Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette is an easy and simple balsamic dressing you can use for salads or as a marinade. I like this balsamic vinaigrette recipe SO much more than the store bought stuff and it’s healthier too!
For something to pair with this dressing, make this balsamic grilled chicken and a simple salad.
5 minutes
Extremely easy
Quick Look: Creamy Balsamic Dressing Recipe
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 👩🍳 Cook Time: no cook
- 🕖 Total Time: 5 minutes
- 🥗 Servings: 14 servings
- ⚡️ Calories: 155 calories per serving (based on nutrition panel)
- 🔥 Cooking Method: Blend in a blender
- 🛒 Main Ingredients: balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey
- ⭐️ Difficulty: Extremely easy! Make a batch to keep in the fridge all week.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
- Quick Look: Creamy Balsamic Dressing Recipe
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- How should I use this balsamic vinaigrette dressing?
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How to make Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette
- My favorite salad combos to eat with this homemade balsamic vinaigrette recipe
- Mad’s Expert Tips for the Best Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette 🥗
- Can I use an immersion blender to make this creamy balsamic dressing?
- Recipe FAQs
- Recipe
Romi left this 5 star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I’ve shared this delicious, perfect balsamic Vinegrette with a number of friends and every single one loves it! I love it too and thank you for it!”
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Versatile dressing – This healthy balsamic dressing is so versatile. You can use it on salads or as a dip for veggies. You could also thin this dressing with a bit of broth and make a super flavorful grilled balsamic chicken marinade.
- Easy recipe – You don’t have to chop or cook anything for this recipe! Put your ingredients in a blender, slowly add olive oil, and blend!
- More affordable balsamic vinaigrette – Store-bought dressings are expensive! I love opting for a quick and easy at home version that is even more delicious.
How should I use this balsamic vinaigrette dressing?
This simple dressing can help you make some of your favorite recipes even better! I like to use it as a chicken marinade for balsamic grilled chicken.
You could also make a simple caprese pasta salad by tossing cooking pasta, mozzarella balls, and cherry tomatoes in this easy balsamic vinaigrette.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s a quick look at the ingredients you need to make this creamy balsamic vinaigrette. For a full list of ingredients and amounts please head to the full recipe.
You will be amazed at how easy it is to make this balsamic vinegar salad dressing with just a few basic ingredients.
- Honey – the honey adds a perfect bit of sweetness to your dressing. you can use maple syrup instead but it will result in a thinner dressing.
- Balsamic vinegar – using a high quality balsamic will make a huge difference in the flavor of your dressing
- Lemon juice – the lemon juice brightens up the dressing
- Dijon mustard – dijon adds some flavor and also helps create the perfectly creamy texture
- Extra virgin olive oil – it is important to use good quality olive oil to ensure the best flavor of the creamy balsamic vinaigrette
I like to keep the seasonings simple so I just use salt, pepper and garlic powder. If you want to add even more flavor you can replace those with some Italian seasoning or even add in some dried herbs.
If you prefer to use fresh garlic, I recommend using just one clove so that you don’t overpower the flavor of the dressing. Mince the fresh garlic prior to placing it in the blender.
If you love this creamy balsamic vinaigrette, try this apple cider vinaigrette or green dream dressing.
How to make Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette
Step 1: First, add honey, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, pepper and garlic powder to a blender. Then, blend together on high until full combined.
Step 2: Next, stream the oil into the blender while the blender is running on medium-low. Continue blending until the oil is fully incorporated. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
My favorite salad combos to eat with this homemade balsamic vinaigrette recipe
Try this homemade vinaigrette with one of these easy recipes for a quick lunch or side dish!
- Strawberry Spinach Salad – Start with baby spinach and top with fresh sliced strawberries, grilled chicken, crumbled feta and toasted almonds
- Chopped Romaine Salad – Start with a base of finely chopped romaine lettuce and top with red onion, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grilled steak and blue cheese
- Classic Caprese Salad – Slice large heirloom tomatoes into rounds and layer with thick slices of mozzarella cheese and fresh basil leaves.
Mad’s Expert Tips for the Best Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette 🥗
- Add olive oil slowly – to make sure your dressing does not separate, you need to add your olive oil very slowly while blending the dressing
- Use high quality ingredients – in a recipe like this vinaigrette, it’s important to use high quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar. They make a huge difference in the final product!
- Adjust seasoning to your taste – this recipe is customizable! If you like your dressing a bit more tart, you can add extra lemon. For some extra sweetness, add a bit more honey. You can make it your own!
I also use balsamic vinegar in this baked honey balsamic chicken breast.
Can I use an immersion blender to make this creamy balsamic dressing?
Yes! If you want to use an immersion blender to make this balsamic vinaigrette, just add all ingredients to the blender cup and blend.
Pull the blender up slowly as you blend until all of the oil is incorporated. You can also use a food processor and follow the same steps as you would for the blender.
If you love this balsamic dressing, you need to try this white balsamic dressing. It is very similar, but with a lighter, brighter flavor thanks to the lemon juice and white balsamic vinegar.
Recipe FAQs
How do you store creamy balsamic vinaigrette?
Store your dressing in an airtight container for up to a week in the fridge.
Do you need mayo for a creamy vinaigrette?
You do not need mayo for a creamy dressing. In this recipe, I use a dijon mustard to help make the vinaigrette creamy.
How do you avoid the dressing separating?
Add your olive oil to the dressing slowly while it blends so that the dressing doesn’t separate.
Other Healthy Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
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Recipe
Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Add honey, vinegar, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to a blender
- Blend on high until a smooth even mixture remains
- With the blender running on medium-low, pour in the EVOO in an even steady stream
- Increase the speed of the blender as you add the oil
- Blend until the oil is fully incorporated
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container
Recipe Notes
- You can replace the garlic powder with a pressed fresh garlic clove.
- For additional seasoning, you can add Italian seasoning to your dressing.
- To make sure the dressing combines fully, slowly add the olive oil to your dressing.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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