Summer has officially arrived, and you know what that means. Salad season is in full swing!
If the warmer weather has you craving lighter fare, you aren’t alone. But you don’t have to settle for boring greens or tired, tasteless dressing. To transform your summer salads from bland to grand, experiment with various proteins and toppings (think grilled chicken, tofu, ground beef, cheese, nuts and dried fruits) and finish it off with of these all-natural (and incredibly flavorful) dressings. Once again, we have you—and your arugula, iceberg, romaine, radicchio or spinach—completely covered!
Top 10 Healthy Salad Dressing Picks
Newman’s Own Lemon Basil Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
Made with extra virgin olive oil and canola oil, this must-try dressing and marinade “gives any salad the crisp and bright taste of lemon and sweet basil!” It contains no artificial flavors or preservatives, and all of the profits are donated to charity. Talk about a win-win!
Primal Kitchen Caesar Dressing & Marinade
Searching for a Caesar salad dressing that is paleo- and primal-friendly? Look no further! This canola-, dairy-, gluten-, grain-, soy- and sugar-free salad companion is made with “real-food ingredients,” like avocado oil, so you won’t have to sacrifice nutrition for fantastic flavor.
Annie’s Organic French Dressing
Fans of French dressing, prepare to fall in love with this tangy vegan variety! Made from expeller-pressed oil, it’s 100% organic and free of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, as well as GMOs.
Organicville Ranch Salad Dressing
Many folks find it hard to resist rich and creamy ranch salad dressing. If you’re among them, you have to try this certified organic and vegan one. In addition to being GMO-, gluten- and sugar-free, it’s Whole 30 approved and tastes great!
Appalachian Naturals Gluten Free Ginger Miso Salad Dressing
This game-changing salad dressing contains “a perfect balance of ginger, sesame and aged sweet white miso.” It’s free of gluten and GMOs, and when you’re not using it to dress up your salad greens, it makes a delicious addition to beef and tuna steaks, as well as spicy Asian noodles.
Foods Alive Superfood Creamy Italian Dressing
Made with “over 40% omega-rich artisan fresh cold-pressed flax oil and chia seed oil,” this savory, small-batch salad dressing is equal parts nutritious and delicious. It’s the perfect accompaniment to any salad, and can also add extra oomph to veggies, pasta, rice, wraps and more!
Briannas Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
Tired of the same old ordinary salad dressing? If you nodded your head, it’s time to check out this “bright and creamy mix of tart lime and refreshing cilantro that’s equally great as a dressing, dip or sauce.” Trust us, your tastebuds will thank you!
Stonewall Kitchen All Natural Maple Balsamic Dressing
This dressing, which doubles as a marinade, combines two tasty ingredients—sweet, rich maple syrup from Maine and aged balsamic vinegar from Modena Italy—to take your standard salad to the next level. It’s sure to become a pantry staple this summer and beyond!
Ocean’s Halo Maui Onion Ranch Dressing
“Enjoy the exotic taste of Hawaii” with this sweet and savory organic vegan dressing. Ideal for salad greens and other veggies, it’s gluten- and soy-free and contains just one gram of sugar per serving!
Dress It Up Dressing Sesame Tahini
The manufacturers of this delectable dressing “believe salad dressing should be as healthy and nutritious as the veggies it adorns.” Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the gluten-, high fructose corn syrup- and preservative-free product was a recipient of the Good Food Award.
