Honey Vinaigrette

If you love a sweet-savory salad dressing, this simple Honey Vinaigrette recipe is one you’ll want to keep in your back pocket! Calling for just three ingredients, this delicious honey salad dressing is made from easy to find ingredients and makes any salad taste even better.

Honey Vinaigrette Salad Dressing Recipe

I’m a sucker for a homemade salad dressing (no shade to store-bough salad dressing, but homemade is where it’s at), and this Honey Vinaigrette has been a favorite of mine for a long time.

Making colorful, vibrant homemade salad dressings is the best way to brighten up any salad. This recipe adds tanginess and a hint of sweetness.

As someone who really appreciates a savory dish that has a touch of sweet, this recipe hits the spot and is naturally sweetened with honey.

Why I love this recipe:

This honey vinaigrette strikes the perfect balance between tart and sweet. It works well in salads, especially those that call for fresh fruit, as well as grain bowls and other bowls that might require a sauce of sorts.

join our party!

get our latest recipes delivered to your inbox every week — plus all my entertaining tips and tricks!

​
​

Subscribe

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

You can also drizzle it on roasted veggies or even dip a piece of toasted bread into it.

It’s wildly versatile, and I would be lying if I said this was not my favorite dressing for the spring and summer months.

Here are some more things I simply adore about this recipe:

• This salad dressing is SO easy to put together. You might have the ingredients in your pantry right now.
• You can store it in the fridge to use in your salads every day.
• The flavors play nicely with any salad you might want to make, but especially those that involve fresh fruits because the honey highlights the natural sweetness.

More homemade dressings to try: Hot Bacon Vinaigrette | Strawberry Vinaigrette | Creamy Honey Vinaigrette

What you need to make this recipe:

The Speckled Palate participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.

• Larger mason jar with a lid
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Salad dressing storage container

Here are the basic ingredients you’ll need to grab at the grocery store:

• Extra virgin olive oil — you can substitute any neutral-tasting oil, like avocado oil. I like the robust flavor of olive oil for vinaigrettes. I do not recommend using an oil like vegetable oil or canola oil.
• Apple cider vinegar — the tanginess and tartness of this vinegar really shines when paired with the honey. I do not recommend making any substitutions, like red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar because they would change the flavor profile of this dressing.
• Honey — locally sourced honey is my favorite, but honestly, any type of honey you have on hand will work in this recipe. It adds a touch of sweetness that is unmatched. Pure maple syrup could be a substitute, though then we would need to call this a maple vinaigrette.
• Black pepper — using freshly-cracked black pepper adds so much flavor to this simple vinaigrette.
• Kosher salt — medium grain kosher salt is my favorite. (Diamond Crystal is my go-to brand.) A similarly sized sea salt or another medium-grain salt will work well, too.

Essentially, we’re going to mix two parts oil to one part honey and vinegar.

How to make Honey Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

Here’s how to make this easy salad dressing recipe:

First, find a larger mason jar. (You can also do this in a small bowl with a whisk, if desired.)

Pour the olive oil, apple cider vinegar and honey into the mason jar.

Season with salt and pepper.

Cap with the mason jar top, and shake really, really well to combine the oil and vinegar.

It’s ready to use right away or you can refrigerate it for later.

How to store:

Refrigerate in the mason jar, glass jar or another airtight container where you mixed it for up to a week.

It will separate as it sits in the fridge. The olive oil should also become solid, so if you’re planning to use it later, be sure to let it come to room temperature before using. Give it a good shake, too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to use this honey vinaigrette

We love this salad dressing on a sweet salad, like this Ramen Noodle Salad with Clementines and Broccoli.

You can also serve it on…

• House salads or simple side salads, like a simple garden salad
• Salads involving fresh berries and fruits, like Blueberry Salad and Strawberry Spinach Salad
• Salads with funkier cheese, like blue cheese, goat cheese or feta
• Any salad featuring brussels sprouts as the greens
• Chicken Spinach Salad with Apples and Strawberries
• Grilled Peach Salad

Quick tips and tricks to making the best Honey Salad Dressing

• Make a big batch of this homemade vinaigrette and use it throughout the week for meal prep.
• Shake super well before using. The honey is an emulsifier here, but the ingredients could separate before you use the dressing. If they do, give it a strong shake to combine the ingredients.
• Store in the fridge, and use it up within a week for the freshest flavor.

Here’s how you can make it at home…