Salad Dressing

17 Salad Dressings to Spruce Up Your Vegetables

You'll never have sad salad again.
Bibb lettuce chicken and cherry salad with creamy horseradish dressing on a white platter.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Anna Stockwell

Having a batch of ready-made salad dressing can be the difference between a sad salad and a truly spectacular one that’s bursting with flavor. If you’re tired of making the same kale salad over and over again, it may be time to try something new. Consider whipping up a classic Caesar salad, whisking together a vinaigrette made with a burst of lemon juice or punchy hot sauce, or tossing your greens in a creamy horseradish dressing. Whichever way you go, keeping a jar or two of these sauces in your fridge means you’ll be able to quickly spruce up your salads, vegetables, and grains for easy, delicious meals whenever you’d like.

  • Image may contain Bowl Food Meal Dish and Plant
    Sara Bonisteel
    1/17

    Basic French Vinaigrette

    This classic vinaigrette is delicious as is, but it’s also a great template for adding in spices, alliums, and fresh herbs. For more inspiration, head over to our salad dressing primer.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, prop styling by Brian Heiser, food styling by Rhoda Boone
    2/17

    Citrus Vinaigrette

    The combination of fresh orange juice, red wine vinegar, lemon zest, and honey make this a punchy salad dressing with just enough sweetness. Toss it with avocado, cucumbers, and lettuces—each bite is creamy, crunchy, and satisfying.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele
    3/17

    Ranch Dressing

    Classic ranch dressing has a secret: it's really not that hard to make a good one at home. Just use fresh garlic and herbs, and you'll never buy bottled again.

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  • Photo by Vanessa Stump
    4/17

    Pistachio Vinaigrette

    A handful of pistachios lends this vinaigrette a rich, nutty flavor. To make it, simply blitz together everything in your blender.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele
    5/17

    Pickled Peppercorn Vinaigrette

    Use this pickled peppercorn dressing on sturdy greens, or pair with slow-cooked meats or roasted cauliflower.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kendra Smoot
    6/17

    Tomato Vinaigrette

    This refreshing vinaigrette with red wine vinegar, garlic, and tomatoes is best enjoyed at the height of summer. After you purée tomatoes, you’ll stir in garlic and let it steep for 20 minutes—just long enough to get all the flavor without too much bite.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo
    7/17

    Creamy Ginger Dressing

    Cookbook author Bryant Terry’s ginger dressing gets its luscious, silky texture from tofu. Though it’s excellent on salads, you can also treat it as a dip or drizzle it over grilled or roasted vegetables.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Anna Stockwell
    8/17

    Creamy Horseradish Dressing

    This velvety dressing gets a kick from two tablespoons of prepared horseradish and brightness from fresh lime juice, while mayonnaise gives it an ultra-creamy texture.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Mira Evnine
    9/17

    Caesar Dressing

    Parmesan, anchovies, and garlic make this a deeply savory and satisfying dressing. Use it to make a classic Caesar salad or incorporate it into a sandwich.

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  • Photo by Anson Smart
    10/17

    Tangy Beet Cashew Dressing With Chile

    To make this vivid pink dressing, cookbook author Amy Chaplin blends sweet, raw beets with cashew butter and red chiles. The dressing will thicken as it sits—thin it out with a little water if needed.

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  • Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo
    11/17

    Hot Sauce Vinaigrette

    If you love hot sauce, then this is the vinaigrette for you. Fresh garlic, apple cider vinegar, mustard, hot sauce, and a teaspoon of honey make this a sharp dressing that partners well with creamy beans salads.

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  • Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
    12/17

    Basic Lemon Vinaigrette

    Don’t believe anyone who claims that every single vinaigrette recipe should have one part acid to three parts oil. This more assertive ratio brings a lot more flavor to the table.

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  • Photo by Shutterstock
    17/17

    Creamy Vinaigrette for Salads

    This salad dressing gets its luscious texture from heavy cream. Because of its subtlety, this vinaigrette can be flavored easily with fresh herbs like mint, chives, or chervil.

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After graduating from the International Culinary Center, Genevieve cooked at Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Per Se. Prior to joining Epicurious, she was a freelance recipe tester and editor, food stylist, and personal chef. She worked on the most recent edition of *The Essential New York Times Cookbook
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