With its sweet and tangy taste, this dressing has become a staple as a drizzle over mixed greens or as a marinade on grilled chicken or vegetables.
Say goodbye to store-bought dressings and whip up a batch of this delicious homemade poppy seed dressing recipe with fresh ingredients instead. No mystery ingredients in homemade dressings!
- Tiny poppy seeds add a slight crunch and nutty flavor to this creamy dressing, making it stand out from other dressings.
- The sweet and tangy taste of the vinegar and sugar creates the perfect balance of flavors.
Ingredients Needed
This recipe makes about one cup of dressing but can easily be doubled. See the printable recipe card below for the exact quantities, nutrient information, and serving size.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – alternately you can use white wine vinegar or white vinegar
- Sugar – or use honey or agave
- Cream – or half & half
- Dried Mustard – if you don’t have any dried mustard use Dijon mustard instead
- Salt – just a pinch to balance the sweetness
- Mayonnaise – we like Best Foods or Dukes
- Poppy Seeds – the star of the show!
Step-by-step instructions to make Poppyseed Salad Dressing
- In the bowl of a mini food processor or blender add the vinegar, salt, and sugar. Allow it to sit for a few minutes so that the salt and sugar begin to dissolve. You can also make this dressing in a medium bowl and stir with a whisk.
- Add the mayonnaise, cream, and dry mustard.
- Blend until smooth, creamy, and completely combined. Taste and add more salt to match your personal preference.
- Add the poppy seeds and blend for a few seconds to combine, or stir them in by hand. Try to avoid overprocessing the seeds.
- Transfer to a mason jar or other airtight container.
- If not using the dressing right away store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days and shake well, or stir, before serving.
Variation Ideas
- VINEGAR – use white wine vinegar in place of apple cider vinegar
- WHITE SUGAR – swap with honey or agave, although both of these choices will be sweeter
- DRY MUSTARD – use Dijon-style mustard instead
- CREAM – use half & half or whole milk. Buttermilk would also make a nice tangy alternative
- HONEY MUSTARD POPPY SEED DRESSING – add 2 Tablespoons of honey and 1 Tablespoon of Dijon mustard to the recipe
How to make a thicker dressing:
- This homemade creamy poppyseed dressing recipe won’t be as thick as a store-bought version because those contain thickeners such as xanthan gum, titanium dioxide, and soybean oil.
- We like to make it in a mini food processor (or blender) to help create a slightly thicker dressing. You can also add more mayo, or cut back on the cream, for a thicker result, but keep in mind that will change the flavor balance.
Storing the Dressing
- REFRIGERATE: Store for up to 7 days in a sealed airtight container. We suggest a glass jar or container. Shake well before using.
Best ways to use Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
- We LOVE this dressing on a crunchy kale salad
- Perfect on our Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Drizzle on this Arugula Beet Salad for a tangy twist
- Add to BLT sandwich or chicken salad sandwich
- Make a fresh summer Berry Salad like the one pictured here (or any fruit salad) with a sprinkling of our Candied Pecans on top!
Poppy Seed Dressing
Make creamy, flavorful poppy seed dressing at home in no time with basic ingredients. Perfect for salads, sandwiches, vegetables, and chicken.
Servings 16 servings (1 Tablespoon)
Calories 90kcal
Equipment
- Small Food Processor optional
Ingredients
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons cream (or 1/2 & 1/2)
- 3 Tablespoons sugar (or 2 TBS honey/agave)
- 4 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard or dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds (more to taste)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl or bowl of a small food processor (or blender) add the vinegar, sugar, and salt. Allow mixture to sit for about 2 minutes to dissolve salt and sugar.3 Tablespoons sugar, 4 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add mayonnaise, cream, and dry mustard. Blend until creamy.¾ cup mayonnaise, 2 Tablespoons cream, ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- Stir in poppy seeds and blend again for 5 seconds or blend by hand.1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
- Transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate if not using immediately. Shake well before serving.
- Dressing can be stored for about 7 days in the refrigerator
Notes
- This recipe makes about 1 cup of dressing and can be doubled.
- Want a thicker dressing? Add up to 1/4 cup more mayonnaise or less cream
- Keep tightly sealed in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. We recommend a glass mason jar.
- Shake well before using.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Tablespoon | Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 140mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 34IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Serve it up with a healthy vegetable tray or with our Spicy Chicken Wings and Buffalo Chicken Tenders. Spicy wings and homemade blue cheese dip are a match made in heaven!
This tasty dip is the perfect addition to your next party and it is always a favorite game day food.
Zesty Buffalo wings and Chicken Tenders pair perfectly with Blue Cheese Dip
Ingredients needed for Blue Cheese Dip
Making this simple dip from scratch is quick and easy. Using fresh ingredients is always a healthier alternative to any store-bought dressing or grocery store dip, and tastes so much better!
Sometimes, you will see this creamy dip called Buttermilk Blue Cheese Dip, because of its tangy buttermilk flavor.
Here are the simple ingredients you will need to make this delicious recipe:
- Sour Cream – makes for a smooth dip
- Mayonnaise– We recommend a good quality mayonnaise
- Buttermilk – Brings extra tangy flavor to the dip
- Lemon Juice- From freshly squeezed lemons
- Fresh Garlic- Use minced garlic cloves
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Helps to build up the tangy strong flavor
- Salt – We use regular salt but Kosher salt is fine too
- Black Pepper- We use coarsely ground pepper
- Blue Cheese crumbles- Makes for a chunky delicious dip and adds texture
- Fresh Chives– You can also use chopped fresh parsley (we use Italian flat leaf)
How to make this easy Blue Cheese Dip from scratch!
This recipe could not be simpler and if you’ve never made homemade blue cheese dip for Buffalo chicken wings or tenders you will wonder why after putting this quick easy recipe together.
If you have time, it’s a good idea to make this dip ahead of time. You can refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The end result is, the longer the flavors blend, the better this dip tastes. It’s the perfect dip to make-ahead.
- In a medium bowl combine all ingredients (except the blue cheese and chives): sour cream, mayonnaise, buttermilk, lemon juice, garlic, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper
- Blend until smooth to make a creamy base
- Add in the crumbled blue cheese and stir until you have a thicker consistency
- Chill until ready to serve. Top with chopped chives or parsley
- Be sure to use freshly squeezed lemon juice in this recipe – it makes all the difference in the world. Bottled lemon juice has additives that make it taste just a little ‘off’.
What is the best types of blue cheese to use?
Please note each type of blue cheese has a different flavor profile.
- We recommend using a nice tangy Stilton blue cheese.
- You can substitute with Gorgonzola, Maytag, or Danish Blue if you prefer something a little milder.
- We like to buy a wedge of blue cheese and crumble it ourselves, but you can use pre-crumbled, as well to save time.
What is the difference between a Dip and a Salad Dressing?
Both have similar ingredients, but generally, homemade dressing is thinner. To use this dip recipe as a base for dressing just add more buttermilk until you get the consistency that you want for the best blue cheese dressing.
Great matches for this Homemade Dip:
- The ultimate use of this Blue Cheese Dip Recipe is to serve it alongside our amazing boneless Buffalo Chicken Tenders or our Baked Chicken Wings
- Blue cheese pairs beautifully with most fruits so consider using it as a dipping sauce for figs, apples, and pears. It is also perfect drizzled over a wedge salad.
- Add it to a vegetable tray with fresh veggies such as celery sticks, carrots, broccoli, and scallions. It is great to serve with potato chips or tortilla chips.
- Drizzle over roasted or Grilled Vegetables.
- Amazing drizzled on a steak or a hamburger. We’ve also dipped Garlic Steak Bites in this creamy dip!
- A great topper on Oven Roasted Potatoes, baked potatoes, or Hasselback Potatoes.
Additional Easy to Make Appetizer Dips and Sauces
- White Bean with Rosemary Dip
- Pineapple Salsa
- Tzatziki Sauce
- Salsa Verde
- Cowboy Caviar – also known as Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Southwest Ranch Dressing with tangy chipotle works as a great dipping sauce too
Blue Cheese Dip Recipe
Zesty, tangy Blue Cheese Dip is perfect for appetizers. Loaded with blue cheese! Serve with vegetables, wings, or Buffalo chicken tenders. Makes a great salad dressing too!
Servings 12 servings
Calories 102kcal
Ingredients
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoon buttermilk
- 3 Tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon garlic, finely minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon Course ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup blue cheese crumbled
- ½ teaspoon chives, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine all ingredients, except the blue cheese and chives – sour cream, mayonnaise, buttermilk, lemon juice, garlic, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper
- Blend together until smooth this makes a creamy base
- Add in the crumbled blue cheese and stir until you have a thicker consistency
- Chill until ready to serve and top with chopped chives or parsley
Notes
- Be sure to use freshly squeezed lemon juice in this recipe – it makes all the difference in the world. Bottled lemon juice has additives in it that make it taste a little ‘off’.
- You can add additional lemon juice to the recipe – only if you want a stronger more tangy flavor.
- You can also use Italian parsley for garnish.
- Want to make Blue Cheese Salad Dressing instead? Just add 2-4 more tablespoons of buttermilk until you achieve your preferred dressing consistency
Nutrition
Serving: 1ounce | Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 213mg | Potassium: 53mg | Fiber: 0.03g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 183IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 0.1mg