Homemade Balsamic Dressing is quick and easy to make with a few tasty pantry staples! It’s healthy, dairy-free, and tastier than store bought salad dressing!
Making your own balsamic dressing couldn’t be easier!
All you’ll need are a few pantry staples and you’ll be ready to make this delicious dressing at home!
I start with good quality oil (either olive oil or avocado oil work amazing here) and add a flavorful blend of balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, honey, fresh garlic, salt, and pepper.
Shallots are another popular ingredient you can add if you’d like! I rarely have them handy these days so I make mine without.
I like mine with a kick of tartness from the vinegar (to make my salad pop!) but if you’d like it to taste a bit more like restaurant dressing, you can adjust the honey to reach your sweet spot.
What Salads Pair Well with Balsamic Dressing?
Balsamic dressing is fantastic on SO MANY different types of salads.
Our go-to is a classic garden salad with chopped romaine lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, carrots and croutons. You can also add pepperoncini peppers, cucumber, olives, and any other extras your heart desires.
It’s also fantastic over specialty salads and fantastic over salads featuring fresh fruit such as berries or orange segments. Here are a few to try:
- Strawberry Streak Salad with Balsamic
- Tomato Panzanella Salad
- Cranberry Blueberry Salad
- Almond Crusted Goat Cheese Salad
- Strawberry Kale Salad
I also have it on good authority that it’s amazing on a plain leafy green salad topped with marinated tomatoes. DELICIOUS!
Easy Homemade Balsamic Dressing Recipe
Want more of this tasty dressing? Double, triple, or quadruple the dressing measurements as needed – it’ll keep several days in the fridge and tastes great with any salad you can dream up.
Store bought salad dressing just can’t compare!
Easy Homemade Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup quality extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar plus extra to taste
- 1-2 TBSP red wine vinegar
- 2 TBSP dijon mustard
- 2-3 tsp honey (or sweetener or choice if vegan)
- 2 cloves garlic (peeled, smashed, and minced)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- For an emulsified dressing. Add ingredients to a small food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
- Taste and feel free to adjust levels of balsamic and honey/sweetner to taste. I like mine with a kick of tartness from the vinegar (to make my salad pop!) but if you'd like it to taste a bit more like restaurant dressing, you can add a little extra oil and adjust the honey/sweetener to reach your sweet spot. The above measurements are my dream combo!
- Transfer to a lidded mason jar and pour over all your tasty salad creations!
Notes
- 1/4 cup quality extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
- 2-3 TBSP balsamic vinegar plus extra to taste
- 1 TBSP red wine vinegar
- 1 TBSP dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey (or sweetener or choice if vegan)
- 1 clove garlic (peeled, smashed, and minced)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Nutrition
If you get a chance to try this homemade balsamic dressing recipe, let me know!
Leave some love in the comment form below or tag your photos with @peasandcrayons on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creation. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Questions & Reviews
Thank you for taking the time to share your delicious recipe
It’s thicker than other balsamic dressings I’ve tried. Great flavour too!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Jocelyn!
We love it on our salads! It’s so easy but so tasty too!
I love this dressing! I enjoy this dressing! I can’t wait to use it more! Thanks!
Yay! Thanks Beth!