This homemade honey Dijon dressing comes together with less than ten ingredients in five minutes. Not too sweet and not too tangy, the balanced flavors make it a winner!
Why you’ll love this honey dijon dressing recipe
Honey Dijon mustard dressing has been my favorite salad dressing for years. I used to go through endless bottles of store-bought options.
Then, I discovered how to make my own, and it turned out even better than pre-made varieties!
- Flavor – There’s not one flavor that stands out above the rest in this recipe, which is just how I like it. Sweet, tangy, and citrusy, it pairs well with everything.
- Simple – All the ingredients are simple items you likely have on hand, and the dressing comes together in no time at all. Just combine, shake, and serve!
- Meal prep – This dressing stores well, meaning you can prepare a large batch to keep in your fridge and use with all your meals.
Serve this honey Dijon salad dressing over a sweet potato salad or a warm quinoa brussels sprout salad, and you’ll be excited to eat your greens!
Key Ingredient Notes
- Grapeseed oil – I prefer to use grapeseed oil instead of olive oil for this dressing because it has a milder taste, which helps highlight the Dijon mustard flavor.
- Raw honey is my all-time favorite ingredient! I always specify raw honey in my recipes, because the sweetness level may vary between raw honey and processed honey. Depending on the type of honey you use, you may need to add more or less.
- Rice vinegar is milder than white wine vinegar, contributing to the well-rounded taste of this honey Dijon dressing.
- Dijon mustard creates the tangy, subtly spicy taste we want. Do not substitute other kinds of mustard, or the flavor won’t be the same!
- Lemon juice – The acidity helps cut through some of the heaviness of the fats and adds a bright, citrusy taste.
- Mustard seeds – The seeds of a mustard plant, mustard seeds are sharp, peppery, and slightly bitter.
Adjust the flavor
Feel free to adjust the ingredient ratios to suit your flavor preferences. For instance, you can add more honey for a sweeter taste, or use more mustard for a tangier flavor.
How to make homemade honey Dijon dressing
- Combine all the ingredients except the mustard seeds, salt, and pepper in a measuring cup.
- Blend it with an immersion blender for 30 seconds or so.
- Stir in the mustard seeds, salt, and pepper.
Mason Jar Method
While immersion blender emulsify the dressing like none other, you can totally shake the dressing into cohesive mixture!
- Combine all the ingredients in a mason jar.
- Put the lid on it.
- And shake vigorously until the ingredients are well combined.
How to use this dressing
Of course, this honey Dijon salad dressing is most commonly used with salads like sweet potato salad, broccoli salad, or cucumber edamame salad.
However, it also works well as a marinade or dipping sauce with main courses and side dishes such as roasted chicken, grilled swordfish steaks, grilled steak, or oven roasted mixed vegetables.
Storing Tips
Store this honey Dijon mustard dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks! Give it a good shake or stir before using it to redistribute the ingredients, and it will taste as good as new.
FAQs
There are many variations of honey Dijon dressings, but they all start with a base of oil, vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard that forms a sweet, tangy, smooth, salad dressing.
Although they are often used interchangeably, honey mustard and honey mustard dressing are not the same things. For instance, honey mustard is a condiment made with a base of mustard and mayonnaise. Meanwhile, honey mustard dressing is a thinner salad dressing made with oil, honey, vinegar, and Dijon mustard.
No, Dijon mustard is a condiment made with brown mustard seeds, white wine, vinegar, and other ingredients that give it a sharp, tangy flavor.
More Homemade Sauces and Dressings Recipes
Honey Dijon Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup (120 ml) grapeseed oil
- ½ cup (260 g) raw honey
- ¼ cup rice vinegar aka rice wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Immersion blender method:
- Combine all the ingredients except the mustard seeds, salt, and pepper in a measuring cup.
- Blend it with an immersion blender for 30 seconds or so.
- Stir in the mustard seeds, salt, and pepper.
Mason jar method:
- Combine all the ingredients in a mason jar.
- Put the lid on it.
- And shake vigorously until the ingredients are well combined.
Tips & Notes
– Store this honey Dijon mustard dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks! Give it a good shake or stir before using it to redistribute the ingredients, and it will taste as good as new.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on October 30, 2015.
Is olive oil the only good substitute? (just to avoid buying something that we may not need to). Thanks!
Hi, Suzanne. I prefer grapeseed oil over olive oil because it has a milder taste, which helps highlight the Dijon mustard flavor. But light olive oil is fine to use. Or any other neutral-tasting oil is ok.
Thanks so much!