This easy salad dressing takes just five minutes to make and tastes fantastic. Making your own dressing lets you control the ingredients so you can create a healthier, homemade version without preservatives or processed oils. A jar of homemade dressing is perfect for meal prep — it’s versatile and will brighten salads, roasted vegetables, grain bowls, and wraps all week long. This simple lemon vinaigrette is so good you may never buy bottled dressing again.
Easy Everyday Salad Dressing is the unprocessed answer to making more salads part of your routine. It’s simple enough to whip up when you need it, but flavorful enough to use on nearly everything.
Learning to make your own dressing is one of the simplest changes that can improve your diet and well-being. Homemade dressing doesn’t need to be complicated — just wholesome, minimally processed ingredients. This everyday lemon vinaigrette helps you add more greens and flavor to your meals.
5 minutes to Homemade Dressing
Salads are incredibly nutritious, but store-bought dressings often contain preservatives and industrial seed oils that reduce the health benefits. Since time is limited, this recipe gives you a quick, reliable option that takes under five minutes to prepare — no label reading required.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Olive oil: Use good quality olive oil. Avoid heavily processed vegetable oils.
- Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed is best; if using bottled, choose organic not-from-concentrate. You can substitute apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or mild rice vinegar.
- Shallot: Minced shallot adds sweetness and depth. Substitute with 1/4 of a small red onion if needed.
- Dijon mustard: Helps emulsify and adds tang.
- Spices: A mix of Italian herbs (basil, thyme, parsley, oregano) plus sea salt and white pepper.
- Optional sweetener: Honey or maple syrup to balance acidity.
Is oil necessary for a healthy dressing?
Your body needs dietary fat to absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) found in dark leafy greens. Olive oil helps your body access those nutrients and also makes the dressing taste great. If you prefer an oil-free dressing, include another healthy fat on your salad—avocado, olives, nuts, or seeds—to ensure vitamin absorption.
How to make it
- Peel and mince the shallot.
- In a small bowl, combine shallot, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, dried Italian spices, sea salt and white pepper. Add honey or maple syrup if using. Whisk while slowly pouring in the olive oil until the dressing is emulsified.
- Alternatively, add all ingredients to a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously until well combined.
Meal Prep & Storage
- SERVE: Drizzle over any salad, use on roasted vegetables, or add to wraps and grain bowls.
- STORE: Keep dressing in an airtight container such as a mason jar. A dressing shaker makes pouring easier.
- PREP AHEAD: This dressing is great to prepare in advance. If it solidifies in the fridge, place the jar in a shallow bowl of warm water for a minute or two and then shake, or remove from the fridge 30 minutes before using and shake well.
- FREEZE: You can freeze the dressing—leave room in the container for expansion. It will keep in the fridge for about two weeks and in the freezer for up to three months.
How to make your salad better
- Make a healthy homemade dressing to avoid preservatives and processed ingredients.
- Greens: Vary your greens—spinach, romaine, spring mix, and even iceberg all offer different nutrients and textures.
- Crunch: Add nuts, seeds, or chopped raw vegetables like celery, radish, or cucumber for texture.
- Variety: Mix colors, shapes, and textures so salads stay interesting and nutrient-rich.
- Fats: Include at least one source of healthy fat (avocado, olives, nuts or seeds) to help absorb fat-soluble vitamins.
- Roasted veggies: Add roasted vegetables, sweet potatoes, or squash for flavor and satiety.
- Grains: Leftover rice, quinoa, farro or other whole grains add fiber and bulk.
- Legumes: Beans and lentils provide plant-based protein, fiber, and B vitamins.
More Healthy Vegan Salad Dressing Recipes
- Avocado Lime Dressing — a green goddess favorite.
- Vegan Caesar Dressing — rich and perfect for crudités.
- Peanut Dressing — commonly paired with veggie spring rolls.
- Apple Vinaigrette — sweetened with apple cider and dates.
- Vegan Ranch Dressing — five minutes to a creamy ranch you’ll love.
- Miso Dressing — a savory option that pairs well with many salads.
- Dairy-free Chipotle Dressing — smoky and oil-free.
- Tahini Balsamic Dressing — great for roasted vegetable salads.
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📖 Recipe
Easy Everyday Salad Dressing Recipe
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Equipment
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Mini whisk or fork
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Glass jar with tight-fitting lid (for shaking)
Ingredients
- ½ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon honey or maple syrup (if vegan)
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian spices
- ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
Instructions
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In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients together until well combined. Or place everything in a glass jar with a tight lid and shake vigorously until emulsified.
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Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. If the oil solidifies, warm the jar in a bowl of warm water for a minute and shake, or remove from the fridge 30 minutes before using and shake well.
Nutrition
Note
Nutrition estimates were calculated using online tools. For the most accurate values, calculate nutrition using the exact brands and quantities you use.