Creamy Balsamic Dressing recipe is a healthy, easy balsamic vinaigrette that is made for salads or a marinade. Made in just 5 minutes with pantry staples like balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, greek yogurt, garlic, and Dijon mustard, you will love this rich dressing. Serve it with Apple Cranberry Salad, Italian Chopped Salad, or Watermelon Arugula Salad.
Love making your own salad dressings? Try my 15+ Healthy Homemade Salad Dressings.
Creamy Balsamic Dressing recipe
My Creamy Balsamic Dressing recipe is so easy to make in just 5 minutes with a handful of ingredients! You just can't beat the flavors in homemade salad dressings, and this Balsamic Vinegrets is no different. I've always loved making my own salad dressing because you can control the ingredients that go into it, including keeping sugar and mayo out of it, making it a whole lot healthier. Many bottled dressings end up being high in calories and preservatives that just aren't necessary. You can make this as healthy, low cal and low carb as you'd like.
Plus, from taste alone, this dressing hands down beats anything in the bottle. The dressing is made simply from balsamic vinegar, olive oil, dijon mustard, garlic, and thyme. To make this healthier it's lightly sweetened with honey instead of sugar and is made creamy with Greek yogurt instead of mayo or sour cream.
This dressing is versatile and goes well with so many leafy salad salads and even works as a marinade.
What is a creamy balsamic made of?
The key ingredients for balsamic dressing or balsamic vinaigrette are balsamic vinegar and olive oil. The dressing is made creamy with some sort of creamy ingredients like mayonnaise or sour cream. My version is made creamy with Greek yogurt instead, making it healthier.
I've been making homemade salad dressings for years, and am excited to add this Creamy Balsamic Dressing to my collection of 15+ Healthy Salad Dressings including Healthy Greek Yogurt Ranch, Healthy Honey Mustard Dressing, and Healthy Greek Dressing.
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Why You'll Love this Creamy Balsamic Dressing recipe...
- You'll love this Creamy Balsamic Dressing because it's so simple and made with pantry staples.
- It's clean eating, healthy and delicious.
- This homemade version tastes way better than the bottle! Use a nice olive oil and balsamic vinegar for the best results.
- You can tweak this basic recipe to your own taste and diet including leaving out the honey or making it with less olive oil for a lower-calorie dressing.
- It makes your boring salads taste so much better!
Ingredients:
Here's an overview of what you'll need to make this Creamy Balsamic Dressing recipe, but keep scrolling for the full recipe amounts.
- Balsamic Vinegar: You'll need a nice, high-quality balsamic vinegar. I like this balsamic vinegar for dressings. One that is imported from Italy rom the Modena and Reggio Emilia regions will have the best taste.
- Olive Oil: You'll also need a nice, high-quality extra virgin olive oil. I enjoy ones imported from Italy.
- Honey: There is a lot of rich, tangy flavors in this and a touch of sweetness balances it out. I use honey instead of sugar. YOu can also use maple syrup. If you are trying to make this with no added sugars at all, you can leave it out or sweeten it with stevia.
- Dijon Mustard: Dijon Mustard is a magical ingredient that gives this dressing some texture and a lot of rich flavor. Dijon mustard adds a quick and easy zesty kick.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic from a clove really brings out the flavors. You can also use garlic powder as a shortcut.
- Thyme: I like to add some fresh thyme to my dressing. That is optional! I used dried herbs but you can use fresh.
- Greek Yogurt: To make this a creamy dressing without adding mayonnaise or sour cream, I use plain Greek yogurt. It adds a rich, tangy, and creamy texture without much fuss. It also adds protein and probiotics to the dressing. It also keeps this dressing healthy and lower calories. You can use full fat or low fat depending on your dietary preferences.
- Salt and Black Pepper
Instructions:
This is an overview of the instructions to make this Creamy Balsamic Dressing recipe, but the full detailed printable recipe is below in the recipe card.
- In a medium bowl, add the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, dijon mustard, minced garlic, thyme, and Greek yogurt.
- Whisk until smooth and creamy. You can also use an immersion blender to make it smooth and creamy.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Taste and adjust the dressing as needed.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Variations
I love this Creamy Balsamic Dressing recipe as written, but here are some fun variations.
- Add Citrus: You can easily make this brighter by adding some fresh lemon juice.
- Make is Sugar-Free: This dressing doesn't have refined sugar, only honey but if you want to make it without any sugar at all, you can leave it out or add stevia.
- Make it Lower Calorie: To make this lower calorie, add more balsamic vinegar and slightly less olive oil.
- Make it Not Creamy: For a basic Balsamic Vinaigrette that's not creamy, leave out the Greek yogurt.
- Mix up the Spices: This would also be great with my homemade Italian Seasoning Spice Mix or Herbs de Provence.
- Make it Vegan or Dairy-Free: Leave out the Greek yogurt and/or replace it with vegan maynoise and use maple syrup instead of honey.
FAQ
Storage & Leftovers
Creamy Balsamic Dressing stores well and is great for making ahead. Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. You'll need to shake it to blend it back together before serving. I like this use this cute salad dressing container.
Freezing
With adding Greek yogurt to this dressing, I would not freeze it. If you want a freezer-friendly version, leave the Greek yogurt out.
What is the difference between a balsamic vinaigrette and a balsamic dressing?
They are the same thing with different names. A vinaigrette is a type of dressing made with vinegar and is a bit thinner for salads. A dressing is usually made with some sort of cream base and is sometimes a bit thicker. The words are often used interchangeably though.
This Creamy Balsamic Dressing recipe is Healthy & Delicious
I just love this Creamy Balsamic Dressing recipe that is made with healthy swaps. This dressing has a classic flavor that pairs well with so many different salads, especially leafy green ones. Any salad with fresh lettuce and vegetables or a spinach salad will taste great with this. It also can be used on pasta salads or as a marinade for meat like chicken or pork. Here are a few salads it would be great on!
- Chopped Kale Salad
- Apple Cranberry Salad
- Italian Chopped Salad
- Watermelon Arugula Salad
- Arugula Pear Salad
- Caprese Grilled Peach Salad
- Strawberry Caprese Salad
- Blueberry Caprese Salad
- Greenest Green Salad
- Mediterranean Chopped Salad
- Marinated Cherry Tomatoes
- Caprese Wheat Berry Salad
- Meditteranean Quiona Salad
- Bruschetta Pasta Salad
- Caprese Pasta Salad
More Healthy Homemade Salad Dressings:
- 15+ Healthy Homemade Salad Dressings
- Healthy Greek Salad Dressing
- Healthy Creamy Avocado Lime Dressing
- Homemade Lemon Tahini Dressing
- 5 Ingredient Basil Vinaigrette Dressing
- Healthy Homemade Green Goddess Dressing
If you make this Creamy Balsamic Dressing recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!
Creamy Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, dijon mustard, minced garlic, thyme and Greek yogurt.
- Whisk until smooth and creamy.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Notes
Nutrition
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