This zesty Homemade Italian Dressing Recipe takes minutes to whip up and is SO versatile – drizzle it on a green salad or use it as a marinade for your favorite protein!
Quick, easy, tangy, and delicious. I just KNOW you’re going to love this versatile dressing recipe.
What is italian dressing?
Italian dressing is a super flavorful vinaigrette made with oil, wine vinegar, and loads of yummy herbs and spices!
Most commonly used as a salad dressing, this vinaigrette is also great for marinating proteins like chicken breasts!
Ingredients
As with most vinaigrettes, this Italian dressing is made with oil, vinegar, sweetener, and spices!
- Olive Oil – mixes with the vinegar to make the perfect base for this dressing recipe.
- White or Red Wine Vinegar – adds a bright, tangy flavor.
- Honey – cuts the tang of the vinegar with some sweetness.
- Parmesan Cheese – gives a nutty, sharp, cheesy flavor.
- Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Oregano, Basil, Thyme – the perfect blend of herbs and spices to make this dressing extra flavorful.
- Salt and Pepper – brings out other flavors and adds a little spice.
- Red Pepper Flakes – more or less depending on your spice preferences!
How to make
This homemade Italian dressing recipe tastes better than store-bought, is healthier than store-bought, and is just as easy as running to the store to grab a bottle. 😉
- Place oil, vinegar, honey, parmesan, and spices in a mason jar.
- Seal and shake until well-combined.
What oil to use
Use a high quality extra virgin olive oil to make the BEST homemade Italian dressing. Use “smooth” for a more mild flavor or “robust” for a full bodied flavor. Whatever you use, be sure you enjoy the taste, because its flavor will shine through in this recipe!
If you don’t have any extra virgin olive oil, you can also use a neutral flavored oil like vegetable or canola oil but the flavor will be different.
Is This good for you?
This Italian dressing is healthy. Most dressings will call for more oil than vinegar (typically 2 or 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar) but today we’re using equal amounts. This lowers the fat and calories.
1 tablespoon contains about 60 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1 gram of carbs, and 1 gram of protein.
Is This vegan?
Since this recipe contains parmesan cheese, it is not vegan. BUT it can easily be made vegan by leaving the cheese out and swapping the honey for agave!
Is This gluten-free?
It sure is! As always, be sure to check all your ingredients to verify that they are certified gluten-free before using them in this recipe.
How to serve
I love to serve this homemade Italian dressing on a side salad with a pasta dish like my one-pot lasagna, my one-pot fettuccine alfredo, or this easy shrimp alfredo.
It’s also delicious as a dressing on my Italian pasta salad recipe, as a dipping sauce for some fresh bread, or even as a marinade for baked chicken breasts!
Does this need to be refrigerated?
This Italian dressing contains perishable ingredients, like cheese, it does need to be stored in the refrigerator.
How to store
Store this homemade Italian dressing in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. It will likely separate so just shake it up before using it again!
– Jennifer
Homemade Italian Dressing
Equipment for this recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
- 1/2 - 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Place olive oil, vinegar, honey, parmesan, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, pepper, thyme, and red pepper flakes into a mason jar, blender, or food processor.
- Seal and shake or blend until well combined.
- Taste and re-season if necessary.
- Use immediately.
- Store leftovers in a sealed airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Let come to room temperature before serving.
- Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!
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Nutrition Information
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
This recipe has been updated to provide more detailed content.
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