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Home › Recipes
14 Comments

Green Salad with Creamy Mayo Vinaigrette

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Updated: Jul 9, 2023

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Sometimes a simple green salad is the only partner you need for your favorite dinner recipe. When that’s the case, top your salad with this simple, 1-minute Creamy Mayo Vinaigrette to create a classic house salad that is sure to become your signature dish!

simple lettuce & tomato salad with old fashioned, creamy may dressing


There is nothing quite as versatile as a simple green salad. It’s an easy go-to that perfectly rounds out almost every meal. But just because the salad is simple doesn’t mean your dressing can’t be special.

Liven things up with this easy mayonnaise-based vinaigrette. It’s so good, I call it my “house dressing”! It’s creamy without being heavy, and with the time it takes for you take the top off the Ranch, you can have a light & tangy, crave-worthy homemade dressing that adds pizzazz without being overwhelming.

full shot of salad and dressing to that they are served together

Ingredients for Salad & Mayo Dressing

  • butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce
  • tomatoes
  • green onions
  • green bell pepper
  • real mayonnaise
  • red wine vinegar
  • sugar
  • salt & pepper
creamy mayo vinaigrette ingredients

How to Make Creamy Mayo Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

After prepping and chopping your salad ingredients, add mayo, red wine vinegar, sugar, salt & pepper to a glass jar (like a canning jar). Screw the lid on tightly and shake until all ingredients are mixed.

When ready to serve your salad, simply pour the dressing over prepared the lettuce, tomatoes, pepper and onions. Toss the salad and dressing together until all ingredients are coated well. Add a little cracked pepper to your salad and serve!

Don’t have a canning jar? No problem, just whisk the dressing ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.

creamy mayo dressing tip
how to make creamy mayo vinaigrette

Why We Love This Dressing

I seriously consider this recipe my go-to “house salad & dressing” for every occasion. And when I serve it, I am constantly giving away the recipe. The secret to its success is a simple one– it’s a nostalgic nod to a salad we all ate growing up at potlucks, church picnics, even family get-togethers. One taste and you’ll know. There’s nothing better than food that takes you back.

pouring mayo dressing on green salad

Also, it goes with everything. I mean, for real everything. From broiler burgers and crock pot BBQ chicken thighs to comfort dishes like Southern Cottage Meat & Potatoes Pie or Easy One Pot Beef Stroganoff. Even American-Italian favorites like Classic Lasagna and Ultimate Baked Spaghetti dance off the plate when paired with this green salad and creamy mayo vinaigrette.

up close of green salad with creamy mayo dressing to show ingredients and texture

And lastly, this straightforward salad leaves plenty of room to add in extra veggie favorites like the ones below if the mood strikes. With so many ways to mix it up, you don’t have to serve or eat the same salad twice! One recipe, lots of mileage.

  • carrots
  • red cabbage
  • radishes
  • cubed cheddar
  • avocado
  • boiled eggs
  • bacon
  • croutons

If You Make This Recipe, I Can’t Wait To Hear About It!

Leave A Comment & Rating Below Or Snap A Photo To Share.

Tag me on Instagram at #southerndiscourse
simple lettuce & tomato salad with old fashioned, creamy may dressing

Green Salad with Creamy Mayo Vinaigrette

Sometimes a simple green salad is the only partner you need for your favorite dinner recipe. When that's the case, top your salad with this simple, 1-minute Creamy Mayo Vinaigrette to create a classic house salad that is sure to become your signature dish.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: classic, southern favorite
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 people
Author: Stacey | SouthernDiscourse.com

Ingredients

  • 4 hearts butter lettuce, or small head iceberg lettuce
  • 3-4 Roma tomatoes,
  • 1 small green bell pepper, diced
  • 3-4 green onions, sliced

Creamy Mayo Dressing

  • ¼ cup real mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Chop salad ingredients and place in a large serving bowl.
  • Add dressing ingredients to a glass jar. Screw lid on tightly and shake until all ingredients are mixed.
  • When ready to serve salad, pour dressing over prepared the lettuce, tomatoes, pepper and onions in serving bowl. Toss salad and dressing together until all ingredients are coated well. Serve.
simple lettuce & tomato salad with old fashioned, creamy may dressing
Did you make my Green Salad with Creamy Mayo Vinaigrette?Show me how it went! Share on Instagram, tag @southerndiscourse, and use the hashtag #SouthernDiscourse!
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Sometimes a simple green salad is the only partner you need for your favorite dinner recipe. When that's the case, top it with this simple, 1-minute Creamy Mayo Vinaigrette to create a classic house salad that is sure to become your signature dish!

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Filed Under: Recipes, Salads, Sauces & Dressings Tagged With: southern classics

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Avatar photoSandra Souza

    February 27, 2022 at 1:09 am

    5 stars
    This salad dressing is so vibrant,fresh,and surprisingly light. So many times…less is more. Four easy ingredients and you have an easy and very tasty homemade dressing.

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      February 28, 2022 at 11:01 am

      Hi, Sandra! Thank you so much! I am so with you on this. This easy dressing & salad has become one of our constant go-tos here at the cottage. It might just be my favorite of all time!

      Reply
  2. Avatar photoRam

    May 25, 2023 at 2:13 pm

    Nice recipe, but the measurement is not in grams. Would be great if grams and milli liters are also an option.

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      May 27, 2023 at 8:14 pm

      Hi, Ram! Thanks! Google has some great conversion tools. I hope you get a chance to make this salad!

      Reply
  3. Avatar photoDawn Taylor

    April 5, 2024 at 5:59 am

    5 stars
    I have always love mayo dressing, but this kicks it up a notch from good to great!

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      April 25, 2024 at 12:53 pm

      Hi, Dawn! Yay! Thank you so much! This makes my day!

      Reply
  4. Avatar photoKyrah

    December 24, 2024 at 5:48 pm

    5 stars
    This is so yummy! It was a hit at the party we brought it to. So much flavor! We used iceberg lettuce, cherry tomato’s, cucumbers and red onion instead of the other suggested ingredients. nThank you for sharing this amazing recipe. I plan to use it for many gatherings to come.

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      December 24, 2024 at 6:58 pm

      Hi, Kyrah! You are so welcome! Love your salad ingredients! I am just tickled everyone loved it. Thank you!

      Reply
  5. Avatar photoMargaret Tau

    February 17, 2025 at 5:29 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect! I added poppy seeds!!

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      March 25, 2025 at 4:25 pm

      Hi, Margaret! Love that!! Thank you so much!

      Reply
  6. Avatar photoLinda j Lewis

    February 25, 2025 at 11:57 am

    5 stars
    This is the best salad I have made in along time will be making it often,

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      March 25, 2025 at 1:44 pm

      Hi, Linda! This puts a big a smile on my face! Love it!

      Reply
  7. Avatar photoPat

    May 20, 2025 at 9:00 pm

    5 stars
    My Husband loved your dressing recipe. It’s high praise from him. We made it with our favorite salad toppings. Thanks again for your amazing simple recipe! 🙂

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      May 23, 2025 at 11:44 am

      Hi, Pat! You are so very welcome! I am just tickled you liked it!

      Reply

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Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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