Recipes Salads Salad Dressing 11 Salad Dressing Recipes for Greens, Vegetables, and More By Food & Wine Editors Updated on February 18, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Eric Wolfinger When you're making a salad, the dressing is essential — it adds that final pop of flavor and lusciousness, and helps bring everything together, too. So we've rounded up some of our favorite salad dressing recipes, from barbecue sauce-inspired dressings (Alabama-style white barbecue sauce dressing, anyone?) to super-simple basic vinaigrettes. With these in your back pocket, you'll have plenty of dressings to try for months to come. 01 of 11 Basic Vinaigrette © John Kernick A good, puckery vinaigrette has a ratio behind it: three parts oil to one part acid. Acid can take the form of vinegar or citrus juice. "Once you understand that, you got this," says chef Hugh Acheson. "Add whatever you want. Go flavor-crazy. Shake that jar. Work those forearms." If you make too much, it will keep in the fridge for seven to 10 days in a sealed container. Get the Recipe 02 of 11 Basil Vinaigrette © Tina Rupp This simple five-minute dressing is great with an heirloom tomato salad, pasta salad, panzanella salad and grilled fish, chicken or lamb. Get the Recipe 03 of 11 Smoky Orange Vinaigrette © Kana Okada This marmalade-sweetened dressing is quintessential Bobby Flay, with bold flavors that taste best with grain salads or grilled meat. Get the Recipe 04 of 11 Sherry-Shallot Vinaigrette Soaking shallot slices in vinegar makes them deliciously pickle-like. For a more tart flavor, let the shallots soak for up to two hours. Get the Recipe 05 of 11 Alabama-Style White Barbecue Sauce Dressing Eric Wolfinger Inspired by Alabama's claim to saucy fame, this easy mayonnaise-based dressing comes together in just minutes. Apple cider vinegar gives this dressing a nice bite, while garlic and onion powders lend flavor that's reminiscent of classic ranch, but with a tangy twist. Get the Recipe 06 of 11 Caesar-Style Dressing © Tina Rupp Instead of egg yolk, Melissa Rubel Jacobson's Caesar-style dressing calls for mayonnaise. Get the Recipe 07 of 11 Zesty Chile-Lime Vinaigrette Greg DuPree This dressing straddles East and West, just like Vietnamese cooking. Its zippy, fresh flavor is great for a wide range of salads, from mixed lettuces to grated beets and carrots. Get the Recipe 08 of 11 Tomato-Shallot Dressing © Jonathan Lovekin This easy dressing for salads, pasta, fish or grilled chicken steals a technique from Spanish kitchens: grating a whole tomato for perfect skin-free pulp. Get the Recipe 09 of 11 Texas Barbecue Sauce Vinaigrette Eric Wolfinger In the Lone Star State, thin and vinegary barbecue sauce is mopped onto meats as they smoke to keep them moist and flavorful. For ease, this recipe calls for prepared barbecue sauce, which gives the dressing outstanding long-simmered flavor. Get the Recipe 10 of 11 Upland's Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Greg DuPree This creamy dressing from chef Justin Smillie calls for fresh herbs, hot sauce, shallot, and more. Get the Recipe 11 of 11 Sweet and Tangy Mustard Dressing Eric Wolfinger Mustard sauce—South Carolina's go-to sauce for 'cue—gets its signature flavor from a surprisingly humble ingredient—plain yellow mustard. Bolstered by honey, cider vinegar, and a dash of chile powder, this dressing's sharp flavor will wake up any salad. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit