This easy Citrus Vinaigrette recipe combines fresh orange juice, lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, and extra virgin olive oil for a bright, tangy homemade salad dressing. It takes just 10 minutes to make and is delicious on green salads, roasted vegetables, grilled chicken, shrimp, and seafood.

Unlike a traditional vinaigrette, this orange lemon salad dressing does not use vinegar. Fresh orange and lemon juice provide the acidity instead, giving the dressing a bright citrus flavor that is especially delicious during citrus season.

Why You’ll Love This Citrus Vinaigrette

There are plenty of reasons to make your own salad dressing, but this homemade citrus vinaigrette is one of my favorites because it is:

• Quick and easy: It takes about 10 minutes to make.
• Made with fresh citrus: Freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice give it a bright, zesty flavor.
• Sweet and tangy: Honey balances the acidity of the citrus.
• Versatile: Use it on salads, vegetables, chicken, shrimp, or seafood.
• Easy to customize: Make it vegan by swapping the honey for agave.
• No vinegar required: The orange and lemon juice provide the acidity.
• Perfect for citrus season: It is especially good with winter citrus, but you can enjoy it year-round!

What Is Citrus Vinaigrette?

A citrus vinaigrette is a salad dressing made with fresh citrus juice, oil, and seasonings. Traditional vinaigrettes usually combine oil with vinegar, but citrus juice can provide the acidity instead.

This version uses both fresh orange juice and fresh lemon juice. The orange juice adds natural sweetness and fruity flavor, while the lemon juice provides a bright, tart contrast.

Dijon mustard also helps emulsify the dressing, bringing the oil and citrus juice together into a smooth vinaigrette.

The Story Behind This Citrus Vinaigrette

This recipe started with my mom’s neighbors’ citrus trees. Their orange and lemon trees would hang over the fence, and my mom would trade some of her backyard avocados for fresh citrus. One day, I brought home a pile of oranges and lemons and decided to turn them into this bright citrus vinaigrette.

My mom’s house has since burned down in the Altadena fire, but she’s planted lemon trees at her new house and I’m hoping to make this vinaigrette again soon when the lemons ripen and are ready to be picked!

Citrus Vinaigrette Ingredients

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this homemade citrus salad dressing:

• Fresh orange juice: Freshly squeezed orange juice gives the vinaigrette its sweet citrus flavor.
• Fresh lemon juice: Lemon juice adds acidity and balances the sweetness of the orange.
• Garlic: Fresh minced garlic adds savory flavor and a little bite.
• Dijon mustard: Dijon adds flavor and helps emulsify the dressing.
• Honey: Honey balances the tart citrus. Use agave to make the recipe vegan.
• Extra virgin olive oil: Olive oil provides the rich, smooth base for the vinaigrette.
• Salt: A small amount enhances all of the flavors.
• Freshly ground black pepper: Pepper adds a little spice and savory flavor.

Do You Need Vinegar to Make Vinaigrette?

No! Traditional vinaigrettes are usually made with vinegar and oil, but this recipe uses fresh orange juice and lemon juice instead of vinegar.

The citrus juices provide the acidity needed for the dressing while also adding plenty of fresh citrus flavor.

That’s one of the things I love about this recipe. You get a bright, flavorful homemade dressing without having to add another type of vinegar to your pantry.

How to Make Citrus Vinaigrette

Making homemade citrus vinaigrette is incredibly easy.

Step 1: Combine the Citrus and Other Ingredients

Add the freshly squeezed orange juice, lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, and honey to a bowl.

Whisk until everything is well combined.

Step 2: Slowly Add the Olive Oil

While whisking vigorously, slowly drizzle the extra virgin olive oil into the citrus mixture.

Adding the oil gradually helps the vinaigrette emulsify and creates a smoother dressing.

Step 3: Add Salt and Pepper

Add the salt and freshly ground black pepper and whisk again.

Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Step 4: Serve

That’s it! Your homemade citrus vinaigrette is ready to use.

If the dressing separates after sitting, simply whisk or shake it again before serving.

Tips for Making the Best Citrus Vinaigrette

Use Freshly Squeezed Citrus Juice

Fresh orange and lemon juice make a noticeable difference in this recipe. If you have a citrus juicer, it makes quick work of squeezing the fruit.

If you’re picking oranges or lemons from a backyard tree, even better!

Add the Olive Oil Slowly

For the smoothest vinaigrette, slowly drizzle the olive oil into the citrus mixture while whisking.

This gives the ingredients a chance to emulsify instead of immediately separating.

Don’t Have Time to Whisk?

No problem. Add all of the ingredients to a jar with a tightly fitting lid and shake vigorously until combined.

This is my favorite method when I want to make the dressing quickly.

Use a Garlic Press

If you make homemade salad dressings regularly, a garlic press is a handy kitchen tool to have. It makes it easy to add fresh garlic without having to finely mince it yourself.

Frozen garlic cubes can also be used when you need a shortcut.

How to Make Vegan Citrus Vinaigrette

This recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free.

To make it vegan, simply replace the honey with agave.

The agave provides the sweetness needed to balance the tart lemon juice while keeping the dressing completely plant-based.

What Does Citrus Vinaigrette Taste Like?

This citrus vinaigrette is bright, tangy, slightly sweet, garlicky, and refreshing.

The orange juice gives the dressing a naturally sweet citrus flavor, while the lemon juice adds a sharper acidity. Honey rounds everything out, Dijon adds savory depth, and garlic and black pepper give it a little bite.

It is flavorful enough to make a simple bowl of greens interesting without overpowering the other ingredients.

What to Serve with Citrus Vinaigrette

This homemade citrus dressing is incredibly versatile. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it.

Green Salads

Drizzle it over arugula, mixed greens, spinach, spring greens, or your favorite salad lettuce.

It is particularly delicious with salads containing fresh fruit, feta, goat cheese, nuts, or avocado.

Orange and Arugula Salad

One of my favorite ways to use this dressing is on my Orange and Arugula Salad with Feta and Walnuts. The peppery arugula, sweet oranges, salty feta, crunchy walnuts, and citrus vinaigrette make a great combination.

Read More: Orange and Arugula Salad with Feta and Walnuts

Roasted Vegetables

Try drizzling the vinaigrette over roasted vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, or sweet potatoes.

Add the dressing after roasting so the fresh citrus flavor stays bright.

Grilled Chicken

Use the citrus vinaigrette as a flavorful marinade or drizzle it over grilled chicken before serving.

The combination of citrus, garlic, Dijon, and honey works particularly well with chicken.

Grain Bowls

Drizzle the vinaigrette over a grain bowl with quinoa, rice, greens, roasted vegetables, avocado, and your favorite protein.

Shrimp and Seafood

Citrus pairs naturally with seafood. Try this dressing with grilled shrimp or spoon it over cooked fish for a fresh finishing sauce.

Read More: Grilled Shrimp Recipe

Citrus Vinaigrette Variations

Once you’ve made the basic recipe, you can easily customize it.

Make it sweeter: Add a little more honey or agave.

Make it more tart: Increase the amount of fresh lemon juice.

Add herbs: Try fresh parsley, basil, thyme, or cilantro.

Add heat: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a little cayenne pepper.

Use lime: Replace some or all of the lemon juice with fresh lime juice for a different citrus flavor.

Add orange zest: Add a little finely grated orange zest for an even more intense orange flavor.

How to Store Citrus Vinaigrette

Store leftover citrus vinaigrette in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Because this recipe contains fresh garlic, store this citrus vinaigrette in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you would like to keep it longer, you will need to omit the fresh garlic and pepper for food safety reasons as garlic or pepper combined with oil can form harmful bacteria.

The olive oil and citrus juice may separate while the dressing sits. Simply whisk or shake the vinaigrette before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions About Citrus Vinaigrette

Can I make citrus vinaigrette ahead of time?

Yes. This citrus vinaigrette is easy to make ahead. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and whisk or shake it before serving.

How long does homemade citrus vinaigrette last?

For this particular recipe, store the dressing in the refrigerator for up to 3 days as directed in the recipe card. If you would like to keep it longer, you will need to omit the fresh garlic and pepper for food safety reasons as garlic or pepper combined with oil can form harmful bacteria.

Can I freeze citrus vinaigrette?

I don’t recommend freezing this vinaigrette. Because it contains fresh citrus juice and oil, the texture can change after freezing and thawing. It is quick enough to make fresh when you need it.

Can I make citrus vinaigrette without honey?

Yes. To make this recipe vegan, substitute agave for the honey.

Can I use bottled orange juice?

Freshly squeezed orange juice is my preference because it gives the dressing a brighter, fresher flavor. However, bottled orange juice can be used if fresh oranges aren’t available. Store-bought is fine!

Can I use lemon and orange zest?

Absolutely. Adding fresh citrus zest is an easy way to increase the orange and lemon flavor. Zest the fruit before juicing it.

Is citrus vinaigrette gluten-free?

The ingredients in this recipe are naturally gluten-free, but always check the labels on packaged ingredients such as Dijon mustard to make sure they meet your dietary needs.

What salads go well with citrus vinaigrette?

Citrus vinaigrette is delicious on arugula salads, spinach salads, mixed green salads, fruit salads, and salads containing feta, goat cheese, walnuts, almonds, avocado, or fresh oranges.

More Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes

If you love making your own salad dressings, relishes, and pestos, check out these other recipes from Salty Canary.

• Honey Lemon Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
• Radish Relish
• Roasted Beet Pumpkin Seed Pesto

Here’s the printable recipe for the Citrus Vinaigrette Salad Dressing:

Final Thoughts

If you have fresh oranges and lemons sitting on your counter, make this citrus vinaigrette!

It comes together in about 10 minutes and turns a simple salad into something bright, fresh, and flavorful. I especially love it with peppery arugula, sweet oranges, creamy feta, and crunchy walnuts, but there are so many ways to use it.

And because you can make it with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, it’s an easy homemade salad dressing to keep in your recipe rotation.

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Land Acknowledgement

Salty Canary wants to acknowledge that we live, operate, gather, and benefit every day on the traditional stolen lands of several Indigenous peoples and nations including the Tongva (Gabrieleno), Kizh (Gabrieleno), Chumash, Popeloutchom (Amah Mutsun), Ohlone, Awaswas, and Fernandeño Tataviam peoples who have stewarded the lands and waterways throughout their many generations in what is now the state of California. I wanted to personally acknowledge these Indigenous people and nations and both their commitment and current contributions to the land with a donation to the American Indian College Fund because acknowledgment without action does not begin to address the systemic issues facing Indigenous people. If you feel as though you benefit from the land you’re living on or traveling to and you have the means, I kindly ask that you donate to a Native-led organization such as the Native American Rights Fund or the American Indian College Fund. 

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