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.

Make It 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.

Storage Tips

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

Easy Salad Dressing Recipes

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

Recipe