There’s maybe nothing worse than a lackluster lunch or dinner salad. At its most basic, it’s just a big bowl of greens, and there’s so many ways that could go awry. Wilting or wet lettuce, incongruous fruits and veggies, too-big croutons fighting with too-small nuts or beans… with all that to contend with, you might be tempted to give in and just spend the $15 on your local take-out salad place. You can even do everything right (beautiful produce, everything chopped perfectly, flavors on point), and still have a salad that’s kind of a bummer. One of our top ways to guarantee this NEVER happens on our watch is to have an arsenal of homemade salad dressings in our back pocket. Salad dressing has the magic ability to tie a salad together, bringing all the ingredients together in harmony. Check out our 15 homemade salad dressings for ideas—we bet you’ll ditch the bottle once you see how easy it is to make your own.
When it comes to dressing a salad, there are a few things to consider. First of all, are you the type of person who’s really only eating a salad as a vehicle for creamy ranch or blue cheese dressing? Or are you more a fan of classic options like red wine vinaigrette or Italian dressing, basic upgrades to a touch of vinegar and olive to simply lubricate your greens? Maybe you're the creative type, trying out new flavors at every opportunity, like in our tzatziki, miso ginger dressing, or pickle vinaigrette. Whatever type of salad lover you are, we’ve got some advice for you. Firstly, when you’re tasting your dressing to see if it has enough salt, pepper, or vinegar, don’t just taste it on a spoon. Instead, dip a salad green into the dressing, and try it all together. Often dressing will taste over seasoned on its own, but perfectly seasoned on a bite of lettuce. Secondly, don’t just pour an entire bottle’s worth into your bowl. We usually end up needing a TON less dressing than we were expecting, so start low and slow. If you’re not eating your salad right away, don’t dress it at all. Instead, bring a separate container of dressing, and dress your salad right before enjoying it to avoid wilting greens. Third, like many things in a kitchen, the right tools can really make or break your success. We love a salad spinner for making sure our greens get clean, a salad chopper to get that made-by-someone-else vibe, and the perfect pair of tongs for tossing everything together (check out #35 on our fave kitchen gadgets list). And finally, these recipes don’t have to just be for salad greens. Try them on everything from pasta salads to rice bowls, to marinades for chicken or seafood. After all, you made it—take advantage and put your dressing on everything!
Want more salad inspiration? Check out our favorite summer salads, spring salads, and winter salads too.
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1
Red Wine Vinaigrette
Most recipes for red wine vinaigrette don’t call for ketchup or Worcestershire, but this isn’t most recipes. Sharing a similar flavor profile to our grilled broccoli recipe, this dressing maximizes both sweet and savory by using a combo of different condiments to give a classic vinaigrette a fuller-bodied twist.
Get the Red Wine Vinaigrette recipe.
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2
Ranch Dressing
A homemade ranch dressing is quick, simple, and so much better than anything you can buy at the store. Feel free to change up the amounts or types of herbs depending on what you have or what you prefer.
Get the Ranch Dressing recipe.
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3
Shallot Vinaigrette
Keep this easy vinaigrette in your back pocket and you’ll never touch the bottled stuff again. Every vinegar is different, so adjust your olive oil according to taste. You’re looking for a particular balance; aim to curb the vinegar’s sharpness without allowing the rich flavor of the olive oil to dominate.
Get the Shallot Vinaigrette recipe.
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4
Italian Dressing
Although Italian dressing isn’t actually Italian, and though it’s more associated with a bottled product than an actual recipe, we still have a soft spot for this sweet and tangy vinaigrette. Our version is made with simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, and it’s the perfect adornment for light crunchy salads to accompany your chicken parm or pan pizza.
Get the Italian Dressing recipe.
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5
Caesar Dressing
Whisk together anchovies, garlic, egg yolks, and lemon juice, then stream in olive oil for the perfect Caesar dressing. You'll never touch the bottled stuff again!
Get the Caesar Dressing recipe.
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6
Miso Ginger Dressing
All you need is 6 to 7 ingredients to make this yummy dressing: miso, ginger, a little sweetener like honey and brown sugar to balance out the spice, a bright punch of acidity like apple cider vinegar, and a bit of fat like toasted sesame oil and olive oil to make it nice and creamy.
Get the Miso Ginger Dressing recipe.
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7
Tahini Sauce
This tahini sauce is probably one of our favorite uses for the sesame seed-based condiment. It's simple, fresh tasting, and comes together in minutes. It is as good on hearty dinner salads as it is on a lamb burger or falafel.
Get the Tahini Sauce recipe.
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8
Green Goddess Dressing
The original recipe for this herby dressing is said to have contained mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, tarragon vinegar, anchovies, and a whole garden of fresh herbs: scallions, parsley, tarragon, and chives. But really, as long as it’s green and creamy and delicious, you can pick and choose what you want to put into your version.
Get the Green Goddess Dressing recipe.
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9
Honey Mustard Dressing
Why buy prepared honey mustard when it can be as simple as just two ingredients mixed together? Our version does add a little more into the mix for a rewarding richness from the mayo and perky puckers from the lemon and black pepper, but trust us, it's worth it.
Get the Honey Mustard Dressing recipe.
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10
Blue Cheese Dressing
For this version, we’re going beyond the age-old triple threat of mayo, sour cream, and buttermilk and diving deep into the nuanced tangs of three more ingredients: lemon, Dijon, and MSG. Try it on top of a simple spinach salad, its signature soulmate buffalo wings, or even as a french fry dip
Get the Blue Cheese Dressing recipe.
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11
Light Ranch Dressing
We replace the sour cream and full fat mayo in our original ranch dressing recipe with light mayo and Greek yogurt to lighten it up a bit. Don't worry, it's still got tons of herbs and buttermilk to keep it full of flavor.
Get the Light Ranch Dressing recipe.
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12
Carrot Ginger Dressing
Inspired by that sweet and tangy bright orange dressing you can find on iceberg salads at Japanese-American restaurants, this blended recipe is super simple and extra flavorful.
Get the Carrot Ginger Dressing recipe.
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13
Authentic Tzatziki
True, you're more likely to encounter this as a sauce for chicken shawarma, falafel plates, or gyro sandwiches, but trust us, it also makes for a delicious salad dressing.
Get the Authentic Tzatziki recipe.
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14
Avocado Ranch
Replace the traditional mayo in ranch dressing with an avocado for an extra fresh, lighter-tasting version of the classic. We kept this recipe simple, but feel free to add your favorite herbs and spices.
Get the Avocado Ranch recipe.
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15
Pickle Vinaigrette
Trust us, pickle juice is just what your salad dressing's been missing. Plus, this can finally solve what to do with all that leftover pickle juice (this, and pickleback chicken wings).
Get the Pickle Vinaigrette recipe.
