The Best Store-Bought Salad Dressings, According to Chefs

Homemade dressings will always have a place in my kitchen. They taste fresh, skip the preservatives, are usually cheaper, and can be endlessly customized. I'm all for a creative repurpose recipe, like shaking up leftover brine into a last-minute mason jar dressing—but there are limits to what I'm willing to do just to dress some greens.

If it takes more than five ingredients or only lasts a couple of days, it's not worth it. That's where store-bought dressings come in: convenient, versatile, and can do double duty as quick marinades, sauces, or even as a flavor booster for roasted vegetables.

I asked three chefs to reveal their go-to bottled dressings. Their choices prove that the best store-bought dressing is a matter of taste.

The Savvy Salad Dressing Pros

• Frank Tiu: Recipe developer and food writer
• Jessica Formicola: Cookbook author and owner of Savory Experiments
• Erin Clarke, Cookbook author and founder of Well Plated

Frank Tiu: Newman's Own

According to Tiu, "a good salad dressing should have minimal ingredients, but each ingredient should make a difference and contribute to the overall flavor." The ideal salad dressing should be balanced, with a touch of sweetness, a bold punch of acidity, and smooth richness. 

"When it comes to classic store-bought salad dressing, I can always count on Newman's Own. It has the biggest selection available," says Tiu. Newman's Own dressings practically jump off the grocery store shelf into his cart, thanks to their bright-colored labels and ready accessibility. "I have not found a salad dressing flavor that is not offered by Newman's Own," making it his reliable go-to brand for all of his dressing needs, though he admits that the Italian dressing is a favorite.

Beyond taste, he also appreciates the company's philanthropic angle: "Newman's Own donates 100% of its profits to the Newman's Own Foundation, supporting children in nutrition education, healthy food access, and indigenous food access," he says. For Tiu, it’s the reliable, ethical, all-purpose choice.

Jessica Formicola: Wish-Bone Italian

Formicola stocks her pantry with WishBone Italian dressing in bulk. It strikes a perfect balance: mild enough to get her kids to eat their vegetables, yet tangy and lively enough for the adults. But she doesn't stop at salads—she actually uses it as a base for marinades more often than not. "It works with any type of protein and can even be tossed with roasted vegetables," she explains. "Add lemon juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or other acidic sauces to customize the flavor." Simple, versatile, and reliable.

Erin Clarke: Bolthouse Farms Honey Mustard

Clarke's "forever favorite" is Bolthouse Farms' Honey Mustard. "It tastes bright and mustard-forward with just the right amount of sweetness, and the texture lightly coats greens instead of weighing them down," she says. Clarke also loves that the creamy dressings taste indulgent but are made with a base of Greek yogurt, making them a lighter option without sacrificing flavor.

Beyond salads, she uses this dressing as a quick marinade for chicken or shrimp and as a sauce, tossing it with warm roasted vegetables, straight off the sheet pan. 

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