Recipe For Poppy Seed Dressing

Poppy Seed Dressing is the best salad dressing! It's sweet, creamy, easy to make, and tastes amazing on so many salads. You'll be wanting to eat salads everyday with this dressing in your fridge.

It's salad season and you NEED this Poppy Seed Dressing. This is my absolute favorite and I ALWAYS have a jar of it in my fridge. A side spinach salad with this dressing is my go-to. For more yummy sides, try Buttermilk Cornbread, Easy Twice Baked Potatoes and 3-Ingredient Roasted Green Beans.

Pink Poppy Seed Dressing dripping off a spoon back into a jar.

Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing

I have a sweet tooth so naturally I prefer sweet salads. Every week I buy a big 1 pound container of organic baby spinach at Costco and I eat a salad almost everyday with this yummy dressing. My current favorite salad ingredients with this dressing are grilled chicken, fresh berries, pepitas or toasted nuts, avocado, and goat cheese. So so good! Even my husband who isn't a big salad eater loves it.

In the fall and winter I switch up the salad toppings and use more budget friendly fruits at that time of year like apple, pears, pomegranate, dried cranberries… This Autumn Poppy Seed Spinach Salad is a staple from October to March! If you don't care for spinach, this dressing is also great with Romaine lettuce and kale.

Looking down into an open jar of pink homemade poppy seed dressing.

Reasons this Poppy Seed Dressing the Best:

SWEET– I have a sweet tooth and this definitely satisfies it and helps me eat my greens! I love that the sweetness is balanced by the red onion and vinegar.
PINK! This has to be the prettiest color dressing out there. It gets this gorgeous pink color from the red onion… which actually looks purple. I think the person who originally named the onion was color blind.
EASY TO MAKE– All you need is 7 simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand- vinegar, oil, sugar, ground mustard, salt, poppy seeds, red onion.

An open jar of homemade poppy seed dressing with a spoon in it.

How to make Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing?

Place the sugar, red onion, salt, ground mustard, and vinegar in a blender. Blend until the onion is pureed.
While mixing on low, slowly drizzle in the oil. This will allow it to emulsify and become thick and creamy. Turn up the speed to medium and blend for 30-60 seconds.
Mix in the poppy seeds on low just until mixed in.
Pour the dressing into a 16 ounce jar and store in the fridge.
Drizzle over the top of your salad and toss.

How long does vinaigrette last?

A simple vinaigrette can last for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. If the dressing is made with dairy (buttermilk, yogurt, cheese…) or fresh ingredients (onions, herbs,…) then the recommendation is 1 week. Since this dressing uses fresh red onion, it is recommend to eat up within 1 week. Honestly, I have kept mine for up to a month and haven't gotten sick… but eat at your own risk!

Ingredients for making poppy seed dressing- granulated sugar, white vinegar, red onion, salt, oil, poppy seeds, ground mustard.

MORE DELICIOUS SALADS AND DRESSINGS RECIPES TO TRY:

Autumn Poppy Seed Spinach Salad– My favorite fall salad!
Cilantro Lime Dressing {Cafe Rio Copycat}– I love this for Mexican salads and even dipping Baked Chicken Taquitos.
Peach & Apple Quinoa Salad with Cinnamon Honey Vinaigrette– This salad is a great way to welcome the fall season!
Honey Lime Shrimp Quinoa Bowls– These are A-mazing! Such a great summer meal.
Grilled Peach Salad– Grilled peaches taste like heaven!
Avocado Chicken Salad– Avocado should be in every salad. Just sayin!

TOOLS USED TO MAKE THIS HOMEMADE SALAD DRESSING :

Mason Jar– I use these jars all the time for storing dressings, jam, sauces…

Blender– This blender is amazing! I use it all the time for smoothies, sauces, and soups.

Liquid Measuring Cup– Liquid ingredients such as water, vinegar, oil, milk, honey… should all be measured in a liquid measuring cup to insure accuracy. I love these glass ones and have lasted me almost 10 years now with almost daily use.

A hand reaching a spoon into a jar of homemade Poppy Seed Dressing.

5-Minute Poppy Seed Dressing

Poppy Seed Dressing is the best salad dressing! It's sweet, creamy, easy-to-make, and tastes amazing on so many salads. You'll be wanting to eat salads everyday with this dressing in your fridge.

Prep Time 5 mins

Total Time 5 mins

Servings: 16

Calories: 54 kcal

▢ 3/4 cups granulated sugar
▢ 1/2 cup white vinegar
▢ 2 tablespoons red onion, chopped
▢ 1 teaspoon dry ground mustard
▢ 1 teaspoon salt
▢ 1 cup canola oil, (or extra virgin extra light olive oil)
▢ 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

In a blender, combine sugar, vinegar, onion juice, mustard, and salt,.
While mixing on the lowest speed, slowly pour in oil. Turn the speed up to medium and mix until thick and creamy. Mix in the seeds.
Store in a 1 pint jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. Always mix well before serving.

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Poppy Seed Dressing

Nutrition Facts

5-Minute Poppy Seed Dressing

Amount Per Serving

Calories 54 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g 3%

Saturated Fat 1g 6%

Sodium 146mg 6%

Potassium 4mg 0%

Carbohydrates 10g 3%

Fiber 1g 4%

Sugar 9g 10%

Protein 1g 2%

Vitamin C 0.1mg 0%

Calcium 8mg 1%

Iron 0.1mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.