Name: The BEST Pumpkin Salad Dressing
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: ½ cup white balsamic vinegar; ¼ cup canned pumpkin puree; 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup; ½ teaspoon dijon mustard; ½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves; Pinch of garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; ¼ cup avocado oil, or other neutral tasting oil

If you have just 15 minutes, you have enough time to make this bright, fall-flavored vinaigrette! This simple Pumpkin Salad Dressing is made with white balsamic vinegar, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and other warm spices and flavors. It's the perfect way to top all of your favorite fall salads. I love to pair it with this hearty Pumpkin Couscous Salad, which is basically like fall on a plate!

A spoon scooping out some pumpkin salad dressing from a bowl.

With just 10 pantry ingredients, this pumpkin salad dressing is the ultimate fall flavor booster. Thanks to the pumpkin puree, the dressing also has a smooth and velvety texture that perfectly coats the vegetables and grains you drizzle it on top of, like on this simple Fall Cobb Wedge Salad!

The cinnamon is a great addition because it doesn’t add the typical sweetness. Instead, it just adds depth and warmth for a perfect sweet and savory balance. I also like to use white balsamic vinegar because it’s more neutral in flavor than a regular balsamic or apple cider vinegar. Therefore, it doesn't overpower the other flavors, letting the pumpkin shine through.

I love making my salad dressings from scratch. It allows you to remain in control of the ingredients, as well as the salt and sugar levels. Plus, they're usually incredibly easy to throw together. This pumpkin vinaigrette is one of my seasonal favorites, right up there with my year-round go-tos like this Maple Balsamic Salad Dressing and Greek Yogurt Ranch that I make constantly when pumpkin season ends!

And as an added benefit, there's no need to worry if you have leftover pumpkin puree because it'll give you the perfect excuse to whip up this super easy Apple Pumpkin Bread, made with fresh chopped apples, or these irresistible Pumpkin Bliss Balls for a perfect snack on the go!

Ingredients

Instructions

Pumpkin salad dressing ingredients whisked together in a bowl.

Step 1: Add all ingredients, besides oil, to a medium bowl or glass jar. Whisk to combine.

Step 2: While whisking, slowly stream in oil to help it combine.
Step 3: Shake jar or re-whisk in bowl just before serving. Serve drizzled on your favorite salads.

⭐️ Quick Tip! Make sure to slowly whisk in the oil as you pour it in. If you dump it in all at once, it won't incorporate into the dressing as nicely, leaving you with more oil and dressing separation. If you have an electric whisk, I even recommend blending the oil into the rest of the ingredients using this whisk for best results!

Maple pumpkin vinaigrette in a glass jar.

My Top Tips!

⭐️ This pumpkin dressing can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days!

⭐️ If you can’t find white balsamic at the grocery store, you can use sherry vinegar, white wine vinegar, or rice wine vinegar instead.

⭐️ This easy salad dressing can also be used as a chicken marinade! Just mix all ingredients together, add the chicken, and place in the fridge for a few hours (up to overnight) prior to cooking.