Give 20%, Get $20
Save 20% | Free Shipping & Returns | "No Return Necessary" Money-Back Guarantee
Save 20% | Free Shipping | 100% Money-Back Guarantee "No Return Necessary" Money-Back Guarantee

10 Salad Dressing Recipes That Make Salad Great Again

Let’s face it:

A salad is only as good as the dressing.

If the dressing is great, even a boring bowl of lettuce, cucumber, and tomato can satisfy, and if it’s bad, even the best concoction of ingredients will fall flat.

Unfortunately, many of the dressings that we love most are also full of sugar and calories.

Yes, many store-bought Caesar and Ranch dressings are mouthwatering, but the macros are eye-watering.

That’s why you need a good rolodex of recipes for homemade, low(ish)-calorie dressings that you actually enjoy.

And that’s exactly what you’re going to find here. 🙂

There’s something for everyone, ranging from the exotic, like the Sweet and Spicy Orange Tahini Dressing, to the simple, like the Sour Raw Apple Cider Vinaigrette, to the classic, like the Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing, and Best-Ever Caesar Salad Dressing.

Enjoy!

Korean Yuzu Dressing

Serves 8

Try this citrus salad dressing for a simple salad dressing that’ll liven up your menu. It takes just four ingredients, but one of them may surprise you.

Yuzu dressing, popular in Japan and Korea, is made with marmalade and tastes great with a seafood salad. And this recipe can be made with any kind of marmalade, including orange and meyer lemon.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

130

Calories

0 g

Protein

10 g

Carbs

11 g

Fat

Ingredients

6 Tbsp. yuzu marmalade

6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice (or orange juice)

Get the Recipe

Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing

Serves 8

You’d think at a place called Olive Garden that you’d be eating olives, right? But the addictive salad dressing is actually made with soybean oil and high fructose corn syrup. No, thanks.

Luckily it’s easy to make this healthy Italian salad dressing with olive oil, which has the flavor you love without any unexpected ingredients.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

173

Calories

0 g

Protein

2 g

Carbs

19 g

Fat

Ingredients

1 packet Good Seasons Italian dressing mix

1/4 cup white vinegar

3 Tbsp. water

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. pure honey

1 Tbsp. nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp. white vinegar

1 1/2 Tbsp. water

Get the Recipe

Creamy Avocado Salad Dressing

Serves 8

If you love avocado, you’re going to want some in every single bite of salad. Instead of just dicing it up and mixing it in, try this spicy avocado salad dressing.

It’s got that fresh lime guacamole flavor, only with olive oil as well to thin it out enough to pour onto your favorite fresh greens. For a mild version, use a bell pepper instead of the green chilies.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

119

Calories

1 g

Protein

2 g

Carbs

13 g

Fat

Ingredients

1/2 large avocado

6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Juice of 2 limes

1–2 jalapeno peppers, deseeded

Handful of fresh cilantro

Salt to taste

Get the Recipe

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Serves 6

Some meals just aren’t complete without ranch dressing. It’s great as a dip for everything from carrots and celery to chicken wings and even pizza. And you’ll love this buttermilk ranch more than anything out of a bottle because it has fresh dill and a kick of Sriracha.

This is a mayonnaise salad dressing, but you can substitute Greek yogurt if you prefer leaner macros.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

208

Calories

2 g

Protein

12 g

Carbs

17 g

Fat

Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tsp. apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. Sriracha

3 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill

2 Tbsp. chopped chives

Get the Recipe

Best-Ever Caesar Salad Dressing

Serves 5

You won’t believe the secret ingredient in this lighter Caesar salad dressing. Not only does it keep it creamy, but it adds extra protein too.

Cottage cheese might not seem like it belongs in a salad dressing, but once you blend everything together, you’ll have a creamy Caesar perfect for any chicken salad.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

65

Calories

2 g

Protein

1 g

Carbs

6 g

Fat

Ingredients

1/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese

1 Tbsp. nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1/4 tsp. minced garlic

1 1/2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

3 small filets anchovy, patted with a paper towel

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Get the Recipe

Want to know how to build muscle and lose fat eating delicious foods like these?

"Dieting" doesn't have to suck. You CAN eat foods you like and have the body you want!

Click Here to Learn How

Greek Salad Dressing

Serves 6

This is a classic pasta salad dressing recipe: olive oil, lemon, garlic, and seasonings. It’s great for garden salads too, of course, and can even be a delicious dressing for a sandwich.

Because of the fresh garlic, it’ll only keep for a few days in the fridge before being unsafe to consume. If you want it to last longer, just use a pinch of garlic powder instead.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

149

Calories

1 g

Protein

1 g

Carbs

17 g

Fat

Ingredients

1 large cloves garlic, pressed

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Get the Recipe

Raw Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Serves 8

Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar has so many health benefits that people sometimes drink it in a glass of water. That’s because it can reduce acid reflux, improve nutrient absorption, and regulate blood sugar and cholesterol.

But if you don’t want to gulp it down, you can enjoy the same nutrient boost in a simple salad dressing like this one, which is delicious on almost any salad.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

84

Calories

1 g

Protein

3 g

Carbs

9 g

Fat

Ingredients

1 clove garlic, minced

1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

1/4 cup raw apple cider vinegar

2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 Tbsp. raw honey (or to taste)

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Get the Recipe

Chickpea & Orange Tahini Dressing

Serves 8

When you’re craving hummus but don’t want to fill up on carbs from pita, whisk up this chickpea-tahini salad dressing.

It can also be made a food processer or a blender, but instead of the classic dip, this recipe includes orange juice and a splash of lemon to turn chickpeas into a bright salad dressing.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

82

Calories

3 g

Protein

10 g

Carbs

4 g

Fat

Ingredients

1 can (15 oz.) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

3/4 tsp. garlic powder

3 Tbsp. tahini

1/2 tsp. salt

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Get the Recipe

Protein Curry Dressing

Serves 4

Dress up plain kale and carrots with a flavorful mix of curry powder, ginger, coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar. And believe it or not, this healthy salad dressing recipe has more protein than fat. That’s because it uses a scoop of protein powder. If you’re not following a vegan diet, try it with unflavored whey protein powder like Legion.

You can add protein powder to many creamy dressings, but to keep it from being grainy, you may want to blend it into water or juice first – or just use a high-powered blender to prepare it fast.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

90

Calories

5 g

Protein

10 g

Carbs

4 g

Fat

Ingredients

1 scoop Garden of Life raw protein powder

1 banana, peeled and chopped

1 clove garlic

1 Tbsp. curry powder

1 Tbsp. coconut oil

1/2” fresh ginger

1 tsp. onion powder

1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup water

Get the Recipe

Creamy Balsamic Greek Yogurt Vinaigrette

Serves 6

This healthy salad dressing will be your go-to recipe. It’s easy to make and tastes delicious on green salads, pasta salads, and fruit salads. You can make a batch, stash it in the fridge, and use it throughout the week on a variety of meals.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

63

Calories

1 g

Protein

4 g

Carbs

5 g

Fat

Ingredients

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp. pure honey

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Get the Recipe

OVER 100,000 PEOPLE HAVE USED MY COOKBOOK TO GET THE BODY THEY WANT EATING THE FOODS THEY LOVE. WILL YOU BE NEXT?

What if I told you that just about everything magazines and trainers “teach” you about dieting is wrong?

What if you could build muscle and lose fat eating “naughty” foods every week?

What if you didn’t have to suffer through low-carb dieting to get lean? In fact, what if you could eat all the carbs you wanted?

And what if you didn’t have to gorge yourself just to gain muscle and didn’t have to put on pounds and pounds of ugly fat, either?

In short, what if I told you that proper dieting--whether you want to maximize fat loss or muscle growth--is much simpler and more enjoyable than you’ve been led to believe?

Imagine eating delicious, filling meals every day...never feeling starved or stuffed...having great energy levels and workouts...and watching your body respond exactly as you desire, dropping fat or adding muscle each and every week.

And imagine finally understanding how proper dieting really works, never again falling for the BS, tricks, and gimmicks pushed by “gurus” and other shysters.

Well, I have good news.

All these “fantasies” can be a reality...if you know how to do a handful of “little” things correctly.

You see, when you know how to diet properly--and this doesn’t mean learning to eat boiled chicken and raw broccoli six times per day--getting lean and muscular becomes simple, convenient, and dare I say...enjoyable.

And this book will show you the way.

If you enjoyed this article, get weekly updates. It's free.

100% Privacy. We don't rent or share our email lists.

You May Also Like

Our Most Popular Evidence-Based Articles

You don't need supplements to build muscle, lose fat, and get healthy. But the right ones can help.

Take our 60-second quiz now to learn which supplements can help you achieve your fitness goals faster.

Take the Quiz No thanks, I don't want help choosing supplements.

Follow the Diet Plan that Helped Nikita Lose 15 Pounds in 3 Months

"I never thought getting in shape would be this simple! Everything just WORKS when you follow this plan." And if he can do it, why not you?

Take the Quiz No thanks, I don't want to lose weight or build muscle.

Our "No Return Necessary"
Money-Back Guarantee

If you don’t like something of ours, guess what happens next?

No, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon. Nor do we ask you to fill a cursed inkwell with orc’s blood and demon saliva and then use it to complete reams of return forms written in ancient Cyrillic script.

We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. Holy moo cows. And that means you can say "yes" now and decide later.

Free Worldwide Shipping & Returns

Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!

Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you live in the United States, your order ships free regardless of order size, if you live in the UK or Canada, your order ships free when it’s over $99, and if you live elsewhere, your order ships free when it’s over $199.

Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.

We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.

That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.

Free Worldwide Shipping & Returns

Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!

Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you live in the UK or Canada, your order ships free when it’s over $99.

Why the restriction on international orders? Unfortunately, shipping abroad is very expensive, and if we didn’t require a minimum order size, we’d lose a lot of money. But! We're also hustling to improve our international logistics and will be passing our savings along to our international customers.

Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.

We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.

That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.

Free Worldwide Shipping & Returns

Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!

Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you’re outside the USA, your order ships free when it’s over $199.

Why the restriction on international orders? Unfortunately, shipping abroad is very expensive, and if we didn’t require a minimum order size, we’d lose a lot of money. But! We're also hustling to improve our international logistics and will be passing our savings along to our international customers.

Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.

We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.

That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.

Clinically Effective Ingredients & Doses

Many ingredients in supplements don’t have any scientifically validated benefits, and many ingredients that do are often underdosed to the point of irrelevance.

That’s why we only use the choice ingredients and precise doses shown to be effective in peer-reviewed scientific studies.

Clinically Effective Doses

You need more than great ingredients to make great products—you also need proper doses. That’s why we use the precise doses of ingredients shown to be effective in peer-reviewed scientific studies.

Natural Ingredients

“Natural” doesn’t always mean “better,” but in many cases, natural ingredients are superior to artificial ones for various reasons, including purity, safety, and efficacy.

That’s why all of our ingredients in all of our products come from plant and animal sources, including sweeteners, colors, and flavors.

Made in USA with Globally Sourced Ingredients

If you want to ensure the supplements you’re swallowing every day are safe and effective, you want products produced in the USA.

That’s why all of our supplements are made in America in NSF-certified and FDA-inspected facilities that operate in accordance with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations.

Lab Tested

Did you know that supplements can contain dangerously high levels of toxins like lead, arsenic, and cadmium?

That’s why we test every ingredient of every supplement we produce for heavy metals, microbes, allergens, and other contaminants and ensure they meet the strict purity standards set by the FDA.

Naturally Sweetened & Flavored

While artificial sweeteners may not be as dangerous as some people claim, studies suggest that regular consumption of these chemicals may indeed be harmful to our health.

That’s why all of our supplements are naturally sweetened and flavored and contain no artificial food dyes, fillers, or other unnecessary junk.

Science-Backed Ingredients

Many ingredients in supplements don’t have any scientifically validated benefits. That’s why we only use choice ingredients shown to be effective in peer-reviewed scientific studies.

No Chemical Junk

“Natural” doesn’t always mean “better,” but in many cases, natural ingredients are superior to artificial ones for various reasons, including purity, safety, and efficacy.

That’s why all of our ingredients in all of our products come from plant and animal sources, including sweeteners, colors, and flavors.

Special Offer! Special Offer! Special Offer!

Wait!
Want to save 50% on your order of Legion supplements?

Use code NASM25 at checkout!

Buy one supplement, get one 50% off when you use code LEGION10 at checkout.

No thanks, I don't want to save on my order.

Smiling woman showing a Legion supplement Smiling woman showing a Legion supplement

We Missed You!

Enjoy 20% off your next order with code COMEBACK20.

No thanks, I don't want to save on my order.

Buy now, pay later.


Split your entire online purchase into 4 interest-free payments, over 6 weeks with no impact to your credit.

payment break down 25% today, 25% 2 weeks, 25% 4 weeks, 25% 6 weeks

25%
today

25%
2 weeks

25%
4 weeks

25%
6 weeks

Here's how to Sezzle


Step 1 - shop the store

Shop

Shop and add items to your cart as normal!

Step 2 - checkout at the store

Checkout

Choose Sezzle at Checkout! You’ll be redirected to Sezzle to Sign Up or Log In to complete your order.

Step 3 - Select Sezzle and Sezzleit

Sezzle it

Your order will be shipped out right away* and your payments will be split up over 6 weeks.

*shipping times subject to merchant shipping policy

Download the App


Shop directory. Reschedule payments. Plus more!

Waiver and Release of Liability

In consideration of the services and/or products offered by Legion Athletics, Inc. (“Legion”) including, but not limited to, nutrition plans, exercise routines and coaching, and in addition to the payment of any fee or charge:

I knowingly and voluntarily enter into this waiver and release of liability and hereby waive any and all rights, claims or causes of action of any kind whatsoever arising out of my use of Legion’s services and/or products, and I hereby release and hold harmless Legion and its consultants, officers, contractors, agents, owners and employees from any and all responsibility, liability, cost and expenses, including for injuries, damages or disorders (physical, metabolic, or otherwise), resulting from my use of Legion’s services and/or products.

I understand that fitness activities including, but not limited to, strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular exercise, with or without the use of equipment, are potentially hazardous activities that involve a risk of injury and even death, and I am voluntarily participating in these activities and using equipment and machinery with knowledge of the risks involved. I hereby agree to assume and accept any and all risks of injury or death related to said fitness activities.

I understand Legion’s services and products are not meant to treat or manage any health conditions or circumstances, and I acknowledge that Legion has recommended I obtain a healthcare provider’s approval for my use of Legion’s services and/or products, through regular physical examination(s) and/or consultation. I acknowledge that I have obtained my healthcare provider’s approval or have decided to use Legion’s services and/or products without such approval and hereby assume all responsibility for my use of said services and/or products.

I understand that results from using Legion’s products and/or services are not guaranteed, and I agree to not hold Legion liable for any outcomes or lack thereof.

OUT OF STOCK

Security Check

Please click the checkbox below. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Some popular pre-workouts are all-natural. Some contain the right mix of high-quality ingredients. Some provide clinically effective doses. But only Pulse checks each of these boxes.

Pulse doesn’t just “contain natural ingredients''—every ingredient is naturally sourced from plants and animals. Pulse contains no artificial or synthetic substances of any kind.

Every serving of Pulse contains 15.1 grams of active ingredients that have been shown to be safe and effective in peer-reviewed scientific research.

Every active ingredient in Pulse is backed by published scientific studies that show benefits in healthy humans.

Pulse contains no harsh stimulants that wind you up and burn you out. Instead, it contains a 1:1 ratio of caffeine and L-theanine, which produces a smooth energy rush and comfortable comedown.

We carefully examined 508 pages of scientific research to find out exactly what should and shouldn’t be in a pre-workout supplement.

Every bottle of Pulse is guaranteed to provide exactly what the label claims and nothing else—no heavy metals, microbes, allergens, or other contaminants.

While these types of chemicals may not be as dangerous as some people claim, studies suggest that regular consumption of them may indeed be harmful to our health. And that’s why we don’t put any of them into our products.

Before you buy a sports supplement, you should know that it's clean, safe, and transparent. And that's exactly what Labdoor's third-party testing and certification means.

It's hard to know for sure, but this probably makes Pulse the most-popular all-natural pre-workout supplement in the world.

If you don’t absolutely love this product, just let us know, and we’ll give you a full refund on the spot. No forms or return necessary.

Back

Analyzed for purity and potency in a state-of-the-art ISO 17025 accredited lab by Labdoor, the gold standard of third-party lab testing.

Analyzed for purity and potency in a state-of-the-art ISO 17025 accredited lab, the gold standard of third-party lab testing.

This product doesn’t just “contain natural ingredients”—every ingredient is naturally sourced from plants and animals. This product contains no artificial or synthetic sweeteners or flavors of any kind.

Fact Checked

Our scientific review board of nutritionists, dietitians, molecular biologists, doctors, and other accredited experts is responsible for reviewing every article, podcast, and video we produce to ensure they’re evidence based, accurate, trustworthy, and current.

Thanks to their connections, credentials, and academic experience, this team of MDs, PhDs, and other professionals has access to a wealth of research published in the largest and most prestigious journals in the world.

This allows them to not only review individual studies but also analyze the overall weight of the evidence on any and all topics related to diet, exercise, supplementation, and more.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, misleading, out-of-date, or anything less than factual, please let us know in the comments section of the article in question.

Evidence Based

We follow a detailed, rigorous, multi-step process to create content that meets the highest standards of clarity, practicality, and scientific integrity.

First, our research associates provide our editorial team with accurate, up-to-date, proven scientific evidence.

Then, our editorial team uses this research to draft articles and outlines for podcasts and videos.

Finally, our scientific review board reviews the content to ensure all key information and claims are backed by high-quality scientific research and explained simply and precisely.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, misleading, out-of-date, or anything less than factual, please let us know in the comments section of the article in question.