10 Easy Vegan Salad Dressing Ideas
Fresh garden salads are only as good as the dressing you put on them, and that’s why these 10 homemade Vegan Salad Dressings are so important. They are completely oil-free, vegan, absolutely delicious, and some are even gluten-free. Get ready to take those healthy salads to a new level!
I happen to absolutely love fresh salad. Whether it is a Spinach Citrus Salad or a Kale Salad, I’m all in, any time of the year or day!
We know that salads are not only colorful and beautiful, but they are great for our health as well.
One thing I’ve found is that switching out the dressing regularly is one way to keep me craving those fresh colorful bowls that are packed with nutrition and plenty of fiber. One day I might have a simple 3-2-1 Vinaigrette and the next I may be feeling a little more like having my Creamy Ranch Dressing.
What is in a healthy salad?
Salads can be filled with disease-fighting phytonutrients, antioxidants, and loads of fiber. The fact is, it’s not just all about leafy greens and vegetables either.
- Veggies– Some of my favorite things to put in a salad are greens like spinach, romaine, kale, and arugula. Other great veggie options include tomatoes, shredded carrots, diced celery, cucumber slices, broccoli florets, cauliflower, and so much more!
- Grains– A great salad can be piled high with grains like brown rice, millet, or bulgur.
- Beans- Whether it’s chickpeas, baby lima beans, or some other variety, beans add fiber that helps to keep you full for longer.
- Fruit- Some of the fruits that I love to add to my salad are canteloupe, honeydew melon, strawberries, mango, and mandarin orange slices.
- Nuts & Seeds- Sunflower seeds, almond slivers, and crushed walnuts are some of my favorites.
Choosing the right salad dressing
The downfall of many seeking these healthy benefits is what’s on top of their salad. Unfortunately, most salad dressings are loaded with lots of sugar and artery-clogging saturated fat.
Luckily, oil-free and dairy-free salad dressing options can provide a powerful punch of flavor for these culinary masterpieces without all the processed high-calorie junk.
What salad dressings are vegan?
All of the dressings in the list below are vegan and oil-free. For more information on each one, just scroll down to the pictures and click on the ones that you like.
There’s a ‘Jump to Recipe’ button at the top of each recipe page that will scroll you down to the recipe card that has the ingredients, measurements, instructions, and even a print button.
- Orange Miso Dressing
- Creamy Ranch
- Chipotle Ranch
- Balsamic 3-2-1 Oil-Free Dressing
- Tahini Sauce
- Easy Peanut Sauce & Dressing
- Raspberry Vinaigrette
- Tangy Tomato
- Thai Vinegar Salad Dressing
- Honey Mustard Dressing
Be sure to check out our Salad Dressings Recipe page for more great recipes!
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Vegan Salad Dressing Recipes
To keep things healthy and simple, here are ten oil-free and dairy-free salad dressings that will surprise you with how delicious they are, and they're so easy to make. Click on each of the photos, recipe titles, or 'Get the Recipe' buttons to see full recipes with ingredients, measurements, instructions, and a print button.
Easy vegan ranch dressing recipe. Creamy and cool, this is an excellent salad dressing or dip for piles of veggies!
This recipe is great on pasta and bean salads, as well as regular garden salads. With only three ingredients required, it's likely you've already got everything needed on-hand.
If you are looking for a new salad dressing idea for all those veggies, checkout this delicious tangy dressing recipe from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. It's so quick and easy!
Take those greens to the next level with this vinegar oil-free salad dressing that requires only 5 ingredients and 5-minutes to whip up to perfection. It’s a deliciously simple, gluten-free, oil-free, nut-free, plant-based topping for salads, pasta, wraps, and even more!
This smoky, savory, and creamy vegan chipotle sauce is the perfect match for bean burgers, veggie hoagies, baked fries, and SO MUCH MORE!
This easy Tahini Dressing recipe takes less than 5-minutes to make with only a handful of ingredients. It's delicious on pasta, salad, veggie bowls, falafels, and more!
This Orange Salad Dressing is deliciously refreshing when paired with a green salad, pasta, bean salad, or even used as a marinade! Five minutes and a few ingredients are all you need to make this tasty dressing recipe!
This recipe came from my husband's love of a tangy tomato salad dressing at a local restaurant. Theirs has oil, but this one does not. He loves this stuff!
This creamy peanut sauce can be served as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, stir fry sauce, or over rice dishes. With no cooking required, it’s ready in 10-minutes flat!
This honey mustard sauce recipe is completely egg-free and dairy-free. It’s low-fat and easy to make with only 5 ingredients. Great as a salad dressing, sandwich or wrap topping, and even on baked potatoes.
Easiest vegan salad dressing ever!
If you want something extremely simple that is great on salads, it just doesn’t get any better than this vinaigrette dressing with only 3-ingredients.
If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it by rating it and leaving a comment. We love to hear from you!
3-2-1 Oil-Free Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (or other vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard or yellow, brown, spicy
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or other sweetener)
Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl, or shake up in a jar.
- Pour over garden salad, bean salad, or pasta salad.
- Store leftover dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7-days.
Equipment
Video
Notes
Pro tips & substitutions
- These ingredients can be switched out with other variations if desired. For instance, though the recipe calls for balsamic vinegar, other vinegar such as pomegranate, red wine, as well as others can be substituted.
- The same goes for the mustard. I personally like Dijon in this dressing, but brown spicy, yellow, and others would likely be delicious too.
- If maple syrup isn’t a favorite for you, try agave, brown rice syrup, or another sweetener of your choice.
- Another 3-ingredient oil-free salad dressing that I love is this 5-Minute Tangy Vinegar Dressing that is actually from my favorite Thai restaurant where they use it as a dipping sauce for their fresh garden spring rolls.
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.
Vegan salad ideas
About Terri Edwards
Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy. I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…
