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Make restaurant-quality Italian dressing at home with this simple recipe! This zesty dressing is full of flavor and perfect for salads, pasta salads, and more.
One of my favorite salad dressing recipes of all time is this this one: my homemade Italian dressing! Yes, this zingy Italian American vinaigrette is easy to find at the store. But as a recipe developer who’s created literally thousands of recipes in my career, I’ve found the key to a great salad is a homemade salad dressing.
I first developed this zesty Italian dressing for my popular chopped salad, and it’s become my top easy vinaigrette for salad recipes of all kinds. The flavor is zesty and bright, full of garlic, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and olive oil. I know you’ll love it as much as I do!
5 Star Reader Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Wow! This Italian dressing is fabulous and will be my new go-to dressing for greens and pasta salads. Yes…do follow the instructions for a perfect dressing. Thanks!” -Twinkle
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This is the best dressing I have ever made. Never before have I had so many positive comments or been asked for a dressing recipe!” -Maggie
Why You’ll Love This Dressing
This Italian dressing recipe all started with my famous chopped salad, which is always a hit with friends and family. Every time I serve it, people ask me for the recipe! Here’s what I love about this recipe:
- It’s delicious. Readers have left comments like “IMO, This IS the best Italian dressing!” and “Wow this was so good! I made it for a Italian inspired mixed green salad that I made for guests and everyone loved it. I will definitely be making it again!”
- It’s simple to whip up in 5 minutes. You need a few ingredients, a bowl and a whisk.
- It’s versatile. You can use it on many different salads: and even as a marinade!
Ingredients You’ll Need
It might not come as a shock that this salad dressing is actually Italian American, not authentically Italian! It’s a vinaigrette type dressing that’s used in American and Canadian cuisine.
In Italy, salads are dressed with olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice and salt at the table. Italian dressing is an American creation that approximates the flavors and herbs in Italian food, like olive oil, garlic, basil, oregano and thyme. The ingredients you’ll need are:
- White wine vinegar: This pantry ingredient brings in the tangy flavor (helpful so you don’t have to buy a fresh lemon). Make sure to use white wine vinegar, not white vinegar, which has a very strong, acidic flavor.
- Dijon mustard: Mustard adds tangy, savory flavor and helps to make the perfect emulsion.
- Maple syrup or sugar: Adding a hint of sugar balances the acidity in this dressing. Maple syrup adds sweetness and not a strong maple flavor, so it’s my preference here.
- Garlic: Everything is better with a little fresh garlic, and it carries the flavor of this dressing.
- Dried oregano, thyme, and basil: The combination of these herbs make the perfect flavor. We’ve experimented with Italian seasoning, but this combination tastes better.
- Olive oil: This heart-healthy oil is the binder in this dressing, making it cling to salad greens and vegetables.
Tips for The Perfect Italian Dressing
This homemade Italian dressing recipe is incredibly simple. To make an emulsion for this homemade Italian salad dressing recipe, simply whisk it by hand. Here are a few tips:
- Use a medium-sized bowl. To get the oil and vinegar to incorporate into a creamy emulsion, use a medium-sized bowl to allow for enough movement of the whisk. (Trust us, we’ve tried it in small bowls before and it’s hard to get it to combine properly.)
- Add the olive oil little by little. Add it tablespoon by tablespoon and whisk in between each until the oil fully incorporates.
- Use Dijon mustard. The mustard helps to form and lock in the emulsion. We’ve used this technique with success in other salad dressing recipes like my Easy Vinaigrette and Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Ways To Serve It
This homemade Italian dressing recipe is perfect on any type of salad that you throw together! We’ve made it for years and have lots of readers who use it as a go-to salad dressing. It works well on many types of salad recipes, like a chopped salad, kale salad, or any green salad with flavors that would go with an Italian-style vinaigrette. Here are a few ideas of how to use it:
- Try it on a big Chopped Salad or Italian Salad
- Drizzle it onto Tuscan Kale Salad or a Spinach Salad
- Try it on an Asparagus Salad with Feta
- Use it for pasta salads like Italian Pasta Salad or Antipasto Salad
- Make it as an option for a Salad Bar
Storing Leftovers
This homemade Italian dressing lasts up to 2 weeks refrigerated. The olive oil does solidify when cold, so allow to stand at room temperature for a few minutes before serving.
Dietary Notes
This homemade Italian dressing recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.
Frequently asked questions
Italian dressing is a vinaigrette style dressing (based on oil and vinegar) that uses herbs and spices like oregano, basil, and garlic.
Italian dressing is a versatile condiment! Here are some ideas:
Marinade: Marinate chicken, fish, or tofu in Italian dressing for added flavor before grilling, baking, or pan-frying.
Sandwich spread: Add a touch of Italian dressing to your sandwich bread for a bit of extra moisture and flavor.
Pasta salad: Toss cooked pasta with Italian dressing, chopped vegetables, and cheese for a quick and easy pasta salad.
Store homemade Italian dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Get creative! Here are some ideas:
Spicy Italian: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a kick.
Lemon Herb Italian: Substitute lemon juice for some of the vinegar and add fresh dill or parsley.
Greek-inspired Italian: Incorporate crumbled feta cheese and a drizzle of red wine vinegar.
Italian Dressing Recipe
This zesty homemade Italian dressing recipe is full of flavor and easy to make at home! This one will become a go-to on first taste.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: About ½ cup 1x
- Category: Salad Dressing
- Method: Whisked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup or sugar
- 1 small garlic clove, grated (about ¼ teaspoon) or ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon each dried oregano, dried thyme, and dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and maple syrup. Grate in the garlic clove, then whisk together with the oregano, thyme, basil, and kosher salt.
- Gradually whisk in the olive oil, adding 1 tablespoon at a time and whisking until it incorporates, until an emulsion forms. Serve immediately. Store refrigerated and bring to room temperature before serving (keeps at least 2 weeks).
This is my go to Italian salad dressing! It’s such a relief to use garlic powder instead of messing with fresh!.So easy and delicious!
I made a mistake and used three (large) garlic cloves, didn’t notice instructed “small.” I addrd more vinegar, honey and olive oil to balance it out. It would be perfect if I followed the instructions!
This dressing was delicious!!
Wow! I opened your email and immediately made this Italian dressing. It’s fabulous and will be my new go-to dressing for greens and pasta salads. Yes…do follow the instructions for a perfect dressing. Thanks!
This is my go to salad dressing! I always double the recipe. Love it!
So glad to hear that!
Why “Kosher salt”? Flake salt does not sound right for this recipe and, it’s also pointless if you have to then grind the flakes to a smaller size anyway. Why is America so obsessed with kosher salt as if no other type of salt exists in the world? There are many good quality clean sea salts on the market and they all have different flavor profiles, pink salt, blue salt, black salt, smoked salt etc.
“Kosher” is a Jewish food tradition (similar to HALAL) where large salt flakes are used as a meat rub to draw out impurities.
Salts come in many forms and flavors, you are missing out if you only use kosher salt for everything. Also, avoided the processed “table salt” junk, that is the worst salt on the market.
I also avoid iodine salt because it tastes bad and it changes the flavor profile of recipes in a bad way. If you need more iodine in your diet, eat fish or Italian hard licorice pure extract sticks or Simpkins nipits type candy etc. (a great source of natural iodine) instead of high processed “salt with added iodine”. The more processed your food is, the worst it is for your long term health.
Hi! You are welcome to use a sea salt. We use kosher salt in our recipes to provide a consistent approach for all of our readers.
I made the Italian dressing it was great.from now on that will be my go to dressing. Looking forward to trying some more of your dressing. Thanks for sharing
This dressing rocks! Excellent!
Love this dressing. I’ve made several of the dressing recipes and they always turn out great! No more bottled dressings for me! Thanks for the great recipes!
This is the best dressing I have ever made. Never before have I had so many positive comments or been asked for a dressing recipe.
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed :)
Can I use fresh herbs not dried?
Great dressing! Served at a gathering and everyone liked it. Will make again.
Love love your recipes. So easy and so many alternatives. Easy to folliw with ingredients I nearly always have on hand. Notenough salads are served as sides in my opinion. Thank You!
I tried your recipe for Favorite Chopped Salad and the Homemade Italian Dressing to take to a dinner party last night. I used only the Romaine hearts and one English Cucumber. People loved the salad. For the dressing, I used red wine vinegar, because I had run out of white. It’s the best Italian dressing recipe I’ve found (the herbs really make this dressing!). I like to make my own dressings, so I’ve finally found the perfect vinaigrette.
This dressing is SO GOOD!! I will be making this regularly. Thanks for a great recipe!
Can I use fresh herbs instead of dry, if so how much?
Can’t rate the dressing yet, will make it tonight
Yes, it would be delish! Anything would be good, but I’d start with a teaspoon each of minced.
Thanks for sharing,
I just have to go on and on about what a great dressing this is. Being a huge devotee of Olive Garden salad dressing, I’ve always been dismayed that I couldn’t find one I liked just as much, only without all the fillers and inflammatory oils. This dressing is even better than Olive Garden. The ingredients seem so simple, but it’s the combination that just comes together for a big, flavorful punch that leaves you wanting to lick the salad bowl afterward.
Thanks for the comment! So glad you are loving it!
I love this dressing. I use it on the Mediterranean quinoa salad and it is perfect!
Is doubling or tripling this recipe as straightforward as doubling or tripling the ingredients, or is it more nuanced than that? I love the dressing, but I wish it made more.
In this case, straightforward doubling should work!
Hi!! I just saw your recipe, but I want to give this to my kids can I change the white wine vinegar for lemon or something else? I know is one of the principal ingredients.
Not really, sorry!
I can’t wait to try this dressing out on my book club. Looks delish.
Hey guys I love ya food just love it
Thank you!
Favorite go to dressing. So easy to make and flavorful.
Wow this was so good! I made it for a Italian inspired mixed green salad that I made for guests and everyone loved it. I will definitely be making it again!
Why did I need scroll through 5 pix of the salad to get to the recipe????
Hi! There’s a jump to recipe button at the top of the page if you’d like to use it.
So they can sell ad space. Love looking for a recipe on the internet and being expected to read a 700 word story about the author’s grandma’s childhood memories eating a similar recipe when she was a young girl during the war. It’s not unique here, but the ads are kind of on a different level on this site.
The recipe is great. I make it all the time now. I think the spices are right on but I add a little extra garlic and maple syrup. For those reviewers who complain about ads and other commentary just jump to the recipe.
Even tho we like our food pretty well seasoned (since I usually need to add a bit more seasonings & herbs if I follow a recipe I saw online) I feel that the herbs in this dressing were way too strong in proportion to the amount of oil & vinegar. If I ever make it again, I’ll cut all the herbs down to 1/4 tsp. each, instead of the 1/2 tsp. you used. BTW, I let the dressing sit in the fridge overnight, for the flavors to meld properly.
Could I substitute red wine vinegar for white? Thanks!
Yes!
How does the maple syrup change the Italian flare of the
dressing?
The maple is a nice natural sweetener – you can’t detect any maple flavor! If you’d like, use an equal amount of sugar (or honey).
When I try to print recipe I get the following along w/other notices about changing my browser to Yahoo. Is it me or you?
“This free extension will update this browser’s search engine to one powered by Yahoo. By continuing, you acknowledge the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and that you may be presented with more optional offers.”
That’s not from this website. You may have something extra installed on your browser.
IMO, This IS the best Italian dressing! Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed!!
Which olive oil to use ?? Extra virgin or regular
Extra virgin.
Mixed up this dressing, saved a trip to the store, mixed with soy sauce (half and half), marinade chicken wings in mixture. Cook in oven or on grill. Take out and coat with butter, Lloyd’s Hot Sauce and a tablespoon of soy. I do broil just to crisp up. YUM. This dressing kicked it up a notch. BAM!!!!
Sounds awesome!
I used honey in place of maple syrup or sugar but thought it tasted great! Will definitely make again. Thanks!