Make your own homemade dressing! This easy Citrus-Balsamic Vinaigrette is a tangy dressing that is perfect with green salads.

This easy vinaigrette recipe uses a special vinegar, white balsamic! I love white balsamic vinegar for its light, tart, sweet flavor. It’s the perfect addition to this Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette recipe, a light-colored balsamic dressing. 

A photo of Citrus Balsamic vinaigrette being spooned over the top of a salad

When I make salad dressings at home, it’s usually my top pick because I love the light, tangy flavor. Even if you don’t like the taste of balsamic vinegar, I think you might like white balsamic vinegar.

Traditional balsamic vinegar is slow simmered and aged in wooden barrels. In contrast, white balsamic vinegar is quickly pressure cooked and only aged for a brief amount of time.

Regular balsamic vinegar is thick, syrupy and intense in flavor. White balsamic vinegar has a light, milder flavor, and it’s a super versatile ingredient. I even put it in my barbecue sauce!

A photo of two bowls of salad with a small bowl of dressing

When in culinary class, we experimented with making our own dressings. I landed on two go-to dressing recipes, this Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette, and my Apple Cider Vinaigrette! They are similar in flavor, but I think that my Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette is more all-purpose in how it can be used.

This wonderful dressing delicious with your special holiday salads, or on a simple salad in the hot summertime. Another great option for warm summer months is my Greek vinaigrette dressing.

I love to make my own salad dressings. It’s easy to do, and a great way to add tangy flavors to healthy recipes! 

A photo of all of the ingredients for Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette, separated out

Best White Balsamic Vinegar Substitutes:

Don’t have white balsamic vinegar? I’ve got you covered! There are so many good substitutes. For any of these different kinds of vinegar, you’ll substitute 1 for 1.

  • Champagne vinegar
  • Sherry vinegar
  • Rice wine vinegar
  • White vinegar
  • Lemon juice (or lime juice)
  • Red wine vinegar
  • Traditional balsamic vinegar

I think the best substitute is Champagne vinegar.

A photo of ingredients for the dressing recipe

Other Recipe Substitutions:

Instead of honey, feel free to use maple syrup or agave nectar. You can also use a teaspoon of white sugar or brown sugar.

This dressing is also wonderful with fresh herbs! Try adding a hefty pinch of fresh chopped oregano, basil or parsley.

Serving Suggestions: 

This homemade salad dressing is absolutely wonderful on a green salad, especially summer salads! I recommend serving this citrus-balsamic dressing on a spinach salad with sliced almonds, pieces of Parmesan and delicious citrus fruit like mandarin oranges or fresh orange segments. 

Serve the salad as a main course topped with smoked salmon, or as a side dish with your favorite grilled meat

Leftover Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette Storage:

I store my dressing in the refrigerator in a container with a tight-fitting lid for up to 7 days. Remove it from the fridge about 15 minutes before serving and shake or whisk well to combine the ingredients before using.

A small bowl of dressing with a spoon in it

Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette

Yield: Serves 3-4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Make your own Balsamic Citrus Salad Dressing at home! This healthy dressing will become your favorite salad dressing!

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
  • 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. To a small bowl, add all of the ingredients. Whisk with a wire wisk to combine. Allow to sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
  2. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Notes

Use fresh orange juice or lime juice in place of the lemon juice. See more recipe substitutions above this recipe card.

Add fresh chopped herbs for extra flavor!

Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 166Total Fat 17gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 14gCholesterol 0mgSodium 151mgCarbohydrates 4gFiber 0gSugar 4gProtein 0g

The nutrition for this recipe is calculated by an app and may be incorrect.

Did you make this recipe?

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