• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Chicken
  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Seafood
  • Sides
  • Dessert
The Seasoned Mom
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
    • Disclosure
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » What We're Eating » Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette

    Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette

    Published: Jun 11, 2020 by Blair Lonergan

    Jump to Recipe
    Long collage image of Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette
    Front shot of a bottle of homemade pepper jelly vinaigrette salad dressing with a text title below the image
    Collage pin with white border for Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette salad dressing

    Store-bought bottled salad dressing doesn't stand a chance! The most flavorful sweet, tangy and spicy Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette is ready with just 5 ingredients and less than 5 minutes of prep. This homemade vinaigrette is an easy way to transform your weeknight salad!

    Glass bottle of homemade pepper jelly vinaigrette on a wooden table with salad in the background

    My husband is a self-proclaimed Hidden Valley Ranch lover. That creamy bottled classic is a staple in our kitchen, and for almost 20 years it has been just about the only dressing that I've seen Keith willingly put on his lettuce. That's how you know that this Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette is a keeper -- because even my Ranch-loving hubby thinks it's amazing! No joke, I've actually caught him reaching for the bottle of my homemade vinaigrette in lieu of his beloved Ranch (on more than one occasion). It's that good, folks.

    Don't get me wrong: this isn't a new thing in our house. In fact, I've been shaking together bottles of Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette for years to enjoy on my own salad (or to serve to Keith without his consent). But only recently has this quick recipe become our go-to "House Dressing" that we serve multiple nights per week. Keith just raves about it and insisted that I finally share the simple details here on the blog. Now y'all can enjoy it, too!

    Overhead image of romaine lettuce salad tossed with homemade red pepper jelly vinaigrette dressing

    How to make Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette:

    The key ingredient that makes this homemade salad dressing stand out from the zillions of other vinaigrette recipes that I've made over the years? Red pepper jelly! Pepper jelly is a Southern-favorite preserve — somewhere between a jam and a relish — that we add to anything and everything. It's truly a staple in my fridge, and I'm never without a jar tucked away in the pantry.

    The main ingredients in pepper jelly are peppers, sugar, and vinegar, which combine with pectin to form the classic preserve. It’s often served over cream cheese as an appetizer with crackers, but it’s also great in salad dressing or as a component of savory entrees (like my Sweet Heat Southern Glazed Salmon). Red pepper jelly has a nice spicy kick to it -- not overpowering so that kids can't enjoy it -- but just enough to give a recipe that extra something special.

    Ingredients for Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette:

    • Pepper Jelly or Pepper Jam
    • Apple cider vinegar
    • Olive oil
    • Dijon mustard
    • Kosher salt

    My neighbor makes a homemade hot pepper jam that I love, so that's typically what I use when it's available. Store-bought brands (such as Braswell's) are really great too!

    Mason jar full of hot pepper jam

    Step 1: Place all Ingredients in a Jar (or Bowl)

    Place the pepper jelly, cider vinegar, olive oil, Dijon and salt in a jar or bowl.

    Ingredients for Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette in a mason jar

    Step 2: Shake!

    Shake the jar (or whisk in a bowl) until completely combined, and then serve with salad.

    Horizontal shot of salad with pepper jelly vinaigrette and serving tongs

    How to serve Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette:

    This vinaigrette has so much flavor, that it makes even a simple green salad taste special. It's perfect when you need a quick side dish and you don't want to spend more than 5 minutes getting it ready! Of course, you can add other ingredients to the salad -- such as shaved Parmesan, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, olives, croutons or onions -- but you really don't need more than some crisp, cool, chopped lettuce.

    Preparation and Storage Tips:

    • Store the vinaigrette in a jar or other container with a tight lid so that it's easy to shake up when you need to use it again. The ingredients will naturally separate as it sits.
    • The pepper jelly vinaigrette will last in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

    Cook's Tips and Recipe Variations:

    • Before you serve the dressing, make sure to give it a taste and add extra salt and pepper (as necessary).
    • Scale this recipe to make more or less. For instance, if you just want enough for one salad, you can cut all of the ingredients in half. Alternatively, you can prepare a larger batch by doubling the ingredients and keep the extra dressing in your fridge to enjoy all week.
    • Have some extra vinaigrette on hand? Use the same pepper jelly dressing as a marinade for grilled chicken. It gives the meat a sweet and spicy char!
    Overhead shot of a salad dressed in pepper jelly vinaigrette

    Other homemade salad dressings that you might enjoy:

    • Green Goddess Dressing
    • Buttermilk Dressing
    • Poppy Seed Dressing
    • Balsamic Vinaigrette
    • Champagne Vinaigrette
    • Citrus Vinaigrette
    Glass bottle of homemade pepper jelly vinaigrette on a wooden table with salad in the background
    Print Pin
    4.5 from 2 votes

    Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette

    A sweet, tangy and spicy Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette is ready with just 5 ingredients and less than 5 minutes of prep!
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American, Southern
    Keyword homemade vinaigrette, pepper jelly vinaigrette
    Prep Time 4 minutes
    0 minutes
    Total Time 4 minutes
    Servings 13 tablespoons (slightly more than ¾ cup)
    Calories 103.1kcal
    Author Blair Lonergan

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup hot pepper jelly or hot pepper jam
    • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

    Instructions

    • Whisk or shake together all of the ingredients until completely combined.

    Notes

    • Store the vinaigrette in a jar or other container with a tight lid so that it's easy to shake up when you need to use it again. The ingredients will naturally separate as it sits.
    • Store the pepper jelly vinaigrette in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 103.1kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.4g | Fat: 8.6g | Saturated Fat: 1.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6.2g | Sodium: 209.2mg | Potassium: 6.8mg | Sugar: 7.4g
    « Lemonade Chicken Recipe
    Country Baked Pork Chops and Rice »

    Follow The Seasoned Mom on Instagram and show us what you're making! Use hashtag #theseasonedmom

    LIKE THIS POST? THEN STICK AROUND!

    GET FREE EMAIL UPDATES WITH EASY, QUICK-PREP RECIPES THAT ELIMINATE MEALTIME STRESS!

    Success! Now before I can send you the free 10-Minute Miracles download, you need to check your email to confirm your subscription. That confirmation email should be waiting for you in your inbox!

    There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

    Powered by ConvertKit

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Granmimi

      September 21, 2020 at 2:36 pm

      4 stars
      Rather ‘too tangy’ for our taste. I added additional jelly to see if it will make a difference.

      Reply
    2. Jane

      September 28, 2021 at 2:23 pm

      5 stars
      This is delicious! Will be making again and again. Livens up a green salad! Yum! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Blair Lonergan

        September 28, 2021 at 2:36 pm

        Thank you, Jane!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hey, I'm Blair!

    Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you'll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It's down-home, country-style cooking!

    Read More

    Want Quick-Prep Recipes?

    Sign up for my exclusive emails and get this free guide!

    Success! Now before I can send you the free 10-Minute Miracles download, you need to check your email to confirm your subscription. That confirmation email should be waiting for you in your inbox!

    There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

    No spam guaranteed. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

    © 2017–2022 The Seasoned Mom     About     Privacy