Honey Lemon Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

This post may contain affiliate links, which are always marked with *. Please read my disclosure for more information.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Honey Lemon Vinaigrette is super easy to make in just a few minutes. It's a sweet, salty & acidic salad dressing that's perfect for summer salads. So flavorful, it will make even the simplest green salad taste luxurious!

honey lemon vinaigrette in a jar with a spoon.

Jump to:

Why you will love this recipe
What you need to make it
How to make it
Tips & tricks
Recipe FAQ
Salads to serve with this vinaigrette
Recipe
Reviews

There's no dressing I make more in summer than this Honey Lemon Vinaigrette (if it has a competitor, it's this Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing). Usually paired with my Simple Arugula Salad, it's great with many other types of salad as well. Especially when there's a fattier component - think avocado or halloumi cheese.

Why you will love this recipe

It's super easy to make - just shake the ingredients together
It's super quick to make - 2 minutes, tops!
The perfect balance of sweet & sour & salty from honey, fresh lemon juice & sea salt flakes
Light & healthy with just a bit of olive oil, and works for most special diets

What you need to make it

ingredients for honey lemon vinaigrette.

Ingredient notes & substitutions

Lemon needs to be fresh - canned lemon juice won't do
Olive oil can be swapped for a neutral vegetable oil
Sea salt flakes can be swapped for fine table salt - start with half the amount and add more if needing after taste testing
Honey: liquid honey is easiest to use, but any kind will do
Black pepper: fresh ground is best, but any type works

How to make it

collage showing how to make honey lemon vinaigrette.

Place all ingredients in a jar with a lid
Close the lid tightly and shake vigorously
Shake until well mixed
Taste test, and adjust seasoning as needed

Tips & tricks

Make your vinaigrette in a jar - it's just the easiest way
If you're using non-liquid honey you can microwave it quickly to make it more liquid and easier to mix with the rest of the ingredients
Always taste test your vinaigrette, so you can get the seasoning just right for your taste
Store leftovers in the jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks and just give it a good shake before using

Recipe FAQ

How long does homemade Lemon Vinaigrette last?

Homemade vinaigrettes are generally good for up to 2 weeks when kept in an airtight container in the fridge. The exception is if your vinaigrette contains dairy.

Can homemade vinaigrette go bad?

Just like just about everything, homemade vinaigrette can go bad. However, unless they're dairy based they do keep for at least 1-2 weeks - and for this Honey Lemon Vinaigrette the acidic lemon juice helps keep it fresh.

Does homemade vinaigrette need to be refrigerated?

Yes, I recommend refrigerating this vinaigrette to be able to keep it for longer.

Which vinegar is best for vinaigrette?

This vinaigrette is actually made without vinegar! Instead we use lemon juice as the acidic component. However, if you want to make a vinaigrette with vinegar I recommend white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar - depending on the flavor profile you are after.

Salads to serve with this vinaigrette

These salads all come with delicious dressings and vinaigrettes of their own - but they're great to switch up with this vinaigrette.

Did you love this recipe? Rate it five stars!
...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.

Recipe