I decided to create this creamy balsamic dressing recipe because sometimes I just want something creamy on my salads.
This is why I decided to create this easy balsamic dressing for a touch of smoothness to my favorite balsamic vinegar.
It dawned on me recently that we didn’t actually have any pre-made salad dressings in the house. Sometimes, I just want something rich, such as buttermilk ranch dressing or creamy balsamic.
This dressing is a bit tangy but also has a sweet hint of honey.
I highly recommend making your own salad dressing. A bit of acid, salt, and sweet is all it takes. This one is so easy to make that after you make this the first time you will wonder why you have been buying pre-made salad dressing at all.
The best part is that you probably have all of the ingredients in your kitchen.

olive oil – I highly recommend extra virgin olive oil for this recipe. It simply just tastes better in dressings.
balsamic vinegar – Since balsamic is the star of the show, this is your moment to pull out that fancy balsamic vinegar that you have been stashing in the back of the pantry.
mayonnaise – This is the foundational ingredient that makes this dressing creamy.
sour cream – This adds to the creaminess but also helps with that twangy flavor.
When I added this to the dressing, the recipe really popped for me. Consider this my secret ingredient. You could also use plain yogurt instead.
water – This just helps thin out the recipe as needed.
garlic – You can use whole garlic cloves or minced garlic from a jar.
dijon mustard – If you don’t have Dijon on hand, use stone-ground or brown mustard as a substitute. Dijon is just a bit milder so keep that in mind.
honey – This is the perfect sweetener for this dressing recipe. It has a touch of sweetness without taking over. If you don’t have any honey, consider using a touch of corn syrup, maple syrup, or simple syrup in equal amounts.
salt and pepper to taste
Pro Tip: One of my biggest bits of advice overall is to SEASON YOUR GREENS. Yes. The dressing gets its own, but greens pop when you add a dash of steak seasoning or lemon pepper before your dressing goes on.

How to make homemade creamy balsamic dressing
This recipe is insanely easy to make. It is fantastic because you will spend more time gathering the ingredients than you will make the creamy balsamic dressing.
Note that you can serve the dressing right away but I do prefer it nice and chilled.
Step 1: Gather all of the ingredients and put them in your food processor.

Step 2: Process the ingredients until they are fully combined. You may want to stop to scrape the sides after the first minute. This will just help make sure that all of the ingredients are fully mixed in.

Step 3: Pour the dressing into a container such as a small mason jar

How long does it last?
This creamy balsamic salad dressing will last up to a week in the fridge. The trick is to store it in an airtight container and keep it very cold.

What to serve it with
Creamy balsamic dressing is versatile and can be used for more than just a salad topping.
My favorite way to use creamy balsamic dressing is on a salad of sturdy greens, like all romain or butter lettuce, or a mix that includes spinach. I like it with darker greens mixed with berries. This is a great dressing for a spinach and strawberry salad.
Use this creamy balsamic dressing as a fruit and veggie dip.
Use this creamy dressing as a marinade for chicken or pork chops.

Creamy balsamic dressing
This is an easy creamy balsamic dressing recipe that you can put together with simple ingredients in five minutes.
Ingredients
- 3 T olive oil
- 3 T balsamic vinegar
- 2 T mayonnaise
- 2 T sour cream or plain yogurt
- 1 T water
- 1 t of minced garlic
- 1 t dijon mustard
- 1 t honey
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except salt and pepper to a food processor.
- Process until fully blended.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving
Notes
Spoon over individual greens or toss family style and serve with tongs at the table.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 386Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 27gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 373mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 13gProtein: 5g
The bottom line
Creamy balsamic dressing made at home will taste far fresher than anything that you can buy in the store. Considering how easy it is to make, you may never want to buy the store-bought version again.