Lemon Vinaigrette

This lemon vinaigrette recipe is SO easy to make! With its zingy, bright lemon flavor, it'll blow any store bought dressing out of the water.

Lemon vinaigrette

How is it possible that in 8+ years of writing Love and Lemons, I haven’t shared a basic lemon vinaigrette recipe until now?! Often, I post salad recipes with a dressing included – a kale salad with carrot ginger dressing, a watermelon salad tossed with lime juice. But a few weeks ago, as I was whisking together this lemon vinaigrette, I realized that tying a dressing to a specific salad recipe can sometimes sell it short.

This lemon vinaigrette is one of my favorite salad dressings. It’s zippy, fresh, and bright, it comes together in minutes, and it keeps well in the fridge. With its vibrant lemon flavor, it’s a dressing that you’ll use for so much more than salad. Sure, it peps up greens, but it also makes roasted veggies more exciting, adds life to grain bowls, and more. So whisk it up, pop it in the fridge, and start drizzling it over everything. Easy, versatile, and delicious, this lemon vinaigrette recipe is one you’ll make again and again.

Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe Ingredients

Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe Ingredients

This lemon vinaigrette dressing recipe is super simple to make. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Fresh lemon juice – To make it zippy and bright!
  • Extra-virgin olive oil – It gives the dressing body and richness.
  • Garlic – It adds a nice kick.
  • Dijon mustard – For tangy depth of flavor.
  • Honey or maple syrup – I list it as optional, but its sweetness perfectly balances the sharp garlic, lemon, and Dijon mustard.
  • Fresh or dried thyme – Again, it’s optional, but if you ask me, herbs make everything better. With its fresh, aromatic flavor, it adds something special to this lemon vinaigrette.
  • And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors pop!

When you’re ready to make the dressing, add the lemon juice, garlic, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper to a small bowl, and whisk to combine. Then, add the olive oil. As you’ll see in the recipe below, I make my lemon vinaigrette with varying amounts of oil. If I’m tossing it with raw greens and vegetables, I want it to have a mellower flavor. Then, I use 3 parts acid to 4 parts oil. If I’m dressing heartier ingredients like roasted vegetables or potatoes, I want it to taste sharper, so I use a 1:1 ratio. I recommend starting with a 1:1 ratio and adding more oil as needed.

As you pour in the oil, whisk continuously until the dressing is emulsified. Stir in the thyme, and season to taste with more oil, salt, and/or pepper. Enjoy!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Whisking olive oil into lemon vinaigrette dressing

How to Use Lemon Vinaigrette

This lemon vinaigrette will keep in an airtight container or jar for up to 1 week in the fridge. Of course, it’s a great way to dress up a simple green salad, but there are so many other delicious ways to use it. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

How do you like to use lemon salad dressing? Let me know in the comments!

Lemon salad dressing

More Favorite Dressings and Sauces

If you love this lemon vinaigrette recipe, try one of these homemade salad dressing recipes next:

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Lemon Vinaigrette

rate this recipe:
5 from 427 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serves 6 to 8
This easy lemon vinaigrette recipe is a great one to have in your back pocket. It's delicious and versatile - perfect for tossing with salads, roasted vegetables, and more!

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, mustard, salt, pepper, and honey, if using.
  • Drizzle in the olive oil while whisking and continue to whisk until the dressing is emulsified. Alternatively, combine everything in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake to combine.
  • If your dressing is too tangy, add more olive oil, to taste.
  • Add the thyme, if desired, and season to taste. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week. The olive oil will solidify a bit in the fridge. To soften, let the dressing sit at room temp for a few minutes and stir before using.

Notes

Makes 1/2 cup.

176 comments

5 from 427 votes (354 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Wendy
    10.19.2024

    5 stars
    Bomb.com!!!!
    My fav salad is Grimaldi’s Lemon Salad and now I don’t have to go there. This is it!!!!

  2. Cindi McTyre
    10.13.2024

    5 stars
    I made this dressing tonight and absolutely loved it! I had a simple salad, iceberg lettuce, tomato, cucumber, grated carrots topped with a handful of langostinos on top. This lemon vinaigrette dressing complimented it perfectly!

  3. Belinda
    09.24.2024

    5 stars
    Love this dressing and make it regularly. Even my husband who doesn’t like lemon likes it as long as I add a little extra honey!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.25.2024

      I’m so glad you’ve both enjoyed it!

  4. Elaine from loveandlemons.com
    08.18.2024

    5 stars
    Took this to a potluck and everyone wants the recipe. I had to make it without the mustard but doubled the fresh herbs and added a bit more honey. It was so fresh and tasty!! I will definitely keep this recipe on hand, especially since the husband doesn’t like vinegar.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      08.23.2024

      Hi Elaine, I’m so glad you loved the dressing!

  5. Elizabeth
    08.03.2024

    5 stars
    10/10 such a delicious and light vinaigrette

  6. Rhonda V
    07.31.2024

    5 stars
    This has been a game changer for me! I’m doing a 16:8 intermittent fasting schedule and make a generous chopped salad with this dressing consistently. I’m down 38 pounds. Highly recommend – great flavor and you control the ingredients.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      08.02.2024

      Hi Rhonda, I’m so glad you love the dressing!

  7. Krista
    07.29.2024

    5 stars
    This was easy and delicious! It is definitely going to be a go-to recipe.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      08.02.2024

      Hi Krista, I’m so glad you loved it!

  8. Wendy
    07.10.2024

    5 stars
    DELICIOUS! over spinach strawberry goat cheese salad

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      07.12.2024

      Hi Wendy, I’m so glad you loved the dressing!

  9. S
    07.08.2024

    5 stars
    Absolutely loved this. I did substitute the Dijon for mayo(didn’t have dijon) but it was bright tasty and smooth. Looking forward to trying it again when I can get the mustard.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      07.12.2024

      Hi, I’m so glad you enjoyed the dressing!

  10. Cecilia
    06.29.2024

    5 stars
    So good. Thank you for sharing.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      07.12.2024

      Glad you loved the dressing, Cecilia!

  11. Rebecca
    06.24.2024

    5 stars
    So simple to make and it complimented my fish as well as my Mediterranean salad. Perfect for both!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.25.2024

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  12. Larry
    06.06.2024

    How long will this last in the refrigerator

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      06.07.2024

      Hi Larry, it keeps for about 5 days in the fridge.

  13. bonnie blanco
    06.05.2024

    I used twice the maple syrup and added dried curry and it was great.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      06.06.2024

      So glad you enjoyed the dressing, Bonnie! Thanks for sharing your twist.

  14. Victoria
    05.27.2024

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious

  15. Caroline
    05.26.2024

    5 stars
    Excellent! I emulsified the dressing in my ninja blender and it was perfection.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.29.2024

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  16. Barbara Boatner
    05.19.2024

    5 stars
    Oh it was good!!!
    Very ? good

  17. Candace
    05.18.2024

    Yummy! I changed it up just a little. Instead of thyme, I used basil. I also omitted the honey/maple syrup. I prefer my vinaigrette to taste strongly acidic. Very good!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.22.2024

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  18. Diana
    05.16.2024

    5 stars
    I was sick of bottled dressings so I decided to look for a dressing recipe with lemon juice and olive oil, because I knew it needed more than just that, but wasn’t sure what would work. This dressing was fantastic, and I already had all the ingredients on hand!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      05.17.2024

      Hi Diana, I’m so glad you loved the dressing!

  19. Lynnster
    05.13.2024

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious dressing! I have made this several times and now I always double or triple the recipe so I can have extra in the fridge any time I want some yummy dressing.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.16.2024

      I’m so glad you’ve loved it!

  20. Hadley
    05.08.2024

    5 stars
    Perfect dressing recipe. It has the right balance of tangy, sweet and salty. I add oregano to mine.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      05.10.2024

      Hi Hadley, I’m so glad you love the dressing! Oregano would be a great addition to this one.

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.