These simple creamy salad dressings are my go-to’s for transforming fresh salads into something incredibly delicious. Many of them are copycats of your store-bought favorites, like Caesar dressing or ranch dressing (though healthier when made at home). And if you’re dairy-free, I’ll share a few substitutions below!
Photo: Gayle McLeod
I honestly don’t even remember the last time I bought a bottle of store-bought dressing. Ever since I started making them myself at home, I realized just how much fresher, cleaner, and more delicious they can be. Just take a peek at my entire list of salad dressings!
But for meals that need a bit more oomph, these creamy salad dressings are my absolute favorite. They’re obviously perfect for classic creamy salads like this Caesar salad or coleslaw. But don’t forget that they’re great drizzled on roasted vegetables or proteins like chicken. I loooove the lemon tahini dressing tossed with my roasted carrot and parsnip salad recipe in my Healthy Meal Prep cookbook!
If you’re dairy-free, some of these can be made with Greek yogurt or a dairy-free alternative. You can find substitution tips within each recipe post below 😊.
1
I am obsessed with this homemade ranch dressing. It’s ultra-creamy, layered with tangy, herby flavors, and is a staple condiment I always pull out for dinners and parties (it’s a great party dip!).
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2
Oh me oh my—this is the only Caesar dressing you need! And yes, you do need a tin of anchovies for this. But don’t skip it, because that’s what gives this it’s classic umami flavor.
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3
If you love tahini sauce, you’ll certainly make this maple mustard version on repeat. It’s sweet, slightly spicy, nutty, and perfect for drizzling on fall-inspired meals…or anything Mediterranean!
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4
I have gotten so many raving reviews about this coleslaw dressing. It’s tangy, slightly sweet, and the perfect sauce to dress up a bowl of shredded carrots and cabbage.
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5
This creamy avocado dressing is the one you’ll want to make for southwestern dishes, like this Southwest chicken salad with cilantro lime chicken. Avocados complement hearty bold flavors so well!
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6
I’d say this lemon tahini dressing has become one of my top 3 creamy dressings. Probably because I make a lot of Mediterranean dishes. But I just love how bright and nutty it is, perfect for all kinds of roasted veggies.
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Wondering how long you can store these for? Most of these creamy dressings will last up to one week in the fridge! That makes them the perfect ingredient to prep for the week and use for salads, side dishes, and more.
If you make any of these creamy salad dressings, let me know how they turn out in the comments below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re looking for more healthy food inspiration, join my free newsletter here.