Maple Dijon Vinaigrette Recipe

This maple Dijon vinaigrette is one of my favorite salad dressings for fall. Made with simple ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and pure maple syrup, it has the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors.

It takes just a few minutes to make and is such an easy way to skip the store-bought dressings and make your own homemade salad dressing with basic pantry staples. I especially love this maple Dijon dressing for kale salad, and it pairs perfectly with my Kale and Butternut Squash Salad.

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Once you see how easy this dressing is to make, you may find yourself keeping a jar in the refrigerator for everything from leafy greens to roasted veggies.

Why You’ll Love This Maple Dijon Dressing

• Quick and easy: This is an easy recipe that takes about 5 minutes from start to finish.
• Made with simple ingredients: You only need a handful of basic pantry staples.
• Naturally sweetened: A little bit of sweet maple syrup balances the tangy apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard.
• Made with olive oil: This homemade salad dressing with olive oil uses extra virgin olive oil as its base.
• Perfect for fall salads: The maple and Dijon flavors are delicious with butternut squash, apples, nuts, hearty leafy greens, and other seasonal ingredients.

Maple Dijon Vinaigrette Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (can sub white wine vinegar)
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 garlic clove, pressed or finely minced
• ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• Black pepper, to taste

How to Make Maple Dijon Vinaigrette

1. Combine the ingredients. Add the apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, pressed garlic, sea salt, black pepper, and olive oil to a mason jar.

2. Shake until combined. Secure a tight-fitting lid and give the jar a good shake until the ingredients are thoroughly combined and the dressing looks slightly creamy and emulsified.

3. Taste and adjust. Give the dressing a taste and add a little bit more maple syrup for sweetness, vinegar for acidity, or salt and pepper as needed.

You can also prepare this maple Dijon vinaigrette recipe in a small bowl or medium bowl. Whisk together everything except the olive oil, then slowly pour the oil in a steady stream while whisking until emulsified.

What to Serve With Maple Dijon Dressing

This dressing works especially well with hearty fall and winter salads. My favorite way to use it is on my Kale and Butternut Squash Salad. The sweet maple vinaigrette complements the roasted butternut squash, while the vinegar and Dijon cut through the richness and brighten up the kale.

It would also be delicious with:

• Amy simple salad made with leafy greens
• An apple salad with pecans or walnuts
• Roasted sweet potatoes or roasted veggies
• Grain bowls
• Brussels sprout salads

It’s one of those versatile home recipes you can use with various salads instead of making a different dressing every time.

How to Store Homemade Maple Dijon Dressing

Store leftover dressing in a sealed airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to about one week.

The olive oil may thicken or solidify when chilled. This is completely normal. Let the dressing sit at room temperature for about 10–15 minutes, then give it a good shake before serving.

Because this dressing contains fresh garlic, I recommend keeping it refrigerated rather than storing it at room temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is maple Dijon vinaigrette sweet?

It has a subtle sweetness from the maple syrup, but it shouldn’t taste overly sweet. The apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard balance the maple syrup, creating a sweet and tangy dressing.

Can I make maple Dijon vinaigrette ahead of time?

Yes. In fact, this is a great dressing to make ahead and keep in the refrigerator. Store it in a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid so you can simply shake and serve.

What salads go well with maple Dijon dressing?

This dressing is especially good with kale, spinach, mixed greens, apples, pears, roasted squash, Brussels sprouts, pecans, walnuts, and other ingredients commonly used in fall and winter salad recipes.

Expert Tips

• Use pure maple syrup. It provides a richer, more natural maple flavor than pancake syrup.
• Use good-quality olive oil. With so few ingredients, the flavor of your olive oil will come through.
• Shake it well. A mason jar makes it incredibly easy to emulsify the dressing without extra equipment.
• Adjust to taste. Add a touch more maple syrup if you prefer a sweeter dressing or additional apple cider vinegar for more tang.
• Let refrigerated dressing warm slightly. Olive oil naturally thickens in the refrigerator, so let the dressing sit at room temperature briefly before shaking and serving.

This easy maple Dijon vinaigrette is a simple way to add tons of flavor to fresh greens, hearty kale salads, roasted vegetables, and seasonal fall dishes. With just a handful of ingredients and about five minutes of prep, it’s a homemade staple you’ll want to make again and again.

More Reader Favorite Dressings & Sauce Recipes

If you enjoy this Maple Dijon Vinaigrette, try some of these other : Dressings & Sauces Recipes:

Honey Basil Vinaigrette
Creamy Shallot Vinaigrette
Homemade BBQ Sauce

If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @wholisticmandy on Instagram. Your reviews help support this blog and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love.