French Dressing Recipe (2024)

Updated: By Katie Crenshaw 14 Comments

Jump to 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.

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

Print Pin Save Recipe Rate

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!

More Salad Dressings, Sauces, Dips, Pickles, Flavored Salts

  • Carolina Barbecue Sauce Recipe-Vinegar Based
  • 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? ›

Combine sugar, oil, ketchup, vinegar, onion, and Worcestershire sauce in a blender; puree until dressing is smooth. Transfer dressing to a resealable container. Pierce garlic clove with a tooth pick; drop garlic into the dressing. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

What is the difference between French and Catalina dressing? ›

Catalina is brighter and thinner

Because Catalina tends to consist of a higher amount of ketchup, it boasts a deeper red hue. French dressing tends to be lighter in color given its higher concentration of oil and modest amount of ketchup or tomato-based ingredients.

What is the difference between French and Thousand Island dressing? ›

The Thousand Island dressing combines ketchup, mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, vinegar, minced onion and garlic. In contrast, the French dressing is composed of olive oil, vinegar, mustard, ketchup, sugar, and paprika, among other seasonings. The former is mayo-based, while the latter relies more on vegetable oil.

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.

Which 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.

Why did they stop making French dressing? ›

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration is revoking the standard of identity for French dressing in response to a citizen petition from the Association for Dressings and Sauces. The petitioners shared information documenting that the standard is outdated.

What dressing is most similar to French? ›

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.

Is French dressing the same as Dorothy? ›

Picky eaters love it, dads love it, and you'll love how many different ways it can come to the table. Is Dorothy Lynch a “French style” dressing? No. Most French style dressings are oil-based.

What's another name for French dressing? ›

In the nineteenth century, French dressing was synonymous with vinaigrette, which is still the definition used by the American professional culinary industry.

Does Big Mac use Thousand Island dressing? ›

Both of the condiments have a creamy consistency and include pickle relish. But, McDonald's Big Mac Sauce includes vinegar and has a bit more pickle relish in it than Thousand Island dressing.

What is the healthiest salad dressing? ›

8 Simple and Healthy Salad Dressings
  1. Sesame ginger. This simple salad dressing doubles as an easy marinade for meat, poultry, or roasted veggies. ...
  2. Balsamic vinaigrette. ...
  3. Avocado lime. ...
  4. Lemon vinaigrette. ...
  5. Honey mustard. ...
  6. Greek yogurt ranch. ...
  7. Apple cider vinaigrette. ...
  8. Ginger turmeric.
Jul 27, 2023

What is Russian dressing now called? ›

In the United States, Russian dressing has largely been supplanted by Thousand Island dressing, which is sweeter and less spicy than Russian. Other combinations of mayonnaise and ketchup, but without the spicy ingredients, are known as fry sauce or other names, and typically served with French fries or tostones.

What is California French dressing? ›

Ken's California French Dressing is a classic red Catalina-style French. Moderate-bodied with a vivid red color. Sweet tomato notes are combined with a mild vinegar tang and subtle spicing.

Do they eat French dressing in France? ›

In France they call it vinaigrette. I can only attribute as a food oddity how our creamy, red/orange version, so commonly served in America, evolved from those ingredients into something so different yet with the same name.

Why did the FDA deregulate French dressing? ›

By removing the standard, the FDA hopes to “provide greater flexibility in the product's manufacture, consistent with comparable, nonstandardized foods available in the marketplace.” The move was made in response to a 1998 petition that was filed by the Association of Dressings and Sauces.

What is country French dressing made of? ›

Soybean Oil, Sugar, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Honey, Tomato Paste, Contains Less Than 2% Of Salt, Paprika, Mustard Flour, Xanthan Gum, Onion,* Garlic,* Beetroot Juice Powder (Color), Natural Flavor, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor). *Dried.

Is western salad dressing the same as French dressing? ›

A savory twist on traditional French dressings that's bursting with flavor. This rich and creamy dressing is sure to make you say, “Yee-haw!”

What's the difference between mayonnaise and French dressing? ›

Difference in oil percentage. The biggest difference of all is the percentage in oil. By law in the Netherlands, mayonnaise must consist of at least 70 percent oil and 5 percent egg yolk. French fries sauce does not have to meet this requirement and often contains between 20 and 25 percent oil.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tyson Zemlak

Last Updated:

Views: 6422

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tyson Zemlak

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Apt. 662 96191 Quigley Dam, Kubview, MA 42013

Phone: +441678032891

Job: Community-Services Orchestrator

Hobby: Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Metalworking, Fashion, Vehicle restoration, Shopping, Photography

Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.