This creamy sweet poppyseed dressing has had a regular home in our refrigerator for several years now. Sweet and slightly tangy, a dressing speckled with poppy seeds is a must-have staple for us.
Homemade Poppyseed Dressing
For years, I bought a store bought poppy seed dressing faithfully. I was brand loyal and swore by that dressing. A while back, I started switching to homemade versions of some of our favorite dressings and decided to see if I could duplicate a poppyseed salad dressing.
With a little tinkering, I came up with this poppyseed dressing recipe. My whole family agreed it was even better than the bottled version; it’s completely replaced the store bought stuff in our house.
Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe
Making creamy and sweet poppy seed dressing at home is as easy as can be. This recipe uses a base of mayonnaise and milk for its creamy base. White wine vinegar and a dash of dried mustard balance the sweetness from white sugar perfectly.
Of course, a couple of heaping spoonfuls of poppyseeds give the dressing its signature flavor and appearance. Okay, sure, you might end up with a few poppyseeds in your teeth but that’s half the fun. As easy as it is, there’s always something extra fancy feeling about a fruit filled salad drizzled with creamy poppyseed dressing.
It takes just a few minutes to whisk everything in this recipe together and the finished dressing keeps well in the fridge for about a week. I like to store this in a big mason jar so I can easily shake it up just before serving. Shaking helps recombine all the ingredients once they’ve settled in the fridge.
This is a pretty sweet dressing and a little goes a long way. I tend to use just a drizzle of it for a big salad.
Feel free to adjust the sugar and vinegar to taste. Less sugar and more white wine vinegar will create a tangier dressing and visa versa.
Poppyseed dressing is ideal for drizzling on top of green salads with fruit. I truly love this dressing on Strawberry Spinach Salad and Stonefruit Salad. It also works wonders on this Grape and Candied Walnut Salad.
When I have this dressing in the fridge I sometimes use it on Strawberry Chicken Salad as a substitute for the orange vinaigrette I usually put on it. We also enjoy our poppy seed dressing tossed with a simple green salad with apple slices and walnuts.
Salad Dressing Recipes
Can’t get enough homemade salad dressing? Me either. Once I learned how easy it is to make delicious dressings in my own kitchen, I almost stopped buying the bottled stuff completely.
For more tangy and vinegary salad dressings try The BEST Balsamic Vinaigrette and this Cucumber Salad with Spicy Tomato Vinaigrette. We also love this Homemade Italian Salad Dressing and this White Balsamic Vinaigrette.
For another spin on this poppy seed dressing recipe try Honey Mustard Poppyseed Salad Dressing. If creamy dressings are your jam, you’re sure to love my all time favorite Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing and this Bleu Cheese Salad Dressing, too.
Creamy Poppyseed Dressing
Easy to make and adaptable to your palate, this is the only homemade poppy seed salad dressing you’ll ever need.
Creamy Poppyseed Dressing
Ingredients
- Dressing Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup mayo
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons poppyseeds
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and then whisk until smooth. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate until you are ready to serve. Shake well before using. This will keep well in the refrigerator for up to a week. Enjoy!
The Tumbleweed Contessa says
Beautiful! I think it's amazing how simple dishes can be so tasty and beautiful at the same time.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Linda
Joanna Sprik says
Yum! I'm going to use honey instead of sugar! MMMmmmm, good!
AndyUpton says
Mayonnaise on fruit ??
Surely that should be Yoghurt ?
Mary says
Mayonnaise is correct. It's very common in salad dressings. Enjoy!
Dot says
I followed this link over from a search for a copycat recipe for the Costco kale salad. I was super excited to find this recipe. Unfortunately, when I made it, the mayo taste was really dominant. It tasted kind of like Miracle Whip with poppy seeds. I adds a quarter cup of Greek yogurt , which helped some. Do you have any other suggestions? It made a really big batch, and I’d hate to ditch the whole jar.
Mary says
Well, the recipe is written for mayonnaise, not for Miracle Whip. The flavor would certainly be different in that case. I typically use Best Foods mayonnaise when making this recipe and the flavor is not dominant at all.
Stephanie says
Hi… I am a Busy “Mom”, as I imagine you to be as well, and sometimes hurriedly
misspell a name or note down an incorrect number….But, unless Amounts are Incorrect? (I don’t think so because this is Really Good!), or there is a Missing Ingredient (I would like to know what could make this Better?), the “Yield” posted for this Recipe should read 1 1/2 Cups…Not 3 1/2 Cups.
Great Recipe…Poppyseed is My Husband’s Favorite Dressing!
Mary says
I’m thrilled you are enjoying the dressing. It is still one of my favorites. Thanks for taking the time to let me know the yield amount was noted incorrectly.
Liz says
Excited to make this recipe- what can I substitute instead of the milk? I need the dressing to be dairy free
Mary says
I haven’t tried dairy-free alternatives myself, but I’m guessing this will work fine with almond or coconut milk.
André Bellemare says
Use Lactose free milk.
Brad says
Made it for dinner tonight on a lettuce and fruit salad and it was easy and delicious!
Terrie Kennedy says
This is the best creamy Poppyseed dressing! I make this often & my entire family loves it ! They have even commented it’s so good they want more salad.!
I am always asked for the recipe. And if I’m making a salad to take anywhere I make the dressing & it’s always a big hit.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you’re enjoying this dressing, Terrie!
Colin says
Made this for a salad and it’s totally one of my new fa orites. Hands down good!
Mary Younkin says
So happy you like it, Colin!
Judy says
Very good dressing!
I used to always buy bottled dressing in the past. Whipping up a batch of dressing is so easy and much healthier. The dressing has a nice balance of flavors.. Thanks for the recipe!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so happy to hear that you like the dressing, Judy!
Andrea Bolan says
Excellent. Used for cranberry poppyseed salad instead of store bought. Much better and super easy 👌
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the dressing, Andrea!
Annette says
Can I use white vinegar and can I use Dijon mustard? I don’t have any white wine vinegar or dry mustard
Mary Younkin says
That should work, Annette. You will probably want to stir or shake it all together and taste it as you add the mustard. That way you will get the flavor that works best for you.
Gwen Walker says
This is great- Yum
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad to hear that you’re enjoying the dressing, Gwen!
Bex says
Fantastic! Every bit as good as the bottle I’ve been paying over $3 for!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you like the dressing, Bex!
Ester K says
Wonderful salad dressing! Made it with light mayo, 1% milk , and honey to substitute half of the sugar. Thank you for the recipe!
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad that you love it, Ester!
Zannie Morrison says
I love the taste but( I know there always that BUT LOL) how can you make it thicker? I give it 6 stars out of 5
Nikki says
Try yogurt or sour cream instead of milk for thicker- while I do agree it’s a little bit thin I love this recipe! We have lots of allergies in our family, I make our Mayo (Aquafaba) and also use dairy free milk (usually oat or califia coconut) and this recipe is still DIVINE! Sweetener is based on what I have on hand- sugar, honey or maple to taste all work! Thank you for this fabulous delicious recipe!!! 🙏🏼
Nicky says
I added some chia seeds. It probably won’t make it too thick I hope. 😃