Make every salad bursting with flavor with this easy Lemon Vinaigrette recipe. A simple homemade recipe that adds a zesty punch to lettuce and pasta salads, perfect for hot summer days.
Bring on those fresh summer feels with this DIY dressing recipe. It really goes with so many things, adding a light lemony burst to every bite.
What is Lemon Vinaigrette? A light, zesty dressing made with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and seasonings like garlic, salt, and pepper. It adds a bright, tangy flavor to salads, roasted vegetables, or grilled meats.
Try our other homemade dressings and sauces like Tahini dressing, Honey Mustard Dressing, and Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Why we love this recipe
- Bright, Fresh Flavor – This lemon vinaigrette is bursting with fresh citrus flavor, making it the perfect light and zesty dressing for salads, grain bowls, and roasted veggies.
- Versatile & Easy to Make – With just a few pantry staples, you can whip up this homemade dressing in minutes, and it pairs beautifully with everything from leafy greens to grilled meats.
- Better Than Store-Bought – Made with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and natural sweeteners, this vinaigrette is free from preservatives and artificial ingredients.
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What goes in Lemon Vinaigrette?
Unlike store-bought Vinaigrette, you know exactly what is in our homemade recipe. It's bursting with flavor and made with fresh ingredients.
- Lemons- Use fresh Meyer Lemons to get a true lemon flavor. You will also need lemon zest. You don't want to skip this ingredient!
- Olive Oil- Olive oil makes a great dressing base as it adds to the flavors and doesn't distract from the overall taste.
- Spices- This recipe uses salt and pepper to add to the flavor. You can also try our Lemon Pepper.
- Vinegar- This vinaigrette uses white wine vinegar. If you want to experiment with vinegar flavors, see our list below in substitutions and variations.
- Minced Garlic- We love the strong aromatic flavor that minced garlic adds to this fresh dressing.
- Dijon Mustard- This is optional and adds a really nice tangy flavor but is just as good without.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Lemon Vinaigrette
This quick and easy recipe comes together in less than five minutes. Simply combine the ingredients, shake, and enjoy.
- In a mason jar with a lid, or any small container with an airtight lid, add all the ingredients.
- Vigorously shake until the ingredients are well incorporated.
Hint: If you aren't serving this dressing right away, you'll need to shake the container just before serving because the ingredients will have separated.
Substitutions and Variations
Try some of our favorite substitutions and variations for different fun flavors!
- Herbs- Add in some of your favorite herbs to make this a lemon herb dressing. Try basil, oregano, dill, parsley, thyme, or chives. Our personal favorite is lemon basil.
- Vinegar- Swap out the white wine vinegar for red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or white balsamic. Be sure to test out a small amount before, because they will give the dressing a different taste.
- Aromatics-Finely minced shallot or fresh ginger will give a different flavor and soothing smell.
- Lime- Make this lemon-lime by adding half fresh lemon juice and half fresh lime juice.
- Creamy- Whisk in Greek yogurt, mayo, or a splash of heavy cream.
- Texture Boost- Add poppyseeds for a subtle crunch.
- Spicy- Mix in red pepper flakes or a drizzle of hot honey.
- Middle Eastern- Stir in za’atar for a unique, earthy flavor.
What To Serve With Lemon Vinaigrette
Lemon vinaigrette is a bright, zesty dressing that enhances a variety of dishes with its fresh citrus flavor. It’s a perfect match for salads like orzo salad, chickpea salad, romaine salad, lentil salad, and beet and feta salad, bringing a light and tangy taste to every bite. We also love it on our Mediterranean bowl.
Drizzle it over arugula with parmesan for a simple salad, or toss it into farro bowls for a fresh Greek touch. This vinaigrette works great with roasted or fresh vegetables like green beans, kale, Brussels sprouts, and beets.
It also works as a marinade for grilled chicken, fish, or shrimp, really enhancing the flavor without being overwhelming. You can also mix it into quinoa bowls with roasted chickpeas and fresh herbs. Try it with our Jennifer Aniston salad.
Learn From Us
I love making this recipe with Dijon mustard, but since my son refuses to eat anything with mustard, I leave it out when making it for him—and honestly, it’s just as delicious! If you do use Dijon, you might notice the dressing has a bit more tartness. To balance that out, try adding ½ to 1 teaspoon of maple syrup or honey for a touch of sweetness.
How long does Lemon Vinaigrette last
Like many of our homemade dressings, you can use this immediately after making. Be sure to store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You will need to reshake the bottle when ready to serve again because the ingredients will separate. The vinaigrette will last two weeks in the refrigerator.
Top tip
This is one of those recipes that you don't want to skip the fresh squeezed lemons! Trust us, it really is that much better when you use fresh squeezed versus bottled lemon juice. You also do not want to skip the lemon zest! It adds that true lemon flavor.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Lemon Vinaigrette:
Recipe
Lemon Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup lemon juice fresh squeezed, about 2, see note 1
- 1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- 1 pinch lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon dijon see note 2
Instructions
- Juice and zest lemons. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, lemon zest and dijon (if using) in an 8 oz or larger jar. Shake vigorously until emulsified, 30-60 seconds. Use immediately and store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- Trust us when we say, this is so much better made with fresh squeezed lemons! The taste is fuller and more flavorful. It is worth the effort.
- I love this recipe with dijon, but have a son who hates everything mustard so I leave it out when I make it for him and I like it just as much! Sometimes when adding dijon the dressing is a little extra tart tasting. To reduce the tartness, add ½-1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey.
- This is also great with some added basil for that yummy lemony basil flavor. We like to add ½ teaspoon dried basil.
Andrea says
This is a perfect summer dressing and so easy to make. Love homemade dressings.