This homemade creamy French dressing comes together fast with simple pantry staples. It’s tangy and a little sweet—great for your favorite salad, as a sandwich spread, or a veggie dip.
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What’s Great About This Recipe
- Better than store-bought: Skip the preservatives, added sugars, and mystery ingredients—this homemade dressing is rich, creamy, and full of flavor you can actually recognize.
- Quick and easy: Just whisk or blend everything together—no cooking required. Chill it for half an hour and you’re ready to go!
- Simple ingredients, pantry staples: Made with common ingredients like mayo, ketchup, vinegar, and spices, there's no need for a special grocery run.
- Customizable: Want it tangier or a little sweeter? It’s easy to tweak the flavor to get it just right.
- Versatile: It’s great on salad sure, but it’s just as good drizzled over grilled chicken, wraps, or as a sandwich spread. You can also use it as a dip for veggies—it’s especially good with cucumbers and carrot sticks.
Ingredients you’ll need
- Mayonnaise – Use a good-quality mayo for the best flavor and texture.
- Ketchup – Adds sweetness and that signature orange color. Use a natural or low-sugar ketchup if preferred.
- Apple cider vinegar – Brings tang and brightness. White vinegar works too if that’s what you have on hand.
- Honey – Balances the vinegar and ketchup with a touch of sweetness. Adjust to taste.
- Dijon mustard – Adds depth and a bit of zing.
- Seasoning – Paprika gives the dressing its warm, classic hue. Garlic powder and onion powder add subtle savory notes, and salt and black pepper enhance the overall flavor.
- Extra virgin olive oil – Helps emulsify and smooth out the dressing.
- See the recipe card for quantities and preparation.
How to make creamy French dressing
- In a medium jar or bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Stir or whisk until smooth and creamy.
- Slowly stream in the olive oil while stirring vigorously with a fork or small whisk until fully incorporated.
- Close the jar or transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
Serving suggestions
We serve our dressing on a simple salad made with romaine and iceberg lettuce, sliced English cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, and seasoned croutons. It also makes a great spread for burgers, sandwiches, and wraps, or a dip for carrot sticks, cucumbers, and other fresh vegetables.
Recipe tips and notes
- Use good-quality ingredients for the best flavor and texture.
- If you’re avoiding seed oils or additives, go with an avocado oil-based or homemade mayo.
- A neutral oil like avocado oil can also be used in place of olive oil.
- Mason jars work great for dressings and sauces. They come in a variety of sizes, are easy to clean, and won’t hold onto odors or stains. Plus, you can mix and store the dressing all in the same container.
Storing instructions
Store in an airtight container, like a mason jar or a reusable container with a lid. Refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Stir or shake well before each use to re-blend the ingredients, as slight separation may occur over time.
Do not leave the dressing out at room temperature for more than 2 hours—or more than 1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F. For more information on food storage and safety guidelines, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture and foodsafety.gov.
If you enjoyed this creamy French dressing, be sure to check out a few more of our favorites. Try our homemade Caesar dressing for something classic, or brighten things up with this citrus dressing—perfect for summer salads. For something smooth and herby, our cilantro garlic sauce is a must. These dressings and sauces are easy to make and full of flavor, just like this one.
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📖 Recipe
Homemade Creamy French Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil or a neutral oil like avocado oil
- 1–2 tablespoons Honey use more or less to taste
- ½ tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ⅛ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- In a medium jar or bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Whisk or blend until smooth and creamy.
- Slowly stream in the olive oil while stirring vigorously with a fork or small whisk until fully incorporated.
- Taste and adjust—add more honey for sweetness, vinegar for tang, or salt to balance the flavors.
- Close the jar or transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- Shake or stir well before serving.
- Serving: Perfect on a simple salad, as a vegetable dip, or as a burger or sandwich spread.
Nutrition
The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
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