from your herb garden. You’ll be blown away by the refreshing, herbaceous flavors that taste like liquid sunshine.

After just one taste, you’ll want to slather this sauce on everything imaginable.

To make this recipe, blend basil, garlic, shallots, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. Add some red pepper flakes if you want to amp up the heat.

Vinaigrette dressing pouring from a spoon onto a fresh fruit salad with mixed greens.
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5 from 2 votes

Basic Homemade Vinaigrette Dressing

There are almost limitless types of vinaigrette dressings you can make at home. Here's a easy base recipe for homemade vinaigrette that you can spruce up with any of the flavor profiles from our list above. This is a small batch that's perfect for two salads.
Prep Time2 minutes
Total Time2 minutes
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: vinaigrette
Servings: 2
Calories: 189kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp vinegar White, ACV, wine, etc. Don't use balsamic unless you're making balsamic vinaigrette!
  • pinch of sea salt
  • pinch of ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Add your ingredients to a container with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously.
  • If you've added any dried herbs, allow to stand for 8-10 minutes to rehydrate and disperse flavors in the liquid. Give a few more good shakes and spoon over your favorite salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.01g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 0.01g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.1mg