With just 3 simple ingredients and less than 5 minutes, you can have a Healthy Balsamic Vinaigrette recipe that’s packed with flavor and ready to drizzle on your favorite salads, pasta salad, or even use as a marinade! Double the batch and store this homemade dressing for later—it can last for weeks.

A mason jar full of balsamic and maple syrup salad dressing with two salads in the background.

Healthy Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

Have you ever made a homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing?

This sweet and tangy dressing is so easy to make and tastes incredible. Plus, it’s so much healthier for you to make at home versus buying it from the store.

There are a few qualities that make THIS recipe so spectacular:

  • It takes only 3 pantry ingredients and 5 minutes.
  • It stores for an INCREDIBLY long time!
  • It can be used as a salad dressing or as a sauce for your favorite steak or chicken recipe.

One of my favorite ways to use it is in a spinach salad with toasted pecans and cranberries. (I ate this salad every day for a YEAR while in dental school!)

If you can’t get enough of the freshness of homemade salad dressing, don’t stop at this recipe! Try this Honey Mustard Dressing, Caesar Salad Dressing, Peanut Butter Dressing, Ranch Dressing, and these other Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes.

And if you want a more condensed and sauce-like consistency, try out this Healthy Balsamic Glaze recipe.

Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, maple syrup, and salt as ingredients in a balsamic vinaigrette dressing recipe.
A cover, table of contents, and recipe page for the 17 healthy salad dressings e-book.

17 Simple Salad Dressings e-Book

An e-cookbook full of quick vinaigrettes and creamy dressings that are ready in under 5 minutes!

Ingredients

  • Balsamic Vinegar. As the star of the show and one of the main ingredients, you want to make sure you choose a high quality, aged balsamic vinegar. While yes, you can opt for a cheaper one, you might need to add a little extra sweetener to balance out the bitterness. Look for OttavioAlessiBertolliRoland, or Mazzetti for the best results.
  • Oil. Select a better quality extra virgin olive oil for the best taste. Avocado oil will also work great in this recipe.
  • Sweetener. Either honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar can all be used in equal amounts. You can also substitute a few drops of liquid stevia extract if you’re on a low-carb or keto diet.
  • Optional Add-ins. Enhance the flavor and increase the health benefits with fresh rosemary or thyme, garlic clove, pepper, Italian seasoning, or even lemon juice.
5 Secretly Easy Salad Dressing Recipes
Get only the BEST 5-minute salad dressing recipes!

How to Make a Healthy Balsamic Vinaigrette

Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.

1. Measure the Ingredients

Add everything to a High Speed Blender, Mini Food Processor, bowl, or mason jar.

A NutriBullet blends and emulsifies everything up beautifully and is super quick to clean. But a mason jar works just as well!

A small blender with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and honey showing you how to make balsamic vinaigrette at home.

2. Mix the Dressing

Blend, process, whisk or shake until the ingredients are well incorporated. With a mason jar, you really need to shake it hard to ensure the oil and vinegar mixes well.

This should take 20-30 seconds in a blender or processor. Hand mixing will work, but the dressing will not be as smooth and emulsified.

An easy balsamic vinaigrette recipe being poured into a clear mason jar.

3. Serve or Store

Pour into an airtight container such as a glass jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 weeks. Bring to room temperature and shake well before serving.

FAQs

Is balsamic vinaigrette healthy?

Yes. Homemade balsamic vinaigrette is naturally gluten-free, vegetarian, dairy-free, and vegan. Check the label on the store-bought stuff as gluten or animal products may be used.

What is balsamic vinaigrette made of?

This simple dressing consists of balsamic vinegar, oil, and a sweetener. It’s perfect for everyday salads.

Is there a difference between balsamic vinegar and balsamic vinaigrette?

Yes. Vinegar is pretty tart and acidic tasting and is simply made from grapes. Vinaigrette is a salad dressing that features balsamic vinegar as a key ingredient along with oil and oftentimes some type of sweetener.

What do you use balsamic vinaigrette for?

In addition to topping salads, you can use balsamic vinaigrette as a marinade, or drizzle over chicken, steak, fish, or even roasted veggies.

Recipe Tips

  • Use high-end. Better quality ingredients will result in the tastiest balsamic salad dressing.
  • Go low-carb. Substitute liquid stevia extract for honey, maple syrup, or agave. 
  • Blend on high. Using a food processor or blender will make a smoother dressing than simply a good shake with hand mixing.
  • Add flavor. Toss in some fresh herbs, garlic, pepper, or lemon juice. 
  • Do more than salad. Marinate chicken, or drizzle over grilled steak or veggies.
A healthy and easy balsamic vinaigrette dressing being poured onto a spinach salad with cranberries.

What to Serve with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Now that you’ve made your own homemade balsamic vinaigrette recipe, it’s time to enjoy! Try it in this Blueberry Salad or in any of the following recipes.

Some of my favorites are a Chopped Kale Salad with CranberriesArugula Fig SaladChopped Mixed Greens Salad, or Fall Harvest Salad with Apples.

It’s a great marinade for grilled chicken.

Or, serve it with a Caprese Salad or Caprese Skewers.

A cover, table of contents, and recipe page for the 17 healthy salad dressings e-book.

17 Simple Salad Dressings e-Book

An e-cookbook full of quick vinaigrettes and creamy dressings that are ready in under 5 minutes!

More Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes

It’s so quick and easy to whip up your own dressing. Skip the store-bought salad dressing and try any of these delicious recipes next.

And check out these other Healthy Salad Dressings!

Tap stars to rate!

5 from 9 votes

Healthy Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

With just 3 simple ingredients and less than 5 minutes, you can have a Healthy Balsamic Vinaigrette recipe that's packed with flavor and ready to drizzle on your favorite salads, pasta salad, or even use as a marinade!
A small spoon scooping out a serving of a homemade balsamic salad dressing.
Yield 6 servings
Prep 5 minutes
Total 5 minutes
An image of an envelope sealed shut with the Evolving Table logo.

Email this recipe!

Enter your email and we’ll send it directly to you.

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup olive oil extra virgin
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup or honey
  • Pinch of salt optional

Instructions 

  • Add ingredients to a 16-ounce mason jar and shake until well combined. Alternatively, you can add the ingredients to a high-speed blender or food processor and blend for 20-30 seconds, or until smooth.  
  • Use immediately or store balsamic vinaigrette dressing in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 weeks between servings. Bring to room temperature and shake well before using.
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!

Tap stars to rate!

5 from 9 votes

Video

Notes

Each serving is roughly 2 tablespoons of salad dressing.
Recipe Tips
  • Use high-end. Better quality ingredients will result in the tastiest balsamic salad dressing.
  • Go low-carb. Substitute liquid stevia extract for honey, maple syrup, or agave. 
  • Blend on high. Using a food processor or blender will make a smoother dressing than simply a good shake with hand mixing.
  • Add flavor. Toss in some fresh herbs, garlic, pepper, or lemon juice. 
  • Do more than salad. Marinate chicken, or drizzle over grilled steak or veggies with this balsamic dressing recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 182kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 0.1g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 23mg, Sugar: 5g, Calcium: 8mg, Iron: 0.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Made this recipe?Leave a comment below!
5 Secrets to Healthier Family Dinners
Tips & recipes for getting yummy — and healthy — meals on the table.

You May Also Like

Thanks for
Stopping By!

I’m London! Join me as we cook up nourishing meals for you and your loved ones and learn a few healthy cooking tips and tricks!

Leave a comment

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

Recipe Rating




Comments

    1. Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Happy New Year to you, too! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!

    1. Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! It’s one of mine, too! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!

  1. It’s delicious and easy to make but because of the liquid honey it’s solidifying in the fridge and I have to keep thawing it out under hot water. Can this be stored in the pantry since all 3 ingredients don’t need to be refrigerated?

    1. Yes! You absolutely can store it in the pantry, but just know it will shorten the shelf life slightly. Thanks for your question, Shawna!

    1. You’re so welcome, Kerri! Glad to hear you enjoyed the dressing so much. Thanks for your comment and rating 🙂