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Home » Recipes » Condiments

Last Updated: Feb 11, 2023 by Angela Latimer · Leave a Comment

Catalina Dressing

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Pin image with text of salad with catalina dressing.

My Catalina dressing recipe is quick, incredibly easy to make, and tastes wonderful on salads, burgers, and more! This delicious dressing is the perfect combination of tangy and sweet and you only need a few simple ingredients! Plus, it's so delicious that you'll never want to buy it at the store again!

Easy Catalina Dressing Recipe

I love a good Catalina dressing. It's wonderful on salads, but it can also be used in marinades, to garnish burgers, on cold pasta salads, and the list goes on and on!

Catalina is light and fresh compared to many other dressings due to its vinegar and oil base. This dressing has a nice balance of tangy and sweet, and it's versatile enough that you can easily make adjustments to suit your preferences.

Square image of salad with catalina dressing.
Tangy, sweet Catalina salad dressing is so easy to make at home!
Jump to:
  • Easy Catalina Dressing Recipe
  • 🥘 Catalina Dressing Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Make Catalina Dressing
  • 💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
  • 🥡 Storing
  • ❓ Recipe FAQs
  • 😋 More Tasty Condiment Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

I often make a large batch of Catalina to keep in the fridge so that we always have some on hand. It's so easy to throw together, you will wonder why you haven't always been making your own dressing!

🥘 Catalina Dressing Ingredients

I don't know about you, but I always have these simple ingredients stocked in my kitchen. If you do have to buy a few things, you will surely use them again for other recipes (or to make more Catalina dressing)!

Wide image showing ingredients need to make Catalina dresing.
  • Red Wine Vinegar - ½ cup of red wine vinegar.
  • Ketchup - ⅓ cup of ketchup. If you're concerned about added sugar, sugar-free ketchup will also work.
  • Honey - ⅓ cup of honey. Honey is important because it provides sweetness, but it also gives the dressing some density.
  • Worcestershire Sauce - 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce.
  • Soy Sauce - 1 teaspoon - Soy sauce adds some saltiness, so wait until the end before you add salt to taste.
  • Smoked Paprika - 1 teaspoon - The smokey flavor of smoked paprika is wonderful and distinct. You can use normal paprika, but if you have access to smoked I highly recommend it.
  • Onion Powder - ½ teaspoon of onion powder.
  • Garlic Powder - ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
  • Salt & Pepper - each, salt & pepper (to taste).
  • Olive Oil - ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil is my preferred oil. You can use your preferred oil if desired.

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Catalina Dressing

You are only 3 easy steps away from your delicious homemade salad dressing. All you need to do is to take out a storage container, some measuring spoons, and your blender to puree all of the ingredients!

This tasty dressing recipe will yield around 4 servings! You can easily double or triple the ingredients to make enough for the whole month.

Process image 1 ingredients in food processor.
Process image 2 ingredients mixed in food processor.
  1. Puree. To begin, add ½ cup red wine vinegar, ½ cup ketchup, ⅓ cup honey, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce,1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder to a blender. Place the lid on the blender and puree.
  2. Add Oil. While the blender is pureeing at a low speed, open the vent in the blender's lid and slowly pour in the ½ cup of olive oil until well integrated. Taste the dressing and add salt & pepper to taste.
  3. Store. Store the Catalina dressing in an airtight container, jar, or bottle in the refrigerator.

This delightful dressing can be used in so many ways, my favorite being my delicious Doritos taco salad. If you like it spicy, add a pinch of red pepper flakes. Enjoy!

Tall image of salad with catalina dressing.

💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes

  • White wine vinegar can be used as a substitute for the red wine vinegar if needed.
  • For a little spice, add some red pepper flakes.
  • I personally prefer to use extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil for almost all cooking, however, you may use your favorite oil in this recipe.
  • If you do not have a blender, use a jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid. First, add all wet ingredients and shake vigorously until combined. Then, add all dry ingredients and shake once more.

🥡 Storing

Catalina dressing should always be kept in an airtight container and refrigerated, it will stay fresh for 1 month.

I do not recommend freezing this dressing, as the ingredients will separate.

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

❓ Recipe FAQs

Are French And Catalina Dressings The Same?

No, they are not the same even though they are close in color. Catalina dressing is made with red wine vinegar, olive oil, sugar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, smoked paprika, and other seasonings. While French dressing is made with ketchup, olive oil, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, sugar, vinegar, and seasonings. So they are very similar, just differ in a few ingredients.

What Does Catalina Dressing Taste Like?

Catalina dressing has a combination of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors! The tanginess is from the vinegar, the sweetest is from the sugar and honey, and the savory flavor is from the seasonings used.

Can You Freeze Catalina Dressing?

Unfortunately no, you should not freeze this dressing. It contains vinegar and oil which will cause the dressing the separate in the freezer. It will never be quite the same as when it's made fresh.

😋 More Tasty Condiment Recipes

  • Russian Salad Dressing - This dressing is so versatile, you can serve it on your salads, burgers, Reuben sandwiches, and more!
  • Homemade Ranch Dressing - If you haven't made ranch dressing at home, you have to try this incredibly delicious and creamy ranch recipe!
  • Benihana Ginger Salad Dressing - You'll see the delicious dressing at your favorite Japanese steakhouse, but it's actually so simple to make at home!
  • Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing - Enjoy this incredibly flavorful and fresh blue cheese dressing on your salads, wings, favorite veggie slices, or fries!
  • Garlic Butter For Steak - Who doesn't love a tasty garlic butter sauce to dip your favorite cut of steak in?
  • Cajun Dipping Sauce - This Cajun dipping sauce is smooth, creamy, and perfect for serving with your favorite fried appetizers!

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📖 Recipe Card

Square image of salad with catalina dressing.
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5 from 21 reviews

Catalina Dressing

My easy homemade Catalina dressing is wonderful on most salads and tastes way better than the store-bought stuff! This delicious dressing is the perfect combination of tangy and sweet and you only need a few simple ingredients!
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 360kcal
Prep 5 minutes minutes
Cooking 0 minutes minutes
Blend 5 minutes minutes
Total Time 10 minutes minutes
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Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup red wine vinegar
  • ⅓ cup ketchup
  • ⅓ cup honey
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Soy Sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ cup olive oil (extra virgin)
  • each, salt & pepper (to taste)

(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions
 

  • To begin, add all ingredients except the olive oil and salt & pepper (red wine vinegar, ketchup, honey, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, smoked paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder) to a blender. Place the lid on the blender and puree.
    Process image 1 ingredients in food processor.
  • While the blender is pureeing at a low speed, open the vent in the blender's lid and slowly pour in the olive oil until well integrated. Taste the dressing and add salt & pepper to taste.
    Process image 2 ingredients mixed in food processor.
  • Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to a month.

Notes

  • White wine vinegar can substitute the red wine vinegar if needed.
  • For a little spice, add some red pepper flakes.
  • I personally prefer to use olive oil or coconut oil for almost all cooking, however, you may use your favorite oil in this recipe.
  • If you do not have a blender, use a jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid. First, add all wet ingredients and shake vigorously until combined. Then, add all dry ingredients and shake once more.

Nutrition

Calories: 360kcal (18%) | Carbohydrates: 30g (10%) | Protein: 1g (2%) | Fat: 27g (42%) | Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 284mg (12%) | Potassium: 123mg (4%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 28g (31%) | Vitamin A: 350IU (7%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 11mg (1%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course Salad Dressings
Cuisine American
« Garam Masala Substitute
Paprika Substitute »

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Hi there, I'm Angela

I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, cook, baker, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, creative recipes and great classic recipes, just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to ensure that cooks of any experience level can succeed.

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