I have a love for salad dressings, and Italian dressing is no exception. Before I switched to healthier foods, ranch was about the only thing that got me to eat raw broccoli. Luckily, my journey into real food has made me love salads of all kinds, even without a lot of dressing.
A green salad doesn’t need much dressing if it’s freshly homemade and full of dried herbs and spices. A simple homemade dressing takes an ordinary salad to a whole other level.
And it is also worthwhile from a health perspective. Most store-bought dressings contain dangerous vegetable oils (rich in omega-6, which we already get too much of in the American diet), MSG, and preservatives.
Homemade Italian dressing only takes 2 or 3 minutes to mix. Plus, it contains healthy, real ingredients such as olive oil, fresh garlic and dried or fresh herbs. I also love that it lasts for weeks. It’s a win-win situation!
Italian salad dressing in the kitchen
This homemade salad dressing is one of my favorite vinaigrettes. Not only is it a great addition to virtually any salad, but it also serves as a simple marinade for most meats. And not just meat… marinate fresh vegetables for an hour or two and then grill them! The smoky flavors of the grill and the herbal flavors in the dressing combine perfectly for a complex flavor mix.
I like to use leftover dressing on a large salad with some chicken for a quick lunch or as a herb alternative to dipping raw vegetables. The healthy oils give an energy boost and the taste is great! You can also use it to make Italian pasta salad, along with some black olives, Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes for delicious Mediterranean flavors.
Not a fan of Italian dressing? You can also check out more of my favorite DIY alternatives to bottled dressing in this post.
Make and store homemade Italian dressing
This dressing will keep for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator, but I highly recommend making it in small batches if necessary as the flavor is absolutely best the first few days. Sometimes I double the batch if I’m making it for an audience.
For a great shortcut, you can make a batch of homemade Italian spice mix to replace the thyme, basil and oregano. Simply use 1 ½ teaspoons of Italian seasoning blend in place of the spices listed in the recipe. Then it is easy to make this recipe from memory. After a few practice runs, you may not even need to measure again!
They make shake bottles for homemade dressing, but I prefer a glass jar. I love these buds to give any mason jar a pouring spout.
Ingredient substitutions
I use white wine vinegar here, but you can also use apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar. They all add some acid to offset the olive oil. I prefer the milder flavor or white wine vinegar in this recipe.
This recipe calls for all dried herbs, but you can use fresh ones if you prefer. And I use fresh garlic, but a little garlic powder works too if you have it. Check out the recipe below for some favorite salads with Italian dressing.
Recipe for homemade Italian dressing
An Italian salad dressing recipe that’s better for you, without the highly processed vegetable oils! This also works well as a marinade.
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Combine all ingredients in a small mason jar, close the lid tightly and shake vigorously. Serve immediately.
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You can also use a hand blender to make mixing easier.
Nutrition facts
Recipe for homemade Italian dressing
Amount per serving (2 tablespoons)
Calories 127
Calories from fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated fat 2g13%
Polyunsaturated fat 1 g
Monounsaturated fat 10 g
Sodium 306 mg13%
Potassium 26mg1%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Fiber 0.4 g2%
Sugar 0.1 g0%
Egg white 0.3g1%
Vitamin A 12IU0%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 16mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. If the bandage is stored in the refrigerator, it may solidify slightly. This is perfectly fine. It happens when olive oil is chilled. Simply remove it from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature about an hour before using it
Salad combinations to try with Italian dressing:
- Classic Chopped Salad – Toss with romaine lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives (and a little feta if you’re feeling fancy!).
- Spring Salad with Strawberries – Try Italian instead of honey mustard dressing on this favorite spring salad concoction with roasted pecans, fresh strawberries and chicken.
- Simple Summer Salad – Pour a little Italian dressing over thinly sliced cucumbers and red onion, with a few cherry tomatoes thrown in. Sprinkle with fresh basil leaves.
- Pepper Steak Salad – Italian dressing isn’t just for chicken!
For other new recipes using Italian dressing, try my favorite Real Plans meal planning tool!
What is your favorite salad dressing? Have you tried making it yourself? I’d love to hear what your favorite dressings are to whip up at home!