Sweet Strawberry Basil Balsamic Dressing Recipe

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Last Updated on January 16, 2026 by Stephanie Gilpin

Sweet strawberry basil balsamic dressing is perfect for a delicious strawberry spinach salad.

lettuce, strawberries, cheese on white plate with strawberry dressing

Made with good quality basic pantry staples, replacing store-bought salad dressing has never been easier. 

The addition of fresh basil in this deliciously sweet balsamic vinaigrette delivers a punch of fresh herbs that cuts through the sweetness of the fresh fruits.

After learning just how simple it is to make your own sweet balsamic dressing from simple ingredients and tasting its rich flavor; you will never want to reach for the tasteless store-bought stuff from the grocery store ever again. 

What You Need:

  • Fresh Strawberries add a bright fruity sweetness
  • Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (or other neutral oil) provides a rich flavor to the dressing 
  • White Balsamic Vinegar gives a fruity and sharp vinegar tang to the dressing
  • Honey for a delicate sweet flavor to balance the vinegar and herbs
  • Salt brightens all of the other flavors
  • Fresh Black Pepper adds a punch of spice
  • Fresh Basil pairs beautifully with the strawberries and adds a lot of flavor
  • Mason Jar
  • Immersion Blender or Food Processor
strawberries in a black wire bowl

Ingredients:

2 cups hulled strawberries

1/4 cup neutral oil

1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar

2-3 tablespoons honey

1/2 tsp salt (to taste)

1/4 tsp fresh cracked black pepper (to taste)

How to Make Sweet Strawberry Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette:

Remove the green tops from the strawberries and place in a pint mason jar.

Add the remaining ingredients to the glass jar.

Blend with an immersion blender until full pureed and smooth. Alternatively, you could use a food processor. 

Give it a good shake and serve on top of a strawberry spinach salad or your favorite salad greens and fixings.

Store leftovers in an airtight container.

Storage:

This homemade salad dressing is tastiest when used fresh but can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week.

Substitutions:

Missing an ingredient? No problem! Try swapping out a handful of ingredients to make your own delicious homemade vinaigrette dressings.

Maple Syrup- try swapping honey for maple syrup to add some maple flavor. 

Aged Balsamic vinegar- swap out the white balsamic vinegar for aged balsamic vinegar, traditional balsamic vinegar or even red wine vinegar to make a variety of homemade dressings. 

Fruits – swap out strawberries for peaches or raspberries for endless fruity vinaigrette dressing combinations.

Ways to Serve Sweet Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing:

Serve as dressing over a strawberry spinach salad with feta, candied pecans and fresh shallots.

Create a tangy fruit or pasta salad and mix in the dressing with similarly bright zippy fruits such as peaches and pineapples. 

Cook the dressing down with a little brown sugar to make a balsamic glaze and serve over grilled chicken. 

Storing a Large Batch:

This sweet balsamic vinaigrette recipe is great to make in a big batch for your spring and summer barbecues and dinner parties. 

While a pint glass jar of dressing will go a long way, you can double or triple the recipe and store in large bottles for an easy make ahead party food. 

Watch the Step by Step Process Here:

Full Printable Recipe:

lettuce, strawberries, cheese on white plate with strawberry dressing

The Best Strawberry Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

Deliciously sweet and tangy, this strawberry basil balsamic vinaigrette is the perfect complement to grilled chicken on a bed of spinach, sliced strawberries and sharp cheese.
Prep Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups strawberries tops removed
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
  • 2-3 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp fresh black pepper

Instructions

  • 1. Remove tops from strawberries.
  • 2. Add all of the ingredients to a jar.
  • 3. Blend with an immersion blender until smooth.
  • 4. Drizzle over top of your favorite salad greens.

Author

  • Stephanie author of garden of mirth blog

    Hi, I’m Stephanie, the creator and author behind Garden of Mirth. I’m a home cook with a deep love for cooking from scratch, baking with sourdough, and growing as much of our food as I can right at home. My passion is creating easy, wholesome meals that the whole family will love—whether that looks like a flaky homemade biscuit, long-fermented sourdough bread, or the most delicious tomato pie you’ve ever tasted. I’m inspired by the rhythm of the seasons, the fruits and vegetables I grow, freshly milled grains, and the slow, nourishing process of sourdough fermentation. At Garden of Mirth, you’ll find a blend of old-fashioned recipes passed down through generations and new creations inspired straight from my garden. Whole-food cooking paired with family traditions is truly my jam, and my goal is to help you feel confident making real food at home—food that brings people together around the table. Whether you’re here to learn sourdough, cook from scratch, or use what’s growing in your own backyard, I’m so glad you’re here.

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