Best Greek Salad Dressing

With an acidic, herby flavor and simple ingredients, this Greek dressing is versatile and so delicious!

What makes Greek Salad Dressing so special?

This Greek salad dressing is special, y’all. Because of the acidic, herby flavor, Greek dressing, in general, is one of my very favorites, but this recipe totally levels up any store-bought (or restaurant-served) Greek dressing that I’ve had! The use of fresh lemon juice here really takes the finished product over the edge.

I love using this dressing on salads (of course), but it’s also especially delicious as a marinade for your favorite protein or just drizzled over already grilled chicken, steak, or shrimp! 

Homemade vs Store-Bought Greek Dressing?

While the store-bought stuff can be okay in a pinch, Greek dressing is one of those salad dressings that is totally worth making homemade. Here’s why:

• You can use high-quality oil – many store-bought dressings are made up of mystery oils that aren’t super great for us. If you’re making your own dressing, though, you have the ability to control exactly what kind of oil goes into it! Plus, high-quality EVOO just tastes good!
• You can use fresh lemon juice – a lot of Greek dressings just call for one acid (typically red wine vinegar), and if you’re buying store-bought Greek dressing, it definitely won’t have fresh lemon juice in it either. Making your own homemade dressing means that you get to enjoy the added depth of flavor that comes with using fresh lemon juice!

What are the key ingredients of Greek dressing?

Greek dressing is an olive oil-based dressing with a punch of acidity (hello, red wine vinegar + lemon juice) and a whole bunch of spices and seasonings!

Greek Salad Dressing Ingredients:

This super simple recipe has 3 main ingredients (along with several spices and seasonings). Here’s everything you’ll need:

• Lemon Juice – to start, you’ll need about 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice (the juice from about 1½ lemons). 
• Red Wine Vinegar – you’ll also want to grab 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar. 
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil – the bulk of the dressing is made up of extra-virgin olive oil — you’ll need a ½ cup.
• Spices + Seasonings – to really up the Greek flavors, we’ll also add a ½ tablespoon of dried basil, a ½ tablespoon of dried oregano, 1 clove of finely minced garlic (or a ½ teaspoon of garlic powder), a ½ teaspoon of fine sea salt, and a ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper.

How to Make Greek Salad Dressing:

Salad dressings are one of those things that can feel intimidating — for some reason, the bottled store-bought stuff can feel really fancy and trying to replicate it can feel like a far reach. The good news, though, is that making your own dressing is INCREDIBLY easy (like 1-step easy) and truly so much tastier than any store-bought dressing! Here’s how you’ll do it:

• Toss all of the ingredients into a jar or bowl and then shake (if your jar has a tight fitting lid) or whisk to combine.

THAT’S IT!

Tips and Tricks for the Best Greek Dressing:

Though the ingredients list is short and the instructions are 1-step simple, there are a few things to keep in mind when making your own Greek dressing:

• Use more seasoning than you think – the *key* to really delicious, flavorful Greek dressing is the seasoning! If you’re following our recipe, the amount of seasoning may feel like a lot, but trust us, it’s totally necessary!
• Make it in advance – in order for the flavors to really marinate, make your Greek dressing a day or so in advance (or even the morning before you’re planning to serve it). 
• Use two types of acid – we used lemon juice AND red wine vinegar here, and while using two types of acid may not feel totally necessary, the two together really give a delicious depth of flavor to the finished product.

Greek Dressing Substitutions:

If you don’t have the time to make a homemade Greek dressing, but you’re looking for something along the same line that’ll provide a similar punch of flavor, try a simple red wine or lemon vinaigrette instead!

What type of salad is greek dressing best in?

Greek dressing is, obviously, really delicious in Greek-style salads (think: pepperoncinis, tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, and feta cheese), but truly, because of its bold but simple flavor, it’s REALLY delicious in most any salad! 

How do I store this greek salad dressing recipe?

We recommend storing your Greek dressing the same way we do any other dressing: in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator.

How long can I store this greek salad dressing for?

Because of the fresh lemon juice in our Greek dressing, we recommend using your dressing within a week of making it.