Copycat Applebee’s Oriental Salad Dressing: Creamy Perfection in Minutes

Name: Copycat Applebee's Oriental Salad Dressing
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons sugar; 1/4 cup rice vinegar; 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons refined sesame oil; 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

By Stephanie Manley Updated 09/12/25

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4.98 from 35 votes

There’s nothing better than a great salad dressing, and this oriental dressing is near perfection! After numerous visits to Applebee’s, I became obsessed with recreating their creamy Oriental salad dressing, which boasts a wonderful sesame flavor. The journey wasn’t easy – I was stumped for a long time trying to capture that lovely, almost smoky flavor that makes their dressing so special.

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I started with a basic vinaigrette approach and then realized that mayonnaise and the right balance of oils were needed for the creaminess. The breakthrough came when I combined regular sesame oil with a touch of toasted sesame oil—and this copycat recipe was born. Now, you can enjoy this restaurant favorite at home anytime!

A close-up shot of a Mason jar filled with creamy, homemade oriental salad dressing. The smooth texture of the dressing is highlighted, with a large salad ready for serving in the soft-focus background.

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Why This Recipe Works

Versatile – great on salads, as a marinade, or even as a dipping sauce
The perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess mimics Applebee’s signature dressing
Two types of sesame oil create the authentic depth of flavor you can’t get from just one
Quick preparation – ready in just 5 minutes with simple whisking
Stores beautifully in the refrigerator for up to a week

Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make this dressing:

Sugar – Provides sweetness that balances the tangy vinegar perfectly
Rice vinegar – Creates the tangy base that gives the dressing its bright flavor
Mayonnaise – Adds creaminess and helps emulsify the dressing
Refined sesame oil – Contributes mild sesame flavor without overwhelming the dressing
Toasted sesame oil – Delivers the distinctive smoky, nutty flavor that makes this dressing special
Dijon mustard – Acts as an emulsifier and adds subtle complexity to the flavor profile

An overhead view of the ingredients for Applebee's oriental salad dressing arranged in small glass bowls. Pictured are bowls of rice vinegar, Dijon mustard, toasted sesame oil, sugar, and mayonnaise, along with an empty bowl for another oil.

How to make oriental salad dressing

In a medium bowl, combine sugar and rice vinegar and mix until sugar is completely dissolved.
Add the mayonnaise, both sesame oils, and the mustard. Stir until well blended.

An overhead shot of the finished Applebee's oriental salad dressing in a white bowl on a marble surface. The creamy, light-beige dressing has been whisked until smooth and has small bubbles on the surface.

Recipe notes

Refrigerate the salad dressing in a covered container for up to 1 week.
Rice vinegar is carried in most grocery stores. Be careful not to purchase the seasoned rice wine vinegar, as it is sweetened and makes the dressing way too sweet.
Refined sesame oil can be found in the regular section of the oils in a grocery store. For the toasted sesame oil, look in the Asian section of your grocery store.

A glass jar filled with creamy, homemade Applebee's oriental salad dressing. In the blurred background, a large bowl of oriental chicken salad is visible, ready to be dressed.

An overhead shot looking down into a glass jar of homemade oriental salad dressing. The creamy, slightly bubbly surface of the dressing is in focus, with a fresh oriental chicken salad partially visible in the background.

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