A Poppyseed Dressing Recipe that’s thick, sweet, and brightened with a touch of lemon zest. My all-time favorite creamy salad dressing!

Bowl of peach and blueberry salad drizzled with this poppyseed dressing recipe.
chelsea

Author’s Notes

Years in the Making, Worth Every Bite!

I’m a total salad dressing lover, so poppyseed dressing was one I knew I had to get just right. After lots of little tweaks and plenty of taste tests, I finally settled on my version of the perfect poppyseed dressing recipe. It is creamy, sweet, rich, and full of flavor.

If you have ever tried Panera’s poppyseed dressing, this one tastes pretty similar and just as delicious!

This recipe has quickly become one of the dressings I make most often at home (along with this lemon vinaigrette), and I can’t wait to hear what you think of it!

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All the ingredients in this recipe prepped out for easy assembly including the lemon, milk, cream, seasonings, cream, vinegar, poppyseeds, and sugar.

Ingredients In Poppyseed Dressing Recipe

IngredientNotes & Options
Mayo & Milk & CreamFor the regular version use full-fat mayo, whole milk, & heavy cream. For the lighter version use light mayo & 1% milk. Half and half can replace both milk & cream. (Use leftover half & half in this quiche!)
SugarAdds sweetness. Adjust to taste with 1–2 extra tablespoons if you’d like it sweeter.
Apple Cider VinegarBalances the sweetness with tang.
Salt & PepperJust a pinch of each to round out the flavor.
Lemon Zest & PoppyseedsLemon zest brightens the dressing & poppyseeds add crunch and signature look.

Quick Tip

When zesting the lemon, avoid the white pith of the lemon — this is very bitter. Using a microplane (like this one) zest only the very outside yellow part of the lemon for this poppyseed dressing recipe. 

Ingredients for poppyseed dressing recipe in a blender, then poured into a mason jar with poppyseeds stirred in.

Featured Comment

“I’m a huge poppyseed dressing fan and this was the best I’d ever had! Thanks!”

– Cody
1 More Review

Storage

This poppyseed dressing recipe will stay fresh for up to a week in the fridge when stored in an airtight container, like a glass jar. Stir well before serving.

More Homemade Dressings To Love:

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5 from 1 vote

Poppyseed Salad Dressing Recipe

By Chelsea Lords
This favorite creamy Poppyseed Dressing Recipe is thick, sweet, and brightened with lemon zest and crunchy poppyseeds; perfect for any salad!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

Regular (Ultra Thick, Creamy, and Rich) Poppyseed Dressing
  • 1/3 cup mayo Best Foods/Hellman’s recommended
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk see note 1
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
Poppyseed Dressing Recipe Healthy (Lighter Version)
  • 1/4 cup 1% milk
  • 1/3 cup light mayo
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds

Instructions 

  • Add all ingredients except the poppyseeds to a small blender or food processor. Add 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest and blend until smooth.
  • Taste and adjust to preference. For a sweeter dressing, add 1–2 more tablespoons sugar.
  • Stir in the poppy seeds.
  • Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: I like to use both whole milk and heavy cream. If you’d rather buy just one, half-and-half works great in place of both.
Storage: Dressing keeps well for up to 1 week in an airtight container in the fridge. Stir before serving.
Nutrition Info: Based on 2 tablespoons (regular version). The recipe makes about 1 cup total. The lite version has 42 calories per serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 67IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Favorite Recipes Using This Poppyseed Dressing Recipe

Poppyseed Dressing Recipe Tips

  • Chill First: Refrigerate 30 minutes for better flavor and thickness.
  • Sweetness Swap: Use honey or maple syrup instead of sugar if desired.
  • Adjust Thickness: Whisk in a splash of milk if it thickens too much in the fridge.
  • Make Ahead: The flavor gets even better if made a day early.
  • Balance Flavors: Too tangy? Add sugar. Too sweet? Add vinegar.

Meet Chelsea

Hello, and welcome to Chelsea’s Messy Apron! I’m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. I’m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping by—I hope you find something delicious to make!

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5 from 1 vote

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1 Comment

  1. Cody says:

    5 stars
    I’m a huge poppyseed dressing fan and this was the best I’d ever had! Thanks!

    Reply