Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe
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I love how this homemade lemon vinaigrette dressing elevates the flavor of my salads. In just 10 minutes, I make this tangy dressing using fresh lemons, mustard, honey, oil, fresh herbs, and seasonings, and it tastes incredible when drizzled over any meals. The best part is how well it stores, making it perfect to keep on hand.
Fresh dressings made from scratch at home are always better than buying them from the store, and I know you would agree with me on that. I love a rich and flavorful dressing that complements a basic salad and keeps me coming back for another bite, which is why I have created several favorites like my homemade buttermilk ranch dressing and my popular balsamic vinaigrette that my family has been enjoying quite a lot lately.
Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing
Lemon vinaigrette is a simple homemade salad dressing consisting of lemon juice, vinegar, oil, and herbs to make a light mixture that is perfectly tossed with any salad.
The good news is that this dressing works for more than just salads. I love drizzling it over simple homemade pastas or roasted root vegetables, and it is something my wife enjoys as well. I also like to customize the recipe by adding ingredients like onion, garlic, or fresh herbs such as basil or chervil, so I encourage you to experiment.
I created this lemon vinaigrette recipe because we eat a lot of salad in my house, and honestly we do not like store bought dressings since they have so many unnecessary artificial ingredients. Instead, in 10 minutes, I whisk together lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, honey, oil, and fresh herbs until well combined and that’s all. Seriously, it can’t get easier than this, so I hope you give this one a try.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Lemon – You need fresh lemon juice. In addition, for more lemon flavor, you can add lemon zest.
- Vinegar – White distilled or white wine vinegar is perfect for this lemon vinaigrette. However, you can use apple cider vinegar as well.
- Mustard – I use Dijon or you can use stone-ground mustard to act as an emulsifier as well.
- Honey – Any honey will work in this simple lemon vinaigrette recipe. Substitute the honey with sugar, maple syrup, or agave if desired.
- Oil – I like to use a combination of extra virgin olive oil and plain neutral-flavored oil in my recipe.
- Fresh Herbs – You will need some chopped fresh thyme and chives.
- Seasonings – I always use sea salt, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper to season the lemon salad dressing.
How to Make Lemon Vinaigrette
Mix the base: I add the honey, vinegar, mustard, and lemon juice to a medium size bowl.
Whisk to combine: I whisk vigorously until everything is fully combined.
Add the oil: I slowly drizzle in the oil while whisking continuously to emulsify the dressing. Once all the oil is added, the vinaigrette thickens and comes together.
Add the seasonings: I add the thyme, chives, salt, and pepper to the dressing.
Finish the vinaigrette: I whisk everything together until fully combined, then serve it right away or store it for later use.
Chef Tip + Notes
Emulsify is simply a culinary term for combining two ingredients that normally do not mix well, like oil and vinegar. So, my best tip for this Lemon Vinaigrette recipe is to add the oil slowly while whisking so the dressing stays well combined and smooth, giving it the balanced texture and flavor you want in a good homemade dressing.
- Stand mixer option: You can make this recipe in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment.
- Use fresh lemon juice: I always use fresh lemon juice because it gives the dressing better balance and flavor. Bottled juice does not compare.
- Whisk the base well: I fully whisk the lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, and honey before adding the oil.
- Adjust at the end: I taste the dressing at the end and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Use fresh herbs: I use fresh herbs whenever possible because they add a cleaner and brighter finish to the dressing.
Serving Suggestions
My favorite way to enjoy this lemon vinaigrette is drizzled over a fresh salad so the bright flavor really stands out, but feel free to add it to any meal you like. The other day I made a jar of this dressing and drizzled it over a simple Italian salad, then served it alongside my roasted chicken, and my daughter decided to dip her chicken in it and loved it, so there you go. I also have plenty of recipes on my blog, from main protein dishes to simple salads, where this dressing pairs perfectly.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can make this lemon dressing recipe up to 3 days ahead of time. You can serve this immediately, but more flavors will come out with time. In addition, let it sit at room temperature before serving it.
How to Store: Place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days. This will not freeze.
More Homemade Dressings Recipes
Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ¼ cup white distilled vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons honey
- ¾ cup olive oil or blended oil
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh chives
- 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh thyme
- sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, and honey to a medium size bowl.
- Whisk vigorously until it is combined.
- Slowly drizzle in the oil while continuing to vigorously whisk the dressing to emulsify it. The vinaigrette should be thickened and completely combined once all the oil is added.
- Add the chives, thyme, salt, and pepper to the dressing.
- Whisk the vinaigrette together to combine the remaining ingredients. Store or serve it.
A gold standard. To emulsify I put in a mason jar and shake, shake, shake. Works every time for this and the balsamic vinaigrette. Making the pasta salad today. Sooo good.
Excellent!
This is the best! Love anything lemon. Learned to add mustard to help with the emulsion. New trick for me! Am trying your other salad dressings too.
Thank you ChefBilly yum oh sauces 😀😋
Great recipe, as always. There is something that happens everytime I follow the recipes on your site though. You get a ways down & the screen goes blank & you must log back in & scroll to where you were to try to finish it & this happens several times on each recipe. Your recipes are worth the frustration of this happening but just wanted you to be aware that it happens
oh that’s weird. I’ll take a look.
This was so good. I wish i could take this when i go out to eat
hah, that would be awesome!
I do. Just pick up one of those small condiment squeeze bottles in the grocery store. Amazon also has a nice variety to choose from. I put them in a zip lock bag for extra protection .
This is soooo good! Also‼️ So easy to make‼️ This is something I’m keeping on hand..
VERY tasty! Will definitely make again and again! So easy to make! 5⭐️
FYI VERY CHALLENGING TO GET RECIPED UP AS ADS KEPT POPPING UP!! I COULDNT DELETE THEM! Not SURE IF A GLITCH OR just me?
He has the best recipes and I love the videos
thank you so kindly!!
I’ve been looking for the vinaigrette dressing recipe and trying lots of them. This one is definitely my favourite. I also tried some of your salads recipes with this dressing. Thank you!
love it!
Loved this salad dressing. It tasted like sunshine and was bright and light! I have since made it several times! Thanks Chef!