A good vegan salad dressing can take any salad from mundane to spectacular. Here you’ll find all your favorite vinaigrettes, creamy dressings and oil-free salad dressings made vegan!
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I know, I know. Vegans eat more than just grass and twigs (despite what so many meatheads believe).
However, a salad can be a great quick and easy lunch or dinner.
Not only are you sure to get your recommended dietary allowance of fibre (something most meatheads never get), there are also so many vegan high protein salads to keep you satiated for hours.
Best of all, you can make a salad out of pretty much anything. From leafy greens to beans and lentils to pasta salad, you’ll never run out of ideas.
Take whatever veggies you’ve got languishing in your fridge and combine them with a great vegan salad dressing.
I’ve scoured the internet to find the best vegan salad dressing recipes. From simple vinaigrettes to everyone’s favorite ranch dressing made vegan, there’s sure to be a recipe or several here to add to your meal rotation!
How to make vegan salad dressing
The most basic of salad dressings is a vinaigrette and the basic vinaigrette recipe is one part vinegar to every three parts oil.
Any type of vinegar and usually olive oil but you can also use avocado oil or grapeseed oil for a more neutral flavor.
From there you can add in so many things: Dijon mustard, maple syrup, herbs, garlic, chili flakes, miso, nooch, just to name a few.
If you’re an oil-free vegan, you can replace the oil with lemon juice or orange juice. Ground flax or chia seeds can thicken any liquid into a dressing that will cling to your salad components.
For creamy vegan salad dressings like ranch and Caesar, there are many different tricks.
Blended cashews, tahini, almond butter, coconut milk, avocado, silken tofu, peanut butter, and vegan mayo can all combine with spices and seasonings to make a creamy dressing.
My favorite way to make vegan ranch is by combining non-dairy yogurt with mayonnaise so that it’s creamy but not too fatty.
How long does salad dressing last in the fridge
Store-bought salad dressings contain preservatives which allow them to be stored open in the refrigerator for several months.
The shelf-life of homemade salad dressings is very difficult to guesstimate as it depends on the exact ingredients and how they react together.
In order to be safe and not give yourself food poisoning or botulism, it’s best to mix up just enough salad dressing for your meal.
If you do end up with leftover salad dressing or you are mixing up a batch for meal prep, then it’s best to consume it within 3 to 4 days.
FAQs
Store-bought or restaurant ranch dressing is not vegan because it contains dairy products such as sour cream or buttermilk. Bottled vegan ranch dressing is now available in many supermarkets. Look for the brands Hidden Valley Plant Powered, Follow Your Heart, or Daiya. You can also make vegan ranch dressing at home with one of the recipe below.
It depends. Some store-bought Catalina dressings are accidentally vegan such as Kraft Classic Catalina Dressing. Homemade recipes often call for Worcestershire sauce or honey, making it not vegan. As for other store-bought brands, you have to read the ingredients and watch out for non-vegan ingredients.
Caesar dressing is not vegan because it can contain any or all of the following non-vegan ingredients: anchovies, mayonnaise, egg yolks, Parmesan and Worcestershire sauce. You’ll find a vegan Caesar dressing recipe in the list below.
Balsamic vinegar is vegan and a simple balsamic and oil dressing is usually vegan. However, it’s common to add honey to vinaigrette as a sweetener making it no longer vegan. If you’re eating at a restaurant that offers balsamic dressing, you’ll have to ask for the ingredients to be sure.
Vegan vinaigrette dressings
This 4-ingredient sweet and tangy maple dijon dressing is ready in less than 5 minutes. Perfect over salads, vegetables, and sandwiches.
A tangy Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing perfect for anything. It’s great on salads, leafy greens, drizzled on roasted vegetables, & tossed w/ pasta.
Raspberry Vinaigrette is a fruity and naturally sweet vinaigrette recipe. It’s great for spring and summer and adds a bright pop of raspberry flavor to any salad recipe.
This Easy Homemade Italian Dressing is so tasty and simple! Plus it’s Whole30, gluten free, sugar free, and dairy free. Perfect on salads or as a marinade!
This easy, zesty cilantro lime dressing is one of my favorite sauces to keep on hand. Top it onto salads, tacos, burritos, bowls, and more!
Zesty and bright, this citrus vinaigrette recipe couldn’t be any easier! Made with fresh orange juice, orange zest, shallot & EVOO, you’ll love it!
This basil pesto vinaigrette is the perfect salad dressing to have on hand to encourage you to eat more vegetables. It takes about 5 minutes
This Sesame Miso Dressing and Marinade is a full-flavoured vinaigrette made with sesame oil, rice vinegar, white miso and maple syrup. It adds amazing flavour to salads.
As far as salad dressing recipes go, this lemon-garlic vinaigrette is sure to be a favorite. Learn how to make this vinaigrette for your next salad.
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Make this iconic Japanese classic – Japanese Restaurant Style Ginger Dressing Recipe in less than 10 minutest!
Creamy vegan salad dressings
Vegan ranch dressing is super easy to make. This recipe is creamy, flavorful, and tastes just like classic homemade ranch. Perfect as a dip or for salads!
The best vegan caesar dressing recipe ever! This easy, creamy vegan caesar salad dressing is dairy free & nut free thanks to tahini.
This avocado dressing is super creamy, full of flavor, and it’ll give your salad an instant upgrade.
Hand-down the best creamy, herby vegan green goddess dressing. Use this green tahini sauce as a dressing, on grilled meats and fish, or sandwiches!
This 3-Ingredient Hummus Salad Dressing is perfect for a quick, easy, and tasty fix! Use it to top your favorite salad or veggie bowl.
Tangy homemade vegan Lemon Herb Salad Dressing is the perfect complement to your summertime salads! It makes a great dip for cut vegetables, too.
High in fiber, there’s no need to skimp on this vegan Creamy Italian dressing. It’s good for you!
This Easy Homemade Catalina Dressing Recipe is a quick and delicious way to dress a salad, made in less than 5 minutes! This recipe is naturally vegan and vegetarian friendly.
Homemade salad dressings are always, always better than store bought. Always. This Creamy Miso Vinaigrette is quick and easy, both sweet and savory, and it’s one you’ll make over and over.
This vegan Thousand Island dressing is rich, creamy, and full of tangy flavor! Tastes just like classic Thousand Island.
This spicy peanut dressing (DF & oil free) is tangy, nutty and delicious. Drizzle on your fav salads or use as a dip for your summer rolls!
Oil-free vegan salad dressings
This balsamic oil free Salad Dressing is so easy to make and ready in less than 2 minutes! It’s tangy, sweet, and absolutely delicious.
This Vegan Chickpea Dressing is a healthy creamy dressing option for your salad! Made with six ingredients and ready in 5 minutes.
Fat-free, oil-free dressing full of zesty Italian flavor! You’ll love this low-calorie dressing on salads, veggies, pasta salad & more.
Looking for an oil-free vegan salad dressing? Try this magical applesauce vinaigrette recipe. Easy, vegan, gluten-free, and healthy!
This delicious Vegan Greek Dressing is slightly creamy and FULL of tangy, bold flavor! It’s quick & easy to make, and includes no refined oil. (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, naturally sweetened.)
This tangy Dill Dressing recipe features creamy avocado and fresh lemon! Drizzle it on your salads or enjoy it as a flavorful veggie dip. (Vegan, gluten-free, refined oil-free.)
Healthy and quick this Creamy Sriracha Silken Tofu Salad Dressing is made with only 5 ingredients and in only 5 minutes. Oil free too.
This is a quick and easy vegan Creamy Tofu Ginger Salad Dressing that’s spicy, tangy and a little sweet. Ready in just 5 minutes!
Learn how easy and quick it is to make plant-based oil-free white bean dressing to top your salads or Buddha bowls.
This creamy, zesty, and herbaceous dressing is super versatile. It’s perfect for salads and raw or cooked veggies, and can even be used as a sandwich topping.
