This Honey French Salad Dressing is a perfect balance of tangy and sweet, making even the simplest salad feel special. Its bold, vibrant flavor and smooth texture cling beautifully to crisp greens and fresh vegetables. Combining ketchup, vinegar, honey, and spices creates a creamy dressing that feels nostalgic and gourmet.

The Best Honey French Salad Dressing Recipe

If you’re looking for more salad recipes, Creamy Strawberry Salad Dressing and The Best Blue Cheese Salad Dressing will make your taste buds happy.

“The perfect dressing is essential to the perfect salad, and I see no reason whatsoever for using a bottled dressing, which may have been sitting on the grocery shelf for weeks, even months – even years.”

Julia Child

Julia Child has a point. Making your salad dressing takes minutes, and the fresh flavor will set your salads apart. They are so much better than store-bought salad dressings. The sweetness of the honey makes this salad dressing perfect.

Whether you toss it with romaine and tomatoes, spoon it over grilled chicken, or use it as a veggie dip, honey French salad dressing adds a comforting zing to any meal.

This dressing is quick to make and easy to store – shake it up in a Mason jar and keep it chilled. Once you taste how fresh and flavorful homemade honey French salad dressing is, you’ll skip the store-bought bottle every time.

History of French Salad Dressing

Did you assume that French salad dressing originally came from France? So did I. French Salad Dressing was created right here in the good old USA.

French dressing is a term for dressings made of oil and part vinegar. A little company you probably never heard of, Kraft, started bottling salad dressings, and their first creation was the French salad dressing that we have all come to know and love. It’s one of those great recipes that is easy to make at home and transforms a simple salad.

So go ahead and try it. I’m sure the next time you make it, you will double the recipe and make it a staple in your home. With a salad dressing like this, you will be eating more greens in no time. Make sure you use a good olive oil in the recipe.  

Ingredients to Gather

• Honey – adds a smooth, natural sweetness to honey French salad dressing, balancing vinegar’s tanginess and enhancing the flavor’s overall richness.
• Ketchup – adds a tangy depth and subtle tomato flavor to the dressing, giving it its signature reddish hue and savory richness.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – brings bright, zesty acidity to honey French dressing, cutting through the sweetness and adding a refreshing balance to the flavor profile.
• Onion – adds a subtle savory sharpness to the dressing, giving it depth and enhancing the overall complexity of the flavor.
• Garlic – brings a warm, aromatic bite to the dressing, adding a layer of savory richness that complements the sweetness and tang.
• Paprika – adds a gentle smokiness and vibrant color to the honey French salad dressing, enhancing its flavor and visual appeal.
• Celery Salt – lends a subtle herbal saltiness to honey French salad dressing, adding a hint of savory spice that rounds out the sweetness.
• Salt – enhances the overall flavor of the dressing by balancing the sweetness and acidity.
• Olive Oil – provides a smooth, velvety texture to the dressing helping to emulsify the ingredients.

Creating a Cozy Life Group

Since you found this recipe on how to make Honey French Salad Dressing, I’m guessing you like all things cozy living. I created a Facebook group called Creating a Cozy Life with over 214,000 like-minded souls.

It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and ideas on how to make your life just a little bit more snug. You can join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.

Ingredients

1/2 cup honey (I use raw honey) 

1/3 cup ketchup 

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar 

1/4 cup chopped onion 

2 cloves garlic, chopped 

1 teaspoon paprika 

1/2 teaspoon celery salt 

1 teaspoon salt or liquid aminos 

3/4 cup olive oil 

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to the blender, except the olive oil, and blend until smooth.  
2. With the blender on low speed, slowly drizzle the olive oil in a steady stream. Blend until thoroughly combined. Taste the dressing and season with sea salt and black pepper as needed. Pour over your favorite salad and enjoy!

Tips for Making Dressing

• Blend for smoothness – Using a blender or immersion blender helps create a silky, well-emulsified texture that won’t separate easily.
• Drizzle the oil slowly – Add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream while blending to ensure the dressing emulsifies properly.
• Balance the sweet and tangy – Taste as you go and adjust the honey or vinegar depending on your preference for sweetness or sharpness.
• Let it chill – After blending, refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and develop.
• Try variations – Swap in different kinds of vinegar (like white wine or balsamic) or add a pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne for a unique twist.

Storage Tips

This classic French bistro salad dressing will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container.

Salad Toolbox

• Mason Jar Pour Spout Lids for Regular Mouth Mason Jars – spout Mason Jar lids make pouring homemade salad dressings a breeze, keeping your fridge tidy and your dressings fresh with every shake.
• Twist and Pour Salad Dressing Mixer – a twist-and-pour salad dressing mixer lets you shake, blend, and serve your dressings all in one container – no mess, no fuss, just fresh flavor on demand.
• Salad Container for Lunch – salad lunch containers keep your greens crisp and your toppings separate, making it easy to enjoy a fresh, mess-free salad anywhere you go.
• Herb Stripping Comb – an herb stripping comb quickly removes leaves from stems, saving time and making it effortless to add fresh herbs to your salads and dressings.

Delicious Ways to Use the Dressing

• Classic green salads – Perfect for crisp lettuce blends with tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots.
• Grilled chicken marinade – Marinate chicken breasts before grilling for a flavorful, caramelized finish.
• Vegetable dip – Serve it as a sweet-savory dip for raw veggies like bell peppers, celery, and cherry tomatoes.
• Roasted veggie drizzle – Drizzle over roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, or Brussels sprouts for added zing.
• Grain bowls – Spoon over quinoa or farro bowls with greens, nuts, and roasted veggies for a flavor boost.
• Sandwich spread – Use it in place of mayo or mustard on turkey or ham sandwiches for a tangy twist.
• Slaw dressing – Mix into shredded cabbage and carrots for a sweet take on coleslaw.

Let me know in the comments below if you tried the recipe and what you thought.

Be sure to join the Creating a Cozy Life Group. You’re not going to believe how amazing it is!

I created a pin for this classic French vinaigrette for you to add to your salad Pinterest board to refer back to the recipe.

You can follow me here on PINTEREST.

Thanks for stopping by. I’m so happy you found us!

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Printable Version of Honey French Dressing with Daily Values

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