The most PERFECT creamy balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing, easy, versatile and ready in just 5 minutes with just a few easy staple items. This dressing is light and healthy for salads, pasta salads, greek salads, chicken and more.
This creamy balsamic vinaigrette is the PERFECT salad dressing recipe. It is my very favorite, go-to, healthy salad dressing that I make regularly for our family. The ingredients are fresh and delicious and it comes together in under 5 minutes.
Homemade salad dressings are one of those things that take very little time but make a big impact in the flavor of the food you are preparing. They are SO MUCH better than store-bought salad dressings in both taste and ingredients. They have whole ingredients and no artificial preservatives like the store bought varieties and they just taste better.
This creamy balsamic vinaigrette (pronounced bȯl-ˈsa-mik ˌvi-ni-ˈgret) is the dressing that I always have on hand. I use it for my daily salad lunches, serve it with our dinner side salads and always use it for my favorite Panzanella Bruschetta Salad. My kids love it as well and it is always the one that they ask me to make. Hey, anything to get those veggies in, right?
What is Balsamic Vinaigrette Made from?
Balsamic vinaigrette is made from a combination of:
- balsamic vinegar
- olive or avocado oil
- lemon juice
- dijon mustard
- herbs and spices
- It is made creamy with added greek yogurt, light sour cream, or mayo (If you prefer not to have the creamy element, simply omit this ingredient). It is so incredibly easy to put together and has light, full layers of flavor.
You can add or adjust the herbs and spices to create a different flavor profile if you would like to change it up. For instance, if you have fresh garden herbs on hand, you could throw those in the dressing for a more herby flavor. You could also increase the pepper for a little extra kick. There are so many options!
What to Use Balsamic Vinaigrette for
Balsamic vinaigrettes are perfect for a variety of vegetables, green lettuce or spinach salads, and pasta salads. I even eat it on my caprese salads from time to time. My favorite way is drizzled over my panzanella bruschetta salad with chicken. Oh, yum.
They are so light, and flavorful (and this recipe is creamy, too!) that they can be used anywhere that you would use a salad dressing.
How to Make Salad Dressing
This recipe is so easy that you will wonder why you ever bought salad dressing from a store.
You simply throw the ingredients in a bowl and whisk or use an immersion blender until smooth.
That's it.
No, really... that is it!
It takes under 5 minutes, tops.
You want to whisk your ingredients until they emulsify- until they become creamy and meld together without separating.
How to Store Salad Dressing
You can store this dressing in a carafe or a mason jar with a lid for several days in the refrigerator.
It make become thicker in the fridge, so you may have to shake vigorously or whisk before serving.
Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette
The most PERFECT delicious and versatile creamy balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing, ready in just 5 minutes with just a few easy staple items. This dressing is light and healthy for salads, pasta salads, greek salads, chicken and more.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup good balsamic vinegar
- 3/4 cup avocado oil -or- extra virgin olive oil
- 2 T lemon juice
- 1 T dijon mustard
- 3 T greek yogurt, light sour cream, or mayo
- 4 cloves minced garlic (2 tsp.)
- 1 T sugar
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 3/4 tsp. black pepper
Instructions
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Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl.
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Whisk together all ingredients until creamy and emulsified. You may use an immersion blender for this step if you prefer.
If you make this recipe, I would love for you to come back and give it a great rating! Enjoy!
Lori Cullen
Delicious! I used the sour cream and an immersion blender; this recipe is a keeper!