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    Home » Recipes » Sauces & Dressings

    Published: Jul 7, 2022 · Modified: Feb 2, 2023 by Rachel

    Creamy Poppy Seed Salad Dressing

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
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    Poppy Seed Salad Dressing is a sweet and tangy delight for your spring and summer salads. Zippy notes of cider vinegar and sweet hints of onion create a light creamy base punctuated by a poppy seed crunch. Quick and easy to make, its perfect to brighten up fresh greens and seasonal fruit.

    Bottle of creamy poppy seed salad dressing pouring over a salad with strawberry, blueberry, and nuts.

    Add pizzazz to your summer salads with a creamy homemade poppy seed dressing! It packs a tasty punch with tangy notes of cider vinegar as sweet hints of onion tango across your tongue. It’s a brilliant juxtaposition of texture and flavor with a bright and light creamy base culminated by a poppy seed crunch.

    This recipe is similar to Brianna’s Rich Poppyseed dressing, but with less sugar. In my humble opinion, homemade salad dressing is simply unmatched. It’s free of any unwanted extras. And it’s simple to whip up fresh versions of your favorites like Poppyseed Dressing, Balsamic Vinaigrette and Greek Vinaigrette with everyday kitchen staples.

    Drizzle this yumminess over a fresh Strawberry Poppyseed Salad, Strawberry Spinach Salad, or get creative with your favorite seasonal ingredients. Mix this into a traditional fruit salad to add a bit of zip. No matter how you decide to serve it, it’s sure to be a hit!

    What You Will Need

    It’s as easy as whisking the ingredients together and letting it sit for a few. Here is an overview of what you will need and what I use to make the salad dressing.

    Poppy seed salad dressing ingredients laid on a table with text labels.

    Poppy Seed Dressing Ingredients:

    • Apple Cider Vinegar
    • Poppy Seeds
    • Granulated Sugar
    • Onion Powder
    • Ground Mustard
    • Milk (any percentage or dairy alternative)
    • Salt & Pepper

    This is a creamy but light and tangy dressing. If you would like more of a vinaigrette, substitute the mayo for a light tasting oil or light olive oil, and exclude the milk.

    Homemade poppy seed salad dressing recipe pouring from a spoon into a mason jar to show thickness.

    Poppyseed Dressing is fairly sweet, so a little can go a long way. I like to toss a bit in the salad itself and then serve the remainder on the side so that your family or guests may add more as they wish. Give the dressing a vigorous stir/shake before serving.

    Serving and Storage Suggestions

    Serve: The beauty of homemade poppyseed dressing is you can adjust it a little for lots of things. Serve over a salad and pair with Chicken salad on a Croissant, paninis, Chicken Meatball Soup, or Chicken and Wild Rice Soup for a healthy lunch or yummy dinner. You can also use it as a marinade for grilled chicken – I leave out the milk when I do this.

    Storage: The salad dressing will be good in a sealed container for up to 1 week, or 3 weeks if you skip the milk ingredient. Refrigerate after opening and shake well before serving. I like to store it in a mason jar with a lid.

    Make Ahead Tips: If you want to get a head start on your prep for this recipe, make some extra chicken the night before and pack up your fruits together. That way you can grab everything you need from the fridge and whip up this salad!

    Homemade Poppyseed salad dressing recipe being poured over a mix of strawberries, blueberries, pecans, and lettuce greens.

    DELECTABLE SALAD DRESSINGS AND MARINADES

    If you like making easy salad dressings and marinades, try one of my other delicious recipes:

    • Homemade White Balsamic Vinaigrette
    • How To Infuse Olive Oil
    • Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing
    • Greek Salad Dressing and Marinade
    • Teriyaki Marinade

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How long does homemade poppy seed dressing keep in the refrigerator?

    The dressing lasts about 1 week, depending on the age of the milk you used. If you do not use milk, it can last up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

    Is there dairy in poppy seed dressing?

    There is milk in this mix for creaminess. However, you can skip the milk and the dressing will be dairy free.

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    More Salad and Dressing Ideas

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    Mediterannean Salmon Salad
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    Chopped Greek Salad
    Strawberry spinach salad with feta crumbles and pecans in a salad bowl.
    Strawberry Walnut Salad
    Cobb salad overhead with avocado, eggs, tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles, bacon, and chicken in a bowl.
    Cobb Salad

    PS. If you make this recipe, leave a COMMENT AND A STAR RATING in the comments section at the bottom and be sure to take a photo and tag it #cravingcreative on Instagram! I appreciate you for taking the time to read about me and my family recipes. 

    Homemade poppy seed salad dressing recipe pouring from a spoon into a mason jar to show thickness.

    Poppy Seed Dressing

    This quick and easy to make Poppy Seed Salad Dressing is a sweet and tangy delight with sweet hints of onion to create a light and creamy base perfect to brighten up fresh greens and seasonal fruit.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: dinner, dressing, lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 141kcal
    Author: Rachel
    Cost: $17

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup Mayonnaise I use regular, but you could use light if you prefer.
    • 1 tablespoon Milk
    • 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
    • 4 tablespoon Granulated Sugar
    • 1 tablespoon Poppyseeds
    • ½ teaspoon Ground Mustard
    • ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt

    Instructions

    • Whisk together salad dressing ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to use.
    • The dressing blends and gets sweeter over time but can be used immediately.
    • Drizzle dressing as desired just before serving or serve on the side and allow guests to add their own.

    Notes

    Serve: The beauty of homemade poppyseed dressing is you can adjust it a little for lots of things. Serve over a salad and pair with Chicken salad on a Croissant, panninis, Chicken Meatball Soup, or Chicken and Wild Rice Soup for a healthy lunch or yummy dinner. You can also use it as a marinade for grilled chicken – I leave out the milk when I do this.
    Storage: The salad dressing will be good in a sealed container for up to 1 week, or 3 weeks if you skip the milk ingredient. Refrigerate after opening and shake well before serving. I like to store it in a mason jar with a lid.
    Make Ahead Tips: If you want to get a head start on your prep for this recipe, make some extra chicken the night before and pack up your fruits together. That way you can grab everything you need from the fridge and whip up this salad!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoon | Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 15.6g | Fat: 19.2g | Saturated Fat: 2.1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 327mg | Potassium: 414mg | Fiber: 4.6g | Sugar: 15.2g | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @CravingCreative or tag #CravingSomeCreativity!
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