Orange Vinaigrette Salad Dressing Recipe
Feb 28, 2025, Updated Mar 10, 2025
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This Orange Vinaigrette Salad Dressing is fresh, vibrant, and naturally sweet with a hint of tang! Made in just 5 minutes, it’s perfect for salads, roasted veggies, or marinades—so much better than store-bought!
This is one of our favorite homemade salad dressings. You will love it with our pear gorgonzola salad and orange fennel salad recipes.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
This orange vinaigrette recipe is pure sunshine in a jar! It’s light, bright, and bursting with fresh citrus flavor, instantly elevating any salad.
It’s incredibly versatile—drizzle it over a green salad or roasted veggies, or even use it as a marinade for chicken or seafood. Plus, it’s made with simple, wholesome ingredients so that you can skip the store-bought dressings filled with preservatives.
In just 5 minutes, you’ll have a fresh, homemade dressing that’s zesty, silky, and irresistible. Once you make your own dressing, you’ll never go back!
You’ll also love balsamic vinaigrette and orange olive oil cake.
Table of Contents
Simple Ingredients
You’ll have the best orange viangrette recipe with only a few basic ingredients!
- Olive Oil – Use a high-quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor. It creates a rich, silky base that balances the acidity of the citrus.
- Fresh Orange Juice – Use fresh oranges since it is the star ingredient! Freshly squeezed orange juice adds a natural sweetness and bright, citrusy flavor, making this dressing irresistible.
- Orange Zest – Adds an extra punch of citrus aroma and depth, intensifying the orange flavor without additional liquid.
- Honey – A touch of natural sweetness to balance the acidity and enhance the overall flavor profile. You can adjust the amount based on your preference.
- Dijon Mustard – Acts as both a flavor enhancer and an emulsifier, helping to bind the oil and juice together for a smooth consistency. It also adds a slight tang.
- Salt – Essential for bringing out all the flavors and creating a well-balanced dressing. You can adjust the amount to taste.
- Fresh Ground Black Pepper – Adds a gentle kick of warmth and depth to complement the citrus and honey.
- Garlic – Infuses the dressing with a mild, savory depth. Cutting it into quarters allows the flavor to develop without overpowering the citrus notes.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Orange Salad Dressing
Made with simple pantry staples in just 5 minutes, you’ll have a restaurant-quality honey orange vinaigrette at your table! See the recipe card for a printable version.
Blend the flavors – In a small bowl or mason jar with a lid, whisk together the orange juice, zest, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
Infuse the garlic – Add the quartered garlic cloves to the mixture. Let it sit for about 5–10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
If you prefer a milder garlic flavor, crush the cloves slightly before adding them.
Slowly emulsify – While whisking (or using a blender or food processor), slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the dressing thickens and becomes well combined.
Strain (optional) – If you want a smoother dressing, strain out the garlic before using. Otherwise, leave it in for extra flavor.
Taste and adjust – Give the dressing a taste and adjust the salt, honey, or acidity if needed. If you’d like a little more brightness, squeeze in a touch of fresh lemon juice.
You are sure to love this delicious orange salad dressing!
FAQ’s
Natural separation happens—just shake or whisk before serving. For better emulsification, blend the oil in slowly.
Orange vinaigrette lasts up to 1 week in the fridge when stored in an airtight container. Shake well before using!
To balance the flavors, reduce the honey or swap it for a splash of apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or lemon juice.
Substitutions and Variations
Try these substitutions and variations the next time you make this sweet orange vinaigrette.
- Olive Oil → Swap with avocado oil for a milder taste.
- Honey → Use maple syrup for a vegan option or agave syrup for a milder sweetness.
- Dijon Mustard → Replace with whole-grain mustard for added texture or yellow mustard for a milder flavor.
- Garlic → Use garlic powder (¼ teaspoon) for a more subtle taste or omit for a lighter dressing.
- Citrus Variations → Try lemon juice for a tangier version or grapefruit juice for a slightly bitter twist. Try Cara Cara oranges for an extra burst of flavor!
- Spicy Kick → Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne for heat.
- Creamy Version → Blend in Greek yogurt or mayonnaise for a richer, thicker dressing.
How to Store
This homemade vinaigrette is great to make ahead of time and keep on hand.
- Refrigerate: Store in an airtight jar or container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Shake Before Using: Natural separation will occur—just shake well or whisk before serving.
- Garlic Caution: If keeping for more than a few days, remove the garlic cloves to prevent overpowering flavors and ensure freshness.
- Freezing Not Recommended: The oil may solidify, and the texture can change when thawed. Best enjoyed fresh!
My Pro Tip
Recipe Tips for Orange Dressing
Use Fresh Ingredients – Freshly squeezed orange juice and zest give the best citrus flavor—avoid bottled juice!
Emulsify Properly – Slowly whisk in the olive oil or blend for a smooth, well-combined dressing.
Let It Sit – Allow the dressing to rest for 5–10 minutes so the garlic infuses more flavor.
Adjust to Taste – Balance sweetness, salt, and acidity to your preference—add more honey for sweetness or a splash of lemon juice for extra tang.
Strain for Smoothness – Remove garlic pieces before storing for a milder, longer-lasting dressing.
More Delcious Dinner Recipes
Serving Suggestions
Try this with spinach salad and feta cheese or one of our signature salads and grain bowls:
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Orange Vinaigrette Salad Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup fresh-squeezed orange juice, about 1 large orange
- Zest of one orange, adds a concentrated citrus aroma
- 2 tablespoons honey, adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, cut into quarters
Instructions
- Blend the flavors – In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the orange juice, zest, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Infuse the garlic – Add the quartered garlic cloves to the mixture. Let it sit for about 5–10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. If you prefer a milder garlic flavor, crush the cloves slightly before adding.
- Slowly emulsify – While whisking (or using a blender or food processor), slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the dressing thickens and becomes well combined.
- Strain (optional) – If you want a smoother dressing, strain out the garlic before using. Otherwise, leave it in for extra flavor.
- Taste and adjust – Give the dressing a taste and adjust the salt, honey, or acidity if needed. If you’d like a little more brightness, squeeze in a touch of fresh lemon juice.
- Store – Transfer to an airtight container or jar and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Shake or whisk before using, as natural separation will occur.
Notes
Serving Suggestions:
- Drizzle over mixed greens, fennel salad, or a Christmas Salad with oranges, pomegranate, and candied pecans.
- Toss with roasted beets, goat cheese, and walnuts.
- Use as a marinade for grilled chicken or seafood.
- Drizzle over grain bowls for a refreshing citrus kick.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
You will want to pour this dressing on everything! SO delicious.