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This easy Red Wine Vinaigrette is simple and fabulous. It only takes 5 pantry ingredients (including salt!) for the easiest, best, restaurant-quality vinaigrette, ever.
This is the best Red Wine Vinaigrette that I’ve ever had. It’s my go-to on a daily basis, and it’s destined to be a must-make in your kitchen, too. It’s made with simple pantry ingredients, and it has a zesty flavor that reminds me of the “house dressing” at a trusty Italian restaurant, the kind with red and white checkered tablecloths and red plastic baskets of the best garlic bread you’ve ever had.
It’s made with 5 simple ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, mustard, oregano, and salt. And even those can be tweaked if needed. As long as you follow the ratio, you can change up your vinegar or herbs and still have a delicious, easy homemade salad dressing. Store-bought dressings will never compare.
It’s the perfect Italian red wine vinegar dressing for salads, sandwiches, and chicken wraps, or use it as a marinade for chicken or fish. It’s easy to make a big batch and use it all week long. Or, do what I do and mix up a new batch of red wine vinegar salad dressing daily and craft an imaginary menu in your mind where it’s “small-batch, house-made dressing.” It’s so simple yet so delicious!
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Dijon mustard: Sometimes I use up to 1 tbsp Dijon mustard in this easy homemade salad dressing recipe because I love the flavor. Spicy brown mustard works too.
- Oregano: Or substitute Italian seasoning or your favorite minced fresh herbs (such as basil, chives, and parsley). This easy recipe is a great way to try new things.
- Salt and pepper: I recommend tasting the dressing before you add any salt. Then, add ¼ tsp salt and taste it again for perfection. Once I figure out the salt, I generally add 50% of that amount of freshly ground black pepper (that’s a ratio I learned in culinary school and I like it).
Step-by-step instructions
- In a small bowl (or in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid), pour in olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and oregano. Whisk vigorously and season to taste with salt and pepper (I like ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper).
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This healthy red wine vinaigrette dressing recipe makes ¾ cup dressing, enough for 6 servings (2 tablespoons each). 1 recipe of dressing will dress 8-10 cups salad.
- Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator and use within 4 days.
- Make the dressing your own: Try adding a teaspoon of honey or pure maple syrup, a tbsp lemon juice, a minced clove garlic, some minced shallot, or a pinch of red pepper flakes. You can also change up the herbs and spices and try Italian seasoning, marjoram, basil, or chives. Stick with staple ingredients whenever possible so it’s easy.
- Cheese: Stir in grated Parmesan cheese and you’ll think you’re at the Olive Garden. The dry kind in the green shaker works perfectly.
- Blended: Blast your dressing in a blender for maximum emulsion and a touch of frothiness.
- Jersey Mike’s: This reminds me of the red vinegar dressing they use at Jersey Mike’s to make it “Mike’s Way.” It’s great on sandwiches!
- Leafy Salads: Prepare an easy Green Salad with plenty of fresh leafy greens, ripe tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, grated carrots, and your other favorite fresh veggies. Drizzle with this classic red wine vinaigrette recipe and top with crunchy, buttery croutons.
- Balsamic Vinaigrette: A super simple, absolutely delicious homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, and honey. It’s ready in 2 minutes or less with just 4 pantry ingredients (plus kosher salt and pepper).
- Ranch Dressing: This made-from-scratch Ranch Dressing Recipe is thick, creamy, and packed with fresh herbs, just the way you and your vegetables want it. It’s perfect for dressing, dipping, and tossing!
- Thai Peanut Dressing: This easy, delicious Thai Peanut Dressing is made from mostly pantry ingredients and is delicious on salads, grilled chicken, or for dipping your favorite appetizers.
- Asian Salad Dressing: This simple, delicious Asian Salad Dressing is made with just 6 pantry ingredients and ready in minutes. This tangy dressing also makes a great marinade or dipping sauce for Asian appetizers like pot stickers, dumplings, and tempura vegetables.
- Thousand Island Dressing: This homemade Thousand Island Dressing Recipe comes together in 5 minutes with just 5 ingredients (mayo, ketchup, pickles, lemon juice, and garlic). It’s thick, delicious, and perfect on your next salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
This delicious red wine vinaigrette happens to be gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and 100% vegan.
Organic red wine vinegar is made from a variety of organic Italian grapes. Spectrum brand red wine vinegar is organic and is a product of Modena in Italy.
Vinaigrette is delicious on salads, sandwiches, roasted vegetables, and as a marinade for grilled meats, chicken, and fish. Or, mix it into sour cream and serve it with rice and beans on a bed of lettuce.
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Red Wine Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (see note 1)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (see note 2)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper (see note 3)
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and oregano. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper).
Recipe Video
Notes
- Dijon mustard: Sometimes I use up to 1 tablespoon Dijon in this recipe because I love the flavor. Spicy brown mustard works too.
- Oregano: Or substitute Italian seasoning or your favorite minced fresh herbs (such as basil, chives, and parsley).
- Salt and pepper: I recommend tasting the dressing before you add any salt. Then, add ¼ teaspoon salt and taste it again. Once I figure out the salt, I generally add 50% of that amount of freshly ground black pepper (that’s a ratio I learned in culinary school and I like it).
- Yield: This recipe makes ¾ cup dressing, enough for 6 servings (2 tablespoons each). 1 recipe of dressing will dress 8-10 cups salad.
- Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator and use within 4 days.
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
Excellent!
Thanks, Carole! – Meggan
How much olive oil for vinaigrette? Doesnโt say in post.
Hi Karen, it calls for 1/2 cup olive oil. The full recipe can be found by clicking the “Jump to recipe” button at the top, or found above the field where you were able to comment. Take care! – Meggan
this was great love it! it was incredible! I would highly recommend it!
Thank you Lindsay, I’m so happy you loved it! -Meggan
I made this dressing and it is delicious!! Made it with a 1 tbsp Dijon instead. Pour une bonne saveur franรงaise
Yum, sounds like a great addition, Evelyn! – Meggan
Loved this dressing but was wondering if there is a way to cut back on oil to reduce the calories while maintaining the flavor.
Hi Lillian, I haven’t tried reducing the oil amount but my first thought would to be to opt for a high-quality olive oil, which would be more flavorful, then reduce the amount of oil some in the dressing. Sorry about that – Meggan