Craving the taste of restaurant vinaigrette dressing, but can’t seem to get the same great flavor out of a bottled version? Forego the store-bought dressing and make you own Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing for a fraction of the price, with no preservatives.

A plate on a wooden table with a chef salad topped with homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Salad is one of my favorite meals, and you can’t beat how healthy it is. But, if you are someone who buys the lettuce, the produce, and the bottle of dressing with aspirations of eating healthier, only for it to go bad and get tossed – we all know you are not alone. It’s frustrating to me to waste money on food that doesn’t get eaten. Salad dressing (especially one that is not ranch, which I could eat on anything) is typically wasted in my house. I love balsamic vinaigrette, and was estastic when I found a recipe to make at home that I love and can make in single servings!

This Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing takes minutes to make.

Food from scratch can be time consuming – but I made this balsamic vinaigrette homemade salad dressing in literally MINUTES. After mixing just a few ingredients from my pantry, I was wondering why I didn’t do this a long time ago. Dump the ingredients into your bottle and shake – that’s it.

Chill time in the frig enhances the flavor.

After mixing everything together, you can eat this on your salad right away, but storing in the refrigerator does make it taste better.

This homemade salad dressing makes enough for the whole family – or cut in half for one or two uses.

A close up of a mason jar half full of mixed homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Here’s another reason I am loving this dressing: (or a few reasons)

Homemade dressing lacks the not-so-good-for-you preservatives that are in the store-bought dressings. This means it only lasts a few days up to a week. However, it makes just enough for a family meal and then you can discard and make more fresh next time you need it. No more storing bottles of dressing in your frig and pantry = more space, which I love.

Remember: Again, this recipe makes more than double what I need for myself for one large salad. I usually cut the recipe in half if I am making this homemade balsamic vinaigrette just for me and it makes the perfect amount (I drench my salad in it!)

It’s super healthy and all natural.

I know what is in the dressing I am eating. It’s all natural and good for me. That’s enough reason for me all by itself.

You can make it just how you like it.

Even the best name brand salad dressing just doesn’t always hit the spot for me. I don’t know what it is… so why am I buying dressing that isn’t something I love? Tweak the ingredients a little for more mustard flavor, salt, whatever.

Making your own homemade salad dressing saves you money.

Enough said. You can make the homemade version of this dressing for a fraction of what a bottle at the store will cost, and you aren’t getting all those ingredients that you have no idea what they are! Plus, you aren’t wasting as much if it isn’t something you frequently use.

Trust me though – once you try this, you will want to make it all. the. time.

Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

A wooden cutting board with bowls of premeasured olive oil, mustard, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper to make balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Using a shaker bottle or a jar you can put a lid on (I used a simple mason jar here) mix the following 5 simple ingredients together:

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, chopped or 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. each of salt and pepper
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Hint: This also is a great dipping sauce or marinade for grilled chicken and veggies. YUM!

Need a recipe for something that goes great with salad?

Try this Chicken Broccoli Braid. It makes enough to have with salad for dinner and lunch the next day. Made with crescent rolls and a delicious chicken filling, we eat it all year long. (It also pairs great with soup!)