Healthy Honey Mustard Dressing (& Ideas on How to Use It!)

This healthy honey mustard dressing will have you craving salads all year long! With just 6 ingredients, it's quick and easy.

Despite what you might think, I do not make everything homemade. As a chef and RD, I love making things from scratch for both flavor and nutrition reasons, but I simply don't have time to make 100% of what we eat homemade! For example, I often use jarred marinara sauce. I've found a couple of brands that taste great with stellar ingredients so I buy the jar and don't look back.

That said, there are some things I never buy store-bought, and salad dressing is at the top of that list. Why? Well, for two reasons. First, the ingredients in salad dressing can be pretty icky. Low quality oils, excessive salt and sugar, things I've never even heard of…you get the idea. Second, I find that homemade salad dressing tastes 100 times better and it's quite easy to make! After making homemade salad dressing, it's hard to go back.

Whether you're brand new to making your own salad dressing or looking to mix it up, this healthy honey mustard is a must-make! It's bright, slightly sweet and so full of bold flavor. It's also totally customizable, so make sure to check out the tips below.

To make the honey mustard dressing, you'll simply combine olive oil, white wine vinegar, dijon mustard, honey, salt and pepper. That's just 6 ingredients, including salt and pepper! You can whisk them together or do a couple of quick pulses in a blender or food processor, either way works!

 

Tips on Healthy Honey Mustard Dressing

I want you to experience the complete deliciousness that is this healthy honey mustard dressing. Here are a few tips to help you get the best salad dressing ever:

• Taste as you go! Tasting is important for any culinary endeavor and this is no exception. Once you blend your ingredients, taste the dressing and adjust until you love it. If you want it sweeter, add a little more honey. If you like more acid, add more vinegar. You get the idea!
• Bring to room temperature. You'll need to store this salad dressing in the fridge but make sure to bring to room temperature before using. This doesn't take long. You can simply take the dressing out of the fridge while you make your salad and it should be ready to go.
• Try maple instead of honey. For a twist, try pure maple syrup instead of honey, it's just as tasty!
• Add herbs. Fresh rosemary, basil, dill, or oregano would all be delicious in this dressing! You can either finely mince the herbs or give the dressing a few pulses in the blender or food processor. Just make sure not to over-blend, as this can make the dressing bitter.

What's the nutrition like for this honey mustard salad dressing?

Unlike most bottled salad dressings, this honey mustard salad dressing is quite nutritious! Here are a few of the nutritional benefits:

Olive Oil (Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Monounsaturated Fats, Antioxidants)

Due to the type of fat it contains, olive oil may reduce inflammation. It also reduces the risk of Alzheimer's, stroke and heart disease. Make sure to get high quality extra virgin olive oil, as it retains more antioxidants and nutrients.

Mustard (Selenium, Magnesium, Manganese)

Related to cruciferous vegetables, the mustard plant is an excellent source of antioxidants. The seeds, which are used to make the mustard condiment, contain selenium, magnesium and manganese. Studies show that mustard may help fight inflammation and fight against some bacterial infections.

Honey (Antioxidants)

Honey has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which are strongest in darker honey. Buy raw local honey when possible as filtering the honey can diminish its nutrients.

How to use the BEST Honey Mustard Dressing

There are SO many ways to use this honey mustard dressing. You might just find yourself making a double (or triple!) batch to keep it in stock. Here are a few of my favorite uses for this flavorful dressing:

• On salads: Okay, this is kind of an obvious one, but honey mustard dressing is great on a variety of salads! Try it on mixed greens with cherry tomatoes and bacon. Or, use it on romaine with grilled chicken, celery and pecans. Honey mustard also goes nicely on a steak salad. You can't go wrong!
• As a marinade: Honey mustard makes an excellent marinade for chicken or salmon. Make a double batch and use half as salad dressing for the week and half to marinate some chicken for dinner.
• As a dip: To use as a dip, you can leave the honey mustard as-is, or mix it with a bit of Greek yogurt for a thicker dip. Honey mustard makes a great dip for veggies or for my pecan-crusted chicken tenders!

I want more healthy salad dressing recipes!

If you're looking for more healthy salad dressing recipes, you've certainly come to the right place!

Our gluten free and paleo meal prep meal plans always include a prep-ahead salad, complete with a simple homemade dressing. So I have quite the collection from over the years! Here are a few of my favorites:

FAQ – Everything You Want to Know About Healthy Honey Mustard Dressing

Can honey mustard be healthy?

Yes, homemade honey mustard can certainly be healthy. Why is homemade so much healthier? A few reasons. First, you can choose the type of oil you use, meaning you can select a high quality, healthy oil like olive oil or avocado oil. Second, you'll avoid preservatives, artificial ingredients and excessive sugar when you make your own honey mustard dressing at home.

What is the healthiest salad dressing to use?

The healthiest salad dressing to use is homemade salad dressing! There are so many options for healthy salad dressings, most based on oil and vinegar. With homemade salad dressing, you control the amount of salt and sugar and you're able to select only ingredients you feel good about.

What's in honey mustard?

Honey mustard is generally made from oil, vinegar, honey, dijon mustard and any seasonings, like salt, pepper and sometimes garlic.