This homemade Italian Dressing Recipe is fresh, flavorful, and ready in minutes. Youโll never want to buy the bottled stuff again.
authorโs note
Forget the Bottle, This Italian Dressing Recipe Is So Much Better!
Growing up, my mom always had a bottle of zesty Italian dressing in the fridge or pantry. She made everything with it, especially her famous spiral pasta salad and big Italian salads, and I remember all of us absolutely drenching our plates in that bottled dressing.
It wasnโt until I got older and my taste buds changed a bit that I realized I didnโt actually love that flavor. But I still craved those same salads I grew up eating, so I knew I needed a version that tasted better.
I started with a few of my go-to vinaigrette bases and kept testing and tweaking until I landed on this one, and now itโs easily my favorite dressing ever. Now I keep a jar of this Italian Dressing in my fridge at all times. I use it on simple salads, drizzle it over roasted veggies, dip a crusty baguette straight into it, and love it over grain bowls or paired with Italian chicken. Itโs one of those things that makes everything taste better.
Italian Dressing Recipe Ingredients
| Ingredient | Swaps or tips |
|---|---|
| Red wine vinegar | White wine vinegar works if needed. |
| Dijon mustard | Adds depth and helps blend everything smoothly. Stone-ground works for a slightly different texture. |
| Olive oil | Use extra-virgin for best flavor. |
| Dried herbs | Keeps things simple but still gives that classic Italian flavor. Add more or less based on what you like. |
| Sugar | Adjust to taste or skip for more tang. |
| Mayo | I love and recommend Hellmanโs/Best Foods mayo. |
chelseaโs recipe tip
My Top Tips For Success
- Shake right before using: Natural separation is normal.
- If it clumps: Olive oil firms up in the fridge. Let this Italian dressing recipe sit out 20 to 30 minutes, then shake to recombine
- Let it sit: Even 30 minutes in the fridge improves the flavor.
- Taste and tweak: A small pinch of salt can completely change the flavor.
How I Use This Italian Dressing Recipe
This Italian Dressing isnโt just for salads. Here are some favorite ways to use it:
- Toss with chopped romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, and croutons
- Drizzle over roasted veggies right out of the oven
- Use as a marinade for chicken or steak
- Toss with pasta salad for a quick side
- Add to a sandwich for extra flavor
- Spoon over grain bowls with quinoa or rice
Storage
- Store this Italian dressing recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 to 7 days.
- For the best flavor, make it ahead of time and chill it. The flavors get better as it sits.
More Flavorful Dressing Recipes:
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Thai Peanut Dressing
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Strawberry Vinaigrette Recipe
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Caesar Dressing Recipe
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Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
Italian Dressing
Equipment
- Wide-mouth Mason Jar or a bowl
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard see note 1
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar see note 2
- 1/2 cup olive oil see note 3
- 2 tablespoons mayo full-fat, I love Hellmannโs/Best Foods, see note 4
- Salt and pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, if youโd like some heat
Instructionsย
- In a wide-mouth jar, combine all the dressing ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper; I add 1/4 up to 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, but add to preference.
- Shake briskly to combine and emulsify. (Donโt have a jar? Whisk in a bowl instead!) It might take a minute of vigorous shaking, but the mayo should completely integrate (keep shaking or whisking until it does). Taste and adjust the flavors to personal preference. If you have time, make this ahead and chill in the fridge to intensify the flavors. Shake again right before using.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
As your sister, Iโve been putting this dressing on literally everything recently!!
So happy you love this Italian Dressing! Thanks Heather!
Where do you put the Pin in your recipes? I canโt seem to find it and would like to save some of these to my Pinterest
Thanks
Sorry Michelle! We are working on getting it fixed right now! Thank you!!