This 5 minute red wine vinaigrette is a staple in our house. Easy to prep with four simple pantry ingredients, ready in 5 minutes, and adds so much flavor to your salad!
If you are new to making things from scratch or meal prepping, you might be shocked by how big an impact this easy 5-minute dressing recipe will make! After making literally dozens of grain bowls and pasta salads with this tangy dressing, I decided it would be selfish not to share. I keep it extremely simple (four ingredients, no heat needed) and the ratios are easy to adjust based on your preferences. I can assure you, you will never want to add another $4+ bottle of salad dressing to your shopping list again after you see how flavorful and fresh the homemade version can be!
Why you’ll ♡ this red wine vinaigrette
- it’s ready in 5 minutes or less using simple pantry ingredients
- you can make it up to 2 weeks ahead
- you can adjust the vinegar to make it more or less tangy
Don’t forget to pin this recipe to save it for later!
Red Wine Vinaigrette Ingredients
- Red wine vinegar- I have just opted for whatever is available in the grocery store aisle, but you can get a whole lot fancier than that.
- Olive oil- I go for a quality olive oil in my vinaigrettes by using extra virgin olive oil.
- Dijon– while I’m not a fan of mustard, it is a key ingredient in my vinaigrettes. Not only does it add some depth of flavor, but it helps to keep the oil and vinegar from immediately separating (though they do over time).
- Maple syrup or honey- I use these sweeteners interchangeably in my vinaigrettes without noticing a huge change in flavor. Adding a bit of sweetener helps tame the tanginess in this red wine vinaigrette and adds another layer of flavor. I don’t recommend skipping it!
How to Make Red Wine Vinegar Dressing
Traditional red wine vinaigrette recipes use a 1:3 ratio of oil: vinegar. It comes down to taste preference, and I welcome you to play around with this ratio to get a tangier vinaigrette.
- for pasta salad- I like to use a 1:1 ratio of oil: vinegar to really taste all the flavors on the pasta noodles
- for leafy salads- I like to use a 1:2 ratio of oil: vinegar as it is too tangy at 1:1
It is easy to make a stronger vinaigrette at 1:1, taste it on the salad, and then add more oil if you find it too tangy.
Variations
Consider this to be a base recipe with endless possibilities. Here are some ways to level up your dressing:
- garlic- adding a clove or two of minced garlic adds even more depth of flavor
- Italian seasonings- like basil and oregano would be great for a greek salad. Start with ½ teaspoon.
- dill- add 1-2 teaspoons of dried dill
- feta cheese- the salty flavors go so well with the tangy flavors of this vinaigrette
- parmesan cheese- try 2 tablespoons and add more as desired.
Storage
Homemade vinaigrettes are easy to prep ahead. You can shake this recipe up ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
If you plan to add any fresh garlic or fresh herbs, you will want to use within 7 days.
Vinaigrette should be stored in the fridge, and will separate over time. Give it a quick shake up before serving and you are good to go!
How to Use Red Wine Vinaigrette
You can use red wine vinegar dressing on any salad. Here are my favorites:
- pasta salad: like this Herbed Orzo Pasta Salad with Feta or Greek Chicken Pasta Salad
- quinoa salad or a bulgur wheat salad: such as this Meal Prep Chopped Chickpea Salad
- Mediterranean salads: chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese
- slaw: a crunchy salad with shredded cabbage
Hi, I’m Annie. With a Bachelor of Science degree, a minor in nutrition and nearly 20 year of both classical training, and self-taught experience, I’ve spent my career proving that home cooking can be practical, delicious and inspiring. What started in 2013 as one food blog has grown into a full-time business. Today, my husband Clayton and I run five food websites that connect with millions of home cooks every month.
When I’m not in the kitchen or behind the camera, I’m using fueling my love of travel, or chasing down new ideas that keep food fun and fresh.
