Creamy Cajun Salad Dressing is tangy, spicy and absolutely delicious. Made with only 4 ingredients, it’s super easy and quick, and better than any dressing you’ll find at a grocery store shelf.
As much as I like culinary shortcuts, bottled salad dressings are not my thing. They’re often filled with not-so-good-for-you oils and additives. Plus, I don’t think they taste good.
Homemade salad dressing, such as this simple Honey Lemon Dressing, Maple Balsamic Dressing or my Greek Yogurt Italian Dressing, will elevate any salad.
This Cajun dressing is particularly good because it’s unique and you won’t find anything similar at the grocery store. It’s super creamy thanks to mayo and Greek yogurt, it has a wonderful tang from red wine vinegar and a bit of heat from cayenne pepper.
Try it on this Cajun Shrimp Salad and fall in love with the creamy, spicy flavor combo.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- This salad dressing takes 2 minutes to make.
- It’s better and healthier than any salad dressing you’d get at the grocery store.
- No artificial dies, flavors or preservatives.
- It’s egg, nut, soy, sugar and gluten free.
- The base is Greek yogurt which gives it a nice boost of protein.
- It’s creamy, it’s tangy, and it has a nice kick of spice to it (or not, if you make the seasoning mild).
- It goes wonderfully with cooked chicken or shrimp.
- Make sure to also try my Vegan Greek Salad Dressing and Caesar Salad Dressing Without Anchovies for more great homemade dressing ideas.
Ingredient notes
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Greek Yogurt: I like using full fat or 2% fat Greek yogurt. Check ingredients’ list for any additives. The only ingredients you want are milk and bacteria. My ffavorite brand of Greek yogurt is Fage.
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Mayo: use any mayo you like. I like avocado oil mayo such as Sir Kensington’s.
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Red Wine Vinegar: it gives the dressing a great tangy flavor. If you don’t have red wine vinegar, you can swap it for apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar.
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Cajun Seasoning: I highly recommend making your own Cajun seasoning (recipe follows) but if you’re short on time or don’t have some of the spices, a good store bought blend will work great, too.
How to make homemade Cajun salad dressing
Ever since I started making my own taco seasoning, I am obsessed with creating my own spice blends. Not only are they cheaper than store bought mixes, but they also taste better AND you know exactly what goes in them!
Here’s what you will need to make your own Cajun spice blend:
- Salt: I like kosher salt
- Paprika: Hungarian paprika has a superior flavor and quality in my opinion
- Smoked Paprika: for a hint of smokiness
- Cayenne Pepper: you control how much to put in! Skip if you don’t want any spice.
- Dried Oregano: I like to use ground dried oregano in spice blends.
- Black Pepper: I like freshly milled pepper for maximum freshness
- Dried Thyme
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
All you need to do is to mix all the spices in a small bowl or jar and there you have it! The BEST homemade Cajun seasoning ready in less than 5 minutes. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
I use this seasoning in my Creamy Cajun Salmon Pasta - a mus-try recipe on my blog, for sure!
How to make it
- STEP 1: Place Greek yogurt, mayo, red wine vinegar and Cajun seasoning in a small bowl or wide mouth mason jar.
- STEP 2: Mix everything together until smooth. I like to use a mini whisk for mixing salad dressings but a spoon will also do the job.
- STEP 3: Serve immediately or store in a jar with a lid or an airtight container for later.
Tips & tricks for success
- This salad dressing is super easy to make but its flavor will depend on the quality of ingredients you use.
- Good quality yogurt and mayo are a must! Since you are not using oil in this recipe, I recommend full fat Greek yogurt without any additives or starches. Good mayo can be expensive but worth it, in my opinion. Or, make your own mayo. Here’s a recipe I like.
- Homemade Cajun seasoning will give you best results. You can control the amount of heat by adding more or less cayenne pepper. If you eat low-sodium, reduce the amount of salt.
- If you use store bought blend, start with ½ teaspoon. It may be saltier and/or spicier than my homemade seasoning. If the dressing tastes good to you, you don’t need add any more. If it’s not flavorful enough, add more seasoning.
- If the dressing seems too thick, add a bit of cold water or milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, and give the dressing a good stir. It should be thick but pourable, like Ranch.
Recipe FAQs
You can store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
You can! I prefer the thick Greek yogurt because it's creamy and has a ton of protein but regular (plain) yogurt will also work. The dressing will be a bit thinner if you use it.
The word "Cajunu" describes people and culture of people of French descent who immigrated from Acadia (Canada) to Louisiana in the 18th century. Cajun cuisine prevails in New Orleans and includes dishes such as gumbo, jambalaya or boudin. Cajun food is typically very well seasoned (but not necessarily spicy).
Healthy salad and bowl ideas
- Chicken, Peach and Bacon Salad with Goat Cheese
- Greek Chickpea Salad
- Shrimp Poke Bowl
- Quinoa Poke Bowl with Seared Tuna
- Spinach Caprese Salad with Strawberries
This post contains affiliate links.
Recipe
Creamy Cajun Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ¾ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
Homemade Cajun seasoning:
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne reduce to ½ if you want milder seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients with a small whisk in a small bowl or mason jar.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
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Meet the Author
Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.
Andrea says
this salad dressing is incredible! Its the perfect topper for all things salad!
Helen at the Lazy gastronome says
I’m called the lazy gastronome for a reason. I like easy recipes. This salad dressing is not only easy it’s incredibly delicious!
Adriana says
Homemade dressing is always the best. This is my to-go recipe for a yummy salad with a spicy kick. I had all the ingredients and made enough to enjoy for a week. Thanks for the idea!
Addie says
I love how easy and flavorful this dressing is! Also great as a marinade for chicken!
Rupai says
This dressing is so beautiful and goes with so many salads.
Jamie L Fullman says
Absolutely amazing! I eyeballed everything. The red wine vinegar gives it such a nice zip. Thank you! I will be subscribing to your site. 🙂
Jamie Fullman says
Absolutely love this dressing! I mainly use it to make a Cajun shrimp salad with black beans and avocado. Thanks for sharing!
Agnieszka says
That salad sounds delicious, Jamie!