Variety of salad dressings
Credit: Joe Lingeman

We Tried Every Bottled Salad Dressing We Could Get Our Hands On — These Were Our Favorites in Every Category

updated Apr 20, 2021
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The Kitchn team took on the intrepid task of taste-testing every single bottle of salad dressing in existence. While it takes virtually no time at all (plus a handful of pantry staples) to whip up a restaurant-level vinaigrette that’ll last you an entire week, dare we play devil’s advocate and say it also takes no time at all to throw a bottle of the pre-made stuff in your grocery cart? Our hopes for this experiment were to find all the great salad dressing-related shortcuts on the market.

How We Chose the Salad Dressings and How We Tested Them

In an effort to divide and conquer the dressings (there are so many out there!), each editor was assigned their own category: Balsamic, Blue Cheese, Caesar, French, Fruity, Greek, Italian, Honey Mustard, Ranch, and Thousand Island. We tried to cover the bases of all the salad dressings you might find in a buffet salad bar. From there, we sourced as many mainstream bottles within our categories as we could via regular grocery trips and our online shopping platforms of choice.

Dressings were then tested blindly, using (mostly) lettuce as the vehicle. Ultimately, each staffer chose a clear winner in their category and named runners up accordingly. The results will, like any great salad dressing, leave you positively puckered. Let’s take a look!

Credit: Lauren Masur

The Best Balsamic Vinaigrette

Lauren Masur tested balsamic vinaigrette, which is the dressing she picks nearly every time if given the choice. Of the nine bottles tested by her family of four, the winner was unanimous and uncontested. Here’s what Lauren had to say.

The Best Balsamic Vinaigrette: Kraft Balsamic Vinaigrette

As my family circled our kitchen table dipping pieces of lettuce into bowls of dressing (backwards salad!), we all kept returning to the same sample. This bottle was balanced, tangy (but not too much so), herby, pleasant, and, above all, the right level of emulsified. We couldn’t detect any gloopiness (from stabilizers), nor was there any unpleasant aftertaste. It also wasn’t too oily, too garlicky, or too acidic. As Goldilocks would say, this balsamic was just right. It tasted like the dressing you’d get if you went to an Italian-American red sauce joint and ordered a side salad. (The highest of compliments in my book.)

Buy: Kraft Balsamic Vinaigrette, $16.74 for three 16-ounce bottles

The Unexpected Runner Up: Primal Kitchen Balsamic Vinaigrette

Credit: Lauren Masur

My team of testers repeatedly reported that this option tasted light, fresh, tangy, and the all-important “homemade.” I attribute that last descriptor to the fact that it’s flecked with a hefty amount of dried herbs. While this was lighter-bodied compared to others we tried, it didn’t skimp when it came to that all-too-familiar balsamic zing. After the bottles identities were revealed, we were surprised to learn that this version, made with avocado oil, also happens to be Whole30-, keto-, and Paleo-compliant.

Buy: Primal Kitchen Balsamic Vinaigrette, $5.79 for 8 ounces at Target

Credit: Ariel Knutson

The Best Blue Cheese Dressing

Our Features Director, Arie Knutson, took on the wildly divisive blue cheese dressing category. Who knew that blue cheese was such a provocative ingredient? The real question, though, is if blue cheese dressing is a salad dressing or a wing dip. Of the seven bottles Arie tried, these were her winners.

The Best Blue Cheese Dressing: Ken’s Steak House Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing

If I were to boil down all of my hopes and dreams for the perfect blue cheese dressing, this would be it. Ken’s is the epitome of blue cheese dressing. This dressing is bold in its blue cheesiness, but the flavor is not overpowering. I think this is because it’s a little more balanced than the other dressings; it has a nice tang to it, but you also taste the earthy-sweetness of the blue cheese, garlic, and onion. It has the right consistency, too: It’s not too thin, chunky, or mayonnaise-y in its texture. It’s the kind of blue cheese dressing that you would associate with a really good wedge salad at an awesome steakhouse.

Buy: Ken’s Steak House Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing, $2.69 for 16 ounces at Target

The Delightfully Tangy Runner Up: Marie’s Chunky Blue Cheese

Credit: Ariel Knutson

When I tried this dressing by itself, I was really taken aback by how good it was. Compared to the other dressings, Marie’s blue cheese is delightfully tangy. And I think that’s because buttermilk is the second ingredient listed, which means the dressing maintains its creaminess, but it has more of azing to it than other brands.

Buy: Marie’s Chunky Blue Cheese, $4.29 for 12 ounces on Instacart (pricing and availability varies by location)

The Best Caesar Dressing

Lisa Freedman, Kitchn’s Lifestyle Director, managed to get her hands on 15 bottles of Caesar, proving just how popular this category has become. While these bottles were certainly not whipped up table-side by a waiter, Lisa managed to make this tasting feel like a momentous occasion nonetheless. Here are her top three and her thoughts.

The Best Caesar Dressing: Ken’s Steak House Creamy Caesar

The bottle says “This dressing is everything a great Creamy Caesar should be,” and the bottle is totally right! (Thanks, bottle!) The texture is spot-on (thick but not too thick) and the flavor has a brilliant brightness to it. My husband and I could taste the grated Parmesan and flecks of pepper. I actually had to check the ingredient list because I thought for sure the anchovies would have been listed higher up. If you went to an actual steakhouse and got a salad with this stuff, you would not be disappointed. Ditto for a salad at home. Additionally, I can say from experience that this Ken’s option is also great in this 3-Ingredient Baked Caesar Chicken.

Buy: Ken’s Steak House Creamy Caesar, $12.85 for two 16-ounce bottles

The Best Gourmet Caesar Dressing: Brianna’s Home Style Asiago Caesar Dressing

Caesar dressing, but make it fancy. That’s Brianna’s Home Style Asiago Caesar Dressing. Instead of Parmesan, Brianna’s is made with asiago (see? Fancy!). There are no anchovies listed in the ingredients, which means there’s no fishy flavor, but it’s so creamy and tangy, you won’t even miss it. The tang is enough to make your mouth just start to pucker but then it lets up (where as others we tried were so tangy, our throats started to burn!). If you’re looking for something fancy or, say, are the type of person to make your own croutons, go with Brianna’s.

Buy: Brianna’s Home Style Asiago Caesar Dressing, $3.29 for 12-ounces at Target

The Best Oil-Based Caesar Dressing: Ken’s Steak House Tableside Caesar

If you’re in the camp that doesn’t believe Caesar salad dressing needs to be creamy, this one may interest you. (Ken’s really dominates the Caesar dressing, apparently. It’s worth noting that we found four different Caesar dressings from Ken’s, and the brand actually makes seven!) All the other oil-based dressings we tried were too zingy, but this one was nice and balanced. (No burning!) It’s cheesy, garlicky, peppery, and has a hint of anchovy flavor. It does separate as it sits (but not as much as some of the others!), so be sure to shake up the bottle before each pour.

Buy: Ken’s Steak House Tableside Caesar, $7.47 for 16 ounces

Credit: Amelia Rampe

The Best French Dressing

Thanks to Studio Food Editor Amelia Rampe, we now have a definitive “best French dressing” to scout out whenever the need arises. Here’s what she had to say.

The Best French Dressing: Wish-Bone Creamy French Dressing

The Wish-Bone Creamy French Dressing brought me right back to the Sizzler salad buffet — in the best way possible. Its sweet-tang flavor was perfectly balanced. It had a really nice creamy color, and the best texture and pourability of all the dressings tested. This one I kept wanting to taste over and over again, despite the fact that I’m mildly allergic to soybean oil. This dressing kept singing until the very end.

Buy: Wish-Bone Creamy French Dressing, $1.77 for 15-ounces

The Slightly Less Sweet Runner Up: Annie’s Organic French Dressing

Credit: Amelia Rampe

This was less sweet than all the other brands and had a deeper savory tomato flavor than some of the other creamy versions. It lent the salad a nice savory balance. I do appreciate the organic ingredients and expeller pressed canola oil, which I prefer over soybean. Annie’s had a deeper red color than the other options, probably from the tomato paste.

Buy: Annie’s Organic French Dressing, $3.89 for 8 ounces on Instacart (pricing and availability varies by location)

Credit: Kelli Foster

The Best Fruity Salad Dressings

Associate Food Editor Kelli Foster wants to know “Why aren’t there more fruit-flavored dressings on the market other than raspberry?” Nevertheless, she Waldorf-style tasted her way through a dozen bottles of the stuff. Here are her thoughts.

The Best Raspberry Dressing: Newman’s Own Raspberry Walnut

Two factors made this the clear winner for me: It has the most tang of any dressing I tasted, which really helps to balance the sweetness, and it also contains little bits of walnut, which felt like a treat in my salad and added a nice nutty undertone to the flavor. Also, as a bonus, what’s not to like about a brand that donates its profits to charity? If I had to choose another raspberry dressing in a pinch, I’d go with Ken’s Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette — it was a very close call.

Buy: Newman’s Own Raspberry Walnut, $2.98 for 16-ounces at Walmart

The Best Non-Raspberry Fruity Dressing: Marzetti Tastefully Dressed Blackberry Poppyseed Dressing

Credit: Kelli Foster

There are so many raspberry salad dressing out there. But why are there not more blackberry salad dressings? There should be! I expected this dressing to be overwhelmingly sweet, and am happy to report that that was not the case at all. It definitely skews to the sweet side, but the fruitiness is well-balanced and slightly richer than what you’d get from raspberry salad dressing. It also has a nicely blended texture, without being sticky. 

More info: Marzetti Tastefully Dressed Blackberry Poppyseed Dressing, $5.79 for 12 ounces on Instacart (pricing and availability varies by location)

Credit: Sheela Prakash

The Best Greek Dressing

Sheela Prakash, Senior Contributing Food Editor and Kitchn’s expert on all things Mediterranean, got the Greek. She separated her dressings into two distinct categories: vinaigrette and creamy.

The Best Greek Dressing: Ken’s Steak House Simply Vinaigrette Greek

This was the most well-balanced of the bunch and delivered a lot of freshness for a bottled salad dressing — not too sweet or too sour. So I guess Ken’s knows how to make Greek dressing. It was nice and light, too, which means it drizzled and tossed well. And bonus points because it doesn’t contain any artificial flavors, preservatives, or high fructose corn syrup.

Buy: Ken’s Steak House Simply Vinaigrette Greek, $2.69 for 16-ounces at Target

The Best Creamy Greek Dressing: Christie’s Greek Dressing

Credit: Sheela Prakash

I realized only after testing that this brand is actually a bit more regional — it’s based in New England. Luckily, these days you can buy it on Amazon no matter where you live. As a kid, I’d dip carrots and cucumbers into this dressing as a snack and I was pleasantly surprised to find it just as nice and creamy, without being goopy, as I remembered. Close runner up: Ken’s Steakhouse Greek with Feta Cheese and Black Olives Dressing.

Buy: Christie’s Greek Dressing, $20 for two 8-ounce bottles

Credit: Grace Elkus
Kraft Tuscan House Italian Dressing

The Best Italian Dressing

Deputy Food Director, Grace Elkus, sourced 10 bottles of Italian dressing from a Kroger in Cincinnati, OH. For the fairest comparison possible, she avoided low-fat, light, and creamy options and stuck to those that most closely resemble “house” dressing.

The Best Italian Dressing: Kraft Tuscan House Italian Dressing

This dressing scored high marks in every category: taste, consistency, and appearance. It’s bold and punchy. And a splash of balsamic adds just a hint of sweetness, while a mix of spices and the addition of two cheeses (Parmesan and Romano) makes it decidedly savory. Even after sitting for a while, it doesn’t noticeably separate, and it instantly perks up lettuce. In fact, I could easily eat a side salad with just lettuce and this dressing — it packs enough punch to hold its own, no mix-ins needed.

Buy: Kraft Tuscan House Italian Dressing, $1.99 for 16-ounces at Target

The Runner Up: Newman’s Own Family Recipe Italian

Credit: Grace Elkus
Newman's Own Family Recipe Italian Dressing

This dressing stood out from the crowd with its savory, cheese-forward flavor. It contains less sugar than most, and far more flavor boosters: garlic, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste, paprika, fennel seed, and dried herbs, to name a few. While it tasted great on its own, it became muted a bit when tossed with salad, which is why it wasn’t our top winner.

Buy: Newman’s Own Family Recipe Italian, $2.99 for 16 ounces

Credit: Jesse Szewczyk

The Best Honey Mustard Dressing

You might have banished honey mustard to the category of dipping sauces, but did you know that it’s also a fairly ubiquitous salad dressing? Studio Food Editor Jesse Szewczyk did the honors of testing out a bunch.

The Best Honey Mustard Dressing: Brianna’s Home Style Dijon Honey Mustard Dressing

This dressing was the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. It has a strong, acidic bite from the Dijon mustard, and is just sweet enough to not be overwhelming. The sweetness (which comes from honey) perfectly balances the sharpness of the mustard, creating a robust dressing that is perfect for tossing on salad greens, but also gentle enough to eat as a dip or condiment. The texture is thick while still remaining pourable. You might notice, like I did, that the color is a bit green, which is not what I typically expect from a honey mustard dressing, but it doesn’t bother me. If you can’t find Brianna’s, Kraft Honey Mustard Dressing is the closest in comparison.

Buy: Brianna’s Home Style Dijon Honey Mustard Dressing, $3.29 for 12-ounces at Target

Best Honey Mustard If You Have a Sweet Tooth: Ken’s Steak House Honey Dijon Dressing

Credit: Jesse Szewczyk

I loved the fact that this is thick but not gluey, and the mustard flavor is bold and pleasantly punchy. But, because the mustard flavor was so strong, it balances out the sweetness of the honey. If you prefer your dressings to be more on the sweeter side, this is an excellent choice.

More info: Ken’s Steak House Honey Dijon

Credit: Meghan Splawn

The Best Ranch Dressing

Associate Food Editor Meghan Splawn is a self-professed ranch aficionado, so she was enthusiastically up for the task of testing a dozen bottles. She’s also admittedly a Hidden Valley Ranch devotee, so she swore to a blind tasting in an effort to remain unbiased.

The Best Ranch Dressing: Hidden Valley Ranch

Honestly, I was a little hopeful that we’d find a different ranch dressing to love considering just how much Hidden Valley we buy and eat in our house. I love it, the kids love it, and the flavor holds up against all the other bottled ranch dressings on the market. If you’ve ever considered other ranch dressings to be too sweet, I’d urge you to try this bottle. The flavor is buttermilk-forward with an even tang and plenty of herby flavor in a super-creamy dressing that will never, ever let you down. 

Buy: Hidden Valley Ranch, $4.29 for 16 ounces at Target

The Surprising Runner Up: Litehouse Homestyle Ranch

Credit: Meghan Splawn

Litehouse Homestyle Ranch almost usurped Hidden Valley as our house salad dressing, because it is super flavorful without much sweetness. This refrigerator-section ranch really does taste fresh and has a very herb-forward flavor and appearance. Dare I say, this tastes like everything you wish that homemade ranch would be.

Buy: Litehouse Homestyle Ranch, $3.89 for 12-ounces at Target

Credit: Faith Durand

The Best Thousand Island Dressing

Our Editor-in-Chief, Faith Durand, took on the final task of tasting Thousand Island dressings — that salad bar classic, a condiment Frankenstein of mayonnaise, ketchup, egg, and relish. She hunted down about a dozen bottles to try, and tasted them not just with lettuce, but also with corned beef from the deli. Because, after all, Thousand Island and its cousin, Russian dressing, are really best known as the “secret sauces” of sandwiches like the Big Mac and the classic reuben. To really evaluate Thousand Island, you need to try it on something a little heartier. Here’s what she found.

The Best Thousand Island Dressing: Marzetti Thousand Island Dressing

I live just down the street from one of Marzetti’s distribution centers, but I swear I’m not biased to this hometown company) This dressing was the thickest I tried by far. It was the only one with discernible nubs of pickled relish, and the vigorous tang of vinegar. The mayo and the ketchup ingredients were in good balance and the whole experience was rather delightful on the meat, especially. I am not the hugest of Thousand Island dressing fans, but I can imagine a hundred uses for such a zesty, delicious sauce in my kitchen.

Buy: Marzetti Thousand Island Dressing, $3.99 for 15 ounces via Instacart (availability varies by location)

Your turn! What did we miss? Which salad dressings deserve a place on this list? Do tell!