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Home » Salad

Published: Jun 10, 2021 · Modified: Dec 5, 2024 by Kathy

Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing

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A bottle filled with a lemon salad dressing.

A tangy salad dressing that's quick and easy to make. Whip this up in just 5 minutes and you'll have a delicious lemon vinaigrette dressing perfect for adding to your favorite salad.

Made with fresh herbs, lemon juice and garlic.

A yellow salad dressing in a glass canning jar.

Why you'll love this lemon vinaigrette

This Lemon Vinaigrette is one of my go-to dressings because it’s so simple, fresh, and full of flavor. I love how the tangy lemon and zesty mustard come together to create a perfect balance. It’s bright, light, and really elevates any salad.

My top tips for making the perfect Lemon Vinaigrette:

  • Use fresh lemon juice. Freshly squeezed juice adds a vibrant flavor that bottled lemon juice can’t match.
  • Whisk or shake thoroughly. Be sure to whisk or shake the vinaigrette well to emulsify the oil and lemon juice. This creates a smooth and well-blended dressing.
  • Adjust to taste. If you like it a bit tangier, add a little more lemon juice or mustard. Want a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.

If you’re looking for a light, flavorful dressing that adds a bright punch to your meals, this Lemon Vinaigrette is the perfect choice. It’s quick, easy, and versatile enough to pair with a wide variety of dishes!

Lemon vinaigrette dressing ingredients

A fresh lemon next to garlic, thyme and a bottle of olive oil.
  • A fresh lemon - bottled lemon juice just doesn't have the same taste
  • Olive oil
  • White wine vinegar
  • Garlic
  • Dijon mustard
  • Fresh herbs - I use fresh thyme

How to make lemon vinaigrette dressing

  1. Place all ingredients into a jar with a lid
  2. Shake vigorously until well mixed
  3. Taste dressing - add additional salt, if needed
A jar filled with olive oil and herbs.
A glass jar with a white lid.

Lemon dressing recipe tips

  • For easy mixing, use a glass jar with a lid. I use a small canning jar with a reusable lid. If you don't have a jar available, the dressing can also be combined in a blender or food processor. You could also whisk your olive oil into the other ingredients.
  • Store dressing in the refrigerator. The dressing will thicken when cold. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving so the oil will become liquid again.
  • I use a bit of honey to help balance the tangy lemon and vinegar. Adding honey is optional.
  • An easy way to remove thyme leaves from the stem is to grab one stem and slide your fingers from the top to the bottom of the stem.
Removing thyme leaves from the stem.

Lemon vinaigrette dressing FAQs

How long will this dressing last?

This dressing will last for 1 week when stored covered in the refrigerator.

How do I make this dressing less tart?

The lemon and vinegar do make this dressing tart and tangy. If you want to tone this down a bit, add a bit more honey, oil or dijon mustard.

A green salad with tomatoes and onions.

More delicious salad dressings

You might also want to check out these delicious dressings

  • Raspberry Vinaigrette
  • Blue Cheese Dressing
  • Avocado Dressing
  • Creamy Caesar Dressing
  • Cilantro Lime Dressing
  • Asian Dressing
A carafe filled with a yellow dressing.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Be certain to check out all my delicious salad recipes!

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    Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
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    Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
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A yellow salad dressing in a glass canning jar.

Lemon Salad Dressing

Kathy Berget
A tangy salad dressing perfect for adding to your favorite lettuce salad.
5 from 35 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Condiment
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cup
Calories 125 kcal

Equipment

  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 
 

  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic (finely minced, about 1 teaspoon)
  • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon honey (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme (leaves removed from stem)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in a glass jar. Place lid on jar and shake vigorously.
    ½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup white wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 clove garlic, 2 teaspoons dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon honey, 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • Taste dressing. Add additional salt, if needed.

Notes

Tips:
  • I use a small canning jar with a reusable lid. If you don't have a jar available, the dressing can also be combined in a blender or food processor. You could also whisk your olive oil into the other ingredients.
  • Store dressing in the refrigerator. The dressing will thicken when cold. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving so the oil will become liquid again.
  • I use a bit of honey to help mellow the tangy lemon and vinegar. Adding honey is optional.
  • An easy way to remove thyme leaves from the stem is to grab one stem and slide your fingers from the top to the bottom of the stem.

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 2TablespoonsCalories: 125kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 88mgPotassium: 14mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 25IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Valentina says

    June 18, 2021 at 12:48 pm

    What a lovely vinaigrette for almost any salad (and even a drizzle in a sandwich). I just squeezed all oft he remaining lemons from my little tree and froze the juice for recipes like this one. 🙂 ~Valentina

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      June 19, 2021 at 5:16 am

      Thanks, Valentina! And lucky you to have a lemon tree! Freezing the juice is such a great idea. My parents freeze tons of juice every year and use it all year long. Enjoy the dressing! 🙂

      Reply
  2. David @ Spiced says

    June 14, 2021 at 5:52 am

    5 stars
    Homemade dressings truly are the best! We recently had a bottled Greek dressing that left a lot to be desired. We whipped up a homemade version, and it was SO much better. Now I need to put this lemon vinaigrette on the menu - the additional thyme in there sounds so good!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      June 14, 2021 at 6:54 am

      I love adding fresh herbs and thyme is one of my favorites - especially in this dressing! Enjoy 🙂

      Reply
  3. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    June 10, 2021 at 9:45 am

    5 stars
    I love lemon so I know this lemon vinaigrette would be a hit, especially this time of year with all the yummy salads! Sounds like a must try for sure! 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      June 10, 2021 at 5:27 pm

      This is the time of year when I enjoy salads too and having a light vinaigrette is just the perfect touch!

      Reply
5 from 35 votes (33 ratings without comment)

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I'm Kathy, and I love to create delicious recipes from scratch utilizing many ingredients that we grow and raise. I'm a recipe creator, food photographer, and cookbook author!

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