This Honey Dijon Dressing is creamy, sweet, tangy & SO easy to make! Just a few simple ingredients come together for the most delicious homemade salad dressing.
author’s note
I Used To Buy The Whole Kit Just For This Dressing!
I’ll be the first to admit, I LOVE a good Costco salad kit. They’re convenient, loaded with toppings & make throwing together a salad so easy. I even shared my copycat sweet kale salad a few years ago, and I still make it all the time!
But their kale pecan cranberry chopped salad kit is actually my favorite, and it’s all because of the honey Dijon dressing. I used to buy the whole kit just for that little packet of dressing, haha!
So, of course, I had to recreate it! After a few rounds of testing, I landed on this version, and I LOVE how it turned out. It’s sweet, tangy, perfectly creamy & takes just a few minutes to make.
I’m also sharing the kale cranberry salad that inspired it, but this dressing is too good to save for one salad! It’s amazing on grain bowls or even as a dip for fresh veggies.
Honey Dijon Dressing Ingredients
| Ingredient | Let’s Chat About It |
|---|---|
| Dijon mustard | Use a good-quality Dijon like Grey Poupon. I wouldn’t swap in yellow mustard here. |
| Honey | If it’s too thick to mix easily, warm it slightly before adding. Adjust to your preferred sweetness. |
| Apple cider vinegar | My favorite vinegar in this honey dijon dressing! I love Bragg’s best. |
| Olive oil & mayo | Use a good, extra-virgin olive oil & a good-quality whole egg mayo like Best Foods or Hellmann’s. |
| Salt & pepper | Start with the recipe amounts, then taste & adjust. Freshly cracked pepper is best! |
My favorite way to use this Dressing
I originally made this honey dijon dressing for a kale cranberry salad, and it’s still one of my favorite combinations! Here’s what goes into the salad:
- Kale: Remove the thick stems, roll the leaves tightly like a cigar & slice very thinly into ribbons.
- Broccoli slaw: Adds a great crunch without any extra chopping!
- Dried cranberries: The sweet-tart flavor is SO good with the dressing.
- Maple pecans: I love Sahale Maple Pecans, but candied pecans or candied walnuts work too!
Quick Tip
My favorite trick: Massage a tablespoon of the honey dijon dressing into the chopped kale for about 15 seconds. Let it sit for 10 minutes before adding the remaining salad ingredients. It softens the kale & makes the whole salad taste so much better!
Chelsea’s Tips
More ways to use Honey Dijon Dressing
- Green salads: Drizzle over mixed greens, spinach, or arugula with apples, dried cranberries & nuts.
- Chicken salads: Pair it with grilled chicken, baked chicken thighs, or rotisserie chicken.
- Grain bowls: Add it to bowls with quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, chicken & greens.
- Sandwiches & wraps: Use it in place of plain mayo for extra flavor.
- Roasted vegetables: Drizzle a little over roasted carrots or Brussels sprouts.
Storage
Store honey Dijon dressing in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. Shake well before using. For the kale cranberry salad, store dressing separately & add pecans just before serving.
More Favorite Homemade Dressings
Dressings
Green Goddess Dressing Recipe
Dressings
Lemon Vinaigrette
Salad Dressings
Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
Salad Dressings
Greek Salad Dressing Recipe
Honey Dijon Dressing
Video
Equipment
- Wide-mouth Mason Jar or small mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard see note 1
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons mayo
- Salt and pepper
- 4 cups finely chopped kale tightly packed in measuring cups
- 1 (16-ounce) package broccoli slaw
- 1/3 cup dried unsweetened cranberries
- 1 (4-ounce) package maple pecan mix coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar or small bowl. Season with salt & pepper (I add 1/4 tsp salt & 1/8 tsp pepper). Seal the jar & shake vigorously, or whisk until smooth & emulsified. Make sure the honey is fully incorporated. Taste & adjust seasonings as needed. Refrigerate until ready to use, shaking or whisking again before using.
Optional Salad
- Remove & discard the thick stems. Stack the leaves, roll tightly like a cigar & slice into very thin ribbons. Measure 4 tightly packed cups. Wash well & dry thoroughly (I use a salad spinner). Wet kale will water down the dressing!
- Add chopped kale to a very large salad bowl with 1 tbsp dressing. Massage firmly with both hands for about 15 seconds to soften the leaves. Let sit for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, coarsely chop the pecan mix. Add broccoli slaw, cranberries & pecans to the kale. Toss together, adding more dressing gradually until coated to your preference.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
