Creamy Balsamic Dressing

A quick and easy 6 ingredient Creamy Balsamic Dressing that’s the perfect topping for any salad! It’s tangy with a hint of sweetness, and super tasty! No blender required, simply whisk everything together and you’ve got a lovely salad dressing in under 5 minutes!

Add this homemade dressing to a house salad or my strawberry spinach salad!

I’ve recently started incorporating more fresh vegetables into my diet and have started making my own homemade salad dressings. I’ve found that a basic vinaigrette or this balsamic salad dressing are quickly becoming my go-to dressing whenever I whip up a quick salad (and a side of garlic bread for good measure).

This balsamic dressing is so flavorful and it is so easy to make. The flavor is zesty, slightly sweet, and a little herby from the seasonings.

It has an ultra creamy texture that beats store-bought salad dressings every time!

I use this for my favorite salads, especially caprese salads – it’s the perfect compliment! It’s even good on fresh vegetables as a dressing or dip! Best part, no food processor required and only 6 simple ingredients!

Ingredients

This easy salad dressing only has a handful of ingredients!

Balsamic Vinegar – the acidity of the vinegar adds such a great taste to this dressing. Try to use a high quality balsamic vinegar for the best taste.

Honey – just a touch of sweetness from the honey balances out the bold flavors of the dressing.

Garlic – use fresh garlic and dice it as finely as possible to release all of that zesty flavor! Avoid using the jarred minced garlic if you can, fresh garlic is the better option.

Dijon Mustard – a little bit of dijon mustard adds an intense flavor that makes this creamy dressing so tasty!

Mayonnaise – this main ingredient adds a rich and creamy texture to the dressing. It’s a creamy emulsion of egg yolk and extra virgin olive oil so that you don’t have to use a high speed blender to do it on your own. It’s an easy way to add a creamy texture with minimal effort.

Italian Seasoning – the dried herbs add a nice bold flavor that gives this homemade creamy balsamic dressing recipe extra flavor!

Substitutions

• Vegan and Dairy Free Option – use vegan mayo and pure maple syrup instead of mayo and honey for a vegan option.
• Don’t love mayo? You can use plain greek yogurt or sour cream instead. Use the same quantities listed in the recipe card below.
• If you don’t have any garlic cloves on hand, you can use a teaspoon of garlic powder instead.

How to make Creamy Balsamic Dressing

• Combine balsamic vinegar, honey, diced garlic, dijon mustard, mayo, and Italian seasoning in a large mixing bowl. Add kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

• Whisk together until smooth.

Tips

• Taste as you go! If you want more balsamic vinegar flavor, add more. If you want more garlic, feel free to dice up more an add that too!
• Serve or immediately or chilled! This dressing tastes even more delicious as the ingredients get a chance to sit for a little time.
• Pro tip: if you prefer a thinner dressing, a tablespoon of water until desired texture is reached.

How Should I Use Balsamic Dressing?

This recipe is versatile and has so many different uses! It’s a great option as a dip for fresh veggies and also a delicious marinade for chicken! My favorite way to use this dressing is to pour on top of a house salad and serve with my smoked chicken breasts or pan seared shrimp.

You can also use this dressing on sandwiches like this chicken caprese sandwich or drizzle it on top of bruschetta for added flavor.

Storing Leftovers

• Store any leftover dressing in an airtight container such as a mason jar. It’ll keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
• Freezing: I don’t recommend freezing this salad dressing as the texture will change once it’s thawed.

More Recipes

• Caprese Grilled Chicken
• Kale Caesar Salad
• Chicken Caesar Salad
• Fig and Burrata Salad
• Brown Butter Salad Dressing