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Skip the bottled dressings and make your own zesty vinaigrette at home! This EASY Apple Cider Vinaigrette recipe comes together in seconds and is healthy with a flavor packed punch. Made with simple ingredients you already have in your kitchen.
Sometimes eating a salad can be a struggle. You really want a burger but you know, deep in your heart, that you should just eat some greens. But salad can be boring unless you have the right salad dressing and the bottled dressings at the store are not always enticing.
The best way to get around all of that is by making your own salad dressing at home. It’s super easy to do with simple pantry ingredients and this Homemade Apple Cider Vinaigrette is no exception. It’s zesty, vibrant and healthy!
I used my favorite Chick-fil-a apple cider vinaigrette as the inspiration for the flavors I wanted in this easy salad dressing. To keep it healthy, I use raw apple cider vinaigrette with the mother, the byproducts of the fermentation process, to get some of that gut-friendly bacteria that’s said to promote healing from within.
Simple Ingredients You Will Need
- Vinegar – Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is the base for this salad dressing recipe. If you want to substitute another vinegar for a simple vinaigrette, it will work well. Some of my swaps include red wine vinegar, champagne vinegar and balsamic vinegar.
- Mustard – Creamy Dijon Mustard has the perfect tanginess to add flavor and richness. You can substitute with honey mustard for a sweeter flavor.
- Honey – A necessary touch of sweetness, honey adds the perfect balance to the vinegar. If you don’t have honey, you can substitute with maple syrup, date syrup or agave syrup.
- Olive oil – For all dressings, I always use extra-virgin olive oil. Something fruity, rather than peppery, blends beautifully with the apple cider vinegar. But any good olive oil or other neutral oil, like avocado oil, you have on hand will work well.
- Seasoning – I use just kosher sal and black pepper.
For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipe card below.
What is Vinaigrette Dressing?
A Vinaigrette Dressing is made by mixing an oil with something acidic such as vinegar or lemon juice. You can add just about any herbs or spices you like to mix up the flavor as I did with this vinaigrette recipe.
For the acid, we’re using apple cider vinegar and mixing it with extra virgin olive oil. To achieve a creamy apple cider vinaigrette, I whisked in a bit of mustard which helps pull together all the ingredients so they’re light and creamy.
Apple cider vinegar, or cider vinegar, is made from fermented apple juice and is claimed to have a number of health benefits from weight loss to reducing cholesterol, as well as, lowering blood sugar.
It’s used in salad dressings, marinades, vinaigrettes, food preservatives, and chutneys. It is made by crushing apples, then extracting the juice. I love Bragg’s Vinegar and have been using it for years. (You can click the link below to have it sent right to your house!!)
This is the only brand of Apple Cider Vinegar I buy. It’s clean, organic and mild enough to take a shot of in the morning. I use it in 100’s of recipes.
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How to Make Apple Cider Vinaigrette
This easy recipe comes together in just 2 minutes.
- Add all the ingredients to a small bowl.
- Whisk until well combined.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinaigrette
While I LOVE to douse a simple green salad and house salad with this dressing, it also makes a fantastic marinade for meats and poultry. I usually use this Chicken Marinade but when I want to mix things up and lighten up that flavor, this apple cider dressing certainly does the trick.
It’s also fantastic for drizzling over sauteed green beans or a pile of roasted potatoes. It’s a simple way to change the flavor profile of so many dishes.
How to Store Leftovers
Transfer any leftover apple cider vinegar salad dressing to an airtight container or mason jar with a tight-fitting lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Allow the dressing to sit at room temperature until the olive oil is liquid because it will become solid when it’s chilled. Give the container or jar a good shake to blend everything together.
Vinaigrette vs. Dressing
While a vinaigrette can also be called a salad dressing, there is a difference between the two. A vinaigrette is always made from a base of oil and vinegar (or another adic) while a dressing is most often mayonnaise based and creamy.
The terms can be used interchangeably and I think we’re all pretty smart enough to know that a vinaigrette is primarily used to dress a salad. This easy Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing (see what I did there?) is a fantastic way to amp up a bowl of greens.
More Easy Salad Dressing Recipes
And if you’re looking for something with a little more depth of flavor this easy Greek Salad Dressing is PHENOMENAL! It takes a little more time to make (like an extra minute) but your efforts will be rewarded.
If you’re looking for more easy HOMEMADE Salad Dressings, we are loving this lighter Thousand Island Dressing. It’s fantastic on your leftover corned beef sandwiches! Or make this simple Blue Cheese Dressing for dipping your favorite veggies.
We’re also in love with this easy Avocado Ranch Dressing and this simple Ginger Miso Dressing.…they’re both so fresh and light!
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Apple Cider Vinaigrette Recipe
Equipment
- 1 whisk
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together the mustard, vinegar, honey and olive oil until thoroughly combined. The mixture will start to thicken and appear creamy.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste. (Add additional herbs, if desired.)
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Absolutely DELISH
Thank you!
There is a dressing that comes in in a single serving from the store . The salad is labeled apple walnut . The dressing is out of this world . Looking at different recipes your’s seems to be the closest . I will give it a try and see , thank you
I hope you like it! This is closer to the Chick-fil-a dressing recipe but a little healthier than what comes in the package.
This is delicious! Even my sister, who hates mustard, loved it! Making again now for company tonight. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Thank you for your comment! I’m happy you liked it!
I made this today – fresh, healthy and super easy.
So glad you liked it!!
This vinaigrette is soo delicious!! We’re obsessed! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much!
Love this vinaigrette dressing. It’s so good and good for you too!
It really is! Thank you!
I just love simple homemade dressings like this! 🙂
Thank you! It’s on repeat here several times a week.
Love this on salads!! It’s so light & gives such a yummy flavor! Love that I can have this on hand at home. It is very easy to make!
Thank you! It’s a favorite for sure!
The cider vinegar dressings looks great. I can’t wait to make it.
Thank you! I can’t wait for you to try it!
Such a yummy and easy recipe! If you can’t eat honey, just sub with 2 Tbsp of agave syrup. Yum!
Thank you, Leah!