Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
on Apr 12, 2025, Updated Apr 19, 2025
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This sweet and creamy poppy seed dressing is perfect for spring and summer salads including this strawberry avocado spinach salad! The flavor is so much better than store bought poppyseed dressing and it uses Greek yogurt to keep it lighter and add a little tang.
If you love creamy salad dressing, try making my creamy balsamic dressing!
Why You’ll Love Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing
Easy to make – You don’t need any fancy ingredients or special equipment to make this homemade dressing and it only takes about 5 minutes to make!
Healthy poppy seed dressing – A lot of creamy dressings you buy at the store a loaded with oil and preservatives. This version of creamy poppy seed dressing uses primarily plain Greek yogurt with a little bit of mayonnaise added in for richness.
Versatile – Not only is this a great salad dressing, but you can also use it as a dip. I love dipping these everything bagel chicken tenders into it!
Ingredient Notes
Greek yogurt – Plain Greek yogurt is the base for this salad dressing. It adds protein and reduces the calories and fat. You can use any fat content, but I recommend low fat or whole milk Greek yogurt.
Mayonnaise – Use a good quality mayo for this dressing. Some mayonnaise has sugar in it, which I think alters the flavor. I like to use an avocado oil mayonnaise with minimal ingredients, similar to if you were making homemade.
Milk – Milk is used to thin out the dressing. Alternatively you can also use water.
Apple cider vinegar – Because the dressing is on the sweeter side you need the vinegar to balance it out. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar you can also use white vinegar.
Honey – The sweetener for the dressing. You can also use maple syrup.
Poppy seeds – The star ingredient in the dressing. Be sure to use fresh poppy seeds.
Onion powder – A little bit of onion powder gives you that onion flavor without the harsh bite of raw onion.
Salt – Salt balances and enhances all the flavors. The amount you use is up to you.
Tips for the Best Poppy Seed Dressing
- Use whole milk or low fat Greek yogurt for the richest and creamiest consistency.
- Use a good quality mayo such as Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Mayo.
- Make sure your poppy seeds are fresh. They can go rancid due to their high oil content. Store them in an airtight container in a dry dark space and replace them after 6 months. You can also store them in the fridge to help keep them from going rancid.
- Don’t skip the vinegar. The apple cider vinegar is what balances the sweetness in this dressing. Without it, it tastes flat and too sweet.
Substitutions and Variations
- If you don’t have honey or maple syrup you can use an equal amount of granulated sugar.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of dry mustard powder or garlic powder in place of the onion powder.
- For a rich and creamy dressing use whole milk Greek yogurt and instead of milk or water use half and half.
Storage
Store the Greek yogurt poppy seed dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days. I like to store mine in a glass jar with a lid.
You may need to shake or stir the dressing before using it if there’s any separation.
More Salad Dressing Recipes
If you love creamy salad dressings, do yourself a favor and make my healthy ranch dressing. And for a spin on that, my avocado ranch dressing. They both double as a great dipping sauce for buffalo chicken skewers and baked buffalo chicken tenders.
If you’ve never made your own Caesar dressing, start today and make my egg and anchovy-free homemade Caesar dressing. It pairs perfectly with my Caesar salad and grilled chicken Caesar salad.
Did you make this creamy poppy seed dressing? I’d love if you’d leave a recipe rating and review below.
Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise optional
- 3 tablespoons milk or water
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a bowl or jar. Whisk together until smooth then taste for seasoning.
- Store the dressing in a jar with a lid or other airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. Stir as needed before using.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
