Easy Apple Cider Vinaigrette

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This healthy salad dressing it is perfect for the fall season and beyond. This easy apple cider vinaigrette recipe is the homemade dressing you’ll want to drizzle over every fall salad, hearty side dish, or winter salad. Learn how to make it, how to serve it, and why it’s a must-have for your autumn and winter cooking.

Apple Cider Vinaigrette

As a nutrition consultant and chef, I’m love making healthy dressings that make salads exciting and flavorful. For a long time, I did not use salad dressing, only olive oil and lemon juice, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that a great salad dressing can transform a humble bowl of greens into something crave-worthy. That’s exactly what this apple cider vinaigrette does. Check out my other 7 essential vinaigrette recipes.

I love making apple cider dressings this time of the year when apples are at their peak, and fall cooking fills my kitchen with cozy aromas. This vinaigrette is a fall staple in my house. I pour it over everything from roasted veggie bowls and meat marinades to Thanksgiving salads. It captures the tangy sweetness of apple cider with a hint of garlic and Dijon mustard, making it both comforting and refreshing.

This is my go-to healthy salad dressing for fall and winter. It’s the kind of recipe that fits effortlessly into your everyday cooking, easy to shake together, endlessly versatile, and naturally wholesome.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy and quick: It comes together in just a few minutes with ingredients that are easy to find and you probably already have.
• Perfect for the fall season: The subtle sweetness of apple cider and the tang of apple cider vinegar bring out the best in autumn foods.
• Healthy and homemade: No preservatives, no refined sugar, just clean ingredients that nourish your body.
• Versatile: Drizzle it over fall salads, roasted vegetables, or even as a marinade for chicken or fish.
• Balanced flavor: The tang, sweetness, and mild spice blend into a dressing that feels both comforting and bright.

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Ingredient Substitutions

• Oil: If you don’t have avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil or walnut oil, they work well and add their own character.
• Sweetness: Use honey or maple syrup, perfect for Thanksgiving or winter salads.
• Garlic-free version: If you’re sensitive to raw garlic, just skip it.
• Mustard: If Dijon feels too sharp, whole-grain mustard gives a more rustic flavor.

Chef Angie’s Tips

• Use good vinegar: Since apple cider vinegar is the star, use raw, unfiltered vinegar with the “mother”, it’s more flavorful and beneficial.
• Shake before each use: Natural dressings can separate. A quick shake revives the texture perfectly.
• Warm it slightly in winter: If you’re serving it over a winter salad with roasted veggies, warm it gently before drizzling, it brings out the aroma and flavor.
• Make extra: Double the batch. You’ll want it for everything: salads, grain bowls, roasted root veggies, and even grilled meats.

Ways To Serve

• Toss it with a fall salad of roasted Brussels sprouts, arugula, apples, and pomegranate seeds salad.
• Use it as a Thanksgiving salad dressing with kale, pecans, and roasted sweet potatoes.
• Drizzle over healthy side dishes like roasted carrots or beets.
• Use it as a marinade for chicken, turkey, or even tofu.
• Pour it over a grain bowl with quinoa, lentils, and roasted squash, the ultimate autumn recipe.

Storage

Store the vinaigrette in a glass jar with a tight lid in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Since it’s made with avocado oil, it may thicken slightly when chilled. Just bring it to room temperature or give it a quick shake before serving.

Equipment

• Small mixing bowl or glass jar with lid
• Whisk or fork
• Garlic press or fine grater (optional but helpful)
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups

That’s it, simple, clean, and efficient, just how I like my kitchen setup for fall cooking.

FAQ

Can I make this ahead of time?

Absolutely. It actually gets better after a day or two as the flavors meld together.

Can I add herbs?

Fresh thyme or rosemary makes a lovely addition, perfect for a Thanksgiving or Christmas version.

Is this dressing vegan?

Yes, it’s naturally vegan unless you add honey.

Now that you know how easy and delicious homemade apple cider vinaigrette can be, it’s time to make a batch! Drizzle it over your next fall salad, share it with friends at your Thanksgiving table, or gift a jar to someone who loves healthy food.

If you make it, tag me or share your version. I’d love to see how you use it in your fall recipes. Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later and keep it handy for all your autumn and winter cooking inspiration.

Because once you’ve made this dressing, store-bought versions just won’t cut it again.

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