Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes (2024)

Here are 6 easy homemade salad dressing recipes you can easily make at home. From a super tasty ranch dressing, to homemade thousand island to a light Italian vinaigrette, these are the best dressings you’ve ever tasted! My husband Mike had to edit to add this after a recent taste test on our show!! These homemade salad dressings are quick and easy to make and cost a lot less than store bought!

Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes (1)

6 Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes

One of the comments we hear over and over again is about how much money people are saving using the homemade salad dressing recipes from Volume 1 of our Dining on a Dime Cookbook.And you wouldn’t believe how delicious they are if you haven’t tried them! These easy salad dressing recipes are quick and easy and the best part is they are much less than half the cost of dressing from the store!

We get complimented over and over again about our homemade salad dressing recipes from people who say, “My family refuses to even eat store bought salad dressing now and they homemade dressings are so fast to make!”

This post includes some of our favorite homemade salad dressing recipes for you to try!

This homemade ranch dressing recipe is quick and easy to make and is versatile for salads, vegetables and many other foods. It is so delicious and fresh, you’ll wonder why you ever bought store bought! It also makes an easy party dip!

Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes (2)

Ranch Dressing Recipe (Ranch Dip)

1 cup mayonnaise (low-fat may be used)
1 cup buttermilk
2 Tbsp. green onions, minced (tops only or chives)
1/4 tsp. onion powder or 1 Tbsp. fresh onions, minced
2 tsp. parsley, minced
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. garlic powder or 1/2 to 1 garlic clove, finely minced
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Combine ingredients in a container with a lid and refrigerate before serving. Makes 2 cups. For Ranch Dip, use sour cream or yogurt in place of buttermilk.

This thousand island dressing recipe is an easy homemade version of the classic salad dressing that you can make at home for pennies. It’s good not only on salads and vegetables, but also on sandwiches and hamburgers. It’s similar to the Big Mac sauce at McDonalds and is great on hamburgers. Mike tested this homemade salad dressing a recent taste test on our show and loved it!

Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes (3)

Thousand Island Dressing Recipe

3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. sweet pickle relish or sweet pickle, minced
2 Tbsp. chili sauce or ketchup
2 Tbsp. green bell peppers, minced
1 Tbsp. fresh or 1 1/2 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. onion powder or 2 Tbsp. onion, minced
1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1
hard-boiled egg, chopped

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl except egg. Mix well. Stir in the egg. Refrigerate. Makes 1 1/3 cups.

This homemade blue cheese dressing recipe makes a thick and chunky blue cheese dressing that is super delicious! It’s super fresh and tastes even better than restaurant quality blue cheese, but for only a fraction of the cost!

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Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe

Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
4 oz. crumbled blue cheese
1/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. lemon juice

Salad

1 head Iceberg lettuce, rinsed, cut into 6 wedges
6 slices bacon, cookedandcrumbled
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
1/4 cup chives or green onions, chopped

Directions:

Mix the first 6 ingredients for the dressing the day before servingand chill.

Put a wedge of lettuce onto each plate. Top with dressingandsprinkle with mixture of bacon, Parmesan and chives (mixed together).

This Italian vinaigrette salad dressing recipe makes a tasty and full flavored vinaigrette dressing that is lighter than the creamy dressings. It is a restaurant quality vinaigrette salad dressing that you can easily make at home for a fraction of the price of the store bought kind!

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Italian Vinaigrette Recipe

1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup olive oil or vegetable oil, or a combination
2 Tbsp. onion, finely chopped, or 1/4 tsp. onion powder
2 large cloves of garlic, crushed
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 Tbsp. parsley, minced
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. dried basil or oregano
1 tsp. sugar

Combine ingredients in a large jar with tight lid. Shake well. Makes 1 1/2 cups.

For Creamy Italian Dressing beat 1/2 cup mayonnaise into Italian Vinaigrette.

For Low-Calorie Vinaigrette substitute apple juice for the oil and reduce vinegar to 1/3 cup.

Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes (6)

Old Fashioned Salad Dressing Recipe

2 cups sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground mustard
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup vinegar
1 cup water
mayonnaise

In a saucepan, combine sugar, flour, salt and mustard. Stir in eggs. Gradually stir in vinegar and water until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, combine desired amount of dressing base with mayonnaise. Refrigerate leftovers. Tastes great on potato salad, coleslaw or salad greens. Makes 4 cups.

This creamy homemade cucumber buttermilk dressing recipe makes a yummy creamy salad dressing you’re sure to love! The cucumber and buttermilk, along with the dill give it an especially tasty and light flavor. Try it today and you’ll definitely be satisfied!

Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes (7)

Homemade Cucumber Buttermilk Dressing

1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup cucumber, peeled and grated
1 Tbsp. Dijon-style mustard
2 Tbsp. green onions, white and green parts, or chives, minced
2 tsp. fresh parsley, minced or 1 tsp. dried parsley
1/4 tsp. dill, dried
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
1 tsp. lemon juice or vinegar

Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight lid. Shake well. Refrigerate. Makes 1 1/4 cups.

3 Ingredient Salad Dressing Recipe

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. cider vinegar

Mix all ingredients and pour the dressing over the salad. Toss and refrigerate 1 hour.

Crunchy Veggie Salad Recipe

2-3 cups broccoli
2-3 cups cauliflower
1 cup (4 oz.) grated cheddar cheese
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup raisins
3 Ingredient Salad Dressing

Just before serving pour dressing over salad and add:
3 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup sunflower seeds

Serves 4-6.

Most of these easy homemade salad dressing recipes are from Volume 1 of our cookbook:

You can make EASY and delicious meals at home in less time than eating out! You’ll save a ton of money on food and your family will thank you!

Click here to get our Dining On A Dime Cookbooks 25% Off NOW! They’re filled with tasty recipes and tips to make your life easier!

Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest dressing to put on a salad? ›

Oil and vinegar.

“This is a great option, because it won't have any added sugar or salt,” says Allers. “But the type of oil is important. Opt for olive or avocado oil over an alternative like canola or soybean oil.” These healthy oils are packed with antioxidants, and can even help lower cholesterol.

What is the basic salad dressing formula? ›

Here's my master salad dressing that I use as a base for every salad! You just need 1 tbsp vinegar, 3 tbsp oil and 1/2 tsp mustard. Finish with salt and pepper, or choose from any number of flavourings – garlic, fresh or dried herbs, pinch of spice, touch of honey.

What are the three basic types of salad dressing? ›

In Western culture, there are three basic types of salad dressing: Vinaigrette; Creamy dressings, usually based on mayonnaise or fermented milk products, such as yogurt, sour cream (crème fraîche, smetana), buttermilk; Cooked dressings, which resemble creamy dressings, but are usually thickened by adding egg yolks and ...

What is the most unhealthy salad dressing? ›

Caesar dressing. Made up of mayonnaise, cheese, salt and oil (and all too often, anchovies), Caesar tends to be one of the least healthy options out there. Those ingredients cause it to be high in both saturated fats and sodium.

What can I put on my salad instead of dressing? ›

Add herbs and spices to give your salad bold flavors of the world. Mix in different combinations of fresh and dried herbs and spices to achieve different flavors. Try fresh oregano, basil, and thyme for an Italian-style flavor, or cumin, coriander, and sumac for a Middle Eastern vibe, for example.

What is the most popular salad dressing in the United States per study? ›

Ranch dressing is the most popular salad dressing in the USA due to its creamy texture, tangy buttermilk base, and blend of herbs and spices like garlic, onion, dill, and parsley.

What is the simplest form of dressing? ›

With just five basic ingredients, balsamic vinaigrette is one of the easiest homemade salad dressings to prepare in a pinch. It has a sweet yet savory flavor that works well in just about any salad, making it one of the most versatile options available.

What are the two main ingredients of most standard salad dressings? ›

ACID: Traditionally, vinaigrettes are made with vinegar, often one derived from wine. But any kind of acidic ingredient can fill in, including citrus juice, tomato puree or soy sauce. OIL: The oil in a vinaigrette can be neutral, such as grapeseed, or nutty, such as walnut.

What are the following ingredient you need to make the dressing? ›

Hot-process spoonable salad dressings are typically made by cooking starch, vinegar, salt, sugar and water to a paste, cooling the paste, and adding the remaining ingredients. The oil is added last, typically with egg yolks, whites or another emulsifier.

What is the oldest salad dressing? ›

French dressing is the oldest one on our list, but vinegar and oil dressing goes back nearly two-thousand years to ancient Babylonia.

Which type of salad dressings is commonly used at home? ›

Here are five classic salad dressings to make at home: Honey Mustard dressing, Basic Balsamic Vinaigrette, Italian dressing with fresh herbs, Ranch dressing, and Sesame Ginger dressing.

What's the difference between French and Italian salad dressing? ›

Here are the main differences between the two: Flavor: French dressing tends to have a tangy and slightly sweet flavor. It often incorporates ingredients like vinegar, mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and various herbs and spices. Italian dressing, on the other hand, has a more savory and herbaceous taste.

Is it better to eat salad with dressing or no salad at all? ›

Plus, adding salad dressing helps our bodies absorb the fat-soluble nutrients (Vitamin A, D, E, K) that are found in the vegetables. Salad dressings also help us feel fuller for longer as fat is more satiating… This might mean you're less tempted to overeat or pick at foods afterwards.

Is ranch or caesar dressing healthier? ›

Which dressing is better for me? What did I learn? Well, ranch has more calories, but caesar has more sodium and sugar.

Is Italian dressing healthier than ranch? ›

Lower-Calorie Alternative to Creamy Dressings

Italian dressing makes a better alternative than many other higher-calorie options. It adds taste to salad and offers good fat. Though many calories come from fats, it is better than primarily cream-based dressings like ranch, a thousand island, or blue cheese.

What kind of salad dressing is good for lowering cholesterol? ›

Vinaigrette-style dressings are easy to make by mixing vinegar (such as balsamic, white or red wine vinegars) with oil. Switching from saturated fats to unsaturated fats like vegetable oils (including olive or rapeseed oils) can help lower cholesterol levels when consumed as part of a balanced diet.

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