Two-Ingredient Salad Dressings for Lazy Salad Lovers

Sometimes I don’t feel like spending the big bucks on a fancy bottle of salad dressing. Other times, I can’t justify paying for a massive container of dressing I’ll only use a few times. When that happens, I whip together a two-ingredient salad dressing with things I already have on hand.

These combinations are quick, easy, and super tasty. If flavor and function are top priorities to you, grab these multipurpose ingredients and make some two-ingredient salad dressings of your own! And if you have your own suggestions for two-ingredient salad dressings, drop them in the comments!


Boursin + Balsamic Vinegar

Credit: Merc / Walmart / Amazon

Whisk or blend some Boursin cheese together with some balsamic vinegar for a creamy, tangy, herby salad dressing. This is perfect on a fall harvest salad with kale, candied pecans, and chunks of crisp apple. This combo is so good, you’ll also want to use it as a sandwich spread and dip.

Salsa + Crema Mexicana

Credit: Merc / Target / Walmart

I love a taco salad. And my favorite dressing for a taco salad? A mix of salsa and crema Mexicana. The creaminess and the tang are a match made in heaven. Can you just top your taco salad with salsa and crema Mexicana and call it a day? Obviously. But it feels so much fancier to mix them together and drizzle a creamy salsa salad dressing over your bowl.

Pesto + Cottage Cheese

Credit: Merc / Costco / Target

I know it sounds weird! I know! But mix together pesto and cottage cheese for a rich and herbaceous dressing. “But what about the curds, Jordan?” The curds are delicious! It’s like chunks of blue cheese in blue cheese dressing. An antipasto-inspired salad with mixed greens, cubes of salami, pepperoncini, and cherry tomatoes would taste delicious with this two-ingredient dressing.

Sweet Chili Sauce + Peanut Butter

Credit: Merc / World Market / Amazon

Combine a spoonful of peanut butter with sweet chili sauce for the perfect salad dressing for a classic Chinese chicken salad. The sweet chili sauce helps loosen the dressing and the peanut butter adds extra protein, nuttiness, and creaminess.

Tartar Sauce + Ketchup

Credit: Merc / Walmart / Target

You might be confused by this since it sounds more like a fried fish dipping sauce than a salad dressing. And I rarely buy tartar sauce because I’ve always found it lacks versatility, but that’s because I was looking at it all wrong. This would be great drizzled over a piece of grilled salmon on a bed of mixed greens. Have some shrimp in your freezer? Whip up a classic shrimp Louie salad! Surprisingly, tartar sauce and ketchup mixed together taste a lot like “special spread” or “burger sauce.” I use this to make a hamburger salad with some impossible meat, diced onion, chunks of pickles, and romaine. It might sound strange, but it is delicious.


About the Author

Jordan Myrick

Jordan is an L.A.-based writer and comedian who believes all food should come with extra sauce. When they're not writing for Sporked, Jordan is at the movies or sharing an order of french fries with their elderly chihuahua.