Honey Dijon Vinaigrette
A good homemade dressing can transform even the simplest salad, and this Honey Dijon Vinaigrette is one you’ll want to make on repeat. It’s bright, tangy, slightly sweet, and comes together in just a few minutes with pantry staples! If you’re obsessed with homemade sauces like me, this one might just be your new favorite.
This honey dijon vinaigrette is one of those simple recipes that proves homemade really is best. After going to culinary school, I have to admit something unfortunate: store-bought salad dressings rarely impress me anymore. Once you know how easy it is to make your own, it’s hard to go back.
That’s exactly why I love this dressing so much. This honey Dijon vinaigrette is tangy, smooth, packed with flavor, and bright enough to bring any salad or grain bowl to life. Even better, it only takes a few ingredients and a quick whisk to bring it together.
I love drizzling it over simple green salads, roasted vegetables, or hearty grain bowls (hello honey mustard chicken bowls!) when I want something fresh and flavorful without much effort.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Honey Dijon Vinaigrette Recipe
- Balanced flavor. The combination of honey, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and olive oil creates a dressing that’s perfectly tangy, slightly sweet, and incredibly fresh!
- Ready in minutes. This honey dijon vinaigrette recipe comes together in about five minutes with a quick whisk or shake in a jar, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Easy recipe for beginners. If you’re new to making homemade dressings, this is a great place to start. There are no complicated steps! Just combine the ingredients and mix.
- Simple pantry ingredients. With just olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper, you likely already have everything you need.
Dijon Honey Vinaigrette Ingredients
- Olive oil: Forms the base of the vinaigrette and gives it a smooth, rich texture. Use a high quality extra virgin olive oil if you can!
- Dijon mustard: Adds sharp flavor and helps emulsify the dressing.
- Honey: Provides natural sweetness that balances the acidity! This is essential to really balance the flavors.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic is the best option here.
- Lemon juice: Brightens the dressing with fresh acidity. This is what makes it officially a “vinaigrette”, even though we don’t use any vinegar.
- Salt & Pepper: Add to taste!
Variations & Substitutions
- Use apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice if you prefer a slightly sharper vinaigrette.
- Swap maple syrup for honey if you want a vegan version of the dressing.
- Make it creamier by whisking in a tablespoon of Greek yogurt.
- Use whole grain mustard instead of Dijon if you want a bit more texture. I would avoid yellow mustard as it doesn’t have the same depth of flavor.
How to Make Honey Dijon Vinaigrette
For the full list of ingredients and instructions, click here.
Step 1: Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together well. Alternatively, you can place in a jar and shake the ingredients well.
Step 2: Use immediately or store in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Lauren’s Top Tips for the Best Honey Dijon Vinaigrette Recipe
- Use fresh lemon juice. Is it just me or does bottled lemon juice taste weird? If you like the taste of bottled lemon juice, feel free to use it. But I think that fresh lemon juice gives the vinaigrette a brighter flavor.
- Finely mince the garlic! Smaller pieces of garlic distribute more evenly throughout the dressing. This prevents overpowering bites of garlic. If you have a microplane, I recommend using it!
- Shake before serving. Like most vinaigrettes, the oil and lemon juice may separate over time. Simply shake or whisk it again before using!
- Taste and adjust. Everyone’s preference for sweetness, saltiness and acidity is slightly different. Add a little more honey for sweetness, lemon juice for acid, or salt if it is too acidic.
What to Pair with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette
This honey dijon salad dressing can be served with more than just salads! Here are my favorite ways to serve it:
- Spinach and strawberry salad (so good with honey dijon flavors)
- Roasted vegetable bowls
- Any grain bowls with quinoa or farro
- Grilled chicken salads
It also works beautifully as a quick marinade for chicken or a drizzle over roasted vegetables or roasted broccoli and carrots!
Honey Dijon Vinaigrette Recipe FAQs
Dijon mustard is made with brown mustard seeds and white wine or wine vinegar, giving it a smoother texture and more complex flavor. Regular yellow mustard is milder and slightly more acidic, which can change the flavor of vinaigrettes.
They’re similar but not exactly the same. Honey mustard dressing is usually creamier and thicker, while honey Dijon vinaigrette has a lighter texture because it’s made with oil and an acid like lemon juice or vinegar.
Honey Dijon salad dressing typically includes olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, and an acid such as lemon juice or vinegar. Many versions also include garlic, salt, and black pepper for extra flavor.
More Sauce Recipes to Try
Like This Recipe?
Be sure to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and leave a comment below the recipe!
Best Honey Dijon Vinaigrette Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together well. Alternatively, you can place in a jar and shake the ingredients well.
- Use immediately or store in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice. Is it just me or does bottled lemon juice taste weird? If you like the taste of bottled lemon juice, feel free to use it. But I think that fresh lemon juice gives the vinaigrette a brighter flavor.
- Finely mince the garlic! Smaller pieces of garlic distribute more evenly throughout the dressing. This prevents overpowering bites of garlic. If you have a microplane, I recommend using it!
- Shake before serving. Like most vinaigrettes, the oil and lemon juice may separate over time. Simply shake or whisk it again before using!
- Taste and adjust. Everyone’s preference for sweetness, saltiness and acidity is slightly different. Add a little more honey for sweetness, lemon juice for acid, or salt if it is too acidic.
