Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

This amazing Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette is ready in as little as 5 minutes. That is pretty amazing for making your own homemade salad dressing. Make sure you give it a try!

angled shot of jar of honey balsamic vinaigrette

Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette is one of my all-time favorites. Tart and sweet at the same time, it complements so many incredibly different varieties of greens.

While Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette tastes great on so many traditional salads, my favorite way to use it is to pair it with is my Pear Salad with Candied Walnuts, but try others like this Mediterranean Tuna Salad or even a Jennifer Aniston salad!

Ingredients

With just a few basic ingredients, you will be on your way to homemade salad dressing in no time. Simple ingredients doesn’t mean boring- with so much flavor on their own, these ingredients come together to make the best honey balsamic vinaigrette.

  • Extra virgin olive oil – A good olive oil will taste like, well, olives, while a poorly made one will taste like vegetable oil. Make sure to use the good stuff here.
  • Balsamic vinegar – As this is the base for any basic vinaigrette, you want to be sure you’re using a good quality balsamic.
  • Honey – Honey gives this balsamic vinaigrette dressing just a touch of sweetness. Alternatively, you can use maple syrup- just be aware the flavor will change slightly.
  • Sprinkle of sea salt – This is the perfect addition to this tangy dressing. You can also throw in a dash of ground black pepper for even more flavor.
honey balsamic vinaigrette pouring over salad

Variations

There are plenty of ways to make this honey balsamic dressing your own. Here are a few suggestions.

  • Balsamic – Instead of using traditional balsamic vinegar, you could swap it for white balsamic for a unique flavor.
  • Sweetener – Instead of honey, you could swap it for agave or even maple syrup. The flavor will definitely change though.
  • Fresh herbs – You could even add some fresh herbs if you’d like. Basil or garlic would be my top choices.

How to Make the Best Balsamic Vinaigrette

The next time you’re craving a green salad, follow these simple steps to make a homemade salad dressing that is so much better than your favorite store-bought brand.

  1. Whisk. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together. Alternatively, add to dressing container and give a good shake.
  2. Store. Store in an airtight container like a glass jar until ready to use.
  3. Use. Pour on top of your favorite salad and enjoy.

What to Serve with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

The obvious answer here is to serve this dressing with a salad featuring tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, spinach, strawberries (this dressing is AH-amazing on fruit), arugula and onion.

But beyond a salad, this vinaigrette would also make an excellent marinade for chicken, pork steak. Also drizzle it on veggies like honey roast parsnips or roast carrots.

straight on shot of jar of honey balsamic vinaigrette

Storage and Freezing

I love keeping homemade vinaigrettes on hand for whenever a salad craving strikes. You can make this quick vinaigrette and it will stay good for a couple of weeks.

How to Store Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

Some homemade dressings like creamy dressings are best store in the refrigerator. But because there is no dairy in this delicious dressing, it can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container.

Can I Freeze This Dressing?

Because of the fact that the ingredients in this honey balsamic vinaigrette recipe separate over time, I do not recommend freezing it.

More Homemade Sauces

There’s nothing I love more than a homemade sauce. Here are a few of our favorites.

close up angled shot of spoon in jar of russian dressing

Russian Dressing Recipe

Creamy, tangy, and just a little bit spicy, this Russian dressing is a go-to for topping salads and spreading on sandwiches!
Check Out This Recipe!
coleslaw dressing poured into coleslaw mix

Creamy Coleslaw Dressing Recipe

Creamy and bright, this homemade Coleslaw Dressing has the perfect balance that makes for a bowl of absolutely irresistible coleslaw!
Check Out This Recipe!
overhead shot of chick-fil-sauce in a bowl with nuggets and fries

Copycat Chick-fil-a Sauce

This copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce recipe combines 3 basic ingredients for a sauce that tastes just like original! For dipping & slathering!
Check Out This Recipe!
straight on shot of honey balsamic vinaigrette with text overlay
angled shot of jar of honey balsamic vinaigrette

Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette is a simple and tasty salad dressing perfect for any occasion and all salads! Keep a jar in the refrigerator!
5 from 4 votes
Course: Condiment, Sauce
Cuisine: American
Keyword: honey balsamic vinaigrette
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Calories: 286kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey plus extra for drizzling
  • Sprinkle of sea salt

Instructions

  • Whisk all ingredients together and store in an airtight container until ready to use.
  • If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Nutrition

Calories: 286kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 0.1g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 20g, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 15mg, Fiber: 0.02g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 3mg, Iron: 0.3mg
collage of honey balsamic vinaigrette
Jessica Formicola of My sauce Recipes
Meet the Author

Jessica Formicola

Jessica is a cookbook author and Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School certified recipe developer. See her work in Parade Magazine, Better Homes & GardensMashed, AllRecipes AllStars and The Daily Meal Food + Travel and more!

More About Jess
5 from 4 votes

Join The Discussion

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    I love the sweet and tangy flavors of this dressing. I used it on my arugula spinach salad with berries and nuts, and it was the best thing ever!