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Best Vegan Salad Dressing Recipes To Elevate Your Salad Game

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Looking for the best vegan salad dressing recipes to elevate your salad game to the next level? Do you love bold flavors? Then you will love this list.

In this article, I've gathered some of the most delicious and easy-to-make dressings to satisfy your taste buds and nourish your body.

These curated recipes are a combination of Plant Based Folk recipes and from other recipe developers.

a collage of three different colored dressings

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What are Vegan Dressings and Why Love Them

Vegan dressings offer a wider range of flavors and textures, which are plant-derived, and help contribute towards diversifying the amount of fibre-rich foods you consume for a healthy and balanced gut.

These types of dressings are usually made of whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and similar, and are generally a healthier alternative to traditional dressings. However, there are plenty of vegan dressings that also call for the use of non-whole foods such as oil.

These dressings are cruelty-free and contribute to a reduction in harmful environmental factors. 

Creamy Vegan Salad Dressings

Typical ingredients (but not limited to) found in creamy vegan dressings include nuts, seeds, tofu, oil, or avocado.

Typical ways to use these are in pasta, on fresh greens/vegetables, or as a dip.

Try my cashew ranch dressing, made with cashews, almond milk, herbs, and spices, or my vegan bbq ranch dressing which has additional bbq flavorings. Both of these use this Easy Vegan Ranch Seasoning Mix.

Or opt for my creamy and flavorful Easy Vegan Pesto Sauce with Avocado, made with avocado, fresh basil leaves, nutritional yeast (affiliate link), and garlic.

These are great with a pasta salad such as this banana blossom salad.

a whiter bowl with green sauce and a lemon on the side

Easy Vegan Vegan Pesto Sauce with Avocado

This easy vegan pesto sauce with avocado is a delicious and healthier alternative to traditional pesto. It's creamy, flavorful, and perfect to use in so many ways including with pastas, potatoes, salads and more. Plus, it's oil-free

a brown ceramic bowl filled with creamy green dressing

Quick Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing Without Oil

Quick, tasty, creamy avocado cilantro lime dressing without oil. Made with fresh ingredients and bursting with flavor, this dressing is perfect for salads, sandwiches, wraps, pasta, dipping and more

garlic dipping sauce in a brown bowl with a spoon

Toum Garlic Dipping Sauce

My Lebanese family's easy-to-follow, never-fail, traditional fluffy toum recipe. This creamy garlic dipping sauce can be used in shawarma, pastas, fries and more. It is super garlicky! 

Eggless mayonnaise in a white bowl

5 Minute Eggless Mayonnaise

This Eggless mayonnaise recipe is an amazing substitute for traditional mayo. It’s thick and creamy, perfect for sandwiches, salads or as a dip. It’s also vegan and gluten free.

Dairy Free Caesar Dressing

This creamy dairy free Caesar dressing maintains the creaminess you love from a classic Caesar dressing thanks to soaked cashews. The dressing is briny, salty, tart, and so delicious for a salad, a dip, or spread on sandwiches and wraps.

chipotle salad dressing in a white bowl with a spoon sticking out

Chipotle Salad Dressing

Super tasty chipotle imade with just a few ingredients in 5 minutes. Vegan and no-oil it's great for any green salad, Buddha bowl, pasta salad or even for dipping fries into!

green ranch sauce in a bowl with a spoon dipped into it

Tofu Ranch Dressing

Using silken tofu as a creamy, protein-rich base, this dressing is deliciously tangy and flavorful thanks to the fresh herbs. Serve with a simple farmer's market salad or in roasted cauliflower bites bowls!

hand dipping french fry into vegan fry sauce

Vegan Fry Sauce (Easy & Creamy Dipping Sauce)

This homemade vegan fry sauce is so easy, takes little time and is creamy. Dip your french fries, hot chips, vegetables into this delicious sauce. Or use it as a salad dressing or in your sandwiches.

maple mustard dressing in a pitcher

Maple Mustard Dressing

Sweet and tangy homemade vegan maple mustard dressing whips up in a matter of seconds! Think of it as a creamy, non-dairy, bee-free version of honey mustard dressing.

shawarma sauce in a wooden spoon

Easy and Creamy Shawarma Sauce (Tarator)

This traditional shawarma sauce is creamy and known as tarator. The base ingredients are tahini, freshly squeezed lemon juice, salt and water which are whipped up in minutes. This sauce can be used with some many foods.

vegan thousand island dressing in a pitcher

Vegan Thousand Island Salad Dressing

This vegan Thousand Island Oil-Free Dressing is creamy, flavorful and much healthier than store-bought varieties. Now you can have that classic dressing without all the unnecessary ingredients and perfect for cold salads!

a collage of different salad dressings with a center focus on a green one

Vegan Vinaigrette Dressings

Vinaigrettes are a classic choice for salads both cold and warm, and vegan vinaigrette dressings are no exception.

Typical ingredients found in vegan vinaigrettes include balsamic vinegar, oil, mustard and maple syrup.

These are great with a fresh salad like orange and fennel salad.

sesame soy dressing in a white vessel held by a hand

Sesame Soy Dressing

This sesame soy dressing is my favorite pour-on-everything vinaigrette! Very easy to make, just shake in a jar, and splash on veggies, noodles, rice bowls or lettuce. It brightens up simple dishes and will sure make them extra tasty.

strawberry vinaigrette in a jar

Summer Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing

Best for green salads:
A simple summery strawberry vinaigrette, with plenty of fresh berries. This easy recipe is blended into a sweet and flavourful dressing for any seasonal salads.

vegan lemon vinaigrette in a baller jar with two lemons on the side

Vegan Lemon Vinaigrette

It's simple and zesty. Super easy to mix up in a jar and is naturally vegan. Use it to drizzle on green salads, roasted or fresh veggies for a pop of flavor.

Maple Vinaigrette

This maple vinaigrette has the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. Toss it with any type of greens for a simple, elegant salad and add a sprinkle of nuts for some crunch if you wish.

Greek Salad Dressing

This flavorful Greek salad dressing recipe is made with a handful of simple ingredients in less than 5 minutes. Perfect for cold salads or Greek pasta salad!

a collage of four different salad dressings in jars or on salads

Oil-Free Vegan Salad Dressings

For those looking for a healthier and lighter option, oil-free vegan dressings are a great choice. 

Try my umami Miso Tahini Dressing, made with tahini, lemon and orange juice, garlic and ginger.

These are great with carrot cucumber salad.

a metail jug and glass bottle holding white sauce in it with half an orange and lime next to them

Vegan Miso Tahini Dressing With Orange

Easy vegan miso tahini dressing with orange is creamy and versatile. Perfect with so many foods, from salads, noodles, roast veggies, and more. It is made with a few simple ingredients and is bursting with umami flavor.

a glass jar of orange dressing with cucumber batons on the side

Vegan BBQ Ranch Dressing With Cashews

Made from whole cashews, homemade ranch dressing and a few easy sauces, this vegan ranch dressing is delicious and can be used in so many ways.

oil free vegan salad dressing in a jar with vegetables in the background

Oil Free Vegan Salad Dressing

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, veggie bowls, wraps, and even more!

vegan italian dressing in a jar with a salad in the background

Vegan Italian Dressing

This creamy and zesty Italian dressing will definitely makes any salad taste good! Stores well, making them great for meal prep.

ginger turmeric dressing in a bowl with a trader joe bottle next to it

Ginger Turmeric Vegan Dressing

Now that Trader Joe's discontinued its popular turmeric salad dressing, you'll be so glad to have this homemade version. It's fresh and ginger-y and delicious on pretty much everything from green salads to grain bowls.

Herbed Tofu Salad Dressing

A vegan and creamy homemade herbed tofu salad dressing with parsley, dill and soft tofu that is packed with protein.

FAQ

Can I use vegan dressings for non-vegan dishes?

Absolutely! Vegan dressings can be used in a variety of dishes, including sandwiches, wraps, and even as a dip for vegetables. There is no limit to how they can be used.

How long do homemade vegan salad dressings last?

Depending on the ingredients, some can last up to a week in the refrigerator if stored in an air-tight container. 
Should the dressings contain fresh herbs, garlic, ginger, or similar, they may spoil quicker. 
An avocado-based dressing is best used within a few days as it will change color and become unappealing. 
It is always best to follow the guidance of the recipe on how long to store your vegan dressing

Why make homemade vegan salad dressings?

It's simple, you know exactly what ingredients have been used along with the amounts, and there are no unwanted additives or preservatives. A homemade dressing also ensures the flavors are at their freshest and can be a cost-effective way to jazz up your meal.
Additionally, it can be a fun and creative way to experiment with different flavor combinations and spices.

a collage of four different salad dressings with writing in the centre saying "a list of vegan salad dressings"

In conclusion, these vegan salad dressing recipes are delicious, easy to make, healthy, and sustainable.

Whether you're a vegan or not, you can elevate your salad game and satisfy your taste buds. Give them a try and see for yourself!

If you like vegan recipe roundups, you might want to take a look at this list of Lebanese salads or check out this curated list of vegan potato recipes, some of which will go nicely with these dressings.

If you have a favorite that's different from the ones listed above, and you'd like to feature or share it on this page, leave a comment below.

Alternatively, did you happen to take a photo of your salad? Tag @plantbasedfolk on Instagram to be featured via stories. If you love sharing your vegan food pics, join the PBF community group.

More vegan recipe roundups

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  1. Leen

    Thank you for the inspiration Janelle, I've bookmarked this page for when I need a vegan salad dressing. Most times I just do olive oil, lemon and salt & pepper. So standard, I need to try new ones.

    Reply

  2. Dianne

    So many yummy recipes! Thanks so much for including mine!

    Reply