This fresh orange vinaigrette dressing is light, citrusy, and easy to make in minutes. It’s perfect for green salads, chicken salads, or anything that needs a bright, homemade dressing.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fresh, bright flavor. Orange juice and zest give this dressing a natural sweetness without being heavy.
- Quick to make. Comes together in about 5 minutes with simple ingredients.
- Versatile. Perfect for green salads, chicken salads, or even drizzled over roasted vegetables.
- Better than store-bought. No preservatives, just clean, fresh flavor.
This orange vinaigrette dressing is one of those simple recipes that makes everything taste better. Fresh orange juice and zest give it a bright, naturally sweet flavor, while balsamic vinegar and garlic add just enough depth to keep it balanced. It comes together in minutes and works just as well for everyday salads as it does for something a little more special with chicken or shrimp.
Ingredients in Orange Vinaigrette Dressing
- Fresh orange juice and zest
- Balsamic vinegar
- Honey
- Garlic
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Optional: fresh basil or mint
This is a great recipe to throw together at the last-minute just before serving, but it also keeps well for a week in the refrigerator.
How to Make Orange Vinaigrette
- Add orange juice, zest, balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper to a bowl
- Whisk to combine
- Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking until emulsified
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed
What to Serve with Orange Vinaigrette
- Tossed green salads with avocado and tomatoes
- Grilled chicken salad
- Shrimp- Try my easy Shrimp Scampi
- Spinach salad with fruit and nuts
- Drizzled over roasted vegetables
Variations and Substitutions
- Use lemon or lime for a different citrus twist
- Swap honey for maple syrup
- Add Dijon mustard for a slightly creamy texture
- Try shallots instead of garlic for a milder flavor
How Long Does Orange Vinaigrette Last?
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Shake or whisk before using, as natural separation will occur.
This orange vinaigrette is one of those simple recipes you’ll come back to again and again. It’s quick to make, fresh tasting, and works with just about any salad you have on hand. Once you start making your own dressing like this, it’s hard to go back to store-bought.
Orange Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 orange, zested and juiced
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsps honey
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground pepper
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp fresh basil or mint finely chopped, optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, zest, balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper.1 orange,, 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, 2 tsps honey, 1 clove garlic, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp freshly ground pepper
- While whisking, slowly drizzle in olive oil until fully combined.¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Stir in fresh herbs if using.1 Tbsp fresh basil or mint
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 week. Shake before using.
Notes
- Use fresh orange juice. Bottled juice won’t give the same bright, fresh flavor.
- Zest first, then juice. It’s much easier to zest the orange before cutting it.
- Whisk while adding oil. Slowly adding the olive oil helps the dressing emulsify and stay combined longer.
- Adjust to taste. Add a little more honey for sweetness or extra vinegar for tang, depending on your preference.
- Let it sit for a few minutes. The flavors mellow and blend together even more after resting briefly.
- Great with fruit-forward salads. This dressing pairs especially well with salads that include berries, avocado, or nuts.
Recipe adapted from Yummly recipes.
Wonderful recipe Sally! This is exactly the kind of dressing I was looking for on our summer salads – light and full of flavor. My husband and I both loved it and ended up just eating salad for dinner instead of as the first course.
Lovely. I used half walnut oil and made the mint version. Tossed it with a salad of greens, dried hibiscus flowers, kumquats, cucumbers, pistachios, and goat cheese. It was wonderful.
Thank you, Lily! I’m glad you liked the recipe and I love the ingredients in your salad. :p
My new go-to homemade salad dressing. So easy, basically non fat, light & refreshing. Thanks Sally!
Simple and delicious! I tried it with a BBQ chicken breasts on mixed greens with apricots, strawberries and red onion salad. A definite keeper!
My husband is on a diet and loves to eat salads with salad dressing so it is a challenge to find a dressing that he like to eat that isn’t full of mayo. This one is perfect!