Honey Mustard Salad Dressing
This is the best Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing recipe there is, with a special (easy) technique to make it taste restaurant-quality. And it lasts for a week!
This is the Best Honey Mustard Dressing
“I just made this dressing as we’re having chicken with salad tonight. It’s so good! Delicious.”
—Nance
If you’ve clicked around this website before, you’ll know that I’m a homemade salad dressing enthusiast. I don’t think I’ve bought store-bought dressing in a decade or more. Well, except of course the ranch dressing that my 5-year-old insists I buy, because “it tastes better than the homemade kind.” Who can relate?
But beyond that, I rarely buy bottled dressing because I can easily make pretty much any variety I want at home, and in MY opinion, it’ll always taste better than the bottled kind.
This Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing is full of all the sweet and tangy flavors the condiment is known for, thanks to two types of mustard, cider vinegar and honey. It’s also a bit creamy from mayonnaise.
But the real secret here is something I learned in culinary school – a tiny bit of grated garlic and white onion. Most dressings call for garlic powder and onion powder, and that is fine. But this recipe has a little extra oomph from freshly grated alliums, and it’s that oomph that makes this a restaurant-quality dressing.
Why you’ll love this Dijon Honey Mustard Dressing
- With this fresh and flavorful homemade dressing, you can skip the store-bought versions full of preservatives.
- Use it not only for salads, but also as a dip for chicken tenders, sauce for sandwiches or glaze for vegetables.
- Can be made ahead of time and stored for up to a week, making it great for meal prep.
Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing Ingredients
- mayonnaise – this gives the dressing a creamy and rich base, so that the mustard doesn’t overpower everything else.
- honey – the sweetness that balances the tangy vinegar and mustards.
- cider vinegar – adds acidity and acts a preservative, extending the storage life of the dressing.
- Dijon mustard – adds a sharp, tangy bite.
- grainy mustard – this is often labeled as “country Dijon,” and it’s the kind of mustard where you see the whole mustard seeds.
- garlic – adds a delicious depth of savory flavor.
- white onion – enhances the complexity of the flavor of the dressing. If you don’t have a fresh onion, this can be replaced with 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, although the dressing won’t be quite as flavorful.
- salt and pepper – all salad dressings need to be properly seasoned to taste their best, just like other food.
How to make Honey Mustard Dressing
1. WHISK. Place all of the ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth.
2. CHILL. For best flavor, cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 7 days before serving.
How to make this Dijon Honey Mustard Dressing ahead of time
Not only CAN you make this Dijon honey mustard dressing ahead of time, but you SHOULD. Chilling allows the dressing to thicken slightly, and, just like with homemade Caesar dressing, the flavor only gets better as it “ages” in the fridge.
Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. Give it a good stir before using.
Best Honey Mustard Dressing Home Chef Tips
- For a lighter version, you can substitute Greek yogurt for some or all of the mayonnaise.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of garlic and onion in this homemade honey mustard dressing recipe according to your taste preference.
- Opt for good quality mustards and honey for the best flavor.
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What salads go well with Honey Mustard Dressing?
Honey mustard dressing pairs really nicely with a variety of salads. Some of my favorite options are:
- Easy Spinach Salad Recipe – this is my #1 favorite salad for honey mustard dressing and what’s pictured above.
- Easter Salad – Not just for Easter, this is really more of a SPRING salad in general. Swap the deviled egg dressing in the recipe card for this honey mustard for a different twist.
- Thanksgiving Salad – we eat this salad all throughout Fall, and I’ll often serve it with honey mustard dressing instead of maple-Dijon mustard for a change of pace.
- Celery Seed Coleslaw – creamy honey mustard dressing is a GREAT dressing for coleslaw. Follow the recipe card but swap in 3/4 to 1 cup of honey mustard dressing instead of the dressing in the card. I recommend still adding the celery seeds, though. Just sprinkle them in before tossing everything together.
Other ways to use Honey Mustard Salad Dressing
This versatile dressing isn’t just for salads. Here are some other yummy ways to use it:
- DIP – for chicken tenders, nuggets, fresh veggies, sweet potato fries or pretzels.
- MARINADE – use this as a marinade for chicken before grilling!
- SANDWICH SPREAD – especially so good on chicken and turkey sandwiches and wraps.
- GLAZE – brush it over roasted vegetables for an irresistible finishing touch.
- SAUCE – drizzle it over grilled or roasted meats for a restaurant-inspired garnish.
How to store Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing
Store homemade honey mustard salad dressing in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Mason jars work really well for this.
How long does Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing last?
When properly stored in the refrigerator, this best honey mustard dressing should last up to 1 week.
Honey Mustard Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cider vinegar
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons country grainy Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 small garlic clove grated
- 1 tablespoon grated white onion
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to medium bowl and whisk until smooth.
- For best flavor, cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 1 week before serving.
Notes
- For a lighter version, you can substitute Greek yogurt for some or all of the mayonnaise.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of garlic and onion in this homemade honey mustard dressing recipe according to your taste preference.
- Opt for good quality mustards and honey for the best flavor.
