29 Best Vegan Salad Dressings For Plant-Based Diets

The best way to enjoy a fresh salad is by adding a tasty dressing on top. This being said, many salad dressing recipes contain mayo which is not made with dairy products.

However, there are also some delicious vegan salad dressings that include only plant-based ingredients, including oil or plant milk.

Here is our list of the 28 best vegan salad dressings for a plant-based diet.

1. Vegan Creamy Italian Dressing

What makes most salad dressings so tasty is that they are beautifully creamy. This Italian salad dressing is not just vegan but it uses only a few basic ingredients.

With Italian seasoning and your favorite dairy-milk alternative, you can create this Mediterranean dressing.

You can whisk it together in ten minutes and it’s ready to serve immediately. Just sprinkle a little over your salad or just serve it in a little bowl to share.

2. Easy Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing

Did you know that Ranch dressing is one of the most popular salad dressing in America?

With this plant-based ranch dressing, you don’t have to depend on the classic ranch dressing anymore.

This tasty dressing is not just dairy-free but it also does not contain any oil. This makes it easier to digest and super light on your salad.

Plus, this salad dressing is a real eye-catcher. The fresh herbs with it make it look brightly green.

3. Easy Creamy Cashew Mayo

One of the easiest salad dressing in the world is unfortunately also the dressing that usually contains animal products: mayonnaise.

Luckily, you can easily make dairy-free and egg-free mayo dressing with cashew nuts. This vegan dressing recipe is surprisingly light and simple to whisk together.

4. Wasabi Orange Sauce

Salad dressing doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, you can use your dressing to give your salad any flavor you like.

This spicy wasabi salad dressing mixes traditional Asian flavors with the sweet taste of orange. It’s amazingly creamy thanks to the peanut butter.

You can put this sauce on your fresh tomato salad, or why not use it as a sauce to dip in your Doritos?

5. Vegan Caesar Dressing

Another popular topping for your salad is Caesar dressing. This timeless classic works on every salad, from warm potato salad to green vegetable salad.

While Caesar salad dressing is often associated with gourmet flavors, you don’t need to go into a restaurant to enjoy this tasting dressing.

This being said, it takes only five minutes to throwing this simple Caesar salad dressing together. This means you can also whip it up in advance.

6. Vegan Honey Mustard Dressing

Salad can be a bit bland sometimes, especially when you use it as a side dish with your main.

But this honey mustard dressing with vegan ingredients adds plenty of interesting flavors to your salad bowl.

The sweet honey combines nicely with the tangy mustard, making it into a creamy sauce that is perfect for a feta salad.

7. Tahini Dipping Sauce

If you have some leftover sesame seeds, then you can easily make some tahini with this. Mix it with garlic and some lemon juice, and you have a smooth salad dressing.

The slightly nutty flavor of this tasty sauce does not just give your salad a great taste but you can also use it for dipping in crackers and Doritos.

8. Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing

This super creamy tomato dressing only contains five simple ingredients but it’s full of big flavors. Plus, you can whisk it together in just five minutes.

It’s important to use dehydrated tomatoes to ensure that the recipe doesn’t contain any oil.

But the other ingredients contain enough healthy fats, making this dressing not just ideal for salad but also vegan pasta dishes.

9. Date Sweetened Mustard Dressing

If you are not a fan of honey mustard dressing, then there are plenty of other ways to create a sweet salad dressing that tastes great.

This mustard salad dressing is sweetened naturally with dates. It also uses applesauce instead of mayo as in the traditional mustard dressing.

The end result is lightly tangy with sweet notes making it a great salad topping.

10. Sugar-Free Mango Chutney

If you like strong and vibrant flavors with your salad, then this sugar-free chutney could be a perfect choice.

The chunky pieces of mango combined with plant-based milk, vinegar and water create a delicious addition to your leafy greens and roasted vegetables.

The sweetness of the mangoes combines very well with the sharp vinegar. You can also enjoy this with some crunchy seeds.

11. Oil-Free Balsamic Dressing

Traditionally, the combination of balsamic vinegar and oil make a great dipping sauce or salad dressing.

However, if you want to avoid using oil, then you can also whisk together this vegan balsamic dressing without any oil.

The smooth texture and the zingy balsamic create some amazingly intense flavors that work with every fresh salad.

12. Vegan Blue Cheese Dressing

Made with tofu, onion powder, dill and nutritional yeast, this vegan cheese dressing is just as chunky and creamy as a traditional dressing.

You can use it as a dip or just sprinkle a spoonful over your salad. The tangy flavors are surprisingly similar to blue cheese.

You can serve this dressing with your salad at a party and nobody would notice it’s a vegan recipe.

13. Creamy Cilantro Garlic Dressing

If you love the sharp taste of coriander, then this dressing comes with plenty of different flavors.

The creamy texture and strong taste make this dressing a fantastic choice for cucumber salad and other leafy greens salads.

Made with plenty of cilantro, crushed garlic, silken tofu, rice wine vinegar and soy sauce, it pairs well with beans, grains, potatoes and pasta.

This means that you can make a big batch of the dressing and use it on your other savory foods.

14. Creamy Oil-Free Bean Pesto

Similar to tomato sauce, mustard and mayo, pesto is simply a great condiment that you can use for almost any food.

However, most pesto recipes aren’t traditionally vegan because they contain a type of cheese and far too much oil.

But you can create this homemade pesto with only a few basic ingredients and use it for your cold pasta salad or noodles.

It works well both cold and hot, so you can choose what way you like it.

15. Catalina Dressing

Looking at this Catalina dressing, it appears to be just as thick as gravy which is exactly what you want for a salad dressing.

This sugar-free dressing recipe does not just look the part but it is also rich in flavor. You can mix the spices and herbs together in just a few minutes.

Thanks to the thick and creamy texture, you can use it for almost any savory dishes, including chips and salads.

16. Applesauce Vinaigrette

Applesauce may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a delicious salad dressing.

But it works surprisingly well when you combine it with the right ingredients, such as apple cider vinegar.

While you would usually use sweet applesauce for baking, you need to use the unsweetened version for this salad dressing recipe.

What makes this vegan dressing so unusual is that it is oil-free.

This being said, the recipe calls for maple syrup which contains a little more sugar than some other dressings on our list.

17. Moroccan Carrot Dip

When it comes to enjoying your salad, you don’t just have to rely on salad dressing. There are many other salad toppings that you can use, including salsa and dips.

This brightly-colored carrot dip combines Moroccan seasoning with some spice and plenty of sweetness from carrots.

As it has a thick texture, you can use it as a sauce, dip or to put on your leafy greens.

18. Ginger And Turmeric Dressing

Turmeric and ginger aren’t just tasty spices but they are also considered medicinal herbs in Asia. Both ginger and turmeric are said to be anti-inflammatory.

With a few basic ingredients, such as lemon, ginger and raw almond butter, you can throw this vegan salad dressing recipe together in under five minutes.

Plus, this salad dressing is also a big attention grabber, so you can add more color to your garden party.

19. Classic Dijon Mustard Dressing

When we talk about salad dressings, then we cannot miss out the classic Dijon mustard dressing.

While mustard is a popular ingredient to thicken a salad dressing, you can also use it with only a few other ingredients to make a traditional French dressing.

Oil-free and rich, this tangy salad topper does not just taste fantastic but it also looks just like you would expect from a delicious dressing.

20. Vegan Coleslaw Dressing

If you prefer a slightly heavier salad dressing with more volume, then coleslaw is the best option.

It’s not just a salad on its own but you can also use it to top off your other leafy greens for extra flavor.

While most coleslaw recipes are mayo-based, this vegan coleslaw dressing doesn’t contain any eggs or other animal products.

You can whip it up in under 10 minutes, and the crunchy texture of the slaw gives your salad a new freshness.

21. Herby Tofu Dressing

Tofu is a popular dairy alternative in many vegan dressings but few recipes have so much flavor than this one.

The variety of fresh herbs combined with strong garlic, mustard and onion make this dressing a delicious topping for your salad.

You can enjoy it on top of a rice salad or quinoa salad, as well as some sweet corn.

22. Vegan Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing

Making a vinaigrette is one of the fastest ways to whisk together a salad dressing. Just mix some garlic, Dijon mustard, olive oil, parsley, basil and lemon juice.

While these ingredients are all very simple, combining them brings out some of the best flavors.

Plus, you can use this lemon vinaigrette for salad, steamed vegetables, pasta and many other savory dishes. You can even try adding it to some of your desserts for a tangy twist.

23. Vegan Chipotle Ranch Dressing

This classic ranch dressing has some spicy notes thanks to the chipotle. It does not just feel warm and soothing but also incredibly comforting.

This makes the dressing perfect for any winter salads or even as a dip for your chips.

The tangy flavors combine well with the spice from the pepper, so you can enjoy it on your salad, chips and any of your favorite finger foods.

24. Asian Stir-Fry Sauce

If you are looking for a vegan salad dressing that goes well with Asian salads, then a classic stir-fry sauce can’t be wrong.

This Asian sauce recipe is not just fully plant-based but it is also sugar-free and oil-free, making it a healthy dressing.

You can pour it over rice, crispy tofu or a crunchy salad made of sautéed vegetables.

25. Cashew Sour Cream

Cashew are a staple of a vegan diet, so it’s likely that you already have some cashew nut at home.

This simple but rich cashew sour cream is the perfect addition for a large veggie bowl. You can whip it up in 5 minutes and use it any way you like.

Pour it over your favorite bean salad, add to a stir-fry or dip your chips into it.

26. Peanut Sauce

Just like cashew nuts and sesame seeds, peanuts are an all-round ingredient that you likely use regularly in many vegan dishes already.

This slightly sweet but tangy sauce has r=just the right amount of spices that transform your salad from bland to flavorsome.

27. Vegan Mac & Cheese Sauce

You don’t always have to stick to classic salad dressings. There are so many great vegan sauces and dips that you can use on your salad.

This oil-free vegan cheese sauce is so creamy that you don’t need to put it just on your pasta but you can pour it over your steamed veggies or fresh greens.

28. Vegan Greek Dressing

Making your own vegan salad dressing at home isn’t very difficult. Plus, you can choose the flavors that you like most.

This Greek salad dressing doesn’t just go well with traditional Greek salad but you can use it on any dish where you want to add some extra tangy flavors.

29. Strawberry Vinaigrette

A salad dressing doesn’t always have to be savory. The mix of tangy and sweet is often what makes vinaigrette and dressings more interesting.

This strawberry vinaigrette is so light that it’s perfect for any summer salad. It has a great balance of tartness and sweetness.

This makes it an ideal alternative to the classic vinaigrette.

Final Thoughts

From traditional honey mustard dressing to spicy wasabi orange dressing, there are many vegan salad dressings suitable for plant-based diets.

Frequently Asked Questions