Enhance your salads with a delicious, homemade Honey Balsamic Dressing! This sweet and tangy vinaigrette is easy to make in just 5 minutes - giving you the perfect flavor for your greens. Plus, you can use it as a marinade for chicken.
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Why Make Homemade Dressing
One of my favorite ways to dress up a salad is with a delicious salad dressing. We usually keep a jar of honey balsamic vinaigrette in our kitchen at all times because it adds so much flavor to a spinach caprese salad or veggie salad.
Why spend money on store bought salad dressings when you can create your own blend in minutes? Homemade salad dressing is actually really easy to make, and it always tastes better too.
- Sweet and tangy flavor. The sweetness from the honey blends perfectly with the tartness of the balsamic vinegar creating a delicious flavor your friends and family will love. No need to sacrifice on quality when you make your own dressing; homemade doesn't mean bland!
- Easy to customize the flavors. Add more vinegar for a tangier twist! Drizzle in more honey for a sweeter flavor. It is easy to create a dressing that's perfectly tailored to your taste buds.
- Control over the ingredients. Most store bought dressings are full of preservatives, additives, and extra ingredients that are not necessary. When you make your own dressing, you control what goes into the jar.
- Saves money. Most ingredients like vinegar, oil, herbs, spices, and sweeteners can usually be found in your kitchen pantry. By using ingredients that you already have, you can avoid the higher costs associated with store bought dressings.
Remember, making homemade dressings is all about having fun and trying new things. So don't be afraid to experiment and adjust the ingredients to your taste. Once you start making your own salad dressings, you won't want to use store bought again.
Key Ingredients
Whether you're in need of something new for your salads or looking for that perfect marinade – this balsamic vinaigrette could not be easier! All you need are a few simple ingredients that you probably already have.
- Balsamic Vinegar - This dark tangy vinegar is full of flavor and tastes great with honey.
- Olive Oil - While any oil will work, we prefer a light olive oil. The mild flavor pairs well with the vinegar and honey.
- Minced Garlic - Feel free to use fresh pressed garlic or minced garlic from a jar.
- Honey - Use raw honey for more health benefits. You can also use maple syrup, although it will taste a bit different.
- Salt & Pepper - Adds flavor.
How to make Honey Balsamic Dressing
This honey balsamic dressing recipe is sweet and tangy and ready to serve in 5 minutes.
- Add all the ingredients to a mason jar.
- Screw the lid on tightly and shake very well. This helps to emulsify and thicken the dressing.
- Serve immediately with a mixed greens salad or on a veggie salad.
BRUCREW TIP: The recipe calls for ½ teaspoon salt and pepper, but feel free to adjust that and add more if you like. We usually double it.
Storage Recommendations
Most opened dressings need to be stored in the refrigerator. But this one is not made with any perishable items, so you can leave it out on the counter.
On the Counter - Store the leftover dressing in a sealed jar on your counter. It will keep for up to 2 weeks.
In the Refrigerator - Place the jar in the fridge where it will keep for 1-2 months. Just let it come to room temperature, then shake vigorously before serving.
How to Use Balsamic Vinaigrette
This salad dressing is delicious with any green salad, but our favorite way to eat it is with salads that have fresh fruit or mozzarella cheese in them.
Tips and Tricks
When making a homemade honey balsamic salad dressing, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind.
- Sweet Balance: Honey adds sweetness, but you don't want it to overpower the tangy balsamic vinegar. Start with a little honey and gradually add more until it tastes just right for you. Give it a taste test along the way to make sure it's not too sweet.
- Quality Matters: Go for the good stuff! Get yourself some high-quality balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Trust us, it'll make a huge difference in the flavor of your dressing. And don't forget a good honey too, preferably raw or pure, for that extra yum factor.
- Shake It Up: Homemade dressings, especially those with honey, can separate over time. Before using your dressing, shake or stir to mix everything back together. If it gets a bit solid in the fridge, let it warm up a bit and then give it a good shake before pouring it over your salad.
- Get Creative: Don't be afraid to play around with flavors! Add a little Dijon mustard, some minced garlic, or maybe some herbs like basil or thyme. A squeeze of citrus juice can give it a zesty twist too.
- Adjust the Consistency: If you want a thicker dressing, try whisking in a bit of Dijon mustard or mayonnaise. This will thicken things up and give it a creamy kick. If you prefer a thinner dressing, add a little bit of citrus juice to make it pourable and light.
FAQs
Yes, you can use any other liquid sweetener such as maple syrup or agave syrup instead of honey. This will change the flavor though.
Yes, the salad dressing will keep for 2 weeks, so this is a great recipe to make a few days ahead of time. Just make sure to give it another shake before serving.
No, all the ingredients are shelf stable, so you can keep the jar of dressing on your counter for up to 2 weeks.
More Homemade Salad Dressings
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Recipe
Honey Balsamic Dressing
Enhance your salads with this delicious, homemade Honey Balsamic Dressing! Our sweet and tangy vinaigrette is easy to make in just 5 minutes - giving you the perfect flavor for your greens. Plus, you can use it as a marinade for chicken.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a bottle. Close the lid and shake vigorously.
- Store at room temperature until needed. Re-shake if the ingredients have separated.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 85Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 135mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 0g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*This post was first published July 2017. It was updated and republished May 2023.
Shannon Palmer
When I tell you this dressing is soooo good, believe me. It tastes better than any balsamic salad dressing I've ever had. It definitely tastes better than the $6 bottle of vegan balsamic in my fridge. Thank you for this wonderful recipe. This dressing brought my salad to life and I will continue to use it.
UhItsMe
Why is it, I look up recipes and click on them. Then there is like a whole books worth of useless crap like my grandma this or my kids that or I was in the shower and blah blah blah. Just skip all that bull and post the recipe. I could do without scrolling for six hours until I finally get to the recipe. I dont read anything besides the recipe anyways
Jocelyn
LOL! 6 hours to get to the bottom of a post??? I would recommend upgrading your computer or getting a better internet package. ? I provide these free recipes for readers to enjoy. I'm sorry if all the info that comes along with the free recipe bothers you.
Patricia
Well, if you look at the very, very beginning of the post, the first think it says actually is “jump to recipe.” I guess you were so anxious to start scrolling for 6 hours that you missed it.
If you don’t want to hear about someone’s grandma, maybe you could just look on a cooking or recipe site, or be really old school and look for a recipe in a book!
April Theodore
I agree!
Ann Cunningham
I’m unable to find the ingredients for honey balsamic dressing. I have it pinned but unable to open ingredients???
Jocelyn
Continue to scroll down in the post past all the pictures. A printable recipe card is at the very bottom of the post. I hope that helps and you enjoy the dressing.