This Honey Mustard Dressing Makes You Want to Eat Salad Every Day

This easy homemade honey mustard dressing recipe only needs just 5 simple ingredients and 5 minutes to make.

This recipe makes a creamy, smooth dipping sauce that goes perfectly with chicken nuggets, french fries, vegetables, and a lot more.

Not only is it fresh and low in fat, but it’s also actually really good for you!

It’s way healthier and more delicious than a store-bought dressing.

When it comes to dressings and dipping sauces, I’m all about homemade recipes.

Making a restaurant-quality honey mustard sauce at home is not only fast but quite effortless.

And it’s actually quite essential in healthy eating at home.

All you need is a small bowl, organic honey, Dijon, apple cider vinegar, and mayo as a base.

After making your own homemade honey mustard sauce following this recipe, I bet you’ll never buy one from a grocery store again.

While there are many honey mustard dressing recipes out there, this honey mustard sauce is particularly versatile.

It’s creamy and richer than a regular honey mustard salad dressing.

Yet, it’s light and free of the little heavy texture a dipping sauce often comes with.

It’s a salad dressing but can double as a dipping sauce for chicken fingers, celery, and carrot sticks.

It has a great balance of sweetness from the raw honey, tanginess from Dijon mustard, and creaminess from the mayo.

The acidity is also added by organic apple cider vinegar or lemon, which also brings freshness.

This fast honey mustard dressing has more flavor than any other dressing I’ve ever bought from a grocery store.

It’s also comforting to know everything in the batch is fresh and straight from your refrigerator.

In case you need them, here are some substitutions and add-in options you may want to take a look.

Substitutions & Optional Ingredients

Dijon mustard: Dijon is preferred mustard over yellow mustard. 

That’s because it has less vinegar and sugar, and its black mustard seeds are eye-popping in a honey mustard sauce. 

But that’s not to say, you can’t sub with yellow mustard. If that’s what you have in your fridge, feel free to use that. 

Just know yellow mustard gives a more vibrant yellow color, so your sauce will look a little bit more yellow than the one that’s on this page.

Mayo: Mayonnaise adds creamy and mild flavor, but if you are looking to omit mayo or go low fat mayo, that’s fine. 

You can simply go without it or you can use Greek yogurt for a yogurt base homemade honey mustard dressing. 

The only thing is that Greek yogurt is a bit tangy. So expect that in your salad dressing if you were to make this swap. 

And yes, you can opt-in for plain fat-free yogurt to make it even a healthier version.

Paprika: This honey mustard dressing recipe is great as is. 

But looking to the elevator the flavor even more? Add sprinkles of paprika. 

It gives a little bit of smoky taste and adds depth to the classic honey mustard sauce.

Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne pepper gives a little bit of kick for anyone looking for some heat in a dressing or dipping sauce. 

Especially paired with paprika and the sweet flavor of honey mustard, it’s a perfect yummy honey mustard dipping sauce for chicken fingers. 

It’s the kind of kick and flavor combo that makes you so excited about eating salads and veggies too.

Garlic: Love it or hate it, garlic can be a great flavor enhancer in any honey mustard salad dressing. But it’s still optional. If you are adding garlic, add one large garlic clove to the recipe. 

Chop it first if you are making the dressing in a small bowl. 

If you are using a blender, just throw a whole garlic clove into the blender. 

It’s the type of addition that takes good honey mustard sauce from great, and you can’t put a finger on what it is.

How to Make Honey Mustard Dressing

Making homemade honey mustard is as easy as whisking the ingredients in a bow.

It requires very few healthy ingredients and goes with different things like chicken strips, kale salad, and veggies.

Not to mention, this honey mustard dressing recipe is easy to remember.

Between apple cider vinegar, raw honey, and Dijon, the ratio is always 1:1. 

What this means is you need equal parts honey, vinegar, and mustard.

Any good honey mustard sauce starts with quality ingredients.

Let’s start with honey. If you follow healthy eating, raw honey is the way to go. 

It’s full of nutrients and unprocessed. If possible, choose organic honey.

To make 2 cups of this homemade honey mustard, you need about 1/2 cup, honey.

You also need mustard. 

Dijon is a favorite of mine, but other types of mustard-like honey mustard and yellow mustard are also acceptable. 

Another option is to also blend honey mustard with Dijon. You need about 1/2 cup mustard.

The last key ingredient in this honey mustard recipe is apple cider vinegar. 

It’s an absolute necessity in any vinaigrette homemade dressings, but in honey mustard, you can use lemon juice too if that’s all you have. You need about 1/2 cup vinegar.

Mayo is just a flavor enhancer. Its creaminess shields the sharp acidity and adds a mild taste.

But this addition is not to overtake the entire honey mustard, so add just a tablespoon.

Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl and whisk until smooth. Season it with a dash of pepper and salt.

Honey Mustard Dressing Recipe Ingredients

More than likely, you probably have most of the ingredients for this homemade honey mustard sitting in your fridge and pantry. 

You can, as an alternative, use a combination of yellow mustard and Dijon, if you would prefer. 

However, the tanginess of the Dijon mustard really makes this dip more flavorful.

It will have a slightly different flavor with a little bit of sharpness to it. 

You can also substitute low-fat mayo if you want to shave off a few calories and a little fat, but again, the flavor will be different.

The following recipe uses equal parts honey, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar. 

The mayo can be full fat or low fat if you prefer. 

As a finishing touch, sprinkle a bit of salt and a dash of pepper to add flavor. 

This is a great recipe that goes well with just about anything.

12 Ways to Use Good Honey Mustard to Flavor Your Favorite Dish

1. As a glaze for your meatloaf in place of ketchup
2. A glaze for a crispy pork loin roast
3. Spread of salmon fillets before serving
4. As a dipping sauce for ham and cheese roll-ups
5. Tossed into your potato salad for an added kick
6. A dipping sauce for soft pretzels
7. Added to your deviled egg mix (in place of yellow mustard) with a sprinkling of paprika
8. Drizzled over grilled tuna steaks over a bed of greens
9. A marinade for chicken thighs
10. A spread for tortilla and lettuce wraps
11. Drizzled over the top of an open-faced turkey sandwich
12. Added to a chicken Waldorf salad
13. Mixed into a cold pasta salad

When using a yummy honey mustard dipping sauce as a marinade for chicken, you can use it both as a marinade and brushed on the chicken as it cooks.

FAQs About Honey Mustard Dressing

Is Honey Mustard Dressing Healthy?

Yes, the ingredients in honey mustard dressing are healthy and delicious.

 If you are on a healthy eating plan, make sure to use organic honey.

Can I Eat Honey Mustard Dressing on a Gluten-Free Diet?

Yes, as long as the dressing is made from gluten-free mustard.

Brands like French’s, Grey Poupon, Gulden’s, Boar’s Head, and Heinz are all gluten-free.

Is Honey Mustard Dressing Vegan?

No, because it contains honey, it is not considered vegan. 

If you wanted to make a vegan version you could substitute corn or rice syrup for the honey.

Is Honey Mustard Dressing Dairy-Free?

Yes, it is dairy-free for those with allergies or sensitivity to dairy products.

Is Honey Mustard Dressing Keto-Friendly?

Not traditionally, but you can adapt the recipe to make a low-carb version that will work for those on the keto diet. 

The recipe calls for the same ingredients, but it’s a little heavy on mayonnaise. 

It also adds a little garlic powder, paprika, and liquid stevia for the sweetness. 

The ingredients you need can be found in any local grocery store.

This restaurant-quality honey mustard sauce works for all types of meats, salads, sandwiches, and more. 

Use it as a salad dressing, dipping sauce, or marinade for chicken, beef, or pork. 

The recipe can be adapted for vegan, keto, and gluten-free diets, so there is no reason not to try it with your favorite meals and snacks.

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