Looking for a fun way to jazz up your meal prep salads? Try one of these creative homemade salad dressing recipes! We've got one simple dressing base, with 4 different flavor options!
I'm a big salad lover. Like BIG big. And for me, a good homemade salad dressing is a must.
While you can certainly get creative with your salads, make a different salad every single day can be a little time-consuming. We're all busy and chopping, mixing, etc., for multiple meals a week might not happen. My solution for keeping things super simple but also interesting (i.e., I'm not eating the same thing every day) is switching up my homemade salad dressings.
How to Meal Prep Salads
Instead of making something brand new every single day, I have a way of making salads that is quick, easy and exciting.
STEP 1: The Prep
Each Sunday I'll cut up a bunch of different veggies. Some I'll roast, others I'll keep raw. And then I'll also cook up some grains and maybe some protein (Balsamic Grilled Tofu, smoky tempeh, Crispy Chickpeas, grilled chicken etc.).
STEP 2: Storage
Next, it's about storage. Rather than assembling your salads altogether, I like to store my ingredients separately if I'm prepping meals I'll be eating at home. That way I can a) keep the greens from getting soggy, and b) change things up based on what I'm craving that day. The variety helps make eating salads that much more exciting.
When I'm prepping salads to take with me, I use the mason jar method: put the dressing and sturdier ingredients on the bottom, then layer the lettuce and other ingredients you don't want getting soggy at the top!
STEP 3: Making Them Tasty
And finally… homemade salad dressings! Now, this is how you can really make your salad feel like a whole new meal. Just by changing up the dressing, you could have the same salad for lunch and dinner and it would taste completely different! It's my secret weapon for staying creative in the kitchen, without adding a ton of extra work for myself.
Homemade Salad Dressings: 4 Easy Ways
I whip up a simple salad dressing base, but then I have 4 different variations that transform the flavor completely just by switching up the spices.
To make a homemade salad dressing you need two things: fat and acid. I have found that the easiest and most “basic” combo is extra virgin olive oil and white wine vinegar. Both ingredients are fairly generic in terms of flavor which makes them the perfect vehicle for our spices! You'll notice that my proportions are always the same and that's because I want you to see that making homemade salad dressings is super simple.
So…are you ready to dive in? Let's get mixing!
Lemon Pepper
A fun, zippy and bright salad dressing, this one uses lemon juice, salt, and lemon pepper seasoning to give it an extra boost. I love serving this dressing with a fresh green salad or drizzled over sautéed kale. It's a great basic homemade salad dressing I always keep on hand!
To make this Lemon Pepper Dressing you will need:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
Add all the ingredients into a bowl or mason jar, give it a good whisk (or shake) and enjoy. Keep the dressing in a sealed container in the fridge for 1 – 2 weeks.
Try this dressing on: Arugula & Fig Salad
Creamy Garlic
I've talked about my love of tahini dressing countless times before, but I honestly just can't get enough. This dressing goes well with everything! And it couldn't be easier to make. We're using our standard base, with a bit of tahini, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. We use garlic powder for everything but we especially love it in our homemade salad dressings because it's not quite as strong as raw garlic. It's just delicious!
To make this Creamy Garlic Dressing you will need:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Add oil, vinegar, and tahini into a bowl/jar. Give it a good whisk to combine the tahini, then add the seasonings and give it another whisk/shake. Keep the dressing in a sealed container in the fridge for 1 – 2 weeks.
Try this dressing on: Simple Fall Salad
Smoky Chili Lime
I always like to have a somewhat unusual dressing in my fridge and this has been a favorite lately. While I don't use it all the time, any meal I'm having that uses Mexican/Latin-inspired ingredients, this goes perfectly with it. Something with black beans, tomatoes, even sweet potato. You can't go wrong!
To make this Smoky Chili Lime Dressing you will need:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Add all the ingredients into a bowl or mason jar, give it a good whisk (or shake) and enjoy. Keep the dressing in a sealed container in the fridge for 1 – 2 weeks.
Try this dressing on: Vegetarian Mason Jar Taco Salad or Black Bean Quinoa Fajita Bowls
Ginger Miso
I'm also a huge fan of adding miso into my recipes and this is one of my favorite homemade salad dressings. Miso is amazing because it's not only salty, but it's also super flavorful and can really give your salads and interesting twist. I love using ginger in anything Asian-inspired, but find that using ground ginger is actually better than fresh in recipes like this because it's a little mellower and less overpowering.
To make this Ginger Miso Dressing you will need:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 – 1.5 teaspoons miso paste
- 1.5 – 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- Salt & pepper as needed
Add oil, vinegar, and miso into a bowl/jar. Give it a good whisk to combine the miso, then add the seasonings and give it another whisk/shake. Keep the dressing in a sealed container in the fridge for 1 – 2 weeks.
Try this dressing on: Sheet Pan Miso Roasted Veggie Bowls
