With basic pantry staples, you can whisk together this easy Dijon vinaigrette in just 5 minutes. It’s a simple, flavorful, homemade salad dressing for any night of the week.
Table of Contents
If you love homemade salad dressings, be sure to try this pepper jelly vinaigrette, our favorite balsamic vinaigrette, this red wine vinegar salad dressing, and this lemon vinaigrette, too!
This is my favorite go-to salad dressing!!
– Shaina Alissa
A Dijon Mustard Salad Dressing Wakes up Simple Greens
Salad makes an appearance on our dinner table multiple times per week, and I often don’t have the energy to do much more than toss some lettuce or baby greens with a simple Dijon vinaigrette. This isn’t one of those “fussy” homemade dressings that requires mincing onion, pulling out an immersion blender or food processor, or grabbing all of the spices from your pantry. Instead, the basic vinaigrette can be whisked together in less than 5 minutes! That means that you’re much more likely to actually make the dressing, and therefore more likely to consume those veggies that we know are good for us.
This particular lemon Dijon vinaigrette includes olive oil, vinegar, and freshly-squeezed lemon juice, along with honey (for just a touch of sweetness), Dijon mustard (which serves as a tangy, zesty, natural emulsifier), salt, and pepper. That’s all! It tastes light and fresh, it provides a bright, acidic balance for heartier, richer entrees, and it’s full of flavor.
Ingredient Notes and Tips for Success
- I typically use apple cider vinegar, but red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, or champagne vinegar all work well. Grab whichever you love!
- Use the fresh juice that you squeeze from a lemon, rather than the bottled version. Lemon juice is another acidic component that adds depth to the dressing and brightens it up with fresh citrus flavor.
- Zesty and tangy, the Dijon mustard serves as a flavorful emulsifier that brings the dressing together.
- Use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil, since it brings so much flavor to the vinaigrette.
- If using delicate lettuce or baby greens, wait to dress the salad until you’re ready to serve. If you’re using sturdier greens like kale, you can toss the salad in advance and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours.
How to Make Dijon Vinaigrette
This condiment seriously couldn’t be easier! If you have 5 minutes, you can make a delicious homemade vinaigrette for your next salad. Simple recipes are always the best!
- Whisk together the vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.
- Stream in the olive oil slowly while whisking continually. This helps emulsify the dressing, bringing all of the ingredients together. Alternatively, you can shake the ingredients together in a mason jar.
- Taste the vinaigrette by dipping a piece of lettuce or other salad greens into the dressing. This will give you a better sense for how the vinaigrette will actually taste on your salad. Season with additional salt, pepper, or honey, if desired.
- Drizzle over your salad greens and toss to coat. I also like to season the lettuce greens themselves with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
Drizzle the vinaigrette over a big bowl of your favorite spring greens, peppery arugula, crisp Romaine lettuce, kale, or other salad greens of choice. If you like additional ingredients in your bowl, try toasted nuts or seeds; grated Parmesan cheese, crumbled feta cheese, blue cheese, or goat cheese; diced tomatoes, cucumber, onion, celery, or carrot; dried cranberries or raisins; fresh berries, sliced apple, sliced pear; citrus fruit such as oranges, blood oranges, mandarin slices, or grapefruit; and cornbread croutons or fried onions.
Awesome easy dressing! Thanks so much!
– Andrea
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Dijon Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or substitute sherry vinegar, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or champagne vinegar)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- For serving: salad greens of choice
Instructions
- In a small bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.
- While whisking constantly, slowly stream in the olive oil until the dressing is smooth and emulsified. Alternatively, combine all of the ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously until completely combined.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Drizzle over salad greens and toss to coat just before serving.
Notes
- Apple cider vinegar is my favorite, but red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, or sherry vinegar also work well.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the brightest flavor.
- For a less-sweet dressing, reduce or omit the honey. Maple syrup also works as a substitute.
- Add fresh garlic, minced shallot, lemon zest, or fresh herbs for extra flavor.
- Taste the vinaigrette on a piece of lettuce before adjusting the seasoning. This gives you the best sense of how it will taste on the finished salad.
- Store in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Shake well before serving.
Nutrition
Recipe Variations
- Don’t have a fresh lemon? Omit the lemon juice entirely, or replace it with extra vinegar.
- For a stronger lemon flavor, grate fresh lemon zest into the dressing.
- If you don’t like any sweetness in your dressing, omit the honey. You can also substitute maple syrup for the honey, or add more sweetener to taste.
- Season the dressing with about 1 ½ teaspoons of pressed, grated, or finely minced fresh garlic (about 1 large garlic clove), shallots, or onions.
- Add dried or fresh herbs, such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, chives, basil, or oregano. For a shortcut, season the dressing with our favorite all-purpose seasoning.
- Double all of the ingredients to make a bigger batch of dressing, or cut the ingredients in half for a smaller portion.
More Homemade Salad Dressings
Buttermilk Dressing
5 minutes mins
Red Wine Vinegar Salad Dressing
20 minutes mins
Creamy Caesar Dressing
5 minutes mins
Originally published in March, 2022, this post was updated in May, 2025.
Awesome easy dressing! Thanks so much!
Thank you! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!
This is my favorite go-to salad dressing!!
Thank you, Shaina!