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This honey mustard dressing recipe is quick, bright, and easy to prepare using just 5 everyday ingredients! You’ll actually look forward to eating salad with this dressing.
Try my Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin, this, Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce, or Easy Honey Mustard Chicken next.
Why you’ll love it
Some lovely readers who made my Avocado Bacon Spinach Salad told me how much they enjoyed the sweet and savory honey mustard dressing, so here’s the standalone recipe! With just a handful of pantry ingredients, it’s perfectly balanced and hits all the right notes.
This is a simple vinaigrette-style dressing, meaning we’re skipping the dairy. Some versions have Greek yogurt, but I prefer a lighter dressing that really lets the honey and mustard shine. Dress up your favorite fresh salad ingredients with this homemade dressing!
What you’ll need
- Mustard – standard yellow mustard is my pick here. It’s milder than Dijon and gives the dressing a beautiful bright color.
- Honey – we’re using liquid honey
- Lemon juice – a touch of acidity balances all the flavors and adds freshness
- Garlic powder – for another savory layer
- Olive oil – the base to any good vinaigrette
Helpful tips
- I use yellow mustard (French’s brand here in Canada), but you’re welcome to switch it up with your favorite or whatever you have on hand. I chose yellow mustard because it’s not too strong and is a good all-around mustard.
- You can definitely try Dijon, but keep in mind the taste will be sharper. You may want to start off with less Dijon, taste it, and build it up gradually. Or add more honey as needed!
Pro tip
As with any salad dressing, since everyone’s tastes differ, I encourage you to play with the ingredient quantities/proportions until you arrive at something that perfectly pleases your tastebuds.
How to make honey mustard dressing
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Add all the ingredients along with a generous amount of salt & pepper to a jar or small bowl/glass. Shake well or stir together until combined. Give it a taste, and adjust as needed. Toss it with your salad, or let it chill in the fridge first.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- I like making this dressing in a mason jar to easily shake it up.
- A lemon saver will keep the rest of your lemon fresher for longer.
- Make a big salad in one of these glass prep bowls, and serve it with these scissor salad tongs.
Substitutions and variations
- Try swapping lemon juice for apple cider vinegar or white vinegar if you wish!
- Fresh garden herbs like chopped parsley and chives make an amazing addition for a pop of contrast.
- If you want to make this dressing creamy or more of a dip, add some mayo as needed. I’d add it a tablespoon at a time.
What to serve with honey mustard dressing
- This dressing is great on many different kinds of salads, especially spinach salad. Throw in your favorite salad veggies (try tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, and red onions). You can also use it as a dip for vegetables.
- Pair the salad with any number of main courses, everything from my Easy Baked Chicken Breast or Chicken Patties to Creamy Garlic Pork Tenderloin or Tater Tot Shepherd’s Pie.
Leftovers and storage
- Keep this salad dressing for up to about a week in a sealed container (such as a mason jar) in the fridge.
- If you add some fresh chopped herbs to this dressing, keep in mind that it will probably shorten the shelf life a bit.
More easy dressing recipes
If you made this honey mustard salad dressing, please leave a star rating and review below! You can also tag me on Instagram if you made this salad dressing recipe.
Simple Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing (Dairy-free)
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons liquid honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the mustard, honey, lemon juice, garlic powder, olive oil, and salt & pepper to a mason jar, small bowl, or drinking glass. Shake (or stir/whisk) well until combined. Give it a taste and adjust ingredients as needed.
- Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to a week. Shake/stir thoroughly before using.
Notes
- You can definitely use a different kind of mustard. If using something stronger (like Dijon), I suggest starting with less and adding more if needed (or add more honey to compensate).
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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So delicious…so simple…a definite keeper!
Thank you, Judi!
I saw the large cherry tomatoes on my counter and got hungry for a good salad with homemade dressing. I also have cucumber, bell pepper, and green onions on hand and my mind went to honey mustard. I’ll be making this dressing shortly. It sounds delicious!
I hope you will love it, Kathi!
I made this recipe and it was decent, but the olive oil was just too much olive oil for me.. which made it a little bitter… I think in the future I would cut it with veg oil 50/50 or use a very light olive oil.
Used in salad of baby spinach, almond pieces, and chunks of oranges also some canned chicken.
In the past, I used to use Maple Farms honey mustard vinegarette, which I have not been able to find for several years… I know the Brand is still out there, but they no longer make the variety I want (it was fabulous!)
I doubled the recipe using spicy brown mustard, 1 T fresh lemon & 1 T apple cider, avocado oil, and everything else as directed.
Absolutely delicious! Thanks, Natasha!
You’re very welcome!! 😀
Delicious recipe!!! I made this tonight! It was perfect!
Fantastic to hear, Jessica! Thanks so much for your review.
It sure would be nice to have a “jump to recipe” sooo tired of the commentary.
And I’m so tired of people complaining about free recipes. Buy a cookbook.
This recipe is so good and easy to make thank you for sharing
You’re very welcome!! So happy you liked it, Vicki. Thanks for taking the time to write me a review. 🙂
Love this mustard. I wanted some honey mustard with my turkey sandwich and to lazy to go to the store. I don’t buy mayo so this was PERFECT!! I had all the ingredients on hand. Thanks for the great easy recipe. As for the commentary, it gives the recipes life. Something to relate to. Keep doing what your doing. 😃
🙂
Just what I was looking for! A tasty dressing where ALL the ingredients are good for you!
Great!! So happy to hear that. Thanks for commenting, Floyd!
This recipe worked well using agave instead of honey to make it vegan. Perfect for salad and dipping sauce. Thank you!
Wonderful!! 🙂
Quick and delicious!
So glad you enjoyed it, Ali! 🙂