Balsamic Vinaigrette

Skip the store-bought salad dressing! Instead, make this balsamic vinaigrette at home. It's rich, tangy, and SO easy to make. Just 7 ingredients!

Balsamic vinaigrette

If you keep a bottle of balsamic vinegar in your pantry, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be making your own balsamic vinaigrette at home. Really, skip the store-bought stuff: this balsamic vinaigrette recipe calls for 7 ingredients and comes together in under 5 minutes. It doesn’t get simpler than that!

And this recipe isn’t just simple – it’s flavorful, too. Thanks to the balsamic, mustard, and a touch of honey, it’s bold, sweet, and tangy. It’s a perfect way to jazz up salads, roasted veggies, and more. Try it once, and you’ll be hooked.

Balsamic vinaigrette recipe ingredients

Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this balsamic dressing recipe:

  • Balsamic vinegar – It fills the dressing with bold, sweet, and tangy flavor.
  • Extra-virgin olive oil – It gives the dressing body and richness.
  • Dijon mustard – For extra tang.
  • Honey or maple syrup – It mellows the acidity of the mustard and balsamic.
  • Garlic – For sharp, savory depth of flavor.
  • And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Whisking vinegar in small bowl while pouring in olive oil

You can make this balsamic dressing two ways: in a small bowl or in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.

If you’re making it in a bowl, whisk together the vinegar, honey, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper. Then, drizzle in the olive oil while whisking continuously. When the dressing is emulsified, season to taste.

If you want to make the dressing in a jar, add all the ingredients (oil included!), and secure the lid. Shake vigorously until the dressing is emulsified. So easy!

Whisking balsamic dressing in small bowl

How to Use Balsamic Vinaigrette

This homemade balsamic vinaigrette is as versatile as it is delicious. I hope you enjoy finding different ways to use it! Here are a few of my favorites to get you started:

How do you like to use balsamic vinaigrette? Let me know in the comments!

Balsamic vinaigrette recipe ingredients

More Favorite Dressing Recipes

If you love this balsamic vinaigrette, try one of these delicious dressing recipes next:

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Balsamic Vinaigrette

rate this recipe:
5 from 46 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serves 6 to 8
This easy balsamic vinaigrette is bold, sweet, and tangy. Use it as a salad dressing, or drizzle it over roasted veggies and more!

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, honey, garlic, mustard, salt, and several grinds of pepper.
  • Drizzle in the olive oil while whisking and continue to whisk until the dressing is emulsified. Alternatively, combine everything in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake to combine.

26 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Jinna
    02.19.2024

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing your delicious and simple recipes with us!! Your recipes never disappoint including this balsamic vinaigrette! It’s super easy to make and so delicious. I added all ingredients into a mason jar and shook it, viola! Thanks again!

  2. Aimee
    02.04.2024

    5 stars
    Thank you for this recipe! I made the Balsamic Vinaigrette for the Beet Salad and it was outstanding!! Super-easy and so delicious. It was restaurant-quality!

  3. Luis
    01.19.2024

    Can you make it a day ahead before serving?

  4. andrea
    01.11.2024

    5 stars
    Yummy! Does it need to be refrigerated?

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      01.12.2024

      Hi Andrea, yep, I recommend storing this dressing in the fridge.

  5. Kelly
    01.05.2024

    5 stars
    Wonderful vinaigrette recipe! It’s tangy and sweet without being too much of either. My whole family loved it on a salad with arugula and pears. I’ve made this with olive oil and avocado oil, and both are absolutely delicious!

  6. Teresa
    12.24.2023

    Hi there

    I’m intolerant to olive oil and generally use rice bran oil to cook with. Would you use this or would you have another recommendation to use instead of olive oil?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.24.2023

      Hi Teresa, avocado oil would work well.

  7. Vanessa
    10.04.2023

    Doing this tonight to use with your beet salad recipe. Question…keep leftover in pantry or fridge? Thanks!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      10.09.2023

      Hi Vanessa, sorry for my slow reply – I keep it in the fridge, then let it sit out at room temp before serving because the olive oil will solidify a bit in the fridge.

  8. Nicole
    05.09.2023

    5 stars
    Over grilled green asparagus topped with parmegiano cheese, served with warm foccaciobread. Delicious!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.09.2023

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  9. Connie
    02.27.2023

    5 stars
    This is a great tasting vinaigrette and very easy to make. I was looking for an easy vinaigrette for a family dinner about a week ago and luckily found this one. Everyone loved it. Definitely a keeper!!

  10. Carolyn Pederson
    02.06.2023

    5 stars
    I love this salad dressing so much! Made it for Christmas dinner, New Year’s Eve 2022/2023,– and again February 5, 2023 because it was requested!! – along with the Pear & Fennel Salad. Highly, highly recommend both for their fresh and unique flavors!

  11. Chiho
    12.22.2022

    5 stars
    So delicious! Perfect balance.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      12.23.2022

      So glad you loved it!

  12. Jay
    11.14.2022

    5 stars
    This was delicious! Thank you. 🙂

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      11.18.2022

      Hi Jay, so glad you loved it!

  13. Kaydee S
    10.11.2022

    5 stars
    Great tasting and simple to make. I only had yellow mustard, so I added some Dry Sherry to balance the flavor.

  14. Maureen
    07.20.2022

    5 stars
    Very good I would like To know how long we could keep this vinegar the restore in the fridge or in the cupboard

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.21.2022

      Hi Maureen, you can keep it for about a week and store it in the fridge.

  15. Joanne McKenney
    03.08.2022

    5 stars
    What an absolutely scrumptious dressing! I used some on a beet salad and had enough left over to reduce slightly and drizzle on bruschetta! Thank you!

  16. Kim
    01.05.2022

    5 stars
    It is such a pleasure to make and taste such a well balanced dressing! A new addition to my dressing repertoire!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.05.2022

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the dressing!

      • Eliza L.
        01.11.2022

        LOVE THOS RECIPE! For how long is this dressing good for?

        • Jeanine Donofrio
          01.12.2022

          Hi Eliza, about 3-4 days in the fridge.

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Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.