Once you make my easy salad dressing recipe with apple cider vinegar and honey in just a few minutes, you won't go back to the store-bought stuff!
Making salad dressing from scratch will take your greens to the next level. And it's much easier than you might think. You only need a few ingredients to make this simple homemade vinaigrette. Let's get into the details!
If you enjoy this recipe, you'll also love my easy orange juice salad dressing, herby fresh ranch dressing and should try blood orange poppy seed vinaigrette, too.

What does it taste like?
ACV vinaigrette dressing is tangy, savory, and slightly sweet. Depending on the type of honey you use, you may also get subtle floral, herbal or even smoky notes, too! I make my apple cider vinegar dressing without mustard and find that it's a well-balanced salad dressing recipe. A solid dressing is key to making better salads at home.
What You'll Need for this Recipe
What is apple cider vinaigrette made of? The ingredient list is super simple and you probably have everything on hand.
- Apple Cider Vinegar I recommend the kind with the mother.
- Black Pepper
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Garlic
- Honey
- Olive Oil
- Sea Salt
Can I make any substitutions? I love the richness and slightly fruity flavor that olive oil imparts in this dressing. You can use other oils in the recipe just keep in mind that the taste and nutrition facts will change.
What's the ratio for making homemade salad dressing? I use a 1:1:1 ratio of vinegar, oil, and honey then finish with with flavor. This stems from the basic 1:1 of oil and vinegar when simply dressing a salad. As far as how to season the salad dressing, sea salt and black pepper are to taste and crushed red pepper adds a nice subtle kick for a sweet and spicy ACV dressing.
Tips & Tools for Homemade Salad Dressing
Grab a sharp knife and cutting board to mince the garlic. Alternatively, you'll save time with a garlic press or a grater.
How to store salad dressing I make at home? You can make quick work of this salad dressing in a jar by just sealing and shaking everything up, which also makes for easy storage. Refrigerate homemade ACV dressing in an airtight container and it will keep up to two weeks.
Can I freeze salad dressing? Yes! Freeze in an airtight container or freezer safe bag and be sure to label the container with the date. It will keep for up to three months but keep in mind that the texture and flavor will likely be a bit different after thawing.
Is this a PCOS friendly salad dressing?
In managing my PCOS, I focus on adding beneficial foods to my routine, which reduces that feeling of restriction or missing out! Here's the good stuff in this recipe:
Apple Cider Vinegar has been shown in studies to support improved insulin sensitivity and other ovulatory issues like heavy bleeding and irregular cycles.
Garlic has been shown to positively impact cardiovascular risk factors, which are common in people with PCOS.
Olive Oil is a PCOS-friendly fat and it’s antioxidant rich, which helps fight inflammation.
I make this salad dressing with ACV and honey. If you are limiting sugar and carbs, you can reduce the amount of honey in this recipe or substitute with the sweetener of your choice, like liquid allulose or monk fruit.
More Salad Recipe Favorites
Autumn Salad with Maple Orange Vinaigrette
Spring Mix Salad with Champagne Dressing
Now that making vinaigrette from scratch is on your radar, go forth and prosper. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this easy dressing recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
The Best Homemade ACV Dressing Recipe
The Best Apple Cider Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar with the mother
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1 cup raw honey
- 1 ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper optional
- sea salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Finely mince the garlic. Alternatively you can grate it or use a garlic press.
- Add prepared garlic, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, honey, and crushed red pepper to a sealable container then seal.
- Seal container and shake vigorously until dressing is uniform.
- Taste the dressing then add sea salt and black pepper to your preference.
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