BEST Kale Salad Dressing
This is the very BEST kale salad dressing recipe ever. I know that is a big claim, but I've been told it so many times and by so many people that it must be true. The honey helps balance kale's bitter flavor and the two types of vinegar (apple cider and balsamic) create an irresistible flavor.

I've been told that this is the best kale salad dressing recipe ever. When I used to run an underground restaurant, this is the dressing that I would make when I served a kale salad. Each time, guests would rave about it. Even if you don't think you like kale, try it with this dressing. I bet you'll fall in love.
Why we think this kale salad dressing is the best one ever
- It's sweet. Let's be honest, kale is bitter. It's what most people don't like about it. But all kale needs is a little help from some honey and suddenly that bitterness disappears. It's a little like magic.
- Two types of vinegar. By using both apple cider vinegar and balsamic vinegar you create an incredible depth of flavor.
- It's creamy. By slowly whisking in the oil (it only takes about a minute) you emulsify the oil and make the dressing creamy.
- We've been told. ā we can't ignore all those rave reviews when talking about why this kale salad dressing is the best.
Watch how easy it is to make this kale salad dressing
Subscribe to see more of our videos!
Try it on our Roasted Beet and Kale Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts:

More Salad Dressing Recipes for Kale
- Japanese Carrot Ginger Salad Dressing
- Lemon Tahini Dressing
- Best Green Goddess Salad Dressing
- Creamy Sunflower Seed Salad Dressing
- Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Avocado Ranch Dressing

BEST Kale Salad Dressing
If you love this recipe as much as we do, let us know with a 5-star rating!
Ingredients
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ā cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup honey, use maple syrup for vegan
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, grated on a Microplane or very finely minced
- A pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into a 2-cup mason jar.½ cup extra virgin olive oil, ā cup apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup honey, 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 2 cloves garlic, A pinch of sea salt
- Shake well until the ingredients are mixed together and the dressing is creamy.
Notes
Pin to save for later!Ā

Took a kale salad with this dressing and everyone asked for you recipe! Ā
This dressing is delicious!!
I absolutely love this salad dressing!!! I have made it a few times, the only issue is when I put in the fridge the next day it coagulates into solid from. Any clue why this is happening?Ā
That’s because of the olive oil in it. If you let it sit at room temperature for several minutes and then give it a good shake will be just like when you made it. š
Yes this dressing is great , yum
Hi Kristen, I’ve just said to myself I need to start making salad dressings instead of purchasing store bought dressings, for many reasons. Just found your recipe, reviewed it, and now plan to start incorporating it with my meals. Very simple, user friendly, healthier, and affordable. Thanks for sharing your recipe.š¤
OMG, this is the best dressing I have ever had. Hubby loved it too. So full of flavor. Yummy, I will definitely use this for all of my kale salads. I put everything in a mason jar with a leak proof lid and just shook like crazy. The dressing came together really easy. I am sharing this with my friends.
Deeee-licious!!! I blended everything (including garlic) and it did not disappoint! My non-veggie husband raved about it!! This is a keeper!!!
This is the best dressing ever. So versatile. It is our go-to dressing for all kinds of salads. I use much less honey (more like 1 TBS) and it is still plenty sweet. I also add juice from 1 lemon just because I like the little bit of sharpness it gives. This is definitely a winner!
Loved this! I added in mayo to make it creamier for our kale slaw. This one is a keeper
This was incredible! I had this atop my kale salad, made with shredded carrots, broccoli, dried cranberries, and lots of nuts. Thank you so much!
I am obsessed with this dressingĀ
The dressing is delicious. Perfect for my kale salad recipe: dried cranberries, pumpkin seed, red onions, grated carrots. Kale massaged 5 min in olive oil. Assembled salad and topped it w your dressing. Recommend only massaging kale first. Prep add-ons. Only when ready to eat is everything combine. This tastes good and feels healthy.Ā
This is a delicious recipe. All of our guests LOVE this dressing on any salad that I make.
This is the only way I’ve EVER been able to eat kale.
It’s amazing!
Thank you so much for the recipe.
Wow! This dressing is surprisingly delicious … I’ve never been a fan of kale salads, but this dressing makes a kale salad down right enjoyable … and THAT is a surprise
Made this exactly per the recipe, using maple syrup as I had no honey. It was delicious and really complimented the slight bitterness of the kale. The emulsion didnāt last like a proper vinaigrette but shaking the jar kept it together long enough. Really good!
Easy and very tasty
Easy and delicious! This is my go to dressing.
So easy yet so tasty! I used it on a Kale Salad mix which I bought, and the whole family loved it!
I also tried it on some homemade coleslaw (napa cabbage, carrots, red onion), and it was equally delicious!
Thanks for such a great (yet simple) recipe!
Excellent! Don’t forget to massage the kale thoroughly before adding other ingredients – crushing the leaves in your hands somehow magically removes the bitterness!
This dressing to crazy amazing….thank you so much!!!
Great recipe, I enjoy it very much in my ? salad. Thank you .
Incredible and perfect mix of flavor. I was searching for a great kale dressing that didn’t rely on cheese as part of the recipe and this recipe popped up. I made the dressing and combined it with two bunches of kale. That is a great thing about kale and this recipe, you can make it and you have healthy delicious salad ready to go for the same day or a couple days. I ate it as a solo lunch salad and also as a base with buffalo chicken tenders on top, so it has a lot of flexibility to stand on it’s own or pair with other tasty foods. Great work and thank you for sharing!
Also, I was happy to see both apple cider and balsamic vinegar together, I’ve thought about how to combine them for a while but wasn’t sure what proportions to use.
So tired of same old food flavors..bitter kale? Yes, this dressing turned kale into my favorite food! Thank you
This is truly the best salad dressing I’ve ever made and it’s so easy. If you don’t like kale salad, try this; it will change your mind.
The recipe lived up to its name! I love the sweetness that pairs so well with the bitterness of kale. This is my new go-to dressing for my kale salads. Thank you!
This really is the BEST kale dressing!
This is truly delicious. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
You’re very welcome, Mary!
Tastes even better the next day. Worth making and keeping in the fridge–especially if you are prepping for one person.
This is my go-to salad dressing recipe now, we all love it! It works on every kind of salad too! Absolutely delicious..thank you for sharing š
You’re so welcome!
This is wicked good. I combined the ingredients, kinda skeptical, but was totally pleased when it all came together. Wonderful!
This was super tasty. The title makes a big claim, but the recipe absolutely delivers. I will definitely make it again!
I’m so happy to hear that!!
Love this dressing recipe! It works amazing on kale salads and really any salad!Ā
It was wonderful. Have so much kale in my garden this year and tried a couple different dressings – this one was the best by far. Thank you!
You are very welcome!
I USED BEE HONEY FROM TAMARIND FLOWERS THAT TASTES A LITTLE SWEET AND SOUR, ABSOLUTLY DELICIOUS!! THANKS
Thank you for letting us know you loved the recipe!
Very good. I substituted some fresh lemon juice for some vinegar and added chopped grapes to the kale. Yummy.
Great idea!
We’ve been eating a ton of kale lately and have been trying different dressings and vinaigrettes but haven’t loved any of them until now. This one really is made for kale. Planning on making a double batch of it today so we can keep some in the fridge. Do you know how long it will last?
Hey Kimmy! So happy that you love the recipe! It will keep for at least a week in the fridge. š
Unreal!
Yay!
Out of sight
So happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe!