Sweetgreen Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe Made Easy

The Sweetgreen Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe is the key to that tangy-sweet, almost creamy dressing that makes every salad taste like it was made by a restaurant. 

After getting hooked on the Sweetgreen Harvest bowl dressing, I was determined to duplicate it at home with the pantry staples I always have. 

The taste is zesty and harmonious — a combination of balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, and olive oil that makes even the most ordinary greens to be very appealing. What I adore the most is its adaptability. 

A little bit of it over my Sweetgreen Harvest bowl dupe, which is full of roasted sweet potatoes, apples, and toasted almonds, and suddenly my lunch feels luxurious. 

Sweetgreen’s salad dressings have a very expensive feel, but this one can be prepared in less than five minutes. Take a jar, shake it, and get ready to make basic salads so delicious that they can be called crave-worthy.

What Is Balsamic Vinaigrette?

Balsamic vinaigrette is basically a salad dressing that is made by mixing balsamic vinegar with oil, which is usually a neutral one like sunflower or olive oil, and also adding some flavors like Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.

The vinegar gives the dressing a sharp but somewhat sweet taste, while the oil smooths it out and provides a silky mouthfeel. Mustard serves as an emulsifier, so to speak, allowing the ingredients to become a thick, uniformly colored dressing that the oil and vinegar are mixed well into.

This kind of vinaigrette is versatile and compatible with leafy greens, roasted vegetables, grain bowls, or salads like the Sweetgreen Harvest bowl. 

It happens to be a crucial ingredient in those light but flavorful dressings that are common in many Sweetgreen salad dressing recipes, imparting your salads with a fresh, bright taste without weighing them down. 

A balsamic vinaigrette that is made properly has the ability to elevate a plain rice bowl or autumn harvest salad to something really so delicious, just like a Sweetgreen Harvest bowl dupe at home.

It is a simple and fast process to make, and it takes up minimal space in the fridge and is therefore great for meal preparation, so that anyone who loves fresh, delicious salads will consider it a kitchen essential.

Quick Sweetgreen Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe Guide

Recipe Overview

A simple Sweetgreen Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe made with balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, sunflower oil, salt, and ground black pepper. Perfect as Sweetgreen salad dressing recipes for any rice bowl or harvest salad.

• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Cook time: none
• Total time: 5 minutes
• Cuisine: American salad dressing
• Course: Dressing / Sauce
• Difficulty: Easy
• Yield: About 1 cup
• Calories: Around 90 calories per tablespoon

Ingredients for Sweetgreen Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

This is the exact ingredient ratio that keeps the dressing creamy and balanced.

• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• ½ cup sunflower oil
  You can swap sunflower oil with olive oil.
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Ingredient Notes:

• Sunflower oil keeps the dressing light.
• Honey gives a mild sweetness like the Sweetgreen balsamic vinaigrette.
• Dijon mustard helps the ingredients stay mixed.

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Add liquids

Pour balsamic vinegar into a bowl or a mason jar.

2. Add flavor base

Add honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and ground black pepper.

3. Whisk or shake

Whisk while slowly adding sunflower oil
or
Close the jar lid and shake until creamy.

4. Taste and adjust

If you want it sweeter → add a small amount of honey.
If you want more depth → add a pinch of salt.

5. Chill before serving

Place in the fridge for 15 minutes.
The flavors come together while chilling.

Pairing & Serving Suggestions

Use this Sweetgreen balsamic vinaigrette recipe for:

• A rice bowl with wild rice, sweet potato, chicken, and goat cheese
• A harvest salad for autumn harvest meal prep lunches
• Sweetgreen Harvest bowl dupe with apple slices and warm rice

It pairs well with:

• Grilled chicken
• Roasted sweet potato cubes
• Quinoa or wild rice bowls
• Crumbled goat cheese

My Personal Notes & Tips

• Shake the jar before each use.
• Store in a sealed jar inside the fridge.
• It stays good for up to 5 days.
• If oil solidifies in the fridge, leave it at room temp for a few minutes.

I add a spoonful of balsamic vinaigrette to warm rice bowls. The warm rice makes the dressing turn silky and coats the grains. That moment feels like a Bowl Sweetgreen at home.

Variations

• Add a small garlic clove (micro-grated).
• Swap honey with maple syrup.
• Add crushed red pepper for heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Video Tutorial

Closing Words

Sweetgreen Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe is the dressing that I use for all my salads at home. This dressing is made with ingredients that I have in my pantry and it tastes just like the original Sweetgreen Harvest bowl dressing.

It goes well with the Sweetgreen Harvest bowl toppings such as roasted sweet potato, apples, and wild rice. 

When I want lunch ready in no time, I usually make a Sweetgreen Harvest bowl dupe, and this is the dressing I use. Every time, whether it is a simple rice bowl or a full autumn harvest salad, I get a fresh, flavorful salad as a result.