Dorothy Lynch Salad Dressing

If you grew up in the Midwest, chances are you’ve drizzled sweet, tangy Dorothy Lynch dressing over more salads than you can count. This copycat version blends canned tomato soup, cider vinegar, and a handful of pantry spices into a thick, tomato-forward dressing with a flavor similar to French dressing but richer. Made in a blender in minutes, it captures the same sweet-tangy balance that’s kept the Nebraska original on grocery shelves for decades. Use it on crisp greens, as a dip for wings, or as a marinade for chicken and pork.

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What makes Dorothy Lynch Salad Dressing the perfect old-fashioned salad dressing to try?

Dorothy Lynch started selling her legendary salad dressing at the Legion Club in St. Paul, Nebraska, during the 1940s. Customers quickly fell for the dressing’s sweet, tangy flavor. While it shares many flavors with French dressing, Dorothy’s dressing has a more pronounced tomato flavor and thicker consistency, so it pairs better with crisp greens. But don’t think of this as just a salad dressing. It works great as a dip for fried food like mozzarella sticks and chicken wings or a sandwich spread, but it really shines as a marinade for chicken and pork. No matter how you use it, it will become a go-to condiment in your kitchen.

Ingredients and their roles in the recipe

For this Dorothy Lynch Salad Dressing recipe, you’ll need:

• Condensed tomato soup, canned – acts as the base of the dressing. It provides the tomato flavor, a thick consistency, and a bit of acidity.
• White granulated sugar – sweetens the dressing and tamps down the acidity of the tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, and yellow mustard.
• Vegetable oil – gives the dressing body.
• Salt – enhances the other ingredients’ flavor.
• Apple cider vinegar – adds tang and helps sharpen the taste so the dressing doesn’t taste flat.
• Ground black pepper – provides warmth without spice.
• Yellow mustard – mostly there to help emulsify the oil, but it does add a little sharpness.
• Garlic powder – adds subtle garlic flavor without the bite of fresh cloves.
• Celery seed – cuts through the sweetness with some bitterness and tamps down the acidity with its earthy undertones.

How to make it

To prepare this Dorothy Lynch Salad Dressing recipe:

1. In order, pour all the ingredients into a blender jar.

2. Pulse a few times, then blend to combine. Once all the ingredients are incorporated, blend on HIGH until the dressing is smooth.
3. Transfer the dressing to an airtight container and store in the fridge. Wait at least an hour for the flavors to meld. Since the dressing settles quickly, shake it to re-mix before using.

What to serve this with

Dorothy Lynch Salad Dressing is the ideal way to add flavor to mixed greens, but you can use it for so much more. Below are three recipes that this salad dressing can improve!

Plucker’s Hot Wings – Plucker’s may not be a household name, but one bite of these wings, and you’ll wonder why. So, what makes these wings so good? It’s the super-crispy skin, thanks to double-frying the wings, plus jalapeños in the traditional buffalo sauce. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, like Dorothy Lynch Salad Dressing, to help cool them down!

Starbucks Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Grilled cheeses aren’t just for kids. This gourmet version is made for grown-up palates, with a mix of creamy mozzarella and sharp white cheddar between two thick sourdough slices slathered with garlic Parmesan butter. Take this gourmet grilled cheese up a notch with a side of tomato-based dressing for dipping.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets – Skip the processed frozen garbage and make your own chicken nuggets at home. These panko-breaded nuggets are real food that you can feel good about serving your family. Serve with a variety of sweet and tangy dipping sauces.

Storing and how long it lasts

Refrigerator Storage: Keep Dorothy Lynch Salad Dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Some separation is normal, so shake the dressing well before using.

More copycat salad dressing recipes

• Bennigan’s Hot Bacon Dressing
• Brown Derby French Dressing
• CAVA Hot Harissa Vinaigrette
• King Cole French Dressing
• Russian Tea Room Russian Dressing

Check out more of my easy salad dressing recipes to make a delicious homemade salad.