Our zingy homemade dressing beats bottled versions every time—and it’s ready in minutes!
Zesty, tangy, and sweet is a combo few of us can resist, and when it’s quickly whisked up into a perfect homemade dressing, you should go for it! Skip the overstocked (and overpriced) dressing aisle at your supermarket. Making your own is super easy, relies on pantry staples you probably have, and lets you control exactly what’s in your dressing—no additives, just all the pure flavor you need.
What’s more, once you’ve got this dressing down, you’ll find you can get a lot of mileage out of it. Made with bright lemons, peppery olive oil, a hint of honey for sweetness, and a dash of Dijon mustard for tang, it’s perfect on any salad, from simple greens to more complex ones like Cobb salads, chopped salads, pasta salads, or grain salads. But it also works magic on roasted veggies or grilled meats, or use it as a marinade for chicken, fish, or shrimp. It can even be a sauce for mild dishes like poached eggs, steamed veggies, or baked chicken thighs. So up your kitchen game and give your meals a little extra oomph with this easy winner.
Is This Lemon Vinaigrette Healthy?
This lemon vinaigrette is a healthy choice for dressing your salads, starting with its two main ingredients: Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (sometimes called “healthy fats”) and antioxidants, and lemon juice is an excellent source of vitamin C. The dressing is made with minimally processed ingredients, so it’s suitable for a Paleo diet. And if you need to make it vegan, just replace the honey with agave nectar—or leave it out completely.
Easy Variations For Lemon Vinaigrette
Adding just a single extra ingredient can give you a whole new flavor profile for your dressing. Here are some easy additions:
Lemon-Tahini Vinaigrette: Add a spoon of tahini for a nutty flavor that will make salads, grain bowls, and roasted veggies next-level amazing.
Lemon-Balsamic Vinaigrette: Substitute balsamic vinegar for half the lemon for a deeply flavorful dressing perfect for mixed greens, Caprese salads, and grilled meats.
Spicy Lemon Vinaigrette: Fire up your dressing with a teaspoon of chili crisp, a few pinches of red pepper flakes, or a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce. The extra bite is perfect for noodle bowls, poached salmon, sliced avocado, and more.
Lemon-Ginger Vinaigrette: Add about a half teaspoon of minced fresh ginger for a refreshing hit of flavor. You can omit the thyme or replace it with chives or cilantro, your choice! Try it on slaws, rice salads, or poached chicken.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Lemon vinaigrette can last up to 1 week in the fridge, but for the best lemony flavor, use it within 3 to 4 days. Store it in an airtight glass container like a mason jar with a lid for convenience. If your vinaigrette separates, just give it a good shake to get everything mixed up again.
Serving Suggestions
This dressing is sure to be a hit on your daily salad, but you can also branch out and put it to delicious use in other dishes. It’s a yummy sauce for simple recipes like Poached Salmon or Poached Chicken, or pour it over steamed asparagus spears or Sautéed Broccolini for a special veggie side. You can use it as the marinade for recipes like Juicy Grilled Chicken Breast or for any number of other meats and chops. And it makes a great marinade for seafood if you keep the soaking time to 20 minutes or so to prevent the acid in the dressing from beginning to cook the flesh. And finally, don’t overlook lemon vinaigrette as a wonderfully tangy substitute for mayo or mustard on your favorite sandwich.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, honey, mustard, garlic, and salt and pepper.
- Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in the olive oil.
- Pull the thyme leaves off the stems and add them to the dressing. Taste the dressing and whisk in more salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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