Easy Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette Recipe

Mustard vinaigrette is versatile and so easy to make; all you need is 5 simple ingredients that are likely pantry staples you already have on hand. This easy Dijon vinaigrette has been my go-to salad dressing for over 20 years. It’s one of my personal favorites. 

My kids (both picky eaters) have loved this dressing for as long as I can remember. When they were little, I served it in a dipping dish so they could dip their veggies. I also served it alongside raw veggies and sliced apples. It was this salad dressing that helped my kids learn to like salad. 

Favorite uses for easy mustard vinaigrette

In addition to tasting great on green salads, there are lots of other ways to use this versatile vinaigrette. It’s used as a salad dressing for my everyday salad and for crisp cauliflower salad.

• A dip for cooked or fresh veggies. I love to toss leftover green beans with it and add them to a salad or serve them as a simple side.
• As a marinade for roast chicken legs and thighs. 
• Drizzle the vinaigrette over your favorite roasted veggies. 
• Toss it with grains like farro or quinoa or use it to dress your favorite grain bowl. 
• Use it as a dressing for a pasta salad or cabbage salad. 

Ingredients and variations

• Red wine vinegar – I use whatever brand of red wine vinegar I find at the grocery store, like Colavita or Pompeiian. You can experiment with using a good quality Champagne vinegar (my favorite is O brand), balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or fresh lemon juice if you want to experiment with the acidity and flavor of the dressing. 
• Dijon mustard – Grey Poupon has always been my go-to Dijon mustard. But you can certainly use your favorite and even use whole grain mustard if you prefer. 
• Canola oil or other neutral vegetable oil – There’s no reason you can’t make this basic vinaigrette using extra-virgin olive oil if you prefer. It will give the dressing some additional depth of flavor. 
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. 
• If you want more variation, add some chopped garlic clove or shallots or your favorite chopped fresh herbs. The combinations are endless. 

Steps to make Dijon vinaigrette

Making homemade vinaigrette is a fun activity for kids

Making homemade salad dressings is a great opportunity for kids to help in the kitchen, too. They can measure the mustard or vinegar or pour the oil into the bowl while you do the whisking or vice versa.

The activity also provides an opportunity to teach kids about emulsifiers. The mustard acts as an emulsifier and helps the oil and vinegar mix together.

Want to know more? Experiment by trying to whisk oil and vinegar together (or shake oil and vinegar in an airtight container) to show kids that the ingredients don’t combine. Then show them what happens when you include mustard.