Our Creamy Balsamic Dressing is thickened using a simple kitchen tool. An easy to make, tangy and flavorful salad dressing that clings to every bite. We learned how to make this dressing at one of our favorite restaurants and now we make it every week!
We love to use this dressing on salads, of course, but also as a dip for vegetables or drizzled on a sandwich like this Italian Ciabatta Chicken Sandwich!
why you’ll love this creamy balsamic dressing recipe
Bold, I know. But it’s taken us a long time to get this Creamy Balsamic Dressing recipe on the site because we needed to make sure it was perfect. And it’s perfect. Every time we make this dressing for friends and family someone always asks for the recipe.
The best part is that there’s no mayonnaise involved! And we’re big mayo fans, you guys. But this balsamic dressing gets thick and creamy by using your trusty kitchen blender. Why make it creamy? So that it clings to every piece of lettuce or whatever you’re using it on
Ingredients for creamy balsamic dressing
Just a few simple, but good quality ingredients is all you need to have this homemade dressing on hand in the fridge at all times!
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: These brands here are just what we have, you can use whatever extra virgin olive oil you like! Just make sure it is EVOO so you get the fruity, delicious flavor of extra virgin olive oil.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Use a good quality balsamic vinegar, like a kind from the Modena or Reggio Emilia regions. We use this balsamic vinegar from Modena that we get at our local club store and it’s so much better than most balsamic vinegars. It’s deliciously sweet and thicker than most of the balsamic vinegars that you find in the grocery store that aren’t from those regions. Not a balsamic glaze, just a good quality balsamic vinegar that shouldn’t cost you much more than you’re used to paying, just knowing which ones to buy is the trick!
- Garlic: You can use fresh garlic or garlic paste in a tube like we have here; both options work great. We love using the garlic paste for sauces or dressing recipes so you don’t end up with chunks, but the blender should take care of that, too!
- Dijon Mustard: Mustard acts as an emulsifier to help bind the dressing together. Dijon mustard is our go-to for this recipe but if you have a different mustard on hand that will work too.
- Dried Herbs: Oregano and basil add a delicious Italian flavor to this balsamic dressing, you can use fresh as well.
How Long Does This Dressing Last In The Refrigerator?
At least five days, but you could even stretch it a day or two longer. The dressing will start to separate after sitting in the refrigerator, but all you need to do is shake it back up or add it back to a blender.
Just make sure that you’re storing the dressing in a sealed container, salad cruet or a mason jar to keep it fresh. We go through so much of this dressing that it’s never really a problem, even when we make a double batch!
Variations
This salad dressing recipe can be used with a lot of different kinds of vinegar besides balsamic. Red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar will all work.
- Use different vinegars: Red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar are all goo choices. If using apple cider vinegar, add a touch more honey to balance the tart flavor.
- Swap out the herbs: You can use any fresh or dried herb that you like. Rosemary, dill, thyme, even just fresh parsley.
- Want it even thicker and creamier? You can add a tablespoon of mayonnaise if you’re looking for a really thick and creamy dressing, even though using our blender trick really works wonderfully.
other ways to use this balsamic dressing
Of course we’re pouring this dressing all over our salads, but there’s also a lot of different ways that we use this dressing, too!
- Drizzle over grilled chicken, steak or fish
- Use as a marinade for chicken or steak
- A dip for vegetables
- As a condiment on sandwiches
- Toss with roasted vegetables (even potatoes)
- Make a no-mayo chicken salad
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Creamy Balsamic Dressing
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeOur Creamy Balsamic Dressing is thickened using a simple kitchen tool. A tangy, flavorful salad dressing that clings to every bite. Pour it on salads, use it as a dip for veggies or drizzle over grilled meats.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup good quality balsamic vinegar (see note)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 small garlic clove or 1 teaspoon garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Fresh black pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend for 30 seconds. Store the dressing in a mason jar, salad cruet or a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- If the dressing separates while sitting, just shake it up again or blend again before using.
Recipe Notes
Try using good quality balsamic vinegar like a kind from the Modena or Reggio Emilia regions. We use a balsamic vinegar from Modena that we get at out local club store and it’s so much better than regular balsamic vinegar! It’s deliciously sweet and thicker than most of the balsamic vinegars that you find in the grocery store that aren’t from those regions. Not balsamic glaze, just a good quality balsamic vinegar that shouldn’t cost you much more than you’re used to paying, just knowing which ones to buy is the trick!
- Category: Marinades & Sauces
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
