EASY Lemon Olive Oil Salad Dressing Recipe | Delightful E Made (2024)

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Do you love a simple lemon and olive oil dressing for your salad? This easy, flavorful lemon olive oil dressing takes just minutes to mix together. Made with just 5 ingredients, this lemon olive oil salad dressing is great for topping just about any salad.

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EASY Lemon Olive Oil Salad Dressing Recipe | Delightful E Made (1)

Are you a vinaigrette person? Do you tend to gravitate to dressings that are simple with just oil and acid? If so, then this simple lemon and olive oil dressing is definitely for you.

Made with both lemon juice and lemon zest, this homemade dressing recipe really maxes out on flavor. In this post, I’ll also give you some options for customizing this dressing with fresh or dried herbs. Additionally, I’ll show you the best way to make and store the dressing.

EASY Lemon Olive Oil Salad Dressing Recipe | Delightful E Made (2)

What you’ll need to make this homemade dressing recipe:

  • Olive oil – a good quality extra virgin olive oil is essential for a homemade oil-based dressing. Choose the best quality of oil you can afford.
  • Fresh lemons for juicing – you’ll need approximate 2 medium fresh lemons for juice. If you don’t have fresh lemons, you can use bottled juice.
  • Lemon zest – this will really enhance the lemon flavor in this dressing.
  • Garlic – you can use either whole cloves and do the mincing yourself OR use jarred, pre-minced garlic. I like to keep a jar of this in my refrigerator to help save time when cooknig and prepping.
  • Lemon pepper seasoning – this seasoning can be found in the spice section at your local supermarket.
  • Fresh dill or dried basil or oregano {optional} – I’ve made this dressing with both fresh dill or dried oregano. Both are great and really enhance the flavor of the dressing. Choose one – I don’t recommend adding all three.

For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for the recipe. Thanks!

EASY Lemon Olive Oil Salad Dressing Recipe | Delightful E Made (3)
EASY Lemon Olive Oil Salad Dressing Recipe | Delightful E Made (4)

How do I make homemade lemon olive oil dressing?

In a bowl, add the lemon juice, olive oil, lemon zest, garlic and lemon pepper seasoning. If desired, add in fresh dill, or dried herbs. Whisk together well and immediately pour over salad and toss together to coat. Serve right away.

If you are making a salad in advance, make and store your dressing in a separate container. Dress the salad just before serving. If you add dressing to a salad and then refrigerate it for later, it will become soft, wilted and unappealing.

EASY Lemon Olive Oil Salad Dressing Recipe | Delightful E Made (5)
EASY Lemon Olive Oil Salad Dressing Recipe | Delightful E Made (6)

This lemon olive oil dressing is fantastic for hearty salads like this Quinoa Chickpea Salad. The lemon flavors pair beautifully with the vegetables, grains and chickpeas.

Need some other salad ideas? These would be fantastic with this lemon and olive oil dressing:

  • Grilled Salmon Salad
  • Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad
  • Easy Greek Tortellini Salad Recipe
  • Blueberry Spring Mix Salad
  • Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
  • Italian Chopped Salad
  • Italian Tortellini Salad

Ingredient Substitutions and Recommendations:

  • Herbs – add in dried basil or oregano for an Italian-inspired salad. Fresh dill is also a great addition to this dressing.
  • Lemon juice – if you don’t have fresh lemons, you could also use a good quality bottled lemon juice. You can find bottled lemon juice in the juice section in your supermarket.
  • Oil – I recommend a good quality olive oil for this dressing. You could also substitute avocado oil as well. I don’t recommend using vegetable or canola oil, as these are heavily processed, very unhealthy and not ideal for homemade salad dressing recipes.
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Dressing storage

When kept refrigerated, your dressing will last for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. There are a few good options for storing your dressing. Here are the containers I recommend:

  • Ball Mason Jars – these are ideal for storing dressings in your refrigerator. The lids stay tight, so if they fall over, the contents won’t spill or leak.
  • OXO Oil and Dressing Dispenser – this container is designed specifically for oil-based dressings and vinaigrettes. The lid includes a pour-spout which keeps pouring dressing easy and clean. It will also fit easily in the door of your refrigerator.
  • SnapLock Individual Dressing Containers – these are ideal for keeping individual servings of dressing for lunches. A fantastic way to pack and transport dressing for a salad that you’ll eat for lunch later. These are also a great way to keep your servings in-check.

Frequently asked questions about making homemade salad dressing:

How much lemon juice and olive oil do you mix together?

A good ratio for lemon juice to olive oil is 1:2. You’ll need one part lemon juice (1/4 cup) and two parts olive oil (1/2 cup) for making dressing. For additional flavor add lemon zest, garlic and other seasoning or herbs to enhance the dressing.

Does a lemon and olive oil dressing need to be refrigerated?

Refrigerate your lemon olive oil salad dressing in an airtight container. The oil will harden slightly when refrigerated. Let the dressing come to room temperature and shake slightly to bring it back to its original liquid state.

How long does homemade olive oil salad dressing last?

When kept refrigerated in an airtight container, olive oil salad dressing will last up to two weeks.

EASY Lemon Olive Oil Salad Dressing Recipe | Delightful E Made (8)

If you loved this homemade salad dressing recipe, check out our other easy dressing ideas:

EASY Lemon Olive Oil Salad Dressing Recipe | Delightful E Made (15)

Lemon Olive Oil Dressing

Erin Indahl-Fink

Love a delicious lemon and olive oil dressing for your salad? This super flavorful lemon olive oil dressing is the ideal vinaigrette for just about any salad. You'll never buy the bottled stuff again!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Course Dressings and Sauces

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Calories 124 kcal

Equipment

  • Citrus Juicer This hand-held citrus juicer is fantastic for fresh lemon & lime juice!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice fresh squeezed (just of 2 medium lemons)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon zest zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic about 3 cloves
  • 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons fresh dill minced

Instructions

  • To a medium bowl or liquid measuring cup, add the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, lemon pepper seasoning and dill (if using).

  • Whisk together well. Pour dressing over large salad and toss together to coat.

  • For an individual salad, add 2 tablespoons of the dressing (a single serving), and toss to coat.

  • Store any leftovers in a mason jar or this OXO dressing container and refrigerate. Will keep for up to 2 weeks, refrigerated.

Notes

If making a salad in advance, store the dressing in a separate container until ready to serve the salad. Dress the salad just before serving to ensure the salad stays crisp and fresh.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 124kcalCarbohydrates: 1gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 11gSodium: 115mg

Keyword lemon olive oil dressing, lemon and olive oil dressing, lemon olive oil salad dressing, homemade salad dressing recipe, lemon garlic vinaigrette

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

EASY Lemon Olive Oil Salad Dressing Recipe | Delightful E Made (16)

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  • Avocado Lime Dressing
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EASY Lemon Olive Oil Salad Dressing Recipe | Delightful E Made (2024)

FAQs

Can you just use olive oil for salad dressing? ›

So I dress my salads with olive oil alone. I try to use a good one, one with a really earthy flavor, and maybe some spice. I pour it on generously, and follow with a healthy sprinkle of crunchy salt.

Does lemon olive oil dressing need to be refrigerated? ›

While oils and vinegars don't need to be refrigerated on their own, once you add in ingredients like fresh-squeezed citrus juice, mustard and garlic to make a homemade vinaigrette, it's a good idea to pop any leftovers in the refrigerator.

What is the healthiest dressing to put on your salad? ›

6 healthy salad dressings you can make in less than 3 minutes
  • Classic lemon and olive oil. This is a very easy dressing that is good with strong-flavoured leaf salads, such as rocket or kale. ...
  • Lime and chilli dressing. ...
  • Simple balsamic vinaigrette. ...
  • Raspberry vinaigrette. ...
  • Creamy cucumber dressing. ...
  • Creamy mint dressing.

How long does homemade olive oil salad dressing last? ›

We recommend consuming dressings and sauces within 3-4 days to be safe. Food safety aside, we tend to prefer the taste of freshly made dressings, especially when using citrus, yogurt or garlic, and find that 3-4 days is the sweet spot.

What is the best vinegar for salad dressing? ›

Balsamic vinegar: Makes a bold, slightly sweet dressing that is wonderful on green salads with fruit, such as apples, strawberries or peaches. Red wine vinegar: Packs a punch and works well with other bold flavors and bright veggies, like tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumber, cabbage and more (think Greek salads).

Should I use extra virgin or regular olive oil for dressing? ›

Save extra-virgin olive oil for making vinaigrettes, dipping bread, dressing, dips, cold dishes, and use the less expensive stuff for cooking and baking.

How do you make first watch copycat lemon dressing? ›

Start with zest from one lemon, so it's about a tablespoon, half a cup of extra virgin olive oil. Now I'm gonna juice some lemons. I'm aiming for about 1/4 to half a cup of lemon juice, pinch of salt, tablespoon of Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons of honey, and a tablespoon of Poppy seeds. Give it a good mix.

Does lemon olive oil go bad? ›

The good news is that Olive Oils shelf life is much longer than the average product and some Olive Oils can last up to 18-24 months before becoming unappetising. However, Extra Virgin Olive Oil tends to last a shorter period, usually around 12-18 months.

Are French dressing and Thousand Island the same? ›

Though both condiments are tomato-based, their recipes differ. The Thousand Island dressing combines ketchup, mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, vinegar, minced onion and garlic. In contrast, the French dressing is composed of olive oil, vinegar, mustard, ketchup, sugar, and paprika, among other seasonings.

What is the unhealthiest salad dressing? ›

Depending on the ingredients, some dressings tend to be less healthy than others.
  1. Caesar. And at the top of that list? Caesar dressing. ...
  2. Thousand Island. Next in line is Thousand Island. ...
  3. Blue cheese. The delicious crumbles that make blue cheese dressing a fan favorite can also make it dangerous for a balanced diet.
Oct 27, 2023

What is the number 1 salad dressing? ›

Ranch Dressing

The ranch is hands down America's most beloved salad dressings. It is made from a number of ingredients such as buttermilk, mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, onion, chives, salt, and pepper.

What to avoid in salad dressing? ›

5 Ingredients To Avoid
  • Palm Oil. Palm oil can pop up in both creamy and oily dressings, and it's a top ingredient that Taub-Dix said to avoid. ...
  • Sugar (but it's rarely called sugar) ...
  • Salt. ...
  • Monosodium glutamate (MSG) ...
  • Coconut oil.
Jan 24, 2024

Does olive oil and lemon juice dressing need to be refrigerated? ›

Toss into salad one teaspoon of dressing per person. Refrigerate any left over dressing.

Can I freeze homemade salad dressing? ›

According to the USDA, salad dressing can last up to two months refrigerated before it needs to be thrown out. However, like many foods, you can extend the shelf life of salad dressing by tossing it in the freezer.

Can homemade olive oil go bad? ›

Yes, olive oil is a fresh, agricultural product and it does expire or go bad. “While fresher is better, extra virgin olive oil can maintain its quality for a long time, thanks to the natural antioxidants it contains,” Ricchiuti says. “However, like all fats, olive oil will become rancid over time as it oxidizes.

Can you eat plain olive oil on a salad? ›

While olive oil is a tasty topping on its own, most people like to mix it with some other ingredients to really add flavor to their salads. Homemade vinaigrette may seem impressive, but it only takes five minutes to put together and it takes no special cooking skills.

What can I use if I don't have salad dressing? ›

  • The Top 9 Healthy Salad Dressing Alternatives. Oil and Vinegar. Green Goddess Dressing. Caesar Salad Dressing. Sesame Ginger Dressing. Creamy Avocado Dressing. Tahini Dressing. Stilton Vinaigrette Salad Dressing. Maple-Mustard Vinaigrette. Ranch Dressing.
  • The Bottom Line.
Dec 31, 2022

What's the best oil to use for salad dressing? ›

My best recommendations for your home-made salad dressing is either good quality extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (3.).

Which is better for salad dressing olive oil or vegetable oil? ›

Olive oil is ideal for most salad dressings, especially if you're using flavor-forward extra virgin olive oil. It's the best base for an easy vinaigrette because it's naturally flavorful. If your recipe calls for vegetable oil, you should be able to swap in equal parts of olive oil without any problem.

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