Maple Dijon Dressing
Skip the bottled dressing! This homemade Maple Dijon Dressing is sweet, tangy, oil-free, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. It’s a healthy dressing you’ll want to keep on hand all week.
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This dressing wasn’t even supposed to have its own recipe! I originally used it for my Vegetable Pasta Salad, but after making it a few times, I found myself creating it again and again to use on everything from garden salads to veggie grain bowls and roasted veggies. It was just too good not to share on its own.
We always have a homemade oil-free dressing in the refrigerator because it’s an easy way to add tons of flavor without all the added oil. This sweet, tangy Maple Dijon Dressing has become one of our favorites and comes together in just 5 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.
Why You’ll Love This Maple Dijon Dressing
There are so many reasons to keep a jar of this homemade dressing in your refrigerator!
🥗 Ready in just 5 minutes. Simply whisk the ingredients together, and it’s ready to enjoy.
🍁 Sweet, tangy, and savory. The combination of maple syrup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, garlic, and Italian seasoning creates a perfectly balanced flavor that’s delicious on just about everything.
❤️ Oil-free and heart-healthy. This dressing is made without any added oil, making it a lighter option that’s packed with flavor instead of unnecessary fat.
🌿 Made with simple pantry ingredients. Chances are you already have everything you need in your kitchen.
🥕 Incredibly versatile. Drizzle it over garden salads, pasta salads, grain bowls, roasted vegetables, or use it as a flavorful marinade for tofu and vegetables.
🫙 Great for meal prep. Make a batch at the beginning of the week and keep it in the refrigerator for quick, healthy meals whenever you need them.
This is one of those recipes that proves homemade healthy dressings don’t have to be complicated. Once you taste it, you may never want to go back to bottled dressing again!
Ingredient Notes
The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.
One of the things I love most about this dressing is that it’s made with simple pantry staples that come together to create an incredible balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors.
🍁 Maple Syrup – Adds just the right amount of natural sweetness to balance the tanginess of the vinegar and mustard.
💛 Dijon Mustard – The star of the dressing! It provides a bold, tangy flavor while helping create a smooth, creamy consistency.
🍎 Apple Cider Vinegar – Brings a bright, tangy flavor that makes the dressing fresh and vibrant.
🥣 Low-Sodium Soy Sauce – Adds a rich, savory umami flavor that gives the dressing extra depth. For a gluten-free version, use tamari.
🍊 Orange Juice – Adds a subtle citrus sweetness that brightens the dressing and ties all the flavors together.
🧄 Fresh Garlic – Gives the dressing a fresh, bold garlic flavor that pairs beautifully with the Dijon mustard.
🌿 Garlic Powder & Italian Seasoning – These pantry spices round out the dressing with savory herb flavor and make every bite even more delicious.
Together, these simple ingredients create a dressing that’s flavorful enough for everyday salads but versatile enough to use on so many other dishes.
Ways to Use Oil-Free Maple Dijon Dressing
Once I started making this dressing, I found myself reaching for it far more often than I expected. It may have started as a pasta salad dressing, but it has definitely earned a permanent spot in our refrigerator! Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Garden Salads: This is my go-to dressing for everyday salads loaded with lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, and whatever fresh vegetables we have on hand.
- Pasta Salads: It’s the dressing that inspired my veggie pasta salad, but it works beautifully in just about any cold pasta salad.
- Grain Bowls: Drizzle it over brown rice, quinoa, farro, or barley along with your favorite vegetables for an easy, satisfying meal.
- Roasted or Steamed Vegetables: A little drizzle after cooking adds wonderful flavor to broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, green beans, cauliflower, and more.
- Baked Potatoes: Spoon it over a hot baked potato, then pile on steamed broccoli, chopped green onions, or your favorite veggies. If you haven’t tried making a baked potato in your air fryer, you really need to because they are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
- Marinade for Tofu and Vegetables: Let tofu or vegetables soak for 20–30 minutes before baking, grilling, or air frying for an easy flavor boost.
- Wraps and Sandwiches: Use it as a spread or drizzle it over veggie-filled wraps and sandwiches instead of mayonnaise or bottled dressing.
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself making another batch before the first one is gone. That’s exactly what happened at our house!
Variations
One of the things I love most about this dressing is how easy it is to customize. Here are a few simple ways to change it up based on your taste or what you have on hand.
- Make it sweeter: Add an extra teaspoon or two of maple syrup if you prefer a sweeter dressing.
- Turn up the tang: For a brighter, more tangy flavor, add an extra splash of apple cider vinegar or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- Add fresh herbs: Stir in chopped parsley, basil, dill, or chives for even more fresh flavor.
- Give it a little heat: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, a dash of cayenne pepper, or a spoonful of your favorite hot sauce.
- Use tamari: For a gluten-free version, substitute tamari for the soy sauce.
- Make it creamier: Blend in a tablespoon of tahini or your favorite homemade oil-free mayonnaise for a richer, creamier dressing.
- Add a peppery finish: Freshly cracked black pepper complements the maple and Dijon flavors beautifully.
No matter which variation you choose, this dressing is incredibly forgiving. Feel free to experiment until you find the combination that’s perfect for your taste buds.
How to Make Maple Dijon Salad Dressing
The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.
STEP #1: In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the maple syrup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, orange juice, minced garlic, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
STEP #2: Drizzle over your favorite garden salad, pasta salad, grain bowl, or roasted vegetables. You can also use it as a marinade for tofu or vegetables. Store any leftovers in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator until ready to use. Give it a good shake or stir before serving.
Storage Instructions
Store the dressing in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Before serving, give it a good shake or stir, as some of the ingredients may naturally separate while it sits.
I like making a batch at the beginning of the week so it’s ready to drizzle over salads, grain bowls, and vegetables whenever we need a quick meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! In fact, I think it tastes even better after it has had a few hours for the flavors to blend together. I often make a batch at the beginning of the week so it’s ready whenever we want a quick salad or grain bowl.
You can, but the flavor will be quite different. Dijon mustard gives this dressing its signature tangy, slightly creamy flavor. If possible, I recommend sticking with Dijon for the best results.
It can be! Simply substitute tamari or your favorite gluten-free soy sauce for the regular soy sauce, and be sure to check that your Dijon mustard is certified gluten-free if needed.
That’s completely normal. Since this is a homemade, oil-free dressing without preservatives or emulsifiers, some separation is expected. Just give it a good shake or whisk before serving, and it’ll be ready to enjoy again.
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Maple Dijon Dressing
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1.5 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic I used the jarred
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
Instructions
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the maple syrup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, orange juice, minced garlic, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
- Drizzle over your favorite garden salad, pasta salad, grain bowl, or roasted vegetables. You can also use it as a marinade for tofu or vegetables. Store any leftovers in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator until ready to use. Give it a good shake or stir before serving.
Video
Notes
- Garden Salads: This is my go-to dressing for everyday salads loaded with lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, and whatever fresh vegetables we have on hand.
- Pasta Salads: It’s the dressing that inspired my veggie pasta salad, but it works beautifully in just about any cold pasta salad.
- Grain Bowls: Drizzle it over brown rice, quinoa, farro, or barley along with your favorite vegetables for an easy, satisfying meal.
- Roasted or Steamed Vegetables: A little drizzle after cooking adds wonderful flavor to broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, green beans, cauliflower, and more.
- Baked Potatoes: Spoon it over a hot baked potato, then pile on steamed broccoli, chopped green onions, or your favorite veggies. If you haven’t tried making a baked potato in your air fryer, you really need to because they are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
- Marinade for Tofu and Vegetables: Let tofu or vegetables soak for 20–30 minutes before baking, grilling, or air frying for an easy flavor boost.
- Wraps and Sandwiches: Use it as a spread or drizzle it over veggie-filled wraps and sandwiches instead of mayonnaise or bottled dressing.
- Make it sweeter: Add an extra teaspoon or two of maple syrup if you prefer a sweeter dressing.
- Turn up the tang: For a brighter, more tangy flavor, add an extra splash of apple cider vinegar or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- Add fresh herbs: Stir in chopped parsley, basil, dill, or chives for even more fresh flavor.
- Give it a little heat: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, a dash of cayenne pepper, or a spoonful of your favorite hot sauce.
- Use tamari: For a gluten-free version, substitute tamari for the soy sauce.
- Make it creamier: Blend in a tablespoon of tahini or your favorite homemade oil-free mayonnaise for a richer, creamier dressing.
- Add a peppery finish: Freshly cracked black pepper complements the maple and Dijon flavors beautifully.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
About Terri Edwards
Hi guys! I’m the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I’m passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to help others care well for their health and the bodies God has given us. I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…
This dressing has become one of my favorites!
I originally created this Maple Dijon Dressing for my Vegetable Pasta Salad, but after making it a few times, I found myself reaching for it on everything from garden salads to grain bowls and roasted vegetables. It’s the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory, and I love that it’s made with simple pantry ingredients in just minutes.
I genuinely enjoyed creating this recipe and sharing it with you, and I hope you’ll love it as much as we do. If you give it a try, I’d really appreciate it if you’d come back and leave a star rating and comment. Your feedback not only makes my day, but it also helps others decide whether to give the recipe a try.