Easy Italian Dressing Recipe - So much better than store-bought! (2024)

Home » Homemade Favorites » Easy Italian Dressing Recipe

Jump to RecipePrint Recipe

Updated on May 9, 2023

This Italian Dressing is zesty, fresh and flavorful! Making this homemade Italian salad dressing is quick and easy, using simple ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen.

This easy Italian dressing recipe is perfect for drizzling over an Italian salad or this Greek chickpea salad. It also makes the best pasta salad! You can even use this Italian dressing as a marinade for grilled chicken or drizzle it over roasted vegetables.

If you’ve ever made homemade salad dressing, then you know that it tastes so much better than store bought. In fact, once you try a few from scratch salad dressing recipes, you’ll have a hard time justifying buying salad dressing at the grocery store.

Why should you make your own salad dressing?

It will take you about 5 minutes to make a batch of salad dressing, which can last you for many meals. It’s really quick and easy!
Most salad dressing recipes use simple, everyday ingredients.
Homemade salad dressing is a great place to start when you want to eat real food, because you’ll be avoiding additives and preservatives that are often found in store-bought dressings.
Homemade dressing tastes so much better and fresher than store-bought.

You’ll also love my basic vinaigrette dressing, ranch dressing,balsamic vinaigrette, honey mustard dressing and coleslaw dressing recipes!

How to Make Italian Dressing

To make this Italian dressing you’ll make a simple vinaigrette by combining vinegar and olive oil with herbs and seasonings.

Italian Dressing Ingredients

Olive Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
Vinegar: I like to use red wine vinegar because it gives this Italian dressing an authentic color. The flavor of white wine vinegar works well, too.
Dried Herbs: Dried basil, parsley and oregano provide lots of flavor. I like to use dried herbs because they are budget-friendly and easy to keep on hand in my kitchen. Dried herbs also hold up well when you make this salad dressing ahead of time.
Garlic Powder: You can use fresh garlic if you prefer, but I like to keep things easy and use garlic powder. If you use fresh garlic, your Italian dressing will only stay good for a few days in the refrigerator, rather than a few weeks.
Salt and Pepper: Always salt and pepper your salad dressing to taste.
Honey: You need to add a little bit of honey (or sugar) to balance out the acidity from the vinegar.
Parmesan Cheese: The Parmesan cheese is the secret ingredient that makes this Italian dressing so good! Adding Parmesan makes this dressing extra delicious, so I recommend adding it unless you need the dressing to be dairy-free.

I find that the easiest way to mix up salad dressings is to combine the ingredients in a mason jar. My jars have measurement marks on the sides that make it easy to measure the oil and vinegar. Then, seal the lid on the jar and shake until everything is well combined. If you don’t have a jar with a lid you can whisk together the ingredients in a bowl or other container.

Once everything is mixed together, taste the dressing and adjust the ingredients as needed. The dressing might need a little more honey if it’s too acidic, or a little more salt and pepper, for example. If your Italian dressing is too tangy add more olive oil; if it’s not tangy enough add more vinegar.

How long does homemade Italian dressing last?

You can store this Italian dressing in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Shake or whisk the dressing to mix everything together again before using.

If the oil solidifies in the cold refrigerator, just let the dressing sit at room temperature for a few minutes and then shake the jar to recombine the ingredients.

Tips for this Italian Dressing Recipe

The Parmesan cheese is optional in this recipe, but highly recommended. Freshly grated Parmesan will dissolve into the dressing much better than Parmesan that you buy pre-grated at the store, but either one will work.
The oil and vinegar will naturally separate as the salad dressing sits. Shake the dressing in a jar (or whisk it) to recombine the ingredients.
Both red wine vinegar and white wine vinegar work well in this Italian dressing recipe.
You’ll want to make a big batch of this Italian salad dressing and keep it in your fridge to toss on quick salads, veggies, and more! Since it lasts for 2 weeks it’s the perfect easy recipe to add to your meal prep session.

5 from 6 ratings

Italian Dressing

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

▢ ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
▢ ¼ cup red wine vinegar, or white wine vinegar
▢ 1 teaspoon dried basil
▢ 1 teaspoon dried parsley
▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
▢ ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
▢ ½ teaspoon salt
▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper
▢ 1 teaspoon honey, or more, to taste (can substitute sugar)
▢ 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, optional

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a jar with a lid (you can also mix in a bowl with a whisk). Seal the lid tightly and shake vigorously until well combined.
Use dressing immediately or store in the sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

The dressing will separate as it sits and the oil may solidify in the refrigerator. Let the dressing sit at room temperature until the oil melts and then shake vigorously to recombine the ingredients.
Recipe makes 1 cup, which is the perfect amount to make my Italian pasta salad recipe.

Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 191kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 166mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 10IU, Calcium: 21mg, Iron: 0.4mg

Nutrition information is an estimate.

Cuisine: Italian

Course: Dressing, Salad

Tried this recipe?Mention @kristines_kitchen on Instagram or tag #kristineskitchenblog.

This site contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Kristine's Kitchen!

Easy Meal Prep Homemade Favorites Sauces / Seasonings / Dressings / Spreads

posted by Kristine Rosenblatt on Jun 19, 2019 (last updated May 9, 2023)

13 comments Leave a comment »

Save time. Eat well.

Subscribe and receive FREE family meal plans, right to your inbox, plus exclusive subscriber-only content!

« Previous Post Best Zucchini Bread

Next Post » Italian Pasta Salad

13 comments on “Easy Italian Dressing Recipe”

Salam — April 21, 2020 @ 2:00 pm Reply
Thanks for the recipe, what can I substitute the wine vinegar with (non alcoholic)? I have regular white vinegar, apple cider vinegar and balsamic vinegar? Thank you
- Kristine — April 22, 2020 @ 2:48 pm Reply
  Hi Salam,
  You can use any red or white vinegar that you would normally use in cooking.
Patty — June 3, 2020 @ 2:54 pm Reply
I use plain olive oil and apple cider vinegar. The oregano is strong so I cut it in 1/2. And go to 1 Tablespoon of honey
Pamela Peake — January 15, 2022 @ 4:10 pm Reply
I always have this dressing in my fridge. love, love it.
I add a tsp or so of Dijon or Honey Dijon because it helps to lightly emulsify the oil and vinegar and because I love that extra little zip it gives to the dressing.
I use white wine vinegar and sometimes rice vinegar to change it up a bit.
I leave out the parmesan cheese and add it fresh to my salads. I always make a double batch of dressing and it keeps for weeks without the cheese in it.
My absolute favorite recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Stacy — January 31, 2022 @ 8:32 pm Reply
This recipe has been AMAZING! I cut out the parmesan cheese and substituted distilled white vinegar + water + sugar for the white wine vinegar and it worked great.
I’m so grateful for your recipe because I’m on a low histamine diet and it has been SO hard to find salad dressings that are low in histamine AND dairy free. This one is my new favorite!!!
Marianne — March 3, 2023 @ 5:45 pm Reply
Great recipe!! Thanks
Misslizzy — April 18, 2023 @ 4:29 am Reply
I made this last night and it was delicious, but I have to say I added one packet of Stevia to cut the tanginess and it was really delicious!
Sandra Franklin — June 25, 2023 @ 3:57 pm Reply
Great thank you
Bette — July 4, 2023 @ 5:17 am Reply
Delicious
Ashley — December 19, 2023 @ 7:18 pm Reply
This salad dressing is perfection 👌
Kathleen Herrmann — January 4, 2024 @ 9:43 pm Reply
This dressing is a nice balance of seasoning without overpowering the greens.
Norrine Buchholz — January 8, 2024 @ 11:35 am Reply
Can you use canola oil instead of olive oil?
- Kristine Rosenblatt — January 9, 2024 @ 10:40 am Reply
  I wouldn’t recommend it. The olive oil is a key ingredient and has a much better flavor than canola oil.

FAQs

How to improve store bought Italian dressing? ›

Adding freshly ground black pepper can often be an easy way to up your dressing game, but also freshening up any ingredient listed on the bottle can be useful. An extra dollop of mustard in your Dijon vinaigrette, or pinch of oregano in your Italian dressing can make a world of difference.

Tell Me More ›

Is homemade dressing better than store bought? ›

Not only does homemade salad dressing generally taste better than the bottled stuff you find in most grocery stores, it's cheaper in the long run, and can be a healthier choice.

Tell Me More ›

Why add water to Italian dressing? ›

When they work together, the result can be harsh. But just a bit of water mellows out all of the flavors so that each can shine through. The tip isn't limited to this one vinaigrette.

See Details ›

What are the ingredients in Kraft Italian dressing? ›

VINEGAR, WATER, BLEND OF VEGETABLE OILS (SOYBEAN OIL, CANOLA OIL), SUGAR, SALT, GARLIC*, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF RED BELL PEPPERS*, ONIONS*, XANTHAN GUM, SPICE, OLEORESIN PAPRIKA (COLOR), POTASSIUM SORBATE AND CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (TO PROTECT FLAVOR).

Learn More Now ›

Why don t vinegar and oil mix in Italian dressing? ›

Vinegar is a solution of an acid in water. Oil is less dense than water so it wants to float to the top of the mixture. If you want the mix to stay together you will need to add an emulsifier. This is a substance that the acid solution and the oil to stay together.

How do you balance bitterness in dressing? ›

Sweetness balances out acidity, spice, and bitterness. A salad composed of bitter greens may benefit from a sweeter dressing. But sweetness can come from sources other than one-note white sugar; consider honey, pureed dates, maple syrup, jam, or molasses as sweeteners that also add flavor and mouth-feel.

Read On ›

Is homemade Italian dressing good for you? ›

Yes, this Italian dressing is healthy! It's made with extra-virgin olive oil, which has heart-healthy monounsaturated fats (MUFAs). MUFAs and herbs—including the herbs in this recipe—have been shown to calm chronic inflammation.

What is the number one healthiest salad dressing? ›

Generally speaking, the healthiest salad dressing will be a vinaigrette like balsamic or oil and vinegar, while Caesar, ranch or anything with the word “creamy” will be the unhealthiest. The exception? We like products made with healthy swaps—think Greek yogurt in place of mayo or heavy cream.

Discover More Details ›

What are the advantages of using a homemade dressing rather than a store bought dressing? ›

The Positives

Homemade Dressing	Store Bought Dressing
Less artificial ingredients and preservatives	Convenience
Better taste	Longer shelf life
Less expensive	Less work
Less sugar	Greater variety

1 more row

Jul 28, 2022

Explore More ›

What does Italian dressing do to your body? ›

Many creamy dressings include a high amount of fats and increase cholesterol levels in the heart. On the other hand, Italian dressing is the best choice as it contains a slighter amount of unwanted fat and also increases the good cholesterol in you for better heart health.

View Details ›

Is Italian dressing good or bad for you? ›

Italian dressing makes a better alternative than many other higher-calorie options. It adds taste to salad and offers good fat. Though many calories come from fats, it is better than primarily cream-based dressings like ranch, a thousand island, or blue cheese.

View Details ›

Do they use Italian dressing in Italy? ›

Despite its name, Italian dressing is not used in Italy, where salad is normally dressed with olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, salt, and sometimes balsamic vinegar at the table, and not with a pre-mixed vinaigrette.

What is zesty Italian dressing made of? ›

Distilled Vinegar, Vegetable Oil (Soybean And/Or Canola), Water, Sugar, Salt, Contains Less Than 2% Of Garlic,* Garlic, Red Bell Pepper,* Onion,* Onion, Spice, Xanthan Gum, Monosodium Glutamate, Natural Flavor, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor), Annatto Extract (Color).

Get More Info ›

Does Kraft make creamy Italian dressing? ›

Kraft Creamy Italian Salad Dressing & Dip 16 oz.

What is dry Italian dressing mix made of? ›

Directions. Mix together oregano, salt, parsley, garlic salt, onion powder, sugar, pepper, basil, thyme, and celery salt in a bowl. Store in a tightly sealed container until ready to use.

Read On ›

How do you doctor up store bought ranch dressing? ›

If you don't have time or inclination to make your dressing from scratch, but you want that elevated restaurant-style ranch, think about zhuzhing up the bottled version with things like finely chopped shallot or scallion, a clove of minced fresh garlic, a splash of buttermilk or dollop of sour cream if you have them ...

Find Out More ›

How do you spruce up store bought ranch dressing? ›

1 - Add more of what's already there. This might seem obvious, but you can add a lot of flavor to ranch dressing by adding more of what's already in it. I love adding lots of fresh herbs, extra garlic, or even lemon zest.

Keep Reading ›

Can you use outdated Italian dressing? ›

Is it safe to eat when it's expired? If your dressing is past that best-by date, it's still OK to eat, so don't feel like you have to throw out perfectly good dressing just because of an arbitrary deadline. That said, you definitely want to keep an eye on it and look out for any funky smells, bumps, or colors.