This tasty lemon vinaigrette recipe is ready in minutes and makes the perfect lemon dressing for salad. If you’re looking for a homemade salad dressing that’s super easy then you’re in the right place!

A simple lemon vinaigrette is one of the most classic dressings for salad. This recipe creates a traditional dressing with olive oil and lemon juice – perfect for adding a little zing to a green bowl.
Ingredients for Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe

Lemon Juice
There are a few methods for juicing the lemon, but my favorite is with a citrus juice presser. I like the fact that all the pulp is removed, leaving you with pure juice. If you don’t have a press then you could also use a citrus reamer.
Olive Oil
Olive oil will give your dressing the best flavor!
Dijon Mustard
Mustard is an emulsifier that will ensure the olive oil and lemon juice combine in your dressing. I would highly recommend using Dijon mustard. It has a slight tang that gives the vinaigrette a little bite without being over-powering.
Maple Syrup
A little sweetness helps to balance the dressing, and maple syrup is ideal as it dissolves straight into the other ingredients.
Lemon Zest
Zest helps to emphasise the lemon in the vinaigrette, without making the dressing too tart.
How to Make Lemon Dressing for Salad

Add all the ingredients to a small bowl or mason jar and whisk or shake until well combined.
Tip: Usually, dressings separate after a few hours, but making them in a mason jar allows you to shake them up and recombine them.
Drizzle your lemon juice dressing over salad and enjoy!
Can I Make Lemon Vinaigrette Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! This homemade salad dressing is easy to make and store for a future meal. Just make sure you keep it in an air-tight container in the fridge and consume it within three days.
How to Serve

Drizzle your lemon juice dressing over salad, add to wraps, or stir through rice for a quick and zesty lunch.
Looking for more Easy Homemade Salad Dressings?
Here are a few of my readers’ favorite easy dressing recipes. I can’t wait for you to try them!
Tomato Basil Salad with Balsamic Dressing
Thanks for checking out this Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe. If you try it, please let me know what you think with a comment and rating. Every bit of feedback helps make the blog even better!
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Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe | Easy Salad Dressing
- Author: Rachel Steenland
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This lemon vinaigrette recipe is a great easy dressing for salad | Make perfect home-made dressing with olive oil and lemon juice!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Make the dressing: Into a small bowl (or mason jar) add lemon vinaigrette ingredients, and whisk to combine (or if using a mason jar, seal and viciously shake to combine).
- Serve: Drizzle over your favorite salad and enjoy immediately.
- Store: Store in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 3 days. Whisk or shake well before serving as the ingredients will naturally separate over time.
Notes
- Extra virgin olive oil: EVOO tastes best in salad dressings. In a pinch you can swap for olive oil or another neutral tasting oil.
- Maple syrup: A little sweetness is needed to balance the acid from the lemon juice. If you prefer, feel free to swap for agave nectar or cane sugar.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 servings
- Calories: 129
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 323
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 12
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 0
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: lemon vinaigrette, lemon vinaigrette recipe, lemon dressing for salad, homemade salad dressing easy, dressing with olive oil and lemon juice
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