Copycat Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette

Last week was salad week here. Every once-in-a-while I go on a week-long campaign to make salads for dinner every night. Now, these are not little ole wimpy salads. No, they are meal-sized salads that dreams are made of. To add a special touch I often make dressings from scratch, like this copycat Chipotle honey vinaigrette. This dressing checked all the boxes. It has the perfect consistency. Nice and creamy. A little sweet. And a little heat. Heck, I just realized that my favorite salad dressings are a lot like barbecue sauces! Huh!

Copycat Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette

A Dressing. And A Marinade.

This copycat Chipotle honey vinaigrette is not only great on salads, it’s also great as a marinade for chicken. Just let chicken breasts get happy in the dressing for an hour or so, then grill as desired. Chicken thighs too. So make extra vinaigrette and enjoy something special!

Also try my copycat of Kraft’s bottled Catalina dressing!

Copycat Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette

Copycat Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette

A great dressing that is also a fantastic marinade!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 337 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients except for the olive oil into a blender.
  • Blend on low speed. With the blender still running, slowly add the oil.
  • Refrigerate for one hour before serving.

Notes

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

Nutrition

Calories: 337kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 0.4gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gSodium: 478mgPotassium: 60mgFiber: 1gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 315IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword honey, vinaigrette
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Copycat Chili’s Ranch Salad Dressing

I love simple and easy. But still delicious. Ranch is always my go-to dressing of choice. This copycat Chili’s Ranch salad dressing hit the spot. It was perfect on my chef’s salad. Nice and creamy without being too thick. Tasty. But not complicated. I had all of the ingredients on-hand. Some ranch dressings have a lot of ‘stuff’ in them. Not bad stuff, just lots of it. That makes me tend to shy away from making them. Not this one. This is a great dressing!

Copycat Chili's Ranch Salad Dressing

Pickle Juice for the Win

The recipe for a copycat Chili’s Ranch salad dressing calls for pickle juice. You know, that stuff in the jar after you’ve taken the last dill pickle. I never ever throw that juice out. It’s great in recipes like this. It’s also great as a chicken marinade. It lasts forever. It’s not hurting anyone. Leave it in the back of the fridge because some day you’re going to need it and you’ll be happy you have it!

I bought these little dressing cups to try and help me with my Ranch dressing addiction. The theory is that they keep me from over-dressing my salads. And they often do just that. Unfortunately, though, the kitchen isn’t that far away and refilling these little cups doesn’t take long!

Also try some homestyle garlic ranch salad dressing.

Copycat Chili's Ranch Salad Dressing

Copycat Chili’s Ranch Salad Dressing

Inspired by a recipe from The Sauce Chick
Easy and delicious.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 256 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients into a small bowl and whisk until combined and smooth.
  • Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

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

Nutrition

Calories: 256kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 451mgPotassium: 57mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 210IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword copycat, Ranch
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Charleston-Style Coleslaw

I have never ever put anything citrusy into my coleslaw. Never even thought about it actually. My slaws are usually creamy, and often sweet. Citrus in a slaw really changes how it tastes. It gives it a lighter feel. Brighter. The addition of a sweet onion also makes this Charleston-style coleslaw different than your traditional version. I liked the crunch of the onion and the crispness of the cabbage and carrots in the slaw. This was different, and delicious!

It Doesn’t Have To Be Sweet

Add a few minced jalapenos for a little extra kick in your Charleston-style coleslaw. Or for a sweeter variation, add a small can of (drained) pineapple chunks. Me, I rather liked the way it was. A lot. But pineapple would definitely make it pop even more. And the jalapeno? Not all slaws need to be tame. Just remember that if you’re making it for a crowd not everyone might appreciate your efforts and you might have to save the jalapeno for yourself. For later.

Also try my fantastic country coleslaw recipe!

Charleston-Style Coleslaw

Charleston-Style Coleslaw

A creamy slaw with a lively citrus twist.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Course Coleslaw
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 151 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoon lime juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 tablespoon lime zest
  • 2 tablespoon sugar
  • 6 cups coleslaw mix
  • 1 cup carrots shredded. not needed if your cabbage slaw mix already has carrots
  • ½ cup sweet onion chopped
  • jalapenos to taste. stemmed, seeded and minced (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Place the mayonnaise, salt, pepper, lime juice and zest and sugar into a large bowl and whisk until smooth.
  • Add the remaining ingredients and stir to coat.
  • Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Notes

Stir before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 151kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 327mgPotassium: 112mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1832IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 0.3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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

Buttermilk Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

I’ve made a few complicated salad dressings in my time. You know, a long list of ingredients. A little bit of time. This buttermilk blue cheese salad dressing isn’t one of those. A handful of ingredients makes for a great dressing. There’s nothing complicated here. Just creamy buttermilk richness with the tang of blue cheese. Perfect for my dinner salad.

Buttermilk Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

Dip Away!

This buttermilk blue cheese salad dressing isn’t crazy thick. It pours out easily. You can add more blue cheese (or less buttermilk, depending on how you want to look at it) to make it a bit thicker if you like. I like it thinner. It’s perfect for taking that radish or cherry tomato and dipping. Big time dipping. Get-some-blue-cheese-chunks-on-it kind of dipping.

This dressing is also fantastic for dunking wings.

Also try some homemade garlic ranch salad dressing.

Buttermilk Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

Buttermilk Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

An easy, tasty dressing perfect for salads (and wings!)
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 hours
Total Time 12 hours 5 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 259 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients into a medium bowl. Whisk until combined.
  • Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Notes

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

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 4gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 372mgPotassium: 83mgFiber: 0.01gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 176IUCalcium: 112mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword blue cheese, buttermilk
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Buttermilk Blue Cheese and Chive Salad Dressing

I’ve made a few salad dressings with tons of ingredients in them in my time. You know, the ones that take a little bit of time to put together. This buttermilk blue cheese and chive salad dressing isn’t one of those. A handful of ingredients makes for a great dressing. There’s nothing huge going on here. Just creamy buttermilk richness with a little blue cheese and a hint of oniony goodness.

Buttermilk Blue Cheese and Chive Salad Dressing

Dip Away!

This buttermilk blue cheese and chive salad dressing is a bit thinner than many. It pours out quite easily. You can add more blue cheese (or less buttermilk, depending on how you want to look at it) to make it thicker. I like it thinner because I like to dip my radishes and cherry tomatoes into it.

This dressing is also fantastic for dipping wings.

If you don’t have or can’t find chives, green onions work just as well!

Also try some of Brother Jimmy’s buttermilk ranch salad dressing.

Buttermilk Blue Cheese and Chive Salad Dressing

Buttermilk Blue Cheese and Chive Salad Dressing

The perfect buttermilk and blue cheese dressing. Great for salads or for dipping wings!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Get happy time 12 hours
Total Time 12 hours 10 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 259 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients into a bowl and whisk until well-combined.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours.

Notes

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

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 4gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 372mgPotassium: 86mgFiber: 0.03gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 209IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 112mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword blue cheese, buttermilk
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Buffalo Wing Coleslaw

Oh how I absolutely loved this Buffalo slaw. It is no doubt one of my favorite almost-traditional slaws. By that I mean it’s in many ways like a old-time mayonnaise-based slaw. But in others, it’s not. It is creamy, and smooth, thanks to mayonnaise and sour cream (and blue cheese crumbles). There’s a great celery crunch, which I really appreciate. And there’s a (good) hint of Buffalo wing flavor. A little spiciness to wake you up!

Buffalo Wing Coleslaw

Nice And Blue Cheesy

Served cold, this Buffalo wing coleslaw complements any meal, and specially, something hot off of the grill! Blue cheese goes great with burgers, so heap this up alongside your favorite burger creation. The crunchy and heat make it perfect on top of grilled hot dogs or bratwurst, too. And of course, this makes for the perfect side for your chicken wings! Just skip the usual carrot and celery sticks, everything you want is in the slaw!

Also try my delta coleslaw.

Buffalo Wing Coleslaw

Buffalo Wing Coleslaw

Creamy slaw with a nice spicy Buffalo-inspired kick!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course Coleslaw
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 235 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Add the coleslaw mix to a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar and salt until smooth.
  • Add the wing sauce and celery and stir to combine.
  • Pour the sauce over the cabbage mixture and gently stir until combined.
  • Add cheese crumbles, to taste, and stir.

Notes

Stir again before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 235kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 2gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 555mgPotassium: 195mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 228IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 0.5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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

Brother Jimmy’s Buttermilk Ranch Salad Dressing

I have tremendous self-control around delicious Ranch dressings. Ok, no I don’t. Not even close to it. And Brother Jimmy’s buttermilk Ranch salad dressing is absolutely no help at all either. This is one crazy-good dressing. It doesn’t have a lot of ingredients but yet it comes out fantastically Ranch-y. Perfectly creamy.

Brother Jimmy's Buttermilk Ranch Salad Dressing

The Theory Behind Dressing Cups

I thought I was being smart when I bought these little cups for serving great dressings like Brother Jimmy’s buttermilk Ranch salad dressing. I figured, “Ha!” I’ll just put a single serving amount on the plate and hide the rest in the fridge. That way I won’t use an embarrassingly huge amount of dressing on my salads. Problem? Solved.

Nope.

First, I fill them up all the way to the top. Second, well, more than one cup comes in the box when it arrives. That’s not helpful. And third, well, the fridge isn’t that far away.

I tried. But this dressing is so good it does not help with self-control. Sorry.

Also try my quick fix BBQ Ranch salad dressing.

Brother Jimmy's Buttermilk Ranch Salad Dressing

Brother Jimmy’s Buttermilk Ranch Salad Dressing

Delicious, creamy and easy!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 hours
Total Time 12 hours 5 minutes
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 163 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Whisk together all ingredients in a medium bowl.
  • Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Notes

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

Nutrition

Calories: 163kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 199mgPotassium: 57mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 133IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 42mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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

Barbecue Shack Coleslaw

If you’d ask me what’s my favorite style of restaurant to eat at I’d say ‘BBQ shack’. Every time. All of the time. And not just because I’m a huge fan of brisket, pulled pork or sausage anything else smoked. It’s also because of the sides dishes. Like this barbecue shack coleslaw. Nothing fancy, but cool and fresh, the perfect side dish for a big ole pulled pork or brisket sandwich. Or, the perfect topping for any sandwich. And it’s especially good on a grilled sausage or hot dog.

Barbecue Shack Coleslaw

Go Chunky. Or Don’t.

I chopped the ingredients for this barbecue shack coleslaw in my food processor, which can be a dangerous thing. It can turn a head of cabbage into sawdust. So, I have to be careful with it. I could’ve chopped it too. Either way, this is a wonderful slaw, perfect for any dish.

This slaw also goes great with a homemade version of a Jimmy John’s Country Club sub in a tub!

Barbecue Shack Coleslaw

Barbecue Shack Coleslaw

Great on hot dogs, too!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Coleslaw
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 336 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Working in batches, process the cabbage, carrots and onion in a food processor until the desired chop is achieved. Transfer to a large bowl.
  • In another bowl whisk together the vinegar, ketchup, sugar, hot sauce, salt and pepper until the sugar dissolves.
  • Whisk in the oil and poppy seeds.
  • Pour dressing over the cabbage mix and toss to coat.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
  • Stir and season with more salt and pepper, to taste, before serving.

Notes

Great served on hot dogs too. On the side or on them!
Always give the slaw a good stir before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 336kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 3gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 16gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.2gSodium: 528mgPotassium: 436mgFiber: 5gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 6951IUVitamin C: 49mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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

Avocado Ranch Salad Dressing

I love avocados. They’re perfect on a salad. Sliced. Chopped. Or even in the dressing itself. This avocado Ranch salad dressing is quite easy to make. It packs a nice subtle avocado flavor, along with the wonderful creamy herb flavor of Ranch. It has a very mild spiciness to it too. You can make it spicier if you like, or leave out the hot sauce entirely. I like my dressing pretty thick, so that’s how I made it. But if you prefer yours a little thinner, just add some more milk.

Avocado Ranch Salad Dressing

Thick Enough For A Dip

Avocado Ranch salad dressing isn’t just for salads either. It’s perfect as a dip for chips or veggies. Or use it as a substitute for sour cream on tacos or nachos. It’s also great as a sandwich spread. Just make it a little thicker (by using less milk) then spread on bread. Add your favorite sandwich meat and boom, excellent!

Using different types of hot sauces also make for great variations on this dressing. Citrus hot sauce adds…. well, a nice citrus kick. Or try a smoky hot sauce. This dressing is very versatile.

Also try my honey-mustard Ranch salad dressing.

Avocado Ranch Salad Dressing

Avocado Ranch Salad Dressing

Nice avocado and creamy herb Ranch flavors.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 200 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Scoop out the avocado and place into a blender or food processor.
  • Add remaining ingredients except for the salt. Process until smooth.
  • Taste, add salt as needed, and pulse a few more times to mix.
  • Refrigerate for one hour before serving.
  • Note: If the dressing gets too thick, stir in a bit more milk before serving.

Notes

Use whole milk for the best results, although 2% can be used also.
Need ideas for putting together the ultimate salad? Check out my salad inspirations!

Nutrition

Calories: 200kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 2gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 249mgPotassium: 253mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 164IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 0.3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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

Aunt Trish’s Salad Dressing

We always look forward to “Salad Week” here. Before I started cooking “Salad Week” would not have been something I would have looked forward to. Bottled dressings. Uninspired ingredients. Now I am happy when it’s “Salad Week”, thanks to fantastic salad ingredients and great homemade salad dressings, like Aunt Trish’s recipe. Now, I don’t have an Aunt Trish but if I did I’d tell her thanks for the recipe!

Aunt Trish’s Salad Dressing

Aunt Trish’s salad dressing is a great vegetable oil-based dressing. It is packed with Parmesan and garlic flavors. But, it absolutely MUST sit in the fridge overnight to ‘get happy’ before serving. Trust me. Do not try and rush it. And it MUST be removed from the fridge well before you plan on using it to let the oil return to a liquid form since it solidifies in the fridge. Your patience will be rewarded.

Kick It Up…. Or Not

If you like your dressing to have a bit of a spicy kick, don’t hesitate to toss a pinch or two of red pepper flakes into the mix before shaking. As it is, though, Aunt Trish’s salad dressing is perfect. I don’t like strong citrus-flavored dressings, and this one does not disappoint. Now, I am a big fan of garlic so I might have slipped a little extra in when no one was looking. Don’t tell.

Also try my American style creamy Greek dressing.

Aunt Trish’s Salad Dressing

Aunt Trish’s Salad Dressing

Packed with Parmesan and garlic flavors.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 1 day
Cook Time 2 hours
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 401 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients into a bowl and whisk until well combined then transfer to a sealable container.
  • Refrigerate overnight.
  • Set out to come to room temperature for 1-2 hours before stirring and then serving.

Notes

Grate your own Parmesan cheese and squeeze fresh lemons for best results.
Need ideas for putting together the ultimate salad? Check out my salad inspirations!

Nutrition

Calories: 401kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 3gFat: 42gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 24gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 227mgPotassium: 97mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 297IUVitamin C: 29mgCalcium: 77mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Keyword citrus, garlic
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!