19 Vegan Salad Dressing Recipes: Oil-Free and Gluten-Free

I’ve collected the very best vegan salad dressing recipes that are oil-free and gluten-free! No more dry salads or flavorless veggies! These recipes turn the ordinary into the extraordinary!

Jump to:

• Ingredients to Avoid That Have Gluten
• Ingredients to Avoid That Have Oil
• Why is the use of oil discouraged on a whole food plant-based diet?
• Where do you find an oil-free salad dressing that is vegan and gluten-free?
• Vegan Salad Dressing Recipes
• Vegan Sauce Recipes | Oil-Free and Gluten-Free
• More Vegan Salad Recipes!

When it comes to flavor, it’s all about the dressing and the sauce. It’s the salad dressing that pulls the flavors of a salad together and the sauce that turns something simple into something incredible.

If you’re following a whole food plant-based diet finding a store-bought oil-free salad dressing can be a challenge. When you’re also looking for one that is gluten-free, it’s even more difficult.

While you know most dairy-free dressings contain oil or other processed ingredients, you wouldn’t think there would be gluten in salad dressings.

But many store-bought salad dressings contain gluten because they’re either cross-contaminated or contain ingredients that have gluten.

Ingredients to Avoid That Have Gluten

If making your salad dressing at home or buying store-bought salad dressing avoid these ingredients, which contain gluten.

• Alcohol
• Miso
• Soy Sauce
• Artificial color
• Dextrin
• Ground spices
• Natural Flavorings
• Malt
• Malt vinegar
• Flour
• Food starch

If you’re looking for store-bought gluten-free salad dressings, I recommend checking out this list from Very Well Fit.

Ingredients to Avoid That Have Oil

If you’re also following a whole food, plant-based no, oil lifestyle finding a store-bought dressing that is oil-free and gluten-free is an even greater challenge. Here is a list of ingredients to avoid that typically contain oil.

• Vegan Mayonnaise
• Olive Oil
• Soybean Oil
• Canola Oil
• Corn Oil
• Sunflower Oil
• Safflower Oil
• Peanut Oil
• Grape Seed Oil

Why is the use of oil discouraged on a whole food plant-based diet?

Oil is one of the most calorie-dense foods, and is why a salad full of veggies can go from a healthy choice to a high-caloric meal.

Where do you find an oil-free salad dressing that is vegan and gluten-free?

Don’t worry! You’re not cursed to a life of bland salads and dry, flavorless meals.

I’ve collected a list of the top 20 Vegan Salad Dressing and sauce recipes that are vegan and gluten-free. They will leave you thinking, “Oil? Gluten? Who needs it!?”

These dressings and sauces are easy and quick to make too! Enjoy them on your salad, steamed vegetables, quinoa, rice, lentils, beans, baked potatoes, pasta, Buddha bowls, and so much more!

Let your creativity run wild and add flavor to your favorite stand-by recipes!

Vegan Salad Dressing Recipes

Get ready to dress your salads with gluten-free salad dressing recipes that are creamy and satisfying!

Avocado Ranch Dressing by Sustainable Cooks

Smooth and creamy, you’ll flip for this Avocado Ranch Dressing! Great as a dip, dressing, or sauce, this dairy-free ranch dressing is seriously addicting. With adaptable ingredients, this can be a Whole30, paleo, and vegan dressing. 

Vegan Tahini Dressing

This creamy lemon tahini dressing is the perfect everyday plant-based dressing, delicious on salads, bowls, falafels, roasted vegetables, and so much more. It’s made with a handful of ingredients, including tahini, fresh lemon juice, water, garlic, and seasoning!

Celery Ranch Dressing by Spabettie

Celery Ranch Dressing – this quick and easy vegan recipe is flavorful take on the classic that is a favorite of so many – celery adds a crisp pop of flavor to this tangy cool ranch!

Vegan Thousand Island by Spabettie

Vegan Thousand Island Dressing – this quick and easy recipe brings you the tangy flavor of the classic dressing – with an oil free version!

Citrus Tahini Dressing by Veggie Inspired

This creamy dressing is the perfect drizzle for all of your leafy greens. Oil free, dairy free, gluten free, and sugar free.

Creamy Cumin Ranch Dressing by Veggie Inspired

A creamy, tangy, herby, dairy free ranch dressing with a hint of southwest flavors. This dressing is super versatile!

Tomato Vinaigrette by Hungry Healthy Happy

A dressing can really make or break a salad and this Tomato Vinaigrette definitely makes a salad. It’s light, fresh and low in calories, but best of all it is still full of flavor. Blend together some fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic and balsamic and you have yourself a salad dressing that is ready in minutes.

Almond Turmeric Dressing by Meals with Maggie

This Almond Turmeric Dressing is a beautiful blend of turmeric, ginger, lemon and almonds makes the perfect dressing to put on just about anything. I fell in love with Trader Joe’s and had to make a copycat version.

Savory Garlic Dressing by A Plantiful Path

This garlicky dressing is great on salad greens with some oven baked croutons. It’s also good on sandwiches and other vegetables.

Mango Dressing by Keeping the Peas

This sweet and spicy Mango Dressing is oil free and vegan. Mango gives it natural sweetness while the hint of cayenne gives it a spicy kick. Drizzle on salads, fruit, steamed vegetables, or sandwiches. It’s a 5 ingredient 5 minute dressing.

Vegan Avocado Dressing by Keeping the Peas

This creamy Vegan Avocado Dressing is quick, easy! With only 6 simple ingredients, and 5 minutes, you’ll have a healthy oil-free whole food plant-based dressing for your favorite salads or Buddha bowls!

Vegan Honey Mustard Dressing by Keeping the Peas

Sweet and spicy this vegan honey mustard dressing is sweetened with maple syrup.

Vegan Sauce Recipes | Oil-Free and Gluten-Free

Sauces that are finger licking delicious! Pour them on your vegan burgers, baked potato, steamed veggies, and more. Let your creativity run wild and get saucy

Vegan Honey Mustard by The Hidden Veggies

This vegan honey mustard dipping sauce is a sweet and tangy way to add flavor to your favorite vegan “chicken” nuggets, sandwiches, cauliflower nuggets, or tofu bites!  With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up this “honey” mustard dipping sauce or dressing in minutes! 

Creamy Chipotle Sauce by Vegan Huggs

If you want something spicy, tangy and smoky to add to your life, you need to try this Creamy Chipotle Sauce. It’s easy to make, inexpensive and much healthier than store-bought varieties.

Vegan Tikka Masala by Masala Herb

This Tikka Masala Sauce is vegan and gluten-free and so much tastier and healthier than the stuff you get in stores!

Vegan Cheese Sauce by Keeping the Peas

An easy creamy vegan cheese sauce made with raw cashews and spices. This versatile cheese sauce is perfect for nachos, quesadillas, steamed veggies, or using as a base for mac and cheese! It’s a vegan classic made with whole food ingredients that will become a staple in your kitchen!

Vegan Alfredo Sauce by Keeping the Peas

Creamy, smooth, and big on flavor this Vegan Alfredo Sauce is easy to make with 6 simple ingredients, and fifteen minutes from start to finish. No need to soak your cashews!

It’s a whole food plant-based version of the classic Italian sauce that’s dairy-free, oil-free, gluten-free, and healthy.

Homemade Sugar Free Low Carb Pizza Sauce by Low Carb Yum

It’s so easy to create your own low carb and sugar-free pizza sauce. It’s a great way to use up some late summer crop of tomatoes or frozen skinned ones.

Vegan Tzatziki Sauce by Keeping the Peas

I hope you found some delicious vegan, oil-free, and gluten-free salad dressing and sauce recipes that you’d like to try!

More Vegan Salad Recipes!