A super-easy, lower-sugar American-style French dressing for salads, sweetened with honey and brightened with fresh onion. Perfect for taco salads or any mixed greens.
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When I was in college I stayed with a family who rented rooms to students. We shared meals sometimes, and I learned a few lasting kitchen tips and favorite dishes while there. One of the house-mom’s lunch salads stuck with me — a simple mix of lettuce, crushed chips, shredded cheese, tomatoes, and olives, topped with a can of Ranch Style Beans. The real star, though, was the tomato-based “French” dressing she blended herself.
At the time I had only known bottled dressings, so seeing someone make one from scratch felt novel. I wrote the recipe down and now make a healthier version that keeps the bright, tangy, slightly sweet profile but cuts way back on added sugar.
Healthier American French Dressing
Traditional American-style French dressings often contain a lot of sugar and ketchup. To make a cleaner, lower-sugar version, I replaced ketchup with tomato paste, used a modest amount of honey, and added fresh garlic and Dijon mustard for depth. The chopped onion is essential — it brightens the flavor and helps thicken the dressing naturally when blended with olive oil.
This dressing is ridiculously easy: put the ingredients into a blender, blend until smooth, and you’re done. It comes together in about five minutes and keeps well in the refrigerator.
With tomatoes and onion already in the dressing, fresh garden lettuce and a few extra additions — like olives, thinly sliced sweet onion, or a sliced hard-boiled egg — make a simple, satisfying salad. It’s also a terrific homemade option for taco salads in place of store-bought Catalina or French dressings.
Healthier American French Dressing for Salads
A super-easy, lower-sugar American-style French dressing recipe for salads that is sweetened with honey and includes fresh onions for a brighter flavor.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste*
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon water, plus more if needed to reach desired consistency
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to the jar of a blender.
- Blend until smooth. Add more water, a teaspoon at a time, if needed to reach the desired consistency.
- Pour into a glass jar and refrigerate. Keep in the refrigerator up to 2 months.
Notes
*Tip: if using a 6 oz. can of tomato paste, freeze any remainder to use later.
Nutrition (per 2 tablespoons)
Calories: 106.6 kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.2 g | Protein: 0.2 g | Fat: 10.2 g | Sugar: 3.7 g | Sodium: 100.7 mg
Other easy salad dressings you may like:
Easy Classic Caesar Salad Dressing recipe
4 Vinaigrette Salad Dressings from 1 Basic Recipe
Best Homemade Ranch Dressing
Note: this French dressing recipe was originally published in 2011 and has been updated with larger photos, improved formatting, and a printable recipe. Enjoy!