15 Easy Vinaigrette Recipes

By: Julie Blanner3 Comments
Posted: 8/26/22

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It’s the ultimate vinaigrette recipe round-up! These easy and amazing vinaigrette recipes will add so much fresh flavor to your salads.

You’ll find every fresh and zesty vinegar-based simple salad dressing combination you could ever want.

You’ll never go back to store bought salad dressing! Be sure to bookmark and pin this one to save it for later.

A graphic image featuring various salads and salad dressing bottles, headline reads "15 Easy Vinaigrette Recipes".

A classic vinaigrette dressing is such a game-changer to have in your recipe line-up! It makes adding a fresh green salad to your meal so much easier.

They can be fruity or savory, sweeter or more acidic. Regardless, they are a zesty and vibrant addition to any salad. This simple salad dressing is always zingy, low calorie, and low carb. It’s the ultimate healthy way to dress any salad!

When it comes to fresh and tasty salad dressings, I consider myself a bit of an expert. Why? Because I am also an expert on pasta and cookies… so we’ve got to even things out a little, right?

Today I thought it would be helpful to round up all the vinaigrettes I’ve shared here in one place. It’s a one stop shop – an organized effort to round up every vinaigrette recipe I have.

A glass bottle with a gold stopper on a marble countertop, filled with sherry vinaigrette.

Table of Contents

What is Vinaigrette?

A vinaigrette is very simply a mixture of oil with an acidic element (generally vinegar, but lemon juice is another example). It’s used as a dressing for salad, and also as a marinade for meats and more.

A homemade vinaigrette is simply beyond compare. Once you’ve made your own version of this salad dressing, it’s hard to enjoy a store bought bottle ever again!

Why You’ll Love These Vinaigrette Recipes

They are light, refreshing, and so easy to make.
Shake or blend them.
They store well!
It’s cheaper and healthier to make your own salad dressing – no preservatives required!
They are also healthy, flavorful, low cal, and low carb… what’s not to love?

A glass bottle of cilantro lime dressing being poured over a green salad on a white plate.

A Base Recipe for a Simple Vinaigrette

Everyone needs a go-to vinaigrette recipe. And once you understand the basic formula, you’ll be playing with options in no time!

For most vinaigrette recipes, you’ll just need the following basic ingredients, and from there, the creativity is endless! Start with a 3:1 ratio of olive oil to vinegar, and play around from there.

Olive Oil
Vinegar (consider the following options – have fun with it!)
- Balsamic Vinegar
- White Wine Vinegar
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Champagne Vinegar
- Sherry Vinegar
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Rice Vinegar
- Malt Vinegar
Salt and Pepper

More Variations

Make it Creamy – If you love the flavors of a particular vinaigrette recipe, but want a creamier touch, just add a spoonful of mayonnaise OR plain Greek yogurt. Shake or blend for a creamy concoction you’ll crave!
Add Cheese – Because… if something is already good, cheese probably makes it better.
Sweeten – Throw in a teaspoon of sugar or (my fave) add a spoonful of honey to any of your favorite combinations.

A marble surface with a spread of ingredients to make a homemade vinaigrette recipe.

Tips

Don’t dress your salad with vinaigrette until just before serving. If you add it too far ahead of time it can cause the greens to wilt and go soggy.
The dressing has a fairly long shelf life, so make a double batch for an easy to grab dressing.
While it’s refrigerated, oil and vinegar in homemade vinaigrette recipes will separate into two layers. Shake it up well before adding to a salad.
You can either shake the ingredients together in a mason jar or whisk them together in a small bowl.

A white plate filled with an apple salad.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the correct ratio for vinaigrette?

There’s a standard ratio (you can of course play around to suit your tastes). For many vinaigrette recipes, the ratio is three parts oil, one part vinegar.

Can vinaigrette be left out?

While vinegar and olive oil are shelf stable on their own, many homemade vinaigrette recipes contain additional elements like citrus, garlic, or mustard. Don’t store at room temperature if you’ve added fresh ingredients!
Additionally, consider the fact that any food that sits out at room temperature is exposed to bacteria eventually, no matter how well it’s contained.

To Store

Room Temperature – If your vinaigrette contains only vinegar, oil, and dried herbs and spices, you may store it at room temperature. You can store them for up to one week in an airtight container, preferably in a dark space like a cabinet.
Refrigerate – Many vinaigrettes do not require refrigeration, but you can store them in the fridge for up to three weeks. However, if you’ve added fresh fruit or herbs, you should only use for up to a week!

14 Vinaigrette Recipes

Greek Salad Dressing

Give your salad an upgrade with the easiest Greek salad dressing recipe! This light and tasty vinaigrette will instantly elevate your salads and so much more.

Sherry Vinaigrette

This fresh Sherry Vinaigrette is a vibrant, flavorful salad dressing you’re going to crave! It’s the perfect addition to so many salads and adds the bright, bold flavor of Sherry Vinegar to everything it touches.

Red Wine Vinaigrette

A quick and easy Red Wine Vinaigrette made in just 60 seconds with just 4 staple ingredients!

Easy Herb Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe

Learn how to make a homemade herb vinaigrette dressing. It’s a flavorful and easy salad dressing that can be prepared in just a minute.

A bottle of homemade vinaigrette next to a plate of salad and a pot of rosemary

Champagne Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

Champagne vinaigrette is a light and zingy dressing that’s the perfect addition to so many salads. Made with champagne vinegar, this dressing is easy to shake together and can be made ahead of time.

A small glass pitcher full of homemade vinaigrette dressing next to a salad.

White Wine Vinaigrette

An easy, classic White Wine Vinaigrette recipe that requires just 6 staple ingredients and less than a minute to make from scratch!

Easy Balsamic Vinaigrette

Easy Balsamic Vinaigrette – a classic salad dressing, easy marinade for chicken and so much more! A blend of herbs and spices make it a fresh and flavorful, healthy balsamic vinaigrette recipe.

A bottle of vinaigrette dressing being poured over a plate of salad.

White Balsamic Vinaigrette

This beautiful white balsamic vinaigrette is a lovely dressing for your summer salad. It adds a delightful sweet and tangy topping while letting the vibrant colors of your greens shine.

It is made with white balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, and a dash of both salt and pepper.

Balsamic vinaigrette in a clear pitcher on a marble surface.

Vinaigrette Poppy Seed Dressing

Easy and refreshing strawberry salad with a vinaigrette poppy seed dressing. It’s a classic go-to summer salad perfect for any occasion!

Quick and easy to make with no cooking required, this is perfect to serve as an appetizer or side salad, or easy to customize with protein for a light lunch.

A glass jar of poppyseed dressing, with fresh strawberries next to it.

Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Pull out all of the stops with this delicious pomegranate vinaigrette full of vibrant color and flavor. This vinaigrette will add a sweet and tart touch to your favorite salads and it’s perfect for holiday get-togethers!

A pomegranate salad in a white oval bowl, with a bottle of homemade vinaigrette dressing next to it.

Incredible Apple Chipotle Vinaigrette

An incredible Apple Chipotle Vinaigrette recipe that’s loaded with flavor and a spicy apple twist. Use this Chipotle salad dressing to spice up any dish!

apple chipotle salad dressing in glass bottle with salad on white plate and gold fork

Honey Dijon Vinaigrette

This peach salad features a memorable sweet and savory honey dijon vinaigrette. This summer salad is perfect to serve as an appetizer or a side and comes together quickly. The honey and mustard dressing is wonderfully tangy and sweet and really is a must have!