Creamy Garlic Dressing is a savory, silky dressing made with roasted garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and a touch of maple syrup (or honey). This simple vegan-friendly dressing is perfect drizzled over salads and grain bowls, or served as a dip for raw vegetables and fries.
This is one of my favorite dressings — rich, mellow, and deeply garlicky without being harsh. Roasting the garlic transforms it into a soft, buttery ingredient with a slightly sweet, caramelized flavor that makes the dressing especially delicious.
Roasted garlic pairs beautifully with the bright acidity of red wine vinegar and the tangy kick of Dijon mustard. A little maple syrup balances the flavors with gentle sweetness, while olive oil creates a smooth, luscious texture. Use water to thin the dressing to your preferred consistency.
Creamy Garlic Dressing Ingredients
This dressing uses just a handful of ingredients that deliver big flavor. You’ll need:
- Garlic. Roasted until soft and golden for a mellow, buttery taste.
- Olive oil. The base of the dressing — a light, high-quality olive oil works best.
- Red wine vinegar. Adds bright acidity; white or white wine vinegar can be used instead.
- Dijon mustard. Provides a subtle tang and helps emulsify the dressing.
- Maple syrup or honey. A small amount to round out the flavors with gentle sweetness.
- Salt + pepper. To taste.
- Water. To thin the dressing as needed.
How to Make Creamy Garlic Dressing
Follow these easy steps to make this dressing at home. It comes together quickly once the garlic is roasted.
- Roast the garlic. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Trim the top off each garlic head to expose the cloves, drizzle with about 1 teaspoon of olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast for 45 minutes or until the cloves are very soft and lightly browned. Allow to cool until you can handle them.
- Blend the dressing. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from their skins into a blender or food processor. Add the remaining ingredients (olive oil, vinegar, Dijon, maple syrup or honey, salt, pepper, and a few tablespoons of water) and blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust thickness with more water if desired. You can whisk by hand, but blending gives a silkier, fully emulsified result.
- Serve and store. Toss with salad greens, drizzle over grain bowls, or use as a dip. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week; shake or stir before using.
Pro tip: Taste and adjust the dressing to suit your preferences — add more maple syrup for sweetness or more vinegar for extra tang.
Ways to Use Creamy Garlic Dressing
This versatile dressing works far beyond green salads. Try it in these ways:
- Drizzled over roasted sheet-pan vegetables.
- Tossed with kale or mixed greens for a quick salad.
- Stirred into pasta salads for extra flavor and creaminess.
- Spread on sandwiches, wraps, or veggie burgers as a flavorful sauce.
- Served as a dip for raw vegetables, roasted potatoes, or sweet potato fries.
How to Store This Dressing
Store the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. It may thicken when chilled — simply stir or shake and add a splash of water to loosen before serving.
More Salad Recipes to Try
You can swap this creamy garlic dressing into many salads and grain bowls for an instant flavor upgrade.
- Easy Grilled Salad
- Tofu Salad
- Ranch Chickpea Salad
- Warm Kale Salad
If you make this dressing, I’d love to hear how you used it and what you thought. Store any leftovers in the fridge and enjoy!
Creamy Garlic Dressing
Ingredients
- 2 heads whole garlic
- ⅓ cup + 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (white or white wine vinegar works too)
- 1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons water, plus more to thin as desired
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cut the top off each garlic head to expose the cloves. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast 45 minutes or until very soft and lightly browned. Let cool.
- Squeeze the roasted garlic into a blender. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust thickness with water as needed.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator and enjoy.
Notes
This dressing will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Stir or shake before using.
Nutrition
Calories: 101 kcal, Carbohydrates: 6 g, Protein: 1 g, Fat: 9 g, Sodium: 179 mg. Nutrition information is an approximation.