Save time & money with our NEW Meal Planner!

Save time & money with Meal Planner!

How to Make Healthy, Homemade Salad Dressing (+ 3 Simple Recipes to Try)

Published May 4, 2016
1 minute read
A variety of ingredients and condiments are arranged on a light blue wooden surface. There are sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, radish slices, bell pepper slices, and three small bowls containing different homemade salad dressings. Fork and knife are also present. MyFitnessPal Blog
Published May 4, 2016
1 minute read
In This Article

As a kid, I would have been happy to drink Hidden Valley ranch dressing out of a sippy cup, and I didn’t discover that salad dressing could be homemade until a college summer abroad in Italy. Imagine my culture shock when server after server kept bringing me bottles of oil and vinegar instead of a salad smothered in creamy mayo and sour cream based ranch.

I adapted and in the 12 years since Italy, I haven’t purchased one bottle of dressing. It was just so much more fun making my own, and it freed me from worrying about expiration dates, ingredients that I couldn’t pronounce, and bottles cluttering precious fridge space. Instead, I started building a collection of vinegars which regularly consists of balsamic, red wine, apple cider and rice, which is plenty for a variety of homemade vinaigrettes.

To help you ditch the bottle salad dressings, we created this easy-to-use infographic to get you inspired. Use our cooking formula as a start, and then get creative from there! Just remember to taste, taste, taste until you get the mix of flavors that bring your salad to life!

For additional salad inspiration, check out these delicious salad recipes from Cook Smarts and some of our very own!

Cook Smarts Homemade Salad Dressing

The information in this article is provided solely for informational purposes. This information is not medical advice and should not be relied upon when making medical decisions, or to diagnose or treat a health condition or illness. You should seek the advice of a physician or a medical professional before beginning any dietary programs or plans, exercise regimen or any other fitness or wellness activities.

About the Authors

Meet the people behind the post

Related articles

More inspiration for you

2 minute read
Start your day with Sarah Michelle Gellar’s overnight oats—an easy, no-cook breakfast featured in
2 minute read
Packed with 45g of protein and tons of veggies, Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buddha Bowl
14 minute read
Looking for snacks to satisfy your cravings? We asked MyFitnessPal Registered Dietitians to share
9 minute read
Learn the basics of home cooking with our guide, covering essential tips, techniques, and
In This Article
Recent posts
2 minute read
Start your day with Sarah Michelle Gellar’s overnight oats—an easy, no-cook breakfast featured in
2 minute read
Packed with 45g of protein and tons of veggies, Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buddha Bowl
14 minute read
Looking for snacks to satisfy your cravings? We asked MyFitnessPal Registered Dietitians to share