Olive Garden Italian Dressing

This homemade version of Olive Garden’s Italian Dressing tastes just as good and is quick and easy to mix up in less than 5 minutes! This recipe blends together olive oil, vinegar, Italian seasonings, garlic, and Parmesan cheese into a simple vinaigrette. Drizzle over a salad for a healthy vegetarian meal, or use as a marinade for chicken!

We lived in a small town in Southeast Texas, on the border between Texas and Louisiana.  It took us 30 minutes to get to a “city” with a mall and an Olive Garden.

But even as a young kid who would turn up her nose at a head of iceberg lettuce, I found myself scarfing down an entire bowl of Olive Garden’s salad with their delightful Italian dressing.

And then Olive Garden released their bottled salad dressing – and I was in LOVE!!

I put it on everything from this Italian Dressing Pasta Salad, use it as a marinade on chicken, or douse a big ole’ chopped kale salad in it.

But to be honest, the store-bought dressing is made with a few ingredients that are not great to consume on a daily or weekly basis. (I.e. – soybean oil, high fructose corn syrup, etc.)

So instead, why not make your own healthier homemade Italian dressing when it takes less than 5 minutes to whip up!?

Ingredients

The simple ingredients you need to make this homemade Italian dressing recipe include:

• Oil. A good quality extra virgin olive oil is the best option. Avocado oil is a good alternative since it is mildly flavored and won’t compete too much with the other ingredients. Sunflower or safflower oil can also be substituted for olive oil, but it will affect the taste slightly.
• Italian Seasoning. You can mix in a homemade Italian seasoning blend of dried oregano, basil, and other herbs; or you can find the dried Italian seasoning in your herb and spices aisle at the grocery store.
• White Wine Vinegar. This is the most classic type used, but feel free to swap it out with apple cider vinegar.
• Sweetener. Honey was tested in this recipe, but agave nectar or regular sugar can also be substituted.
• Garlic. Crushed garlic (using a garlic press!) is the way. Do not leave this ingredient out! If substituting with garlic powder, you’ll want to use about ½ teaspoon.
• Lemon Juice. A little citrus gives an extra bit of freshness.
• Parmesan Cheese. This is the secret ingredient that makes this the best recipe there is!

How to Make Italian Dressing

The basic steps for making Italian dressing are simple to follow. Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.

Measure the Ingredients

Place everything in a high speed blender, food processor or mason jar.

Emulsify the Dressing

There are a few different ways you can mix up this dressing:

High Speed Blender – The NutriBullet is the preferred tool. It blends and emulsifies everything up beautifully and is super easy to clean.

Mini Food Processor – The second best way to make a vinaigrette is to add all of the ingredients to a food processor and process until smooth.

Whisk by Hand – Lastly, if you do not have a blender or food processor you can always whisk the ingredients together by hand. Just note, it will not be nearly as smooth or emulsified.

Serving

Drizzle over a salad with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

A spinach or mixed greens salad with some sliced bell peppers, tomatoes, croutons and Parmesan cheese tastes great with an Italian vinaigrette. You can also make this Italian Dressing Pasta Salad for picnics or a barbecue!

Storage

Homemade dressing can last for up to 2 weeks if stored in an airtight container (such as these cute glass mason jars!) in the refrigerator.

Let this dressing sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before using. Just before serving, shake or blend it up again and then pour it over your salad, pasta salad, or chicken.

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already gluten-free and vegetarian as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:

• Dairy-Free – Select a plant-based Parmesan cheese.
• Vegan – Use agave nectar or sugar in place of the honey, and choose a plant-based Parmesan cheese.

FAQs

Expert Tips and Tricks

• High quality. Select a great-tasting olive oil for the best results.
• Mix homemade. Making your own Italian Seasoning is easy and you can adjust the spices to your preferences.
• Go high speed. Use a blender to thoroughly mix the dressing into a smooth consistency.
• Fresh is best. Mince garlic cloves for a wonderful flavor.

More Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes

Drizzle any of these homemade dressings all over your favorite salads for a burst of flavor!

Honey Mustard Dressing

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes