Homemade Pesto Vinaigrette adds a delicious pop of flavor to any of your favorite salads or sides. Made with a simple combination of olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, basil pesto, and fresh garlic, it’s easy to make and so much better than store bought!

It’s no secret that I’m a huge salad lover. And as a salad lover, naturally I’m a salad dressing lover! And as a salad dressing lover… NOTHING beats homemade.

From French Dressing to Caesar Dressing to Balsamic Vinaigrette and Honey Mustard, homemade dressings are the key to the best salads ever. And this Pesto Vinaigrette is no exception.

I originally made it for my Basil Pesto Panzanella, and when I made it again recently I remembered just how delicious it really is. Because the pesto gives it SO much flavor you hardly need any other seasonings!

It’s like a toned down, drizzleable pesto that loads your salads with deliciousness. Made with 6 ingredients (including the salt & pepper) and ready in minutes… there’s no reason NOT to make it!

what you’ll need for this recipe

Olive oil – Extra virgin olive oil works best for vinaigrettes. You can also use a lighter olive oil OR substitute your favorite flavored olive oil for extra deliciousness.

White balsamic vinegar – White balsamic vinegar balances out the olive oil to create a slightly sweet, slightly acidic flavor profile. Substitute white wine vinegar or lemon juice if you prefer.

Pesto – Basil pesto adds delicious flavor to this vinaigrette. I used my easy homemade pesto, but you can also use store bought. My favorite store bought brand is Delallo Simply Pesto.

Garlic – I added 3 cloves of fresh minced garlic for an extra pop of flavor.

Salt & pepper – A pinch of salt & pepper is all you need to round out the flavors in this recipe.

how to make pesto vinaigrette

Making homemade pesto vinaigrette couldn’t be easier! Simply combine the ingredients in a mason jar and shake vigorously for 30 seconds to combine and emulsify. You can also use an immersion blender to make the blending process even quicker and easier.

Recipe Variations

The best part of making your own salad dressing is that you can adjust it according to your own personal tastes. These are some of our favorite substitutions:

Substitute garlic or basil flavored olive oil (or any of your favorite flavored oils)
Use sun dried tomato pesto for a fun flavor twist
Substitute garlic powder for fresh minced garlic
Add a squeeze of lemon juice OR substitute lemon juice for the white balsamic vinegar
Add additional seasonings, such as onion powder, dried basil, or Italian seasoning
Add fresh minced onion or shallot
Add fresh chopped basil

Ways to Use Pesto Vinaigrette

Pesto Vinaigrette adds amazing flavor to any salad, but these are some of our personal favorites!