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The sweet flavor in this creamy dressing comes from honey, not sugar. Tangy lemon juice, crunchy poppyseeds, and creamy yogurt makes this salad dressing taste just like a spoonful of sunshine!
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Your New Favorite Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe
Whatever salad you're eating - fruit or green, this dressing will brighten it up. It has become one of our family's favorite homemade dressings.
Why it's so great:
- Low in carbs
- no sugar
- contains a high amount of vitamin K (37%)
- only takes 5 minutes to make.
- Ads a sweet, fresh flavor to everything!
Simple Ingredients
- Mayo - the oil in mayonnaise is a great way to emulsify the dressing, and blend the ingredients together.
- Nonfat Greek yogurt adds tang but also protein and probiotics.
- Lemon juice - can be made from fresh lemons, or just use bottled juice. Look for a brand that doesn't contain preservatives. I love this recipe because you get that fresh, bright lemon flavor but you don't have to go to the trouble of grating lemon zest.
- Onion powder - I know, I know. This dressing needs just a tiny touch of onion powder. I tried to make it without it (believe me I tried), but it's not as good! I still hate onions though😠
- Honey - there's something so delectable about the combo of honey and lemon juice. You're just going to have to try it and see what I mean. Thankfully this recipe can be made in 5 minutes so, go do it and find out!
- Xanthan gum - I do say in the recipe card that it's optional, but if you already have some xanthan gum around because you're a gluten free baker then it's no problem to take a little pinch and add it to this dressing. It does bind all the ingredients together into a creamy masterpiece that doesn't separate (totally worth it). But don't feel like you have to run to the store and buy some. Just shake up the dressing right before you serve it and you'll be fine.
- Poppy seeds - adds crunch, texture, and color. You need it to make this a well-rounded salad dressing.
Serving Suggestions
What to put this dressing on?
Any simple green salad will benefit from this delicious recipe. Try my Healthy 8 salad, salad bar, or salad bowl. Other ideas: strawberry spinach salad or other salads with berries or mandarin oranges.
Scroll down to read The Perfect Healthy Salad that Goes with this Dressing for my top recommendation.
How to Make Lemon Poppyseed Dressing
Just like most homemade dressings, this one couldn't be any easier.
Option 1. Add ingredients to a bowl and whisk together until blended.
Option 2. Add ingredients to a mason jar or other airtight container with a lid and shake.
Pour over your salad, savor it, adore it. Repeat (because you'll want to make this again)!
How to Store Creamy Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing
Since this delicious dressing is made with greek yogurt, it must be kept in the fridge. Store it in a mason jar or other airtight container that you can pour from easily.
Xanthan gum does help emulsify this and keep it thick and creamy, but if you don't normally use xanthan gum it can be left out. Just shake it each time you want to use it.
This is excellent to make when lemons go on sale, usually mid winter in the USA. Brighten a dreary winter day with this burst of sunshine 🌞
The Perfect Healthy Salad that Goes with this Dressing
I actually created this dressing to go with my Chopped Salad Recipe with Crispy Chickpeas and Cucumbers. And that led me to create not only the crispy air fried chickpeas recipe, but also the Gluten Free Breadcrumb topping recipe as well. It's a delicious rabbit hole of recipes that you won't mind diving into!
Creamy (and Healthy) Lemon Poppyseed Salad Dressing
The sweet flavor in this creamy dressing comes from honey, not sugar. Tangy lemon juice, crunchy poppyseeds, and creamy yogurt tastes just like a spoonful of sunshine!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
- Category: sauces, dressings, seasonings
- Diet: Low Calorie
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ⅛ teaspoon xanthan gum, optional
- 2 teaspoons poppyseeds
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a jar, or a salad dressing bottle.
- Stir briskly with a whisk or fork, or add the lid to the jar and shake vigorously until blended.
- Pour over your salad.
Notes
Notes: Remember, xanthan gum does help emulsify this and keep it thick and creamy, but if you don't normally use xanthan gum it can be left out. Just shake it each time you want to use it.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ cup
- Calories: 151
- Sugar: 3.7 g
- Sodium: 125.6 mg
- Fat: 14.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.6 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1.8 g
- Cholesterol: 8.4 mg
Roundup! 🤠
This recipe can be found in my Delicious Recipes with No Sugar roundup, and my Best Gluten Free Low Carb roundup.
