This Italian dressing is so ridiculously delicious that you'll wonder why you ever used the store-bought kind! It is ready to enjoy in only a few minutes and has the perfect balance of tanginess and zest! You can toss it with your salad, drizzle it over veggies, add it to quinoa, or even marinate your chicken!
Easy Homemade Italian Salad Dressing
Italian dressing may easily be one of the most popular salad dressing options. It is tangy, zesty, and packed with a ton of flavor that can easily elevate any salad!
Of course, I'm always a fan of making your homemade salad dressing rather than buying it at the store. It tastes so much better and more authentic and isn't loaded with preservatives or ingredients you can't pronounce!
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🥘 Italian Dressing Ingredients
This simple collection of ingredients is about to be transformed into a super tasty dressing! In fact, you could easily already have all of these things in your pantry ready to go!
- Salad Oil - ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO).
- White Wine Vinegar - 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar (or see all my best substitutes for white wine vinegar). Red wine vinegar is my second favorite option.
- Lemon Juice - 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. Use freshly squeezed juice for the best results (and add a touch of zest!). In a pinch, bottled lemon juice can also be used.
- Honey - 1 teaspoon of honey or pure maple syrup
- Seasoning - 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste), ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Garlic - 1 clove garlic (grated).
- Dijon Mustard - ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard, and I like Grey Poupon the most for this recipe.
- Parmesan Cheese (optional) - 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (grated).
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Italian Salad Dressing
One of my favorite reasons for making my own salad dressing is that it is ridiculously simple. There is no cooking required; all you do is mix it all together!
You will need a bowl, a whisk, measuring spoons, and a jar to store your dressing in. This easy homemade salad dressing will yield enough dressing for approximately 6 servings.
- Prepare. Add your ingredients to a small bowl or jar (¼ cup of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar and lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of honey and oregano, 1 clove of garlic, ½ teaspoon of both Dijon mustard and thyme, and ¼ teaspoon each of salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes).
- Combine. Whisk everything together until smooth, or seal the jar lid and shake it well. If adding the optional 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese, stir it in.
- Serve. Either serve your salad dressing immediately or store it in a jar in the refrigerator until ready to use later.
This Italian dressing is perfect for some pasta salad. Of course, it will also taste amazing on any of your favorite salad recipes! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- To make this recipe vegan, omit the optional Parmesan cheese and swap the honey for maple syrup.
- If using garlic powder instead of fresh garlic, you will only need ⅛-¼ teaspoon.
- If you don't have white wine vinegar on hand, you can use red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, which will still taste fantastic!
- I suggest using fresh lemon juice for the best results, but bottled lemon juice works in a pinch. Add a bit of the fresh lemon zest for some real zing!
🥡 Storing
Keep your Italian dressing in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Give it a good shake before using, as it may begin to separate.
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❓ FAQ
Yes, these are just two names for the same thing! This Italian dressing has an oil and vinegar base, just like any standard vinaigrette!
Since this recipe uses fresh garlic, it is best if consumed within 1 week. However, if you use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic, it could last up to 2 weeks.
No worries if you notice that your dressing has separated after sitting in the fridge for a bit; this is completely normal! This is because vinegar and oil are made up of different types of molecules that don't mix very well.
Give your dressing a good whisk or shake, and it's good to go!
🥗 Best Salad Dressing Recipes
- Russian Salad Dressing - A tangy yet sweet dressing that is creamy enough to be enjoyed on burgers, sandwiches, and salads!
- Benihana Ginger Salad Dressing - A popular dressing that we all know and love from our favorite Hibachi restaurants!
- Caesar Salad Dressing without Anchovies - Classic Caesar salad dressing that is made without using anchovies!
- Catalina Dressing - A light, sweet dressing made up of oil, vinegar, ketchup, and honey!
- Homemade Ranch Dressing - Everyone's favorite dressing for salads, dipping, and more!
- Blue Cheese Dressing - A bold and flavorful dressing packed with blue cheese crumbles!
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📋 Recipe
Italian Dressing
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil (extra virgin)
- 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 clove garlic (grated)
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese (grated, optional)
Instructions
- Add your ingredients to a small bowl or jar (olive oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, oregano, garlic, Dijon mustard, thyme, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes).¼ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 2 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 clove garlic, ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper, ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Whisk everything together until smooth, or close the lid of the jar and give it a good shake. If adding the optional Parmesan cheese, stir it in.2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
- Serve immediately or store in a jar in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- To make this recipe vegan, omit the optional Parmesan cheese and swap the honey for maple syrup.
- If using garlic powder instead of fresh garlic, you will only need ⅛-¼ teaspoon.
- If you don't have any white wine vinegar on hand, you can use red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, and it will still taste fantastic!
- I suggest using fresh lemon juice for the best results, but bottled lemon juice works in a pinch. Add a bit of the fresh lemon zest for some real zing!
- To store: Keep your Italian dressing stored in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Give it a good shake before using, as it may begin to separate.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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