This small batch poppy seed dressing takes minutes to make and tastes incredible! It's sweet and tangy and is the perfect amount for a few salads. Healthy, homemade, and incredibly delicious!

Homemade poppyseed dressing is so easy to make. If you've never made your own salad dressing before, you really should give it a try. Making salad dressings from scratch is easy and nothing beats the taste of homemade.
Why This Recipe Works
- Tastes great!: This homemade poppy seed dressing tastes so much better than any bottled brand. It has the perfect balance of tart and sweet.
- Takes minutes to make: It's easy to make and can be mixed together in just 5 minutes!
- The perfect amount: This small batch recipe yields the perfect amount of salad dressing for just a couple of salads.
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Ingredients
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Vinegar: I use white wine vinegar but feel free to use apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, or a fruity vinegar like raspberry instead.
- Sugar: Use granulated sugar to give this dressing its sweet flavor. You can use honey, Swerve sweetener, or Splenda instead.
- Garlic: Use 1 freshly grated clove of garlic or you can use a pinch of garlic powder instead.
- Poppy seeds: These can be found in the spice aisle of your grocery store.
- Mustard: I recommend using dijon or stone-ground mustard for best flavor.
- Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil in this poppy seed dressing recipe as well as in every other recipe on One Dish Kitchen that calls for olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed form of olive oil. It is an unrefined oil and the highest-quality olive oil you can buy. Because of the way extra virgin olive oil is made, it retains more true olive taste. It also contains more of the vitamins and minerals found in olives. It's my favorite type of olive oil to use but you may use a lighter olive oil instead.
How To Make This Recipe
- Whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Taste and add additional sugar, if needed.
- Transfer to a jar and keep refrigerated until you are ready to use it.
Expert Tips
- This poppy seed dressing will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. I suggest storing it in a glass jar with a lid so you can shake it up before using.
- Feel free to adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. Add a bit more sugar if you like a sweeter dressing or add a bit more vinegar if you'd like more tang.
- Poppy seed dressing also makes a delicious marinade for chicken.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If you want a creamier dressing, add a little mayo or greek yogurt. You don't need much, and it's wonderful!
Poppyseed dressing is heavenly on spinach salads and other kinds of salads. You could also brush this dressing on fish fillets or use it to marinate chicken breasts.
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If you’ve tried this easy poppy seed dressing recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Small Batch Poppy Seed Dressing
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Equipment
- Mixing bowl or a jar
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar , or agave
- 1 garlic clove
- ½ teaspoon poppy seeds
- ¼ teaspoon dijon mustard , or stone ground mustard
- ¼ cup olive oil
Instructions
- Whisk the vinegar and the sugar or agave in a small bowl until the sugar is mostly dissolved.
- Either use a garlic press or hold garlic clove at the broader end and run it against a microplane's "teeth". Add to bowl.
- Add the poppy seeds, mustard, and oil and whisk to combine.
- Transfer to covered container and store in the refrigerator. The dressing will separate when it sits; shake to combine before using.
Notes
- This poppy seed dressing will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. I suggest storing it in a glass jar with a lid so you can shake it up before using.
- Feel free to adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. Add a bit more sugar if you like a sweeter dressing or add a bit more vinegar if you'd like more tang.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Susan L Tweeton says
I just made the poppyseed dressing last night. It was flavorful, quick to assemble and made enough for a few salads. But it was still a small enough amount for one or two to enjoy. I made a couple of changes -- I used honey instead of sugar, garlic powder instead of fresh, and added a pinch of onion powder. I was very pleased with the end results.
Joanie Zisk says
I'm so happy you enjoyed the recipe. Thank you so much for your feedback.
Patti says
I just have to tell you how much you have saved my days with all your recipes. I cook all my meals everyday breakfast, lunch and dinner with your recipe suggestions from Cooking for One. Cooking meals for 6 to one
was a huge leap but with your help I accomplished that feat.
Joanie Zisk says
I'm so happy you are finding the recipes helpful. Thank you.
michelle says
homemade so much better!
less pricey, less ingredients I cannot pronounce & even the fancy organic ones mostly have palm oil (environmentally destructive!) in them. Thank you! Love the goat cheese one too.
Joanie Zisk says
I'm so happy you enjoy the dressing recipes. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know.
Have a wonderful week!
Joanie