By Becky Hardin
Updated Feb 17, 2025
Summer is my favorite season because I get to enjoy my salads with this flavorful poppy seed dressing. It is light, tangy, sweet, and super easy to make. Homemade poppy seed vinaigrette goes well with all kinds of salads!
5-Star Review
So good! Super easy and I love how light it is! Going to be perfect for the ham and cheese sliders.
Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe
I love making a variety of summer salads to enjoy fresh vegetables and fruits. And I love making my own dressings and sauces because nothing beats the fresh flavors!
This homemade poppy seed dressing pairs perfectly with my strawberry poppyseed salad . It is so light, easy to make, and comes together so easily! Just use a large mason jar, add everything in there, and give it a nice shake.
I know you’ll absolutely love this easy and quick dressing that is ready with minimal prep!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1¼ cups granulated sugar; ultrafine sugar can be used
- ▢ ¾ cup white vinegar
- ▢ 2 tablespoons orange juice
- ▢ 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
- ▢ 2 teaspoons dried mustard
- ▢ ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 1½ cups canola oil; vegetable oil can be used
- ▢ 2 teaspoons poppyseeds
- ▢ serve with Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Click for Recipe!
Instructions
- Combine sugar, vinegar, orange juice, onion flakes, dried mustard, black pepper, and salt in a blender or food processor. Mix or process 1 minute. 1¼ cups granulated sugar; ultrafine sugar can be used, ¾ cup white vinegar, 2 tablespoons orange juice, 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes, 2 teaspoons dried mustard, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- With the blender/food processor still mixing, slowly add the oil and continue mixing until oil is incorporated & emulsified, about 1-2 minutes. 1½ cups canola oil; vegetable oil can be used
- Add the poppyseeds and mix another 30 seconds. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 weeks. Serve with Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Click for Recipe ! 2 teaspoons poppyseeds
Becky’s Tips
- Makes about 2 1/4 cups dressing.
- If regular vinegar isn’t available, swap it with apple cider vinegar.
- If you don’t have canola oil swap it with olive oil, vegetable oil, or avocado oil.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Poppy Seed Dressing Step by Step
Blend everything except oil: Use a blender/food processor to mix the 1¼ cups granulated sugar (ultra-fine sugar can be used), ¾ cup white vinegar, 2 tablespoons orange juice, 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes, 2 teaspoons dried mustard, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. Mix or process for 1 minute.
Slowly add oil: Gradually add the 1½ cups canola oil while mixing, and continue processing another couple of minutes.
Add poppy seeds & chill: Finally add the 2 teaspoons poppy seeds and mix another 30 seconds. =Store your dressing in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it on your fresh salad.
How to Store
Store this homemade poppy seed dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 2 weeks.
Serving Suggestions
I love the fact that poppy seed vinaigrette dressing blends with almost every fruit and vegetable. It tastes especially good with my Spinach Berry Salad !
more homemade dressingrecipes
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Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups granulated sugar; ultrafine sugar can be used
- ¾ cup white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
- 2 teaspoons dried mustard
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1½ cups canola oil; vegetable oil can be used
- 2 teaspoons poppyseeds
- serve with Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Click for Recipe!
Instructions
- Combine sugar, vinegar, orange juice, onion flakes, dried mustard, black pepper, and salt in a blender or food processor. Mix or process 1 minute. 1¼ cups granulated sugar; ultrafine sugar can be used, ¾ cup white vinegar, 2 tablespoons orange juice, 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes, 2 teaspoons dried mustard, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- With the blender/food processor still mixing, slowly add the oil and continue mixing until oil is incorporated & emulsified, about 1-2 minutes. 1½ cups canola oil; vegetable oil can be used
- Add the poppyseeds and mix another 30 seconds. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 weeks. Serve with Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Click for Recipe ! 2 teaspoons poppyseeds
Notes
- Makes about 2 1/4 cups dressing.
- If regular vinegar isn’t available, swap it with apple cider vinegar.
- If you don’t have canola oil swap it with olive oil, vegetable oil, or avocado oil.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
