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GET IT NOWMy Creamy Balsamic Dressing Is Vinaigrette’s Creamier Friend
I’ve made regular balsamic vinaigrette for years and years, but for the longest time, couldn’t get my kids on board. I added some cream one day in an attempt to change that, and — jackpot — it worked! And this creamy balsamic dressing was 1000 times better than any store-bought salad dressings I’ve tried. Here’s why:
- Tangy, slightly sweet, super creamy, and just a little garlicky – If you like regular balsamic, this is like that but with a creamy element! And it tastes much richer and more flavorful than any bottle you’ll find at the store.
- Just 5 simple ingredients – Plus salt and pepper. No added sugar, no mystery thickeners, and no weird preservatives.
- Lightning fast – I can whip this up in 5 minutes! You don’t need a blender or any special tools.
- So versatile – While I love this creamy balsamic dressing recipe for salads, I’ve also used it for roasted veggies, as a chicken marinade, and even as a dip for fresh veggies.
This creamy balsamic vinaigrette is super versatile, comes together in minutes, and works for everything from simple greens to pasta salads. Make it with me!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my balsamic creamy salad dressing, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Olive Oil – I used regular olive oil, but extra virgin olive oil or even avocado oil works, too.
- Balsamic Vinegar – This is one of those times where the quality matters. I can totally taste the difference when I use a good balsamic. You can try apple cider vinegar for a milder flavor, but it’ll taste quite different.
- Heavy Cream – Makes my balsamic dressing recipe creamy! You can swap in half and half to lighten it up, or full-fat coconut milk to make it dairy-free. I don’t recommend lighter milks, as they’ll be more thin and watery.
- Dijon Mustard – I highly recommend Dijon, but if all you have is yellow, I’d start with less because it’s more intense.
- Garlic Powder – You can swap in 1-2 cloves of minced fresh garlic, but the flavor will be sharper.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
How To Make Creamy Balsamic Dressing
Simply combine everything in a bowl and whisk together, that’s it! Or, if you’re like me and love shortcuts, do this right in your storage jar (I used one of these in my picture at the top!) and just shake to combine. Taste your creamy balsamic dressing for salt and pepper as needed.
My Recipe Tips
- Make it creamier: Feel free to add 1-2 tablespoons extra cream.
- Make it sweeter: I think the sweetness is just right from the balsamic vinegar, but you can add a tablespoon of honey (or my natural zero sugar honey!) if you like it sweeter.
- Make it herby: Add a teaspoon of dried herbs, like parsley, basil, or Italian seasoning. Fresh herbs work too, but the dressing won’t last as long.
- Bring to room temperature before pouring. My creamy balsamic dressing gets too thick to pour when you refrigerate it, but it’ll thin out if you let it sit out for bit. (Don’t leave it out for more than 1-2 hours, though, since it has dairy.)
- If it separates after storing, you can whisk it again. I usually just shake the dressing right in the jar.
Creamy Balsamic Dressing
My creamy balsamic salad dressing recipe is rich, tangy, and a little sweet. Easy to make in 5 minutes, with 5 ingredients!
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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In a small bowl or small jar, combine the olive oil, heavy cream, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
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Whisk together until smooth, or if using a jar with a lid, just cover and shake.
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Adjust salt and pepper to your taste, if needed.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 2 tablespoons
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best texture, how to customize the flavor, and extra storage tips.
- Storage: Keep this creamy balsamic vinaigrette in an airtight container in the fridge. I love these jars. It usually lasts about a week, sometimes a little longer thanks to the vinegar. I don’t recommend freezing, as the cream will separate.
- Recipe yield: This makes about 1 cup total.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Creamy Balsamic Dressing
Serving Ideas
- My favorite salads to serve with this creamy balsamic dressing are Mediterranean salad (pictured above), strawberry spinach salad, roasted vegetable salad, and the Greek version of my mason jar salad. You can even drizzle it over my Caprese salad or cucumber onion salad for a fun twist.
- Use it as a marinade for my grilled chicken thighs or baked chicken breast.
- Drizzle it over vegetables, either as a sauce after roasting or even before cooking them.
36 Comments
Michelle
110+ stars! This balsamic has THE BEST FLAVOR! It is so easy to make in a mason jar and keep for a few days in the fridge though we eat it right away because it’s so delicious! I pull it out of the fridge a little before salad making so the olive oil can melt a little bit but storing in the mason jar makes it really easy to shake. Sometimes I make it with coconut milk, sometime with heavy cream. We’ve been enjoying this recipe for the past few years. This is our FAVORITE dressing!
Wholesome Yum D
0This made me smile big time, Michelle. I’m so happy you’ve been loving it for years. And yes, storing it in a mason jar is such a game changer for quick salads!
Lyn
1I was wanting a creamy balsamic to use in cucumber, onion, and tomato salad. When I found this, I thought it was just what I needed. It is SOOOOOOO delicious. I used avocado oil because my olive oil was a little old. It was so tasty! I’ll definitely be making this again! Thank you for this simple but delicious dressing!
Katie
0I love the flavor of this dressing but after making it, the dressing becomes much thicker…almost a solid.
Tammy
0How long can you refrigerate this? The recipe doesn’t say.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Tammy, This will last in the refrigerator for about 1 week.
Nancy Andrews
0Hi – thank you very much for the recipe. I did make with coconut cream but used a bit more, so much that it is actually like a sauce or dip. It’s fine and tastes great but wondering since it is so much can this be frozen? Have a feeling it will go to waste. Thanks much!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Nancy, I don’t recommend freezing this recipe. It should keep fresh in your fridge for 7 days.
Austin
0the salad dressing got really thick after refrigerating overnight, the stirring didn’t change back to its original pourable texture. what should I do?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Austin, It does get thick in the fridge. Just let it come to room temperature and whisk, and it’ll be pourable again.
Melody
0This is delicious and has become my go to dressing!
Rosy Garcia
0Delicious dressing! I used it in a salad with chicken, dried cranberries, walnuts and goat cheese. YUM!!!
Lamia
0Such an awesome dressing. I used Greek yogurt as the thickener and it was just unbelievably creamy and delicious. Thanks.
Ray
0Just curious about the balsamic you are using because it has 10g carbs and 5g sugar for a tablespoon and you used a quarter cup. Just based on the balsamic alone there should be 5g carbs per two tablespoons for this recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Ray, I use the USDA food database as the guideline for macros. Individual brands may still vary.
Erin
0I love this recipe! Something weird has happened the last two times I’ve made it though. It has gotten really thick while sitting in the fridge. Has this happened to anyone else? Any thoughts why?
Wholesome Yum L
0Hi Erin, sometimes the ingredients separate while in the fridge. Try shaking the dressing and see if that helps.
Rachel
0I love this salad dressing!
I used my milk frother to blend since I didn’t have the suggested Whiskware gadget. Very handy! This may help those who don’t have the shaker. I loved being able to emulsify in a small storage container and it made for easy cleanup.
Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Jean
0Can Skim Milk be substituted for heavy cream?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jean, I don’t think that would work well as it would be very thin and lacking flavor. You could do whole milk if you really want to.
Sandi
0This is perfect for my picky eaters…they love salad dressings like this.
Kayla Humbard
0How does this come out to be 1 net carb per serving when there is 10 carbs in the balsamic vinegar?
Wholesome Yum
0Hi Kayla, we use the USDA Food Database for our baseline macros. Different brands will vary. Since the serving size is 1/8 of the recipe, the net carbs will also be smaller.
Jules Shepard
0I can never have enough dressing recipes! NEVER! I’ll be adding this to my rotation – it is great!
Erin Dee
0I love making homemade salad dressings! This one is really tasty!
Kay
0I love your site , but as usual I can not get this item to ship to Australia, such a let down. I will go on EBAY & see if it is available. Thank you for your great recipes, they have made my Keto Journey so much easier
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0So sorry to hear that, Kay! I’ll let the company know. In the meantime you can still make this recipe with a whisk and bowl, too.
Holly Carter
0Try Amazon. Also, if there is pampered chef in Australia, they make a great salad dressing cruet, with a pump-type whisk attached. I’ve had mine for about 20 years! love it-it even has markings on side with recipes for basic dressings & the level lines on where to fill with oil, vinegar, etc.
Marni
0If you get Amazon there in Australia you could get balsamic there. I buy Colavita white balsamic for a milder dressing on Caprese salads.
Jennifer Banz
0I loved it, Thank you for sharing!
Katie
0I love homemade salad dressings so much- and your tips for either making it dairy free or adding flavor with vinegar are brilliant! There’s so much versatility and always better flavor when you make it at home! Thanks for the great recipe!
Tayler Ross
0This is my new favorite dressing recipe! I seriously put it on everything!
Beth Sachs
0I love creamy salad dressings. This one is great!
Matt
0OK I finally need to make my own dressing. Looks like I’m starting with this one!
Juli
0I love that this creamy balsamic dressing has only 5 ingredients! I love making my own dressing, this one is a must try!
Patty K-P
0Creamy dressings are my favorite! They make salads so much more satisfying 🙂