Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

by Marcie // August 21, 2019 (updated 5/14/23)

This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using our links. Please see my privacy policy for more details.

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing is a sweet, tangy salad dressing made in minutes with only 5 ingredients. It’s so fresh and tasty that you’ll never buy it from the store again!

balsamic vinaigrette dressing in a jar with a spoon

As you may know by now, I’m very passionate about salad. 🙂 I eat one every day, and make sure to use the freshest, organic ingredients that I can find. That said, only homemade salad dressing will do!

I gave up buying salad dressing years ago because they don’t hold a candle to my salad dressing recipes. They’re full of preservatives, sodium and sugar, and they just ruin a salad.

I take a few minutes each week to prep dressings like my Greek salad dressing and apple cider vinegar dressing and boom! My salads taste a whole lot fresher.

This balsamic dressing recipe has been a staple for years. This dressing is sweet and tangy, with the savory flavor of dijon mustard and a bit of lemon juice to make the flavors shine extra bright.

overhead shot of balsamic vinaigrette dressing in a jar with a spoon alongside

Why you’ll love this recipe:

Balsamic dressing is sweet and tangy with a fresh flavor that you’ll never get from store bought salad dressings.
It’s made with just 5 ingredients that can be customized with what you have on hand.
It comes together in under 5 minutes and it’s guaranteed to make your salads next level.

Recipe ingredients

Olive oil. Use extra virgin for the best flavor.
Balsamic vinegar. This is the star ingredient so use the best quality you can afford.
Dijon mustard. Adds savory depth of flavor and acts as an emulsifier.
Fresh lemon juice. This is completely optional but it makes all of the flavors pop.
Maple syrup. Adds sweetness. It may be substituted with honey.
Salt and pepper, to taste. Essential seasoning for the dressing.

How to make balsamic dressing

Making homemade balsamic dressing is a game changer and it literally takes minutes to make.

Pro tip: Prep a batch in advance to have on hand for your salads!

The easiest way to make homemade salad dressing is using a mason jar!
Simply add all ingredients into the jar, place the lid on tight, and shake until the ingredients have emulsified.

overhead shot of balsamic vinaigrette dressing poured into a jar with a spoon

FAQs

What is balsamic vinegar?

Balsamic vinegar is special because it’s made from the sweet juice of freshly pressed grapes, which is also called “grape must”. The must is boiled into a concentrate, then fermented and aged.

Good balsamic vinegar contains just the grape must, and commercial varieties include a combination of grape must and wine vinegar.

What’s the difference between vinaigrette and dressing?

Vinaigrettes are oil-based, and include vinegar, dijon mustard, and sometimes shallots, garlic or other herbs and seasonings.

“Dressing” is a blanket term for any type of salad dressing, including oil-based and creamy varieties like Caesar, ranch and bleu cheese.

Do you need to refrigerate balsamic vinaigrette?

Your homemade balsamic dressing needs to be refrigerated. Keep in mind that the dressing will solidify when it’s cold, so place out at room temperature a few minutes before serving and shake well before using.

How long does homemade balsamic vinaigrette last?

Homemade salad dressings keep for up to 2 weeks in an air tight container in the refrigerator.

Recipe notes

Pro tip: Prep a batch in advance to have on hand for your salads!
Add garlic, shallots or herbs to change up your dressing! If using fresh garlic and shallots, pulse the dressing in a food processor.
Dressing keeps for up to 2 weeks in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
Keep in mind that the dressing will solidify when it’s cold, so place out at room temperature a few minutes before serving and shake well before using.

front view of balsamic vinaigrette dressing in a jar with a spoon

Serve this dressing with the following:

More salad dressing recipes you’ll love:

Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram