Updated: Nov. 10, 2023
Keep your summer kitchen cool as a cucumber with hearty salads for lunch and dinner. Beat the heat with our guide to the best salad dressing for every green in your garden.
Claire Krieger/Taste of Home
While we love our comfort foods, a cool, crisp bite of fresh homemade salad is equally as appetizing. To keep all the crunch without the wilt, it’s time to think through the best salad dressing for each type of salad. If your greens are tough and crunchy like endive or kale, they can stand up to a rich, creamy dressing. But more delicate greens like arugula or spring mix need a lighter vinaigrette that won’t weigh them down.
P.S. Don’t forget the healthy salad toppingsyou can add to any salad.
Arugula
Pair with: Sweet vinaigrettes
Flavorful and peppery, fresh arugula makes for a delightful lunch or dinner salad. While the flavor is strong, the leaves are delicate, so opt for a light, sweet vinaigrette. Achieve that perfect balance of savory and sweet with this strawberry arugula salad with feta.
Bibb lettuce
Pair with:Tangy vinaigrettes
Bibb lettuce looks crunchy like iceberg lettuce, but the leaves aren’t very crisp. Punch up the flavor and prevent wilting with a tangy vinaigrette like raspberry or tomato. Or toss some Bibb lettuce into this summery nectarine arugula salad for a light lunch.
Endive
Pair with: Creamy dressings
Never tried endive? Its bitter, thick leaves make a sturdy base for a salad or avocado endive cups. Endive’s tough leaves can stand up to creamy dressings like ranch or blue cheese. Now is not the time for a little vinaigrette; look for dressings with fat to offset the bitter bite.
Iceberg
Pair with: Creamy dressings
Crisp and tasteless, iceberg lettuce can handle any rich, creamy dressing you throw at it. Boost the flavor with a creamy dijon or cilantro salad dressing. Because iceberg has such a crunch, it makes a great base for a hearty meal like taco salad.
Kale
Pair with: Citrus vinaigrette
Kale salads can be tricky; the tough leaves need a little care. Try using a citrus vinaigrette; the acidity will help break down the leaves. Prep your kale salad an hour before your meal and massage the dressing into the leaves to soften them a bit. Look for an acidic dressing at the store or learn how to make vinaigretteat home.
Little Gem lettuce
Pair with: Citrus vinaigrette
You’ve probably passed Little Gem lettuce in the grocery store dozens of times without noticing it. It looks like a smaller romaine, and the leaves have a sweet taste. Little Gem lettuce doesn’t need a heavy dressing, so whip up an easy lemon vinaigrette.
Radicchio
Pair with: Creamy dressings
Bitter and tender, radicchio needs a rich dressing to balance the bitterness without weighing it down. Skip the blue cheese and look for a fresh basil salad dressing for a light dressing bursting with serious flavor.
Romaine
Pair with: Creamy dressings
If you haven’t branched out from iceberg salads yet, make the leap to romaine. It’s got the same crunch and flavor while being more nutritious. You can’t go wrong with a classic caesar dressing (make your own) with shaved Parmesan and homemade croutons.
Spinach
Pair with: Hot dressings
Quick to wilt, spinach leaves are delicate and do well with just a splash of light vinaigrette. And while it doesn’t make sense to pour a heavy dressing onto these sensitive leaves, somehow a hot bacon dressing always works, too. Make sure to hold off on dressing your salad until you’re sitting down and ready to eat. Looking for more recipes? Learn how to make green goddess dip.
Spring mix
Pair with: Tangy vinaigrette
Have you ever thrown out an entire container of spring mix because it wilted before you had the chance to use it? Us too. These soft leaves need to be used right away and pair well with a light vinaigrette and plenty of fresh, crunchy veggies. Try this tangy tomato dressing with chopped bell peppers for a bright lunch or snack.
Swiss chard
Pair with: Tangy and citrus vinaigrette
Swiss chard’s thin, tough leaves need a dressing that can break it down without overpowering it. Try an acidic vinaigrette with some sweetness to balance out the toughness. This tart, tangy citrus vinaigrette can help soften the leaves while keeping their crispness.
Watercress
Pair with: Creamy dressings
Watercress has the peppery flavor of arugula with the crunchy bite of iceberg. Go all-in with a creamy buttermilk salad dressing. It will complement the savory flavor and hearty crunch; other creamy dressings like ranch work as well.
The Best Homemade Salad Dressings
1 / 19
Citrus Vinaigrette Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Citrus VinaigretteTart, tangy and citrusy flavors abound in this quick citrus vinaigrette recipe. Whisk it together any night of the week you've got the good greens to go with it. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Go to Recipe
Strawberry Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Strawberry Poppy Seed DressingIn the wonderful world of vinegars, strawberry is the new raspberry, giving you a fresh way to put those ruby red gems to good use. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Go to Recipe
Homemade Strawberry VinegarSweet and sour, this easy strawberry vinegar makes a great summer salad dressing. —Mary Hise, Cocoa, Florida
Go to Recipe
Blue Cheese Salad Dressing Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Blue Cheese Salad DressingThe thick, creamy blue cheese dressing does double duty at our house because I often serve it as a veggie dip. —Christy Freeman, Central Point, Oregon
Go to Recipe
Italian Dressing Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Italian DressingWhat are all those specks and spices in your Italian dressing? You probably have them in your pantry. Create your own signature blend to toss with pasta, greens and fresh spring vegetables. —Lorraine Caland, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Go to Recipe
Low-Fat Tangy Tomato DressingThis zesty blend is delicious over greens, pasta or fresh garden vegetables. I love that it's a healthier alternative to the oil-heavy versions sold in stores. —Sarah Eiden, Enid, Oklahoma
Go to Recipe
Cilantro Salad Dressing Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Cilantro Salad DressingUse this zippy dressing over greens or hot or cold boiled potatoes. You'll love it! —Sara Laber, Shelburne, Vermont
Go to Recipe
Strawberry Vinaigrette Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Strawberry VinaigrettePair this sweet and tart strawberry vinaigrette dressing with any salad for a fresh twist for summer. —Carolyn McMunn, San Angelo, Texas
Go to Recipe
Taste of Home
Ranch Dressing MixThis versatile ranch dressing mix converts easily into a creamy dip or smooth salad dressing. It's delicious served with fresh veggies or drizzled over greens. —Carolyn Zimmerman, Fairbury, Illinois
Go to Recipe
Fresh Basil Salad Dressing Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Fresh Basil Salad DressingMy sour cream and basil dressing has fancy bistro flavor. We serve it with salad; it’s also a tasty addition to baked potatoes, bread salads and veggies. —Deborah Comeaux, Pocomoke City, Maryland
Go to Recipe
Italian Herb Salad Dressing Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Italian Herb Salad DressingThis vinaigrette is a delicious dressing that I like to keep on hand for topping a variety of salad greens. —Dan Wright, San Jose, California
Go to Recipe
Honey Mustard Dressing Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Honey Mustard DressingThis delicious dressing has only four ingredients, but it's big on flavor. My family loves this thick, tangy golden topping over a mixture of fresh greens and mushrooms.—Joanne Hof, Los Alamos, New Mexico
Go to Recipe
Maple Balsamic DressingSweet maple syrup and zesty balsamic vinegar lend bright flavors to crisp summer salads, tender grilled pork chops or luscious red strawberries. —Kim Sumrall, Aptos, California
Go to Recipe
Raspberry VinegarLooking for something tasty to make with fresh raspberries? This dressing adds summer-fresh flavor to salads. —Francy Nightingale, Issaquah, Washington
Go to Recipe
Apricot Orange Vinaigrette Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Apricot Orange VinaigretteThis sweet and tangy citrus dressing perks up any salad, lending appeal to even a simple blend of mixed greens. Diana Rios - Lytle, Texas
Go to Recipe
Homemade MayonnaisePssst! Did you know America’s top-selling condiment and go-to dressing for chicken, tuna and potato salad can be prepared with a handful of everyday pantry items? This mayonnaise recipe will be a new favorite. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Go to Recipe