French Dressing Recipe (2024)

Updated: By Katie Crenshaw 14 Comments

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This creamy French dressing recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy making it a delicious topping for your favorite salads.

It is much more flavorful than the store bought version and can easily be made in 2 minutes with staple ingredients you are likely to have on hand.

French Dressing Recipe (1)

French dressing is an incredible tasty salad dressing, but it also makes a fantastic barbecue sauce for chicken, pork chops. and ribs!

Try it next time you grill your favorite meats!

Watch how to make French dressing

French Dressing Recipe (2)

What is French dressing made of?

This homemade French dressing is made with the following ingredients:

  • ketchup-There are other recipes that use tomato paste or tomato puree. If you were to use either, you would need to add sugar. I find the ketchup is creamy and thick. It does a good job emulsifying with the olive oil.
  • honey- Some recipes use sugar and sometimes the sugar does not break down properly. I find the honey blends well, adds the perfect balance of sweet, and thickens the dressing beautifully.
  • onion powder
  • apple cider vinegar- Apple cider vinegar is best, but you can substitute with white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar.
  • light olive oil or regular olive oil- Light olive oil is milder in flavor than extra virgin olive oil and lighter in color. Extra virgin olive oil is a better quality olive oil, however, it can overpower the flavor of the dressing. You can also substitute with vegetable oil.
  • paprika-Use regular paprika. Do not use smoked paprika.
  • celery seed- I love the flavor the celery seed adds, but if you cannot find celery seed, you can substitute with celery salt.
French Dressing Recipe (3)

How do you make it?

Making French dressing is easy. Just add the ingredients to a food processor or blender and process until smooth.

To make by hand, add ingredients to a mason jar and shake several times until emulsified.

Note:

Making dressing by hand may not emulsify as well as making it in the blender or food processor and may result in a thinner dressing.

How long does it last?

Vinegar based dressings last up to 3 weeks in an air tight container stored in a refrigerator. However the flavors are best if used within a week.

If you substitute onion powder with fresh onion, use within 5 days.

French Dressing Recipe (4)

Salad Pairings

This salad dressing is delicious on any of your favorite garden salads. However, try it also on these salad variations:

  • Grilled Romaine lettuce with blue cheese, tomatoes, and bacon.
  • Mexican taco salad- Skip the chipotle ranch and try this sweet version instead. It surprisingly compliments the ground beef, beans, corn, and cheese!
  • Spinach salad with tomatoes, boiled eggs, bacon, and red onion
  • Grilled chicken salad
  • Large thick summer tomatoes and red onions
  • Cobb Salad
  • It is delicious on arugula and endive lettuce as well.

Try some of these homemade dressings also!

  • Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
  • Greek Salad Dressing
  • DIY Ranch Dry Seasoning Mix
  • Creamy Parmesan Salad Dressing
  • Copy Cat Olive Garden Salad Dressing
  • Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette

Did you like this salad dressing recipe?Please leave me a comment below if you make it and tell me what you thought.I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.

Also post your picture of your French Dressing onInstagramorFacebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtag!I will share with my followers! xoxo!

Recipe

French Dressing Recipe (5)

French Dressing Recipe

This creamy French dressing recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy making it a delicious topping for your favorite salads. It is much more flavorful than the store bought version and can easily be made in 2 minutes with staple ingredients you are likely to have on hand.

4.70 from 23 votes

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Course: Salad Dressing

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes minutes

Servings: 16 (2 tablespoons each)

Calories: 143kcal

Author: Katie Crenshaw

Equipment

  • food processor or blender

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 cup honey
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup regular or light olive oil you can substitute with vegetable oil
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon celery seed you can substitute with celery salt
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Add 1 cup ketchup, 1 cup honey, ½ cup apple cider vinegar, ½ cup regular olive oil, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon paprika, and ½ teaspoon celery seed in a food processor or blender.

  • Process until smooth. Salt and pepper to taste.

Video

Notes

I do not suggest using extra virgin olive oil for this recipe. Light olive oil is milder in flavor than extra virgin olive oil and lighter in color making it a better choice for oil in this salad dressing. Extra virgin olive oil is a better quality olive oil, however, it can overpower the flavor of the dressing. You can also substitute with vegetable oil.

Nutrition- Nutrition info is based on estimation only.

Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 138mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 108IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe? I want to see it!Mention @aForksTale or tag #aForksTale!

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  • Homemade Ranch Seasoning-DIY Ranch Dressing Mix
  • Fresh Cranberry Salsa Recipe-Sweet and Spicy
  • Best Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe-Easy to Make
French Dressing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is basic French dressing made of? ›

French dressing is a food defined by the Food and Drug Administration, which means there's an official recipe of sorts. It's defined as a blend or emulsion of vegetable oil, vinegar or lemon juice, and any of the following optional ingredients: Salt.

Which of the following ingredients is used in making French dressing? ›

Ingredients
  • 1 ½ cups vegetable oil.
  • 1 cup ketchup.
  • ¾ cup white sugar.
  • ½ cup vinegar.
  • 1 small onion, chopped.
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
  • 1 teaspoon paprika.
  • ½ teaspoon salt.
Jul 10, 2022

What are the ingredients in Great Value French dressing? ›

High Fructose Corn Syrup, Tomato Puree (water, Tomato Paste), Distilled Vinegar, Soybean Oil, Salt, Contains Less Than 2% Water, Modified Food Starch, Phosphoric Acid, Dried Onion, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Natural Flavor, Red 40, Blue 1, Potassium Sorbate And Calcium Disodium Edta (as Preservatives).

What is basic French dressing made with quizlet? ›

Basic French dressing made with. Oil vinegar and seasoning.

What are the rules for French dressing? ›

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is revoking the standard of identity for French dressing. We conclude that the standard no longer promotes honesty and fair dealing in the interest of consumers.

What is the French dressing rule? ›

The French dressing standard allowed for certain flexibility in manufacturers' choice of oil, acidifying ingredients, and seasoning ingredients. Tomatoes or tomato-derived ingredients were among the seasoning ingredients permitted, but not required.

Why did they stop making French dressing? ›

The trade group argued that the FDA's strict guidelines stifled innovation and left consumers with limited options on the market. Customers who were looking for low-fat or fat-free versions of the condiment were out of luck since those products could not legally be marketed as “French dressing,” according to the ADS.

What makes French dressing French? ›

“French” dressing (a REAL misnomer) is a too-sweet vinaigrette with paprika aded for color. True French dressing is a vinaigrette For the most common combination, dijon mustard, salt, minced shallots, and a bit of garlic can be added.

What ingredient is not used in making French dressing? ›

The ingredient that is not used in making french dressing is the egg yolk. What is a french dressing? This creamy dressing that varies in color from pale orange to bright red is American cuisine. In France they call it vinaigrette and it is usually made of oil, vinegar, sugar, and other flavorings.

What are the ingredients in Newman's own French dressing? ›

Ingredients. Rapeseed Oil, Water, Sugar, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (8%), Red Wine Vinegar, White Wine Vinegar, Salt, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Garlic Puree, Chives, Parsley, Black Pepper, Stabiliser (Xanthan Gum), Mustard Extract.

How to make James Martin French dressing? ›

Ingredients
  1. 150ml veg oil.
  2. 50ml white wine vinegar.
  3. 1 tbsp Dijon mustard.
  4. Splash of water.

What is the difference in French dressing and Catalina dressing? ›

Catalina is often considered a subset of French dressing, with most of the same ingredients — ketchup, oil, vinegar, sugar, and other seasonings — but in different proportions. French dressing tends to contain more oil and spices, while Catalina has a higher proportion of ketchup.

Does French dressing contain garlic? ›

Ingredients and Substitutions

Onion – You can use a white, yellow, or sweet onion in this recipe. You'll also need a clove of garlic. If you love garlic, feel free to add an additional clove. Vinegar – I used apple cider vinegar.

What are the different types of French dressing? ›

French Salad Dressings: Vinaigrette: A classic French dressing, vinaigrette is made with a mixture of oil, vinegar, and seasonings. It can include ingredients like Dijon mustard, garlic, shallots, and herbs. Variations may include balsamic vinaigrette, red wine vinaigrette, or champagne vinaigrette.

What is the flavor profile of French dressing? ›

French dressing became a popular condiment in the 1950's. It is a creamy salad dressing, varying in color from pale orange to red. It is ketchup based and blended with oil, vinegar and seasonings. The texture is smooth and the flavor is tangy, salty and spicy without heat.

What happened to regular French dressing? ›

FDA revokes rules on manufacture of French dressing after 70 years. The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday agreed to revoke the decades-old standard of identity for French salad dressing, saying in part that the outdated requirement “no longer promotes honesty and fair dealing.”

Is French and Catalina dressing the same? ›

Catalina dressing is considered a type of French salad dressing, The main difference between the two is that Catalina dressing tends to be thinner and a brighter shade of red than French dressing. Catalina dressing's shade of red is due to its high ketchup content.

What is the difference between Catalina dressing and French dressing? ›

Catalina is often considered a subset of French dressing, with most of the same ingredients — ketchup, oil, vinegar, sugar, and other seasonings — but in different proportions. French dressing tends to contain more oil and spices, while Catalina has a higher proportion of ketchup.

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