Creamy Cucumber Salad Dressing

There’s something about fresh cucumber and a salad. Usually that means slices of cucumber on top of fresh greens. This time I decided to have that fresh flavor in my dressing instead, so I made a small batch of creamy cucumber salad dressing. Creamy (but not too thick) and slightly garlicky (I recommend using half the stated amount at first), this dressing has that fresh cucumber flavor without being too … cucumber-y?

Creamy Cucumber Salad Dressing

Better The Next Day

This creamy cucumber salad dressing definitely gets better the next day. It’s one of those dressings that needs that extra time for the flavors to come together. That’s not to say it’s bad when you first make it. Not at all. And truth be told, you could definitely serve it as soon as you make it. But it’s better the next day. So wait. Be patient.

Also try my creamy Parmesan salad dressing.

Creamy Cucumber Salad Dressing

Creamy Cucumber Salad Dressing

Nice and creamy with a hint of cucumber.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
1 day
Total Time 1 day 15 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 29 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients into a blender.
  • Blend until smooth and the cucumber chunks are gone.
  • Refrigerate overnight.

Notes

Stir before serving.
You may want to start with 1/2 a clove of garlic and give the dressing a taste. It’s fairly garlicky with a full clove added.
Need ideas for putting together the ultimate salad? Check out my salad inspirations!

Nutrition

Calories: 29kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 213mgPotassium: 100mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 59IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword creamy, Cucumber
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Creamy Carolina Vinaigrette

This creamy Carolina vinaigrette kinda surprised me. I wasn’t sure about the combination of a mustard, vinegar and oil vinaigrette with buttermilk and mayonnaise added to make a creamy dressing. I was surprised by how much I loved it. This vinaigrette has a ton of flavor, from the ingredients I already mentioned along with a few spices, onion and a little honey sweetness. There are a few ingredients in this, and they all join together for something decidedly different and tasty!

Creamy Carolina Vinaigrette

A Lot of Ingredients, A Lot of Flavor

I found the recipe for this creamy Carolina vinaigrette in Kardea Brown’s The Way Home cookbook. It’s packed with tons and tons of great recipes (Kardea never disappoints!), but if you know me, I’m always on the lookout for great salad dressing recipes. And I found one!

This vinaigrette is on the thinner side. Even though it says ‘creamy’, don’t let that make you think creamy, like say ranch dressing. It is different (in a good way) than just a straight-up vinaigrette. Don’t use light mayonnaise or light buttermilk and you’ll have the perfect topping for any garden salad. The dressing also gets a bit thicker after it has set in the fridge overnight.

Also try my smoky French salad dressing.

Creamy Carolina Vinaigrette

Creamy Carolina Vinaigrette

Inspired by a recipe from Kardea Brown
A deliciously different vinaigrette!
4 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 156 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients into a blender. Process until smooth and well combined.
  • Store unused dressing in the fridge. Shake or stir well before serving.

Notes

For the best results, use full-fat buttermilk.
Need ideas for putting together the ultimate salad? Check out my salad inspirations!

Nutrition

Calories: 156kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 382mgPotassium: 69mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 178IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 0.2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword creamy, vinaigrette
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Creamy Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

This creamy blue cheese salad dressing is easily my favorite blue cheese dressing. It’s so nice and creamy. And although it’s definitely ‘blue cheesy’ it’s not so overwhelming. Ya know, I love that blue cheese funk but I kinda have a limit to it. This dressing doesn’t cross that line, it sneaks up on it and gives it a big ole hug!

Creamy Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

My Favorite Wing Dipping Sauce

This creamy blue cheese salad dressing is, of course, great on a garden salad. And I assure you, it’s fantastic as a wing dip. It’s my go-to for wings. And chicken fingers. Oh and nuggets. That’s why I make a big ole batch of it and keep it in the fridge. And it’s great for dipping vegetables, too. Like I said, this is my favorite.

Want a great sub sandwich? Use this dressing in place of mayonnaise or a vinegar dressing.

Also try my homemade spicy Ranch salad dressing.

This dressing is great for dipping wings. Check out For The Wing for great wing ideas!

Creamy Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

Creamy Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

My favorite blue cheese dressing, by far.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 264 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in a medium bowl.
  • Whisk or stir until combined.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using. Stir before serving.

Notes

Substitute gorgonzola for a creamier, milder dressing.
Need ideas for putting together the ultimate salad? Check out my salad inspirations!

Nutrition

Calories: 264kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 17gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 321mgPotassium: 25mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 46IUCalcium: 18mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword blue cheese, creamy
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Creamy and Cheesy Ranch Salad Dressing

Maybe I don’t get out enough. Maybe I have been unlucky. Either way, I have never heard of putting cottage cheese into a salad dressing until I found this creamy and cheesy ranch salad dressing. It was a ‘wow’ moment for me. The cottage cheese adds a creaminess that really boosts this dressing. Packed with nutty Parmesan and hints of classic Ranch, this dressing is great on a salad.

Creamy and Cheesy Ranch Salad Dressing

The Skinny On Flavor

I didn’t go ‘skinny’ when I made this creamy and cheesy Ranch salad dressing. No low-fat cottage cheese. No light buttermilk. I was committed to having a nice-and-thick dressing that would stick to my salad and not make a ‘dressing lake’ on my plate. You go can that route if you want. I went big. And my efforts were rewarded!

To keep myself from overindulging, I served the dressing in these cups.

Also try my parmesan and peppercorn ranch dressing!

Creamy and Cheesy Ranch Dressing

Creamy and Cheesy Ranch Salad Dressing

A nutty, rich, creamy take on Ranch dressing!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Get happy time 12 hours
Total Time 12 hours 5 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 46 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 2/3 cup buttermilk
  • 1 /4 cup chives chopped (you can use the green parts of green onions instead)
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese grated
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • kosher salt to taste, optional
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients except for the salt (if using) and pepper into a food processor and process until smooth.
  • Add salt (if using) and pepper and pulse a few times.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours before serving.

Notes

Stir before serving.
Need ideas for putting together the ultimate salad? Check out my salad inspirations!

Nutrition

Calories: 46kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 124mgPotassium: 73mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 297IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword Parmesan, Ranch
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Country Coleslaw

I love a good ole super-crunchy coleslaw. Like grandma would make. Or buy in the grocery store. And it has to be super-cold, too. And served right out of the fridge. This country coleslaw is a simple dish that satisfies my slaw needs, but with a twist (for me, at least) and that’s pickle relish. I’ve never had sweet pickle relish (or any relish) in a slaw before. It adds a fantastically different flavor and tang to the slaw. It makes this salad a real winner!

Country Coleslaw

Spice It Up!

This country coleslaw is a little sweet. If you want to liven it up a bit, add a little chopped jalapeno (just seed it first). Grandma might not like that, so you can always serve the jalapeno on the side and let people embellish theirs as they wish.

You can substitute that bagged shredded slaw mix for the cabbage and carrot to save yourself some time. You’ll need a 14-ounce bag to equal the head of cabbage.

Also try my good ole roadside BBQ shack coleslaw!

Country Coleslaw

Country Coleslaw

A delicious classic!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Course Coleslaw
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 126 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Add the cabbage, onion, green onions, sweet pickle relish and carrot to a large bowl and mix well.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients and add to the cabbage mix. Stir to combine.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Notes

Stir again before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 126kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 2gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 141mgPotassium: 205mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 777IUVitamin C: 36mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword coleslaw, crunchy
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Copycat TGI Friday’s Mandarin Orange Sesame Salad Dressing

I am always looking for new salad dressing recipes for Salad Week. Something to change things up. We usually have salad week if we have over-indulged the week before or if we have eaten out too many meals while traveling. This copycat TGI Friday’s Mandarin orange sesame dressing is so good! The orange marmalade and the honey balance out the sesame oil. Sesame oil is such a strong flavor so you can use a little less if preferred, but I love the taste of it. I like that it has chopped Mandarin oranges for texture. I also added Mandarin oranges to the salad to tie it all together. Salad week is always great thanks to great dressings like this one!

Copycat TGI Friday’s Mandarin Orange Sesame Salad Dressing

The Perfect Balance

This copycat TGI Fridays Mandarin orange sesame dressing is one of the best homemade dressings that we have made! This dressing would be good as a dipping sauce for chicken nuggets. It would also be great as a sauce for crudités. Although I admit, I don’t usually use the word ‘crudités’. I’m not very fancy. Sorry.

Also try my sesame salad dressing.

Copycat TGI Friday’s Mandarin Orange Sesame Salad Dressing

Copycat TGI Friday’s Mandarin Orange Sesame Salad Dressing

A delicious citrus- and sesame-infused dressing.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 264 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place everything except for the mandarin into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, about 30 seconds.
  • Transfer to a resealable container. Add the oranges, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Notes

Shake or stir before serving.
Need ideas for putting together the ultimate salad? Check out my salad inspirations!

Nutrition

Calories: 264kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 1gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gSodium: 259mgPotassium: 32mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 102IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 0.2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword orange, sesame
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Copycat Texas Roadhouse French Salad Dressing

Oh my goodness me. How happy were we when we made this copycat Texas Roadhouse French salad dressing! We love grabbing a big ole salad for lunch at Texas Roadhouse (the chicken critter salad is a winner), and French is always a great choice as the dressing. Well, this recipe nails that great flavor big time. This is one of our all-time favorite dressings.

Copycat Texas Roadhouse French Salad Dressing

Incredibly Yummy

This copycat Texas Roadhouse French salad dressing is the reason we have to put our dressing in individual dressing serving cups on our plates. We absolutely cannot be trusted with a container of this dressing nearby. Sorry, but self-control goes out the window when this dressing shows up. It’s incredibly delicious.

Minced or Grated?

We finely minced the onion for this dressing, but you could also grate it for a little smoother texture. Grated onion tends to be a bit stronger than it’s minced cousin, so you might want to use a little less and taste as you add to see if you need the entire onion.

Let It Rest To Be It’s Best

You really do want the dressing to sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. We actually prefer for it to ‘get happy’ in the fridge overnight. Just stir before serving and you’re ready to eat!

Also try my copycat of Kraft’s Catalina salad dressing.

Copycat Texas Roadhouse French Salad Dressing

Copycat Texas Roadhouse French Salad Dressing

An absolutely delicious dressing!
4.70 from 10 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 163 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl using a whisk.
  • Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Shake or stir before serving.
Need ideas for putting together the ultimate salad? Check out my salad inspirations!

Nutrition

Calories: 163kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 0.3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gSodium: 511mgPotassium: 54mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 97IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword copycat, French
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Copycat Pizza Hut Creamy Italian Salad Dressing

Boy oh boy did this copycat Pizza Hut creamy Italian salad dressing ever bring back memories. I was addicted to this dressing, especially in my college years when you could pick up a personal pan pizza or a hot sub and a side salad for cheap. I’d always ask for extra dressing. I could drink this stuff. I was so happy that this recipe came as close to the original as I’ve found. The right flavor. And the right consistency.

Copycat Pizza Hut Creamy Italian Salad Dressing

Ranch and Xanthan Gum for the Win

There are two keys to making this copycat Pizza Hut cream Italian dressing as close to the original as possible. The first is to use a quality Ranch dressing. One that’s full of flavor. For me, that means Hidden Valley Ranch original. The second is xanthan gum. Found in just about every store-bought food item you can find, it’s a thickener. It’s what gives this dressing that great thickness. A little goes a long ways, so just add the little amount the recipe calls for and let it do its thing.

This dressing is great on a sub sandwich too. Like really great!

This dressing is perfect on a classic diner chef salad!

Copycat Pizza Hut Creamy Italian Salad Dressing

Copycat Pizza Hut Creamy Italian Salad Dressing

Deliciously creamy. A truly wonderful dressing!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 252 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place all but the xanthan gum into a food processor or blender.
  • Process until smooth and combined.
  • Add the xantham gum and process a little more until thick.

Notes

Stir dressing before serving. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
Need ideas for putting together the ultimate salad? Check out my salad inspirations!

Nutrition

Calories: 252kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 1gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 345mgPotassium: 59mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 286IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 0.2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword copycat, dressing, Italian
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Copycat Portillo’s Sweet Italian Salad Dressing

I gotta have a little something, a little sweet, in my vinegar-based dressings. I am a fan of vinegar but sometimes it’s a bit strong for me. That’s where the sweet comes in. It tames that vinegar hit down, but keeps the vinegar flavor. This copycat Portillo’s sweet Italian salad dressing does just that. Super tasty balsamic vinegar meets up with just a bit of sugar, just enough, to make this a wonderfully smooth dressing. With a hint of garlic and oregano, this was the perfect dressing for my side salad tonight.

Copycat Portillo's Sweet Italian Salad Dressing

Shake Before Serving

If you happen to have any leftover of this copycat Portillo’s sweet Italian salad dressing, make sure you give it one heck of a good long shake before serving it. The oil likes to separate from the vinegar. A good shake takes care of that.

I updated the original recipe to specify that you might want to add a bit more sugar and salt than stated. I made the dressing and then gave it a good taste. It needed something, so I added a pinch more of both sugar and salt. I gave it another good shake and tasted it again. Perfect!

Also try my homemade creamy Italian dressing.

Copycat Portillo's Sweet Italian Salad Dressing

Copycat Portillo’s Sweet Italian Salad Dressing

Shake well before serving.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 260 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients into medium bowl and whisk until well-combined.
  • Serve immediately.
  • If you have any leftover dressing, make sure you give it a good stir again before serving.

Notes

You can substitute your favorite sweetener for the sugar.
Need ideas for putting together the ultimate salad? Check out my salad inspirations!

Nutrition

Calories: 260kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 0.2gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gSodium: 150mgPotassium: 27mgFiber: 0.05gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 0.2IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 0.3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword balsamic, copycat, sweet
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Copycat Panera Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad Dressing

I’ve been waiting for good, fresh strawberries to show up at our local grocery store so I could make this copycat Panera strawberry poppy seed dressing. My patience was definitely rewarded and then some. This could easily be my favorite salad dressing of all time. Smooth strawberry flavor with just a bit of sweetness. White balsamic vinegar, while not as cheap as the dark version, is more mellow and adds a great tang. This dressing looks as amazing as it tastes, too. It’s a big ‘ooooh’ and ‘ahhhh’ winner on the table.

Copycat Panera Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad Dressing

What Is White Balsamic Vinegar?

I was curious what makes white balsamic vinegar more subtle and rich than the dark version, so I Googled it. Turns out dark balsamic vinegar is aged for at least twelve years in barrels that have been fired and were previously used for other batches of balsamic vinegar. White balsamic vinegar, on the other hand, is aged at least twelve years in new barrels that have not been fired or used before. That explains the cleaner, smoother flavor! It’s perfect in this copycat Panera strawberry poppy seed dressing.

Other Berries Work Too!

You can substitute other berries for the strawberries if you want. Raspberries and black berries are great. Or even try peaches. I think this recipe will work well with any good in-season fruit.

Also try some Panera Bread Greek vinaigrette.

Copycat Panera Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad Dressing

Copycat Panera Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad Dressing

Smooth strawberry flavor with just a bit of sweetness.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 67 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Combine all of the dressing ingredients except the poppy seeds together in a high-speed blender or food processor.
  • Mix until smooth.
  • Stir in the poppy seeds and serve.

Notes

Shake or stir before serving.
Need ideas for putting together the ultimate salad? Check out my salad inspirations!

Nutrition

Calories: 67kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 0.4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 0.4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.02gSodium: 32mgPotassium: 56mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 0.3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword poppy seed, strawberry
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!