This light honey lime vinaigrette whips up in minutes! Using fresh ingredients like lime juice, honey and fresh cilantro, the tangy flavor of this lime honey dressing and marinade will become a family favorite!
This cilantro lime vinaigrette is quickly made homemade salad dressing using healthy ingredients you probably have on hand.
The fresh flavor of this dressing pairs great with savory salads, fresh fruit salad, grilled chicken, beef or pork, and seafood too!
Why You Will Love This Recipe for Lime Vinaigrette
- Homemade Dressing – Homemade dressings are always superior to their store-bought dressings!
- Real Ingredients – Using a handful of ingredients; honey, fresh lime, oil, garlic, and cilantro.
- Marinade – A delicious salad dressing and marinade recipe you will make on repeat; it works on so many salads and proteins, too!
I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!
Simple Ingredients for Lime Honey Dressing
- Lime | Use minced lime zest and fresh lime juice for a tangy, brightening taste with a Caribbean salad vibe.
- Honey | Adds a touch of natural sweetness and tones down the acidity in the lime; use local honey! Yum!
- Seasonings | Season with freshly ground black pepper, kosher salt, and cumin.
- Garlic | Add a fresh garlic clove, minced or pressed, in a pinch, sub garlic powder.
- Oil | I use mild-tasting avocado oil, but vegetable oil or extra virgin olive oil will also work great.
- Cilantro | Cilantro adds a great texture and flavor to this easy dressing, but if you dislike it, leave it out!
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make Lime Vinaigrette
In a mason jar with a tight lid or in a small bowl, combine all dressing ingredients. Add dressing ingredients to jar, shake with lid and enjoy!
Different ways to blend lime honey dressing
If a smoother dressing is desired, add to a blender, use an immersion blender or food processor, and whir until smooth.
Storage Tips
Store the lime vinaigrette in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve, preferably at least 30 minutes for best results! Allow the dressing to come to room temperature (about 20-30 minutes) before serving on your favorite salads.
My favorite meat thermometer
- I love this Meater wireless meat thermometer
Fresh Tips
- If using olive oil for the dressing, remember to remove the jar or container from the fridge about 30 minutes before using it because it will harden in the refrigerator.
- Always shake or stir the dressing before adding it to a recipe.
- This cilantro honey lime dressing becomes more and more flavorful as it sits in the refrigerator. Try making it ahead and serving it the next day to see for yourself!
Check out more of my tasty salad dressing recipes, like this creamy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, Homemade Green Goddess Salad Dressing, fruity Pomegranate Salad Dressing Recipe, and tangy Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing.
Variations & Substitutions
- Add zip: If more zip is desired, add chopped jalapeno peppers, Dijon mustard to the cilantro vinaigrette.
- Keto Cilantro Lime Dressing: For a low-carb version of this delicious dressing, omit the honey and replace it with a couple of teaspoons of Monk fruit sugar replacement or this Keto honey.
- Vegan Lime Dressing: Omit the honey and replace it with maple syrup or your favorite plant-based sweetener.
- Spicy Cilantro Honey-Lime Dressing: Turn up the heat with seeded and coarsely chopped fresh jalapeno peppers.
- Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing: Add plain Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, or sour cream to make a creamy version of this simple salad dressing.
- Fruit Salad Dressing: Think outside the box; this dressing is delicious with your favorite fruits or on this tropical fruit salad – just omit the cilantro.
Healthy Twist
This lime honey dressing and marinade contains less sodium and just a touch of sea salt; you get all the zip and zest you need from all natural ingredients making it a great salad dressing and marinade for a heart-healthy diet.
Frequently Asked Questions
If using olive oil, use a high-quality, extra virgin olive oil. Smoother neutral oils, like canola oil or avocado oil, balance the flavors better in this simple dressing.
Yes, you can substitute cilantro with other herbs like parsley, basil, mint, or a combination of herbs based on your preference. This can alter the flavor profile of the dressing, so feel free to experiment and find your favorite combination.
Yes, you can make cilantro honey lime dressing in advance. Allowing the flavors to meld together by refrigerating it for a few hours or overnight can enhance the taste.
8 Ways to use Lime Honey Dressing
- Salad dressing: Toss it with mixed leafy greens, try it on my Mexican Chopped Salad – a meal in itself!
- Marinade: Use it for chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, or tofu. Let the protein marinate for 30 minutes to a few hours to absorb the flavors before grilling, baking, or sautéing.
- Drizzle over grilled vegetables: Brush the lime honey dressing over vegetables such as zucchini, bell peppers, and asparagus to add a tangy and sweet glaze.
- Tacos and wraps: Drizzle the dressing over tacos, burritos, or wraps for a burst of flavor. It pairs well with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or fish tacos.
- Vegetable Dip: Serve the vinaigrette with crudite and fresh vegetables like carrot sticks, cucumber slices, and bell pepper strips.
- Grilled fruit: Brush the dressing onto halved peaches, pineapples, or watermelon slices before grilling them. The combination of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors is delightful.
- Grain bowl or Buddha bowl: Use the dressing as a sauce for a grain bowl or Buddha bowl. Drizzle it over cooked quinoa or brown rice, along with roasted vegetables, avocado, and protein of your choice.
- Sandwich spread: Spread the honey lime dressing on sandwiches or wraps to add flavor.
Remember, these are just a few suggestions, and you can always get creative and experiment with different dishes to discover new ways to use honey lime dressing. Let me know your favorite!
TOP TIP
Let it marinate for better flavor. Allow the dressing to sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before using it to let the flavors meld together, a day ahead is even better.
Best Salads for Honey Lime Cilantro Dressing Recipe
This salad dressing is perfect for a taco salad, like this Mexican Chopped Salad, a classic and Easy Italian Chopped Salad Recipe, and this Hearty Chicken Cobb Salad.
Best Healthy Mexican Chopped Salad with Lime Dressing
A Healthy Mexican Chopped Salad recipe with honey lime dressing full of fresh corn, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, jicama, and black beans.
Best Mexican Fruit Salad Recipe
This Mexican fruit salad recipe is refreshing, and bursting with juicy and sweet fruits that will make your taste buds salsa dance! Tropical fruits paired with citrus, strawberries, and grapes in a light honey-lime Tajin dressing.
Best Easy Italian Chopped Salad Recipe
Loaded Italian chopped salad with fresh veggies, salami, provolone, kalamata olives, and homemade Italian vinaigrette. A light and delicious meal that will make you love salads!
Best Entrees to Serve with Lime Vinaigrette
Serve with these Mexican Barbacoa Tacos, this Southwest Chicken Soup and these authentic Mexican Chicken Fajitas.
Southwest Chicken Soup
This 10 minute prep, one-pot Southwest Chicken Soup is a fiesta in every spoonful!
Southwestern soup is hearty, easy, and flavorful chicken taco soup! Olé!
Get the easy recipe below!
Mexican Barbacoa Tacos
Simple and tasty, Mexican Barbacoa Beef. Slow-cooked in a savory, spicy (but not hot) sauce with loads of fresh taco toppings. Make delicious Chipotle-style Mexican Barbacoa Street Tacos.
Authentic Mexican Chicken Fajitas
An Authentic Mexican Chicken Fajita Recipe that’s bursting with flavor! Our Fajitas de Pollo, with perfectly marinated and sautéed chicken, bell peppers, and onions.
More Delicious Sauces and Dressings
- Rocky Mountain Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe
- Zesty Italian Salad Dressing Recipe
- Easy Nut-Free Basil Pesto Sauce Recipe
- Best Homemade Italian Marinara Sauce Recipe
I hope you loved this Lime Honey Dressing — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest?
And please come back and comment and rate below — it really helps me and other readers!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lime zested
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice about 2-3 limes
- 1-2 tablespoons honey omit if low carb, replace with sugar free honey or similar
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup avocado oil or your favorite oil, any vegetable oil or even extra virgin olive oil*
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped, optional
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a jar, combine all dressing ingredients, cover and shake to combine, or whir for a second in a blender, food processor or with immersion blender. *Note, if using olive oil for the dressing, remember to remove it from the fridge about 30 minutes before using; the olive oil will harden.
- Then, add the dressing to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve, preferably at least 30 minutes for best results! Allow the dressing to come to room temperature (about 20-30 minutes) before serving on your favorite salads.
Notes
- Keto Cilantro Lime Dressing: For a low-carb version of this delicious dressing, omit the honey and replace it with a couple of teaspoons of Monk fruit sugar replacement or a Keto honey.
- Vegan Lime Dressing: Omit the honey and replace it with maple syrup.
- Spicy Cilantro Honey-Lime Dressing: Add seeded and coarsely chopped fresh jalapeno peppers.
- Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing: Add a couple of tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, or sour cream to make a creamy version of this simple salad dressing.
- Fruit Salad Dressing: Think outside the box; this dressing is delicious with your favorite fruits or on this tropical fruit salad.
- *Oil: Use your favorite oil, if using heavier oils like extra virgin olive oil, be sure to allow it to come to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
- Salad dressing: Toss it with mixed leafy greens, try it on my Mexican Chopped Salad – a meal in itself!
- Marinade: Use it for chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, or tofu. Let the protein marinate for a few hours to absorb the flavors before grilling, baking, or sautéing.
- Grilled vegetables: Brush or drizzle the honey lime dressing over vegetables such as zucchini, bell peppers, and asparagus to add a tangy and sweet glaze.
- Tacos and wraps: Drizzle the dressing over tacos, burritos, or wraps for a burst of flavor. It pairs well with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or fish tacos.
- Dip for vegetables: Serve the honey lime dressing for fresh vegetables like carrot sticks, cucumber slices, and bell pepper strips.
- Grilled fruit: Brush the dressing onto halved peaches, pineapples, or watermelon slices before grilling them. The combination of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors is delightful.
- Grain bowl or Buddha bowl: Use the dressing as a sauce for a grain bowl or Buddha bowl. Drizzle it over cooked quinoa or brown rice, along with roasted vegetables, avocado, and protein of your choice.
- Sandwich spread: Spread the honey lime dressing on sandwiches or wraps to add flavor.
Nutrition
julia
we love this dressing and today I made another batch, always perfect! easy dressing for any salad!
Love hearing that, thank you Julia!
Elisa
Love this Simple Cilantro Honey Lime Vinaigrette Recipe, always looking for fresh vinaigrette recipes, and this is delicious and easy. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks so much!
Harriet Young
Super quick and simple but delicious, I used it on my salad last night and it was lovely
Thanks so much Harriet!
rebecca
great suggestion to drizzle this over fruit! it’s so flavorful and perfect with fruit. Also fantastic for chicken
So fabulous on both of those!
TAYLER ROSS
I made this vinaigrette with our salad for dinner last night and it was amazing! Perfectly tart and citrusy!
It really is! Thanks!
Ned
I tried this amazing dressing on our salads tonight for dinner and it was so light and refreshing and simply just perfect. Thank you for the recipe!!
So glad you enjoyed it, Ned!
Gina Abernathy
A tasty dressing for my salad. The family loved it and the cilantro and lime added so much flavor and freshness.
So glad you liked it.
Erik
This came together so fast, it was perfect. The flavor really hits the spot!
So glad to hear, Erik!
Gina
Nothing beats homemade. This dressing is amazing and so much better than store bought. This will be a go-to salad dressing of mine!
Thank you!
Anjali
I made a Mexican chopped salad today and used this dressing and it tasted amazing!! The sweet sour combination of the honey and lime added such great flavor to the salad!
Love to hear that, Anjali! Thank you!