Go-To Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
This is my go-to homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing recipe! All you need are 5 simple, healthy ingredients and a few minutes to make it. Keep it on hand to add flavour to salads, veggies, and more!
One of the best ways to add a ton of flavour to salads and vegetables? A delicious dressing, of course!
While store-bought versions are available, it is SO easy to make your own salad dressings at home. As a dietitian, I love how fresh they are and how you have complete control over the ingredients 🙂
This easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette is one of my go-to dressings that I’ve made for YEARS. I’ve actually included it in a handful of salad recipes on this blog (linked below), so I figured it was time to create a stand-alone post for it.
I’d love to know if you make it and what you end up pairing it with. Enjoy!
Want more dressing recipes? Check out my roundup of healthy homemade sauces + dressings for more ideas. Some of my other favourites include this miso sesame dressing and this maple dijon vinaigrette!
Ingredients Needed
All you need to make this balsamic dressing are 5 simple ingredients (plus salt + pepper):
- extra virgin olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
- lemon juice
- garlic powder (or fresh garlic)
- honey
Full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions are located in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!
Recipe Modifications & Ingredient Swaps
- While I personally love using garlic powder in my sauces and dressings (I just love how quick it is + how it dissolves well!), you can always swap the powder for minced garlic cloves. I would aim for about 2-4 large cloves, depending on how garlicky you like things!
- If you want a vegan version of this recipe, you can try swapping maple syrup for honey.
- If you’d like, you can also add a touch of dijon mustard!
How To Store This Dressing
You can store this homemade balsamic dressing in a jar with an airtight lid. It will keep in the fridge for about 2 weeks.
Recipes Using This Balsamic Vinaigrette
If you’re in need of some inspiration, here are all the recipes on my blog that use this dressing:
- Grilled Nectarine Salad With Burrata
- Halloumi Salad With Couscous
- Blueberry Spinach Salad
- Grilled Watermelon Salad
- Balsamic-Roasted Beet Salad
- Plum Salad With Arugula & Blue Cheese
- Strawberry Tomato & Avocado Salad
- Refreshing Caprese Pasta Salad
- Roasted Pumpkin Salad
- Roasted Pear Salad With Arugula & Gorgonzola
- Strawberry Walnut Salad With Goat Cheese
- Pomegranate Salad With Halloumi
See – I wasn’t kidding when I said it was my go-to salad dressing 😉
Other Foods That Pair Well
- I love tossing this dressing into a bunch of chopped veggies before roasting them in the oven or cooking them on the grill. I often do a mix of bell peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, and cremini mushrooms.
- Balsamic is known to pair very well with fresh produce like tomatoes, strawberries (and other berries), bell peppers, cucumbers, beets, green beans, and leafy greens (like arugula, spinach, and watercress).
- This balsamic dressing tastes great in pasta salads. I love throwing in some of the veggies listed above and a little cheese (like feta, goat cheese, or bocconcini balls)!
- You can also try pairing it with different proteins, like salmon, chicken, pork, or steak.
More Homemade Salad Dressings
- Maple Dijon Vinaigrette Dressing
- Creamy Balsamic Tahini Dressing
- Strawberry Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Vegan Avocado Green Goddess Dressing
- Creamy Herbed Yogurt Salad Dressing
Did you give this Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe a try? Let me know by leaving a comment and recipe rating below!
If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Pinterest – seeing your creations always makes my day. You can also subscribe to my email list to never miss a new recipe or nutrition education post!
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Get the Recipe: Healthy Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 med-large lemon, juice only
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp honey
- Salt + pepper, to taste (add generously!)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a jar with a lid. Close lid tightly and shake vigorously to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.Note: If you don't have a jar, you can make this by whisking all the ingredients together in a small bowl!
Notes
- While I personally love using garlic powder in my sauces and dressings (I just love how quick it is + how it dissolves well!), you can always swap the powder for minced garlic cloves. I would aim for about 2-4 large cloves, depending on how garlicky you like things!
- If you want a vegan version of this recipe, you can try swapping maple syrup for honey.
- If you’d like, you can also add a touch of dijon mustard!
- Grilled Nectarine Salad With Burrata
- Halloumi Salad With Couscous
- Blueberry Spinach Salad
- Grilled Watermelon Salad
- Balsamic-Roasted Beet Salad
- Plum Salad With Arugula & Blue Cheese
- Strawberry Tomato & Avocado Salad
- Refreshing Caprese Pasta Salad
- Roasted Pumpkin Salad
- Roasted Pear Salad With Arugula & Gorgonzola
- Strawberry Walnut Salad With Goat Cheese
Nutrition
As a dietitian, I create recipes with whole food ingredients that provide the nutrients needed for optimal health. My nutrition philosophy does not focus on numbers; however, I understand that this information can be helpful.
Do note that the nutrition info provided is an estimate and I cannot guarantee correctness of the displayed values. These numbers will differ depending on brands used, recipe modifications, and amount eaten. If you require specific nutrition information due to medical reasons, please consult with your dietitian or physician.
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know by leaving a recipe rating below, or by tagging @walderwellness on Instagram. I love seeing your beautiful creations!
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14 Comments on “Go-To Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing”
So good I had to triple the recipe! So simple, I’ll never purchase store bought balsamic dressing again!! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing that, Kimberly!! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed this one. It’s truly my go-to (as evidenced by how many salad recipes use it on here haha). So happy it will become a staple for you too 🙂
I love that this recipe includes lemon juice, which boosts nutrient absorption from the greens! I also was looking for a recipe that used garlic powder instead of fresh garlic. Just seems like the better choice when it comes to a smooth salad dressing. Can’t wait to try your plum arugula salad when our wild plums ripen!
Hi Alisa! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. So happy to hear you enjoy this one – I seriously pair it with everything!! And YES I am a fan of using garlic powder in dressings – makes them so much smoother in my opinion haha 🙂
Love this dressing, it’s so versatile. Have made it a few times just perfect. I am making larger batches so we never run out. Thank you!
Hi Belinda! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this kind review. I’m so happy to hear that you enjoy this one as much as I do. So great to have a big batch of it in the fridge!!
Do you have the nutritional information for this dressing? I am especially interested in the calorie count. Thank you.
Hi Linda! Thank you so much for your question.
For both personal and professional reasons, I intentionally choose not to include the exact nutrition breakdown of my recipes. Ultimately, focusing on numbers goes against my nutrition philosophy as a dietitian and I much prefer to highlight the various health benefits of the whole food ingredients that I use! You can read more about my decision not to include them on my FAQ page if interested.
That said, if you would like to calculate the nutrition breakdown you can always enter the recipe into a nutrition calculator like MyFitnessPal! Thank you so much for understanding 🙂
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing. Made this recipe today. We really liked it! I do plan to make it again. I did the math and as is the appx nutritional numbers for a 2 Tbsp serving is 141.33 calories. 14.93 g fat. 0 protein. 3.2 g carbs. I may try substituting 1/2 the oil with water next go round.
Hi Glenda! Thank you so much for sharing! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe. It’s my favourite homemade salad dressing 🙂
To be honest, I’m not sure how well it would work with water, as water and oil don’t combine with one another!!
Wonderful…
Thank you so much, Jacqueline!!
I’ve made this recipe a few times, with a couple of tweaks to method and exact ingredients. I throw a triple batch in my blender and use fresh garlic and all of the lemons fruit, I don’t even bother removing the seeds, just the skin, so i get the fruit fiber with the juice to better absorb the nutrients, definitely good stuff
Hi Meredyth! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. It’s so appreciated! I love the tweaks and additions you’ve made here – sounds so delicious! I hope you’ve been enjoying this dressing lots this summer 🙂