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This keto balsamic vinaigrette is tangy, lightly sweet, and full of bold balsamic flavor. It comes together quickly and gives salads, proteins, and vegetables an easy homemade finish.
This sugar-free balsamic vinaigrette is easy to use beyond a basic green salad. Drizzle it over a chicken Cobb salad, serve it with air fryer chicken breasts, or use it to add a sweet and tangy finish to vegetables and seafood.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: Add everything to a jar or dressing shaker and shake until combined.
- Sweet and tangy: It has enough sweetness to balance the bold balsamic flavor.
- Versatile: Use it as a salad dressing, marinade, or finishing drizzle.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you need to make this keto balsamic vinaigrette. See the recipe card below for exact amounts.
- Balsamic vinegar: Gives the dressing its signature tangy, slightly sweet flavor.
- Olive oil: Forms the base of the vinaigrette and balances the acidity of the vinegar.
- Sugar-free honey substitute: Adds sweetness and the syrupy consistency you’d normally get from honey. Use your favorite store-bought brand.
- Dijon mustard: Adds flavor and helps the oil and vinegar blend together.
- Garlic: Use fresh garlic for a stronger garlic flavor or garlic powder for a smoother dressing.
- Salt and black pepper: Bring the flavors together.
How to Make Keto Balsamic Vinaigrette
Add everything to a jar
Add all of the dressing ingredients to a jar or salad dressing shaker with a tight-fitting lid.
Shake until blended
Seal the container and shake well. The vinaigrette should look evenly blended and slightly thickened.
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Taste and adjust
Taste the dressing before serving. Add a little more salt, pepper, or sugar-free honey substitute if you want to adjust the balance of tangy and sweet flavors.
Ways to Use Balsamic Vinaigrette
This dressing works with salads, proteins, and vegetables, so there are plenty of ways to use a batch.
- Salads: Use it in place of your usual dressing on a chicken Cobb salad or a simple green salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, and cheese.
- Chicken: Use it as a marinade or drizzle it over sliced air fryer chicken breasts.
- Seafood: Spoon a little over air fryer salmon, pan seared tilapia, or pan seared scallops just before serving.
- Vegetables: Try it with roasted vegetables. The sweet and tangy flavor is especially good with roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, which already uses a honey-balsamic finish.
For more homemade options, browse my sauces, dressings, and dips.
Recipe Tips
- Adjust the sweetness: Sugar-free honey substitutes vary by brand, so taste the vinaigrette after mixing and add more if needed.
- Shake before serving: The oil and vinegar naturally separate as the dressing sits. Give the container a good shake before each use.
- Let chilled dressing sit briefly: Olive oil can become cloudy or firm in the refrigerator. Let the vinaigrette sit at room temperature for a few minutes, then shake it again.
- Choose your garlic: Fresh garlic gives the dressing a more pronounced garlic flavor, while garlic powder keeps the texture smoother.
Storage
- Store the balsamic vinaigrette in a covered jar or dressing container in the refrigerator.
- Shake well before serving since the oil and vinegar will separate as the dressing sits.
- If the olive oil firms up when chilled, let the dressing sit at room temperature briefly before shaking.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be. Some balsamic vinaigrettes include honey, sugar, maple syrup, or other added sweeteners. This recipe uses a sugar-free honey substitute instead.
Balsamic vinegar naturally contains some sugar from grapes, and some vinaigrette recipes also include honey, maple syrup, or added sugar. This recipe uses a sugar-free honey substitute, so there is no added sugar from the sweetener.
Yes. Use it as a simple marinade for chicken or other proteins to add balsamic, garlic, and Dijon flavor before cooking.
Keto Balsamic Vinaigrette
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Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- ⅓ cup Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp Sugar-Free Honey Substitute
- 1 ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt, use DRDAVINAHS to save
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 clove Garlic, minced, or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a salad dressing shaker or jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- Shake until the vinaigrette is well combined and slightly thickened.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to use. Shake again before serving.
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Recipe Notes
- Sugar-free honey: Brands vary slightly in sweetness, so adjust to taste after mixing.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic gives the dressing a stronger garlic flavor. Use garlic powder for a smoother dressing.
- After refrigerating: The olive oil may firm up in the refrigerator. Let the dressing sit at room temperature briefly, then shake well before serving.
- Storage: Keep the vinaigrette refrigerated in a covered container.
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used.
