Enjoy the fresh flavors of spring and summer with this Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing! Key ingredients like apple cider vinegar, honey, mayo and dijon mustard create the very best flavor. The crunchy little poppy seeds are the star of the show and compliment so many different salads!

Poppy seed dressing is being poured on top of salad.


Creamy Poppy Seed Salad Dressing

It’s salad season! Well, it’s true that I love salads all year round (and usually have different salad recipes for each season), but spring and summer are when they really sing. With that being said, I plan on celebrating the sunny seasons with this delightfully creamy poppy seed salad dressing. It’s slightly sweet, tangy, creamy as can be and has a wonderful little crunch from the poppy seeds.

I also love how quick and easy this vibrant salad dressing is to make! You really just have to measure everything accordingly, pour it into a bowl and whisk to combine. Use it right away or store it for up to 5 days in the fridge. It’s a wonderful make ahead recipe! This year, I plan on making it the day before Easter so it’s ready to go on the big day.

Mayonnaise is what keeps everything nice and creamy in this salad dressing recipe. It’s deliciously dressed up with other ingredients like apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, honey, grated onions, poppy seeds and more. The combination of flavors is tangy, sweet, and perfect for tossing on top of a crisp bed of greens!

The ingredients for poppy seed dressing are placed next to a bowl with a whisk.

How to Make Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

Measure, whisk, and serve or store. That’s all there is to it! For more info about ingredient measurements and the full process just scroll down to the recipe card below.

  1. Whisk. Whisk together vinegar, honey, mayonnaise, grated onions and dijon mustard.
  2. Add oil. Whisk continuously while you drizzle in oil (olive or avocado both work well) until creamy and emulsified. Stir in poppy seeds and season with a little salt and pepper to taste.
Oil is being drizzled into a bowl with a whisk.
Poppy seeds are being added to a bowl of salad dressing.

Ingredient Notes

Let’s take a look at your short and sweet shopping list:

  • Apple Cider Vinegar – Don’t swap this with any other vinegar! Apple cider vinegar has the best touch of natural sweetness to balance out the tangy flavor.
  • Honey – Try to use a good quality honey. Local and organic is always what I recommend for the very best flavor that’s sweet, but also rich.
  • Mayonnaise – You can use low fat mayo if you’d like. Just note that it may be a little less thick and creamy than plain mayo.
  • Grated Onion – You’ll only need a little bit. A white or yellow onion both work well.
  • Dijon Mustard – Do not swap this with plain yellow mustard!
  • Oil – You can either use olive or avocado oil. Both will work very well in this versatile recipe.
  • Poppy Seeds – If you have poppy seeds leftover that you’re unsure of what to do with, use them to make my favorite Homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning.
  • Salt – Kosher or flaky sea salt if preferred over iodized. Measure to taste and keep in mind that a little goes a long way.
Green salad in a white bowl topped with poppy seed dressing.

Storing

You can store poppy seed salad dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It’s a great make ahead recipe! You may need to give it a gentle shake or stir prior to using just in case any natural separation happens. Also, be sure to use a clean utensil every time you reach for some dressing. Any new bacteria will cause it to spoil quickly.

I do not recommend freezing this creamy salad dressing.

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Poppy seed dressing is being poured on top of salad.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Poppy seed dressing is a creamy, sweet, and tangy condiment made with vinegar, sugar, oil, mustard, and poppy seeds. It's a delicious and versatile dressing for various salads.
5 from 1 vote
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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 1/2 tablespoons grated onion
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste

Equipment

  • 1 whisk
  • 1 mixing bowl

Instructions 

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar, honey, mayonnaise, onion, poppy seeds and mustard.
  • Continuing to whisk, drizzle in the olive oil until thick, creamy and emulsified. Stir in the poppy seeds and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Calories: 71kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 0.3g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.003g, Cholesterol: 0.5mg, Sodium: 13mg, Potassium: 16mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 0.2mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Condiment, salad dressing
Cuisine: American