The best creamy Poppy Seed Dressing! Thick, creamy, sweet, and brightened with lemon zest and crunchy poppy seeds.

Overhead image of a salad with Poppy Seed Dressing on top

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Poppy Seed Dressing

As a self-declared salad dressing lover, poppy seed dressing was a recipe I had to get *just* right. And although it’s taken many tweaks and adjustments over the years to get it perfect, the work was worth it! This recipe is my idea of a perfect poppyseed dressing — creamy, rich, sweet, and nuanced in flavor.

It’s quickly become one of the most frequently made dressings at my home. And I can’t wait for you all to try it out!

Overhead image of all the ingredients for this dressing being added to a blender

Ingredients In Poppyseed Dressing

  • Mayonnaise: Use quality mayo for the best flavor. I love Hellman’s/Best Foods®.
  • Whole milk and heavy cream: A mix of both makes it creamy, but half and half works as a substitute.
  • Apple cider vinegar: Adds a nice tang to the dressing.
  • White sugar: A little sugar makes it sweet. We didn’t like the taste with honey.
  • Lemon zest: Gives a fresh flavor without making it overly lemony.
  • Salt and pepper: Needed for flavor, adding a pinch can elevate the dressing.
  • Poppy seeds: Found in the spice or baking aisle.

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 recipe. 

Overhead image of the Poppy Seed Dressing after being blended

Variations

Light Poppy Seed Dressing

If you’re looking for a more nutritious or lite poppy seed dressing, we have tested an alternative we thoroughly enjoy. It’s not nearly as thick, creamy, or indulgent tasting as the recipe we’re sharing today, but it’s still delicious!

Combine the following ingredients in a small blender:

  • 1/4 cup 1% low-fat milk
  • 1/3 cup reduced-fat mayo (Hellman’s/Best Foods® here as well)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Once blended, stir in 1 teaspoon of poppy seeds and enjoy this lighter poppy seed dressing recipe!

Image of the poppy seeds being added to the dressing

Recipes Using Poppy Seed Dressing

I love drizzling this dressing on as many recipes as we can! Here are a few ways to use it:

Overhead image of a spoonful of dressing

Storage

Poppy Seed Dressing Storage

The prepared dressing will stay fresh for up to a week stored in an airtight container (we like to store it in a glass jar) in the fridge. Give it a good stir before using!

More Dressing Recipes:

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5 from 1 vote

Poppyseed Dressing

By Chelsea Lords
This favorite creamy Poppy Seed Dressing is thick, sweet, and brightened with lemon zest and crunchy poppy seeds—perfect for any salad!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8

Equipment

Ingredients

Regular (Ultra Thick, Creamy, and Rich) Poppyseed Dressing
  • 1/3 cup mayo full-fat, 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
Lite Poppyseed Dressing
  • 1/4 cup 1% milk
  • 1/3 cup reduced-fat mayo Best Foods/Hellman’s recommended
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds

Instructions 

  • Combine all the ingredients, except the poppy seeds, in a small blender or food processor. Add 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest. Process until combined.
  • Taste and adjust any flavors to personal preference. (If you’d like a sweeter dressing, add an additional 1–2 tablespoons sugar.) Stir in the poppy seeds. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: I use a mix of whole milk and heavy cream for this dressing. If you’d prefer to purchase only 1 ingredient, half-and-half will work in place of both the milk and cream. (Half-and-half is half heavy cream and half milk.)
Nutrition Note: Nutrition information is for 2 tablespoons of dressing. The entire recipe makes 1 cup. The lite version contains 42 calories per serving.
Storage: Dressing will stay fresh for up to a week stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Give it a good stir before using!

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.

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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