This easy Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing is light and creamy with the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. It’s a delicious way to wake up the flavors of any salad!

❤️ Why You’ll Love this Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe

• Creamy texture and lemony flavor
• Just as good as store-bought, without all the carbs
• Easy to make in just 5 minutes
• Family friendly and sugar-free

This recipe is the perfect example of how fresh ingredients can make all the difference in salad dressing recipes. Even the best brands, store-bought salad dressings can’t come close to the bright and fresh flavors of homemade. Plus, making your own also ensures you know exactly what you’re eating.

This healthy poppy seed dressing is a delicious cross between a vinaigrette, like this Lemon Vinaigrette and a creamy dressing like this Honey Mustard Dressing. The result is a light and bright dressing that’s so delicious and full of flavor that will fit perfectly into a Keto or any low carb lifestyle.

Unlike most store-bought salad dressings, that have added sugar and are made with canola oil, this recipe uses avocado oil as a base and gets its sweetness from sugar-free honey for a healthy version you can feel good about serving.

🛒 What’s in Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

• Lemon juice
• Heavy cream
• Avocado oil
• Sugar-free Keto honey
• Poppy seeds
• Onion
• Dijon mustard
• Salt
• Ground black pepper

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• Immersion blender

🔪 How to Make Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

Add all the ingredients except for the poppy seeds into the bowl of an immersion blender or mini chopper.

Blend until everything is well combined.

Add in the poppy seeds and pulse briefly.

Serve over your favorite salad and store leftovers in an airtight jar in the fridge.

Can You Eat Poppy Seed Dressing on Keto?

When you look at the label on most any traditional store-bought poppy seed dressing, the first three ingredients are, canola oil, water and sugar, which means they are not a good option for Keto.

With this recipe, we swap out the unhealthy ingredients with all low carb and 100% Keto-friendly ones that makes this a healthier version that you’ll want to make a permanent place for in your fridge.

What Does Poppy Seed Dressing Go Well With?

One of the most popular ways to serve this dressing is drizzled over fresh salad. It is especially delicious on Strawberry Spinach Salad. But it’s not just great on salad. You can drizzle it over grilled chicken or roasted veggies.

For a simple yet tangy and delicious snack, you can spoon a little over mixed berries. The contrast in flavors tastes amazing.

How Long is Poppy Seed Dressing Good For?

As long as it is kept in an airtight container in the fridge, it should stay fresh for up to a week. The oil may try to separate from the dairy so store it in a container with a tight-fitting lid. Then just give it a good shake to reincorporate the ingredients before serving it.

What Does Poppy Seed Dressing Taste Like?

Though it’s a super simple recipe, the flavors are rich and complex. You get a little tartness from the lemons, sweetness from the sugar free honey and the perfect amount of tanginess from the Dijon mustard. The heavy cream rounds out the flavors and gives it a velvety smooth texture.

Tips for Making the Best Poppyseed Dressing

• Quality oil: When making home vinaigrettes or dressings you will want to use the best quality oil, whether it’s avocado or olive oil. Also, make sure you check the “best by” date on the bottle.

• Fresh lemons: Even though it is super convenient to buy bottled lemon juice, you can not beat the flavors of fresh lemon juice. Trust me, it is worth the extra effort.

• Cream, not milk: Heavy cream contains healthy fat that the dressing needs for texture and to add creaminess. You can also use a little full fat Greek Yogurt, but it will change the flavor and thickness of the dressing. Milk does not work well in this recipe, even if it’s full fat milk.

• Taste as you go: Adjust the flavors to suit your own preference. If you want it sweeter you can add more honey substitute. If you’re a huge lemon fan like I am, you can add more juice. I even like to add the zest to it sometimes.

More Keto Salad Dressing Recipes

• Avocado Lime Cilantro Ranch
• Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette
• Raspberry Vinaigrette
• Creamy Balsamic
• Thousand Island
• Caesar
• Creamy Garlic Italian
• Classic Ranch