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VG Vegetarian

Sweet BBQ Salad Dressing with Lime

5
/5
5 mins
4 Comments
Jump to Recipe Video
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 09/07/2020Updated: 06/16/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Small glass bottle of sweet bbq salad dressing on a wooden cutting board. Text overlay reads "sweet bbq dressing"
Small glass bottle of sweet bbq salad dressing on a wooden cutting board. Text overlay reads "sweet bbq dressing"
Small glass bottle of sweet bbq salad dressing on a wooden cutting board. Text overlay reads "healthy sweet bbq dressing"
Two images of bbq salad dressing with a text overlay that reads "healthy sweet bbq dressing - so much flavor!"

Sweet and tangy, BBQ salad dressing is easy to make! Use your favorite barbecue sauce to make your own zesty dressing.

Glass bottle full of light orange salad dressing. A half a lime is in the foreground.

Don’t you love barbecue sauce? Sweet, tangy, tomatoey, with or without a little heat, it’s kind of irresistible. Like ketchup, only way better. I often make my own BBQ sauce but there’s always a bottle of my favorite brand in the fridge, too. 

And it seems like people are fiercely loyal to a their own favorite brand. If you want a good conversation starter, just throw the question out there, “What’s your favorite barbecue sauce?” I’m sure you’ll have a lively discussion. 

My mom and I recently were making a summer lettuce salad for a family party and we wanted to try a dressing made with barbecue sauce. This recipe is what we came up with and I think you’re going to love it! We sure did, and there weren’t any leftovers, either.

Small glass bottle of sweet bbq salad dressing on a wooden cutting board.

About this sweet barbecue dressing:

Like most homemade salad dressings, this sweet barbecue dressing is a cinch to make. You can easily mix it up in five minutes. I like to use a jar with a tight fitting lid but a small bowl and a whisk work just fine, too.

What’s the secret to this fantastic tasting salad dressing recipe? A few tablespoons of your favorite BBQ sauce, whatever you like best. You can’t go wrong with a dressing that starts with BBQ sauce, right?

Add the BBQ sauce to freshly squeezed lime juice, Greek yogurt, a tablespoon of olive oil, brown sugar, and a little salt and pepper. Shake it up, and it’s ready to serve. How easy is that!? 

We like this dressing on a lettuce salad with fresh corn kernels, shredded kohlrabi or jicama, sliced red onions, and tomatoes. If you’d like a recipe, try this southwestern BBQ chicken salad – it’s my latest favorite. Add grilled BBQ chicken to the salad for a complete meal. 

Sweet barbecue dressing would be good on almost any salad. It’s on the sweet side and has great flavor. Depending on the BBQ sauce you choose, your dressing could also have a little heat. 

Glass bottle full of light orange salad dressing. A half a lime is in the foreground.

How to make this salad dressing your own:

  • Replace the yogurt with mayonnaise, if you like. Or leave it out entirely, and add an additional tablespoon of olive oil, for a vinaigrette type dressing.
  • Ramp up the heat by adding red pepper flakes, to taste. I recommend starting with a quarter teaspoon. 
  • A somewhat different, but really easy alternative: Mix your favorite barbecue sauce with bottled ranch dressing. Or use my homemade ranch dressing recipe, replacing the yogurt with BBQ sauce. The result will be a creamy BBQ dressing.

Glass bottle full of light orange salad dressing. A half a lime is in the foreground.

Storage Tips

Store leftover dressing in a tightly covered container or jar for up to a week. Shake well before serving.

Easy homemade dressing!

With just a few easy ingredients, you can make up your own salad dressings and they’re so much better than bottled! Try:

 

  • White Wine Vinaigrette
  • Catalina Dressing
  • Healthy Ranch Dressing
  • Thousand Island Dressing
  • Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
  • Poppy Seed Dressing
  • Honey Mustard Dressing
  • Make your own croutons, too!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Small glass bottle of sweet bbq salad dressing on a wooden cutting board.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Sweet BBQ Salad Dressing with Lime

5 from 2 votes
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
1 /2 cup
Print Rate Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Sweet and tangy, BBQ salad dressing is easy to make! Use your favorite barbecue sauce to make your own zesty dressing.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons barbecue sauce
  • 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, or jar, combine dressing ingredients. Mix well.
  • Store leftovers in refrigerator for up to a week.

Notes

  • Ramp up the heat by adding red pepper flakes, to taste. Start with 1/4 teaspoon.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 71kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 403mg, Sugar: 7g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk

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Verdict: I love this dressing! It has so much flavor and it’s so easy to make.
Husband’s take: Ben has no complaints!
Changes I would make: None!
Difficulty: Easy!
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  1. terri says

    July 23, 2021 at 10:52 am

    5 stars
    I made with G. Hughes sweet nd spicy sugar free bbw and Swerve zero cal brown sugar along with non fat yogurt, mmmm

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      July 24, 2021 at 4:33 pm

      So glad you liked it!

      Reply
  2. denise says

    September 8, 2020 at 5:07 pm

    sounds zingy good!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      September 9, 2020 at 8:53 am

      It really is! Thanks Denise!

      Reply

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