QUICK SUMMARY
Homemade French Dressing is a sweet, tangy, creamy salad dressing made with clean ingredients like homemade ketchup, apple cider vinegar, natural sweetener, sea salt, dried onion, and extra-virgin olive oil.
Unlike many store-bought French dressings, this recipe contains no high-fructose corn syrup, canola oil, artificial colors, preservatives, or red dye 40.
Use it on salads, tacos, shish kabobs, veggies, meat, or mix it with vegan mayonnaise to make your own Thousand Island dressing.
Homemade French dressing is one of the easiest pantry swaps you can make.
It is sweet, tangy, creamy, and rich without the high-fructose corn syrup, red dye, canola oil, or preservatives found in many store-bought options.
Make a jar at the beginning of the week, keep it in the fridge, and enjoy a healthier condiment that makes salads, tacos, veggies, and meats taste amazing.
Table of Contents:
Why Make Homemade French Dressing?
My Homemade French Dressing recipe includes only the best ingredients.
It is sweetened naturally, contains no preservatives or dyes, and gives you peace of mind knowing you are topping your salads with a healthy condiment.
This recipe comes from my grandma, but I tweaked it to fit my family’s lifestyle. It is creamy, rich, perfectly sweetened, and has just the right amount of tang.
Here’s the thing: salad dressing should make your vegetables healthier, not cover them in inflammatory oils, artificial colors, and hidden sugar.
You can make this dressing ahead of time and keep it ready for salads all week. It also works beautifully as a dip for meat, a topping for tacos, a marinade, or a drizzle over veggies.
| Recipe type | Homemade salad dressing and condiment |
| Best for | Salads, tacos, shish kabobs, meat, veggies, marinades, and dipping |
| Main ingredients | Healthy ketchup, apple cider vinegar, natural sweetener, sea salt, dried onion, and olive oil |
| Free from | High-fructose corn syrup, canola oil, red dye 40, preservatives, and artificial colors |
| Make-ahead friendly | Yes, store in a glass jar in the refrigerator |
Toxins in Store-Bought Dressings
Store-bought dressings may be convenient, but many contain ingredients that are detrimental to your health.
Here are a few things you can avoid by making my Homemade French Dressing recipe.
Sugar
Leading brands of French dressing often contain multiple forms of sugar.
The most common sweetener is high-fructose corn syrup. Research has linked sugar-sweetened beverages and excess added sugar intake with increased cardiovascular disease risk. (1)
High sugar intake can also trigger inflammation, which is connected to many symptoms and chronic disease patterns. (2)
You can sweeten homemade French dressing with natural alternative sweeteners that fit your healthy lifestyle. No refined sugar needed.
Canola Oil
Many dressings include canola oil as a cheap base.
Canola is often genetically modified, and it goes through heavy processing before it reaches the bottle. (3)
Unlike high-quality olive oil or avocado oil, many industrial seed oils undergo refining processes that can damage delicate fats. (4)
Who wants to top fresh vegetables with that?
It is entirely possible to create a delicious dressing with healthier oils. Your body will thank you.
Red Dye 40
Store-bought French dressing often gets its bright color from artificial dye.
Red dye 40 is a petroleum-derived synthetic color additive. (5)
Many children are sensitive to artificial dyes, and research has linked synthetic food dyes with behavioral concerns in some children. (6)
That is one risk we do not need to take on ourselves or our children.
This list is just the tip of the iceberg. Even if you find a cleaner store-bought dressing, it is usually expensive.
Homemade dressings save money, reduce label-reading stress, and help you build a healthier pantry one recipe at a time.
Healthy Dressing Ingredients 101
This dressing uses just a handful of common ingredients.
The best part? You know exactly what you are putting in your body. I am sure you have most of these ingredients in your pantry already.
Healthy Homemade Ketchup
This homemade ketchup recipe was born out of necessity.
I had no access to healthy ketchup, so I shopped my pantry and made my own version. It was a hit with my family, and I have been making it ever since.
Do not let the thought of making your own condiments scare you. This recipe is as simple as blending a few ingredients.
If you prefer, you can use organic, unsweetened ketchup.
Organic Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar
Every good dressing needs a slight tang, but regular vinegar can make French dressing too bitter.
Apple cider vinegar is sweet and mild, making it the perfect addition to salad dressing.
Apple cider vinegar has been studied for helping support blood sugar management, and when you purchase raw apple cider vinegar with the “mother,” you are choosing a traditionally fermented food. (7)
Natural Sweetener
There are many healthy sweeteners out there, but not all are created equal.
Each one has a specific flavor profile. My favorite option is Grade A dark amber organic maple syrup.
Raw honey also works beautifully and gives the dressing a rich, old-fashioned flavor.
Pink Himalayan Salt or Sea Salt
Traditional white table salt undergoes a rigorous harvesting process that strips it of trace minerals.
We recommend using Colima sea salt. This salt is hand-harvested, which leaves the good stuff intact.
Plus, it tastes great and adds gourmet flair to any recipe.
You can also use pink Himalayan salt.
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil is one of the best healthy fats.
Not all olive oils are the same, though. Many bottles on the shelf are contaminated, stale, or not the real deal.
We recommend purchasing the best olive oil you can buy. This is one ingredient where quality truly matters.
Real olive oil may solidify in the fridge, so when you take your French dressing out of the refrigerator, give it about 30 minutes to liquefy.
My Homemade French Dressing Recipe
This recipe comes together in minutes.
You can prep it at the start of the week to use on salads, tacos, grilled meats, shish kabobs, and veggies.
The dressing needs about 20 minutes to let the flavors mesh.
We love getting our kids involved in cooking, and homemade dressings are right up their alley. Even little ones can pour pre-measured ingredients and use a whisk.
It makes them feel grown-up and gives them a love for healthy living.
Grandma’s Homemade French Dressing (Vegan)
Servings
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Healthy Homemade Ketchup OR organic unsweetened ketchup
- ⅓ cup organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup organic coconut sugar, Christmas Cookie Blend, OR Grade A Dark Amber maple syrup, organic
- 1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt OR sea salt, ground
- 2 tablespoons organic dried minced onion OR 1 organic onion, grated
- ¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Combine the ketchup, vinegar, maple syrup, sea salt, and onion in a medium bowl. Let sit for 15-20 minutes while the flavors mesh. This step also allows the dried onion to rehydrate.
- Add the olive oil and stir to incorporate. Pour into a glass jar. Store in the refrigerator.
Healthy Homemade Ketchup (Vegan)
Servings
Ingredients
- 1 (6-8-ounce) can organic tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Grade A Dark Amber maple syrup, organic OR Christmas Cookie Blend, OR 2 tablespoons organic coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt OR sea salt, ground
- 1 teaspoon organic garlic granules OR 4 cloves garlic, pressed
- 1 teaspoon organic onion powder
- 1 serving (1/16 teaspoon) organic powdered stevia OR 1 dropperful plain liquid stevia
- ¼ teaspoon organic allspice
- ⅔ cup purified OR distilled water
- ⅛ teaspoon organic ground cayenne pepper (optional)
Supplies
- Blender OR food processor
Instructions
- Place the tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, stevia, allspice, purified water, and cayenne pepper (if using) in a food processor or blender. Blend until the mixture reaches the desired consistency. Store in the fridge for up to 3-4 weeks in a tightly covered container.
Christmas Cookie Blend (Vegan)
Servings
Ingredients
- 6 ounces organic coconut sugar
- 11-16 ounces organic date sugar (based on your available container sizes)
- 6 ounces organic maple sugar
Instructions
- Place the coconut sugar, date sugar, and maple sugar in a gallon-size Ziploc bag. Shake to mix thoroughly.
- Place mixture in a blender and blend until powdery. I prefer milling this recipe in a Vitamix dry goods container. I start blending on one, then slowly increase until the mixture is fully blended. Then, I open the blender, stir, and repeat the process. The final color of your product will differ based on the brand of sweetener you use. Use in place of regular sugar in all your favorite baked goods. Store in a glass jar.
Step One: Combine the Ingredients
In a medium bowl, combine the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, honey or maple syrup, sea salt, and dried onion.
Let sit for 15-20 minutes so the flavors can mesh and the dried onions can rehydrate.
Step Two: Add Olive Oil
Add the olive oil and stir to incorporate.
Pour the dressing into a glass jar and store it in the refrigerator.
We prefer plastic mason jar lids because the oil can eat through metal lids over time.
Use this dressing as a dip, on tacos, poured over salads, brushed on shish kabobs, used as a meat marinade, and more.
You can also mix this dressing with vegan mayonnaise to make your own Thousand Island dressing.
Swapping unhealthy ingredients for nourishing alternatives is just one small part of your health journey.
Sometimes, it can be hard to know where to begin. Abundant living encompasses every area of life: emotional, financial, mental, spiritual, and physical.
This is one simple example of how you can create healthy versions of common household pantry staples with recipe ingredient replacement.
Homemade French Dressing FAQs
Is homemade French dressing healthy?
Yes, homemade French dressing can be healthy when made with clean ingredients like homemade ketchup, apple cider vinegar, natural sweetener, sea salt, dried onion, and extra-virgin olive oil.
What makes this French dressing better than store-bought?
This recipe avoids high-fructose corn syrup, canola oil, artificial dyes, preservatives, and mystery ingredients commonly found in many store-bought dressings.
Does this recipe use red dye 40?
No, this homemade French dressing gets its color from ketchup and natural ingredients, not red dye 40 or artificial coloring.
Can I make this French dressing sugar-free?
Yes. Use a sugar-free healthy ketchup and choose a natural low-glycemic sweetener if needed. The flavor may vary depending on the sweetener you choose.
Can I use maple syrup instead of honey?
Yes, maple syrup works beautifully in homemade French dressing. Grade A dark amber organic maple syrup gives a rich flavor.
Can I use raw honey?
Yes, raw honey gives this dressing a lovely sweetness and old-fashioned flavor. It blends best when the ingredients are room temperature.
What kind of ketchup should I use?
Homemade ketchup is best, but you can also use organic unsweetened ketchup if you prefer a shortcut.
Why use apple cider vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar gives the dressing a mild tang without the harshness of plain white vinegar. It also pairs well with honey, maple syrup, and olive oil.
Can I use avocado oil instead of olive oil?
Yes, avocado oil can be used if you prefer a milder flavor. Extra-virgin olive oil gives a richer, more traditional dressing flavor.
Why did my dressing solidify in the fridge?
Real olive oil can solidify when chilled. Let the dressing sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then shake or stir before using.
How long does homemade French dressing last?
Store it in a glass jar in the refrigerator and use within about one week for best freshness.
Can I make this dressing ahead of time?
Yes, this is a great make-ahead dressing. The flavor gets better after the ingredients sit together for 15-20 minutes.
What can I use French dressing for besides salad?
Use it as a dip, taco topping, shish kabob glaze, meat marinade, veggie drizzle, burger sauce, or base for homemade Thousand Island dressing.
Can kids help make this recipe?
Yes! Kids can pour pre-measured ingredients, whisk the dressing, and help taste-test. Homemade dressings are a great way to teach children healthy kitchen skills.
Can I make Thousand Island dressing with this?
Yes. Mix this French dressing with vegan mayonnaise to create a quick homemade Thousand Island-style dressing.
Is this dressing dairy-free?
Yes, this homemade French dressing is naturally dairy-free.
Is this dressing gluten-free?
It can be gluten-free if your ketchup and other packaged ingredients are certified gluten-free. Always check labels.
Why use dried onion?
Dried onion adds savory flavor and texture. Letting the dressing sit for 15-20 minutes helps the onion rehydrate and blend into the dressing.
Can I blend this dressing?
Yes, you can blend it for a smoother texture. Blending also helps emulsify the oil and vinegar.
What salads go best with French dressing?
French dressing is delicious on garden salads, taco salads, chopped salads, grilled chicken salads, and hearty veggie bowls.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24493081/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3492709/
- https://www.canolacouncil.org/download/2042/canola-watch/14597/20110309_fpj_aut11_beckie-et_-al_-2
- https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/know-your-fats/the-great-con-ola/
- https://www.fda.gov/industry/color-additives/color-additives-history
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23590704/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27213723/
