We Found the Best Oil Free Salad Dressing

Good oil free salad dressing does not have to be an oxymoron. Yes, traditional salad dressing is made with an acid and a fat (often oil). But if you’re skipping the oil for whatever reason—caloric or cholesterol concerns, or something else—there are oil free dressings available at the grocery store. You don’t have to settle for just sprinkling your salads with balsamic vinegar or lemon juice. 

That said, most of the oil free salad dressing we tried was really bad. In part, that’s because lots of them are sugar-free. They’re made with artificial sweeteners, which do not belong in salad dressing. Salad dressing should not taste like thick Crystal Light

But, after tasting 12, I’m happy to say there are three oil free dressings definitely worth a try. Whether you’re looking for oil free vegan salad dressing, soybean oil free salad dressing, seed oil free salad dressing, etc., check out the best oil free dressing to buy. 

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Plant Bomb Garlic Tahini

Best Garlicky

Plant Bomb Garlic Tahini

This ultra savory, super thick and creamy oil free salad dressing tastes a lot like the sauce you get with falafel. It’s made with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and vinegar, making it the most bare bones of all the no oil salad dressing brands we tried. And, in terms of its bona fides, it’s (*takes a deep breath*) vegan, paleo, plant based, non GMO, keto friendly, dairy free, and gluten free with no added sugars, no seed or vegetable oil, and no preservatives. You do need to like tahini. But if you do, you’re really going to love this oil free vegan salad dressing on hearty salad with plenty of mix-ins, drizzled onto fish, or, of course, served with falafel. One note: We tried and like the other Plant Bomb dressings, they just felt more like sauces or condiments than dressings.

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Bragg Oil Free Vinaigrette

Best Vinaigrette

Bragg Oil Free Vinaigrette

Unsurprisingly, this oil free salad dressing from apple cider vinegar producer, Bragg, is very apple cider vinegar forward. It’s bright, zippy, and just a little bit sweet. There are also tiny chunks of onion, which make it feel more homemade than a lot of the other dressings we tried. It’s the best vinaigrette-style oil free salad dressing around—perfect on a simple salad of mixed greens, though it’d also be great on a pasta salad. Looking for the stats? It’s vegan and organic, with just 3g of sugar and 15 calories per serving.

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Cindy’s Kitchen Sesame Ginger No Oil Added

Best of the Best

Cindy’s Kitchen Sesame Ginger No Oil Added

Cindy’s Kitchen is quickly becoming a new favorite salad dressing amongst Sporked staffers. And their no oil salad dressing is way up at the top of the list. It’s super sesame-forward—but without any sesame oil. Instead, this thick and creamy oil free dressing is made with tahini, tamari, roasted almonds, and other flavorings like ginger, vinegar (rice and white), and chives. It’s wonderfully savory—though you definitely need to like that sesame flavor. I’d drizzle this dressing onto an Asian-style chicken salad or use it in a wrap. It’s thick enough to use as a dip for veggies, too. It’s dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and 70 calories per serving with 3g of sugar. 

Credit: Liv Averett / Whole Foods

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Other oil free dressings we tried: Maple Grove Farms Sugar Free Balsamic Vinaigrette, Braswell’s Raspberry Vinaigrette, Walden Farms Raspberry Vinaigrette, Simple Girl Sweet Vinaigrette, Simple Girl Balsamic Vinaigrette, Simple Girl Citrus Ginger, Simple Girl Sweet Mustard, Plant Bomb Caribbean Peppa, Plant Bomb Thai Almond


About the Author

Justine Sterling

Justine Sterling is the editor-in-chief of Sporked. She has been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and is an avid at-home cook and snacker. Don’t worry, she’s not a food snob. Sure, she loves a fresh-shucked oyster. But she also will leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and loves a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients.

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