8 Easy Homemade Salad Dressing & Dip Recipes

Upgrade to healthy, homemade dips & dressings

Want to make a big, healthy difference with a little effort? Start making your own dips and dressings. Most people opt for a salad in order to be more wellness conscious, but salads can actually be pretty bad for you when all is chopped and drizzled and toppings are loaded on. The same goes for rich, calorie-laden dips, which defeat the purpose of low-calorie, no-fat chips and crackers. They may even be to blame for that extra five pounds that never comes off.

What you gain in convenience by reaching for the bottled stuff or going out to eat you sacrifice in terms of nutrition. Even so-called light, low-fat and organic varieties at the grocery store pack a lot of calories in just a teaspoon. Food companies are notorious for loading on gummy substances, preservatives, sodium, refined oils (loaded with free radicals), excess sugar and other sweeteners in pursuit of flavor. These can all contribute to diabetes and obesity. 

We’ve come up with these healthy recipes you can make in your blender because, let’s face it, if you knew what was being put into your favorite restaurant and store-bought dressings and dips, you’d probably cringe.  Making your own dips and dressing can become a wildly creative process: you control the ingredients, which means you control the calories, cost and flavor. You are the boss and that’s empowering.

For starters, it’s easy to swap mayonnaise for Greek yogurt. Thickening agents can be as basic as Dijon. Hemp seed oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil, sesame oil or avocado oil are healthy alternatives to bad-for-you refined oils, which lurk everywhere and are so bad for you. You’ll also love experimenting with apple cider vinegar, fresh lemon juice, fresh lime juice, balsamic vinegar, coconut vinegar and brown rice vinegar. Follow these BlendJet-friendly recipes or edit your own delicious creation with ease:

Balsamic Vinaigrette 

Total Time: Less than 5 minutes

Servings: Approximately 3-4

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1 garlic clove

1/4 tsp salt

1/16 tsp black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Add all ingredients to the BlendJet, and blend for 1 cycle.

BBQ Sauce 

Total Time: Less than 5 minutes 

Servings: Approximately 3-4

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup tomato sauce

2 Tbsp tomato paste

3 Tbsp maple syrup

1 tsp apple cider vinegar 

1 tsp coconut aminos

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1 clove garlic

1/4 tsp paprika 

1/4 tsp salt 

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper 

1/16 tsp black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Add all ingredients to the BlendJet, and blend for 2 cycles.

Caesar Dressing

Total Time: Less than 5 minutes

Servings: Approximately 3 

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup coconut milk, full fat

1/4 cup hummus 

2 Tbsp lemon juice 

2 tsp capers

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 clove garlic 

1/4 tsp salt

1/16 tsp black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Add all ingredients to the BlendJet, and blend for 2 cycles. 

Guacamole

Total Time: Less than 5 minutes

Servings: Approximately 2 

INGREDIENTS

Juice of 2 limes

2 Hass avocados

1/4 onion, chopped 

2 Tbsp cilantro

Salt & pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

Add all ingredients to the BlendJet, and blend for 3-4 cycles, or until creamy (pulsing as needed). You might have to shake the BlendJet a couple times as it’s blending to help the avocado blend quickly! 

Honey Mustard 

Total Time: Less than 5 minutes

Servings: Approximately 3-4

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup plant-based mayonnaise of choice 

1/4 cup yellow mustard 

1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1/4 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp salt

1/16 tsp black pepper 

DIRECTIONS

Add all ingredients to the BlendJet, and blend for 1 cycle.

Hummus

Total Time: Less than 5 minutes

Servings: Approximately 2 

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup water

Juice of 2 lemons

1/2 cup tahini

1 clove garlic

1/4 tsp salt 

1 cup chickpeas 

DIRECTIONS

Add all ingredients (except chickpeas) to the BlendJet, and blend for 1 cycle. Add chickpeas, and blend for another 2-3 cycles, or until creamy (pulsing as needed). You might have to shake the BlendJet a couple times as it’s blending to help the chickpeas blend quickly! 

Pesto Sauce

Total Time: Less than 5 minutes

Servings: Approximately 2 

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

3 Tbsp pine nuts

2 cloves garlic 

1/2 tsp salt

1/16 tsp black pepper

Basil, filled to top (twice)

DIRECTIONS

Add all ingredients (except basil) to the BlendJet, and blend for 1 cycle. Fill the BlendJet with basil to the top, and blend for 1 cycle, pulsing as needed. Fill the BlendJet again with basil to the top, and blend for another cycle, pulsing as needed. You might have to shake the BlendJet a couple times as it’s blending to help the basil blend quickly! 

Ranch Dressing

Total Time: Less than 5 minutes

Servings: Approximately 4 

INGREDIENTS

1 cup coconut milk, full fat

3/4 cup cashews

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup parsley 

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp dill 

1/8 tsp black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Add all ingredients to the BlendJet, and blend for 2-3 cycles, or until creamy.