by Holly
Homemade Italian dressing recipe is quick and delicious. Oil and red wine vinegar are mixed with a combination of dijon and a pinch of Italian seasoning. Everything is better homemade!
We love making our own Italian dressing at home, it just tastes so much better. I love knowing exactly what goes into my dressing and this is the perfect blend! Use it as a marinade for Baked Chicken Breasts or grilled chicken, to dip bread or of course as a dressing for salad and veggies!
Italian Dressing
I love using this Italian dressing recipe to pour a fresh crisp Italian salad, to dress a perfect Italian Pasta Salad or to dip big chunks of focaccia bread. It goes so well with just about everything.
How To Make Italian Dressing
Italian salad dressing ingredients are simple. It is a vinaigrette style dressing, consisting of oil, vinegar, and other herbs and spices. It is very important to use the dijon, this ingredient helps to hold the dressing together. If you skip it, your dressing will separate into oil/vinegar layers.
To make Homemade Italian salad dressing:
To make this easy dressing recipe, I shake it all in a mason jar. I have a couple of lids for my mason jars that have a pouring spout which I always use for dressings.
- Add all ingredients to a jar with a tight fitting lid.
- Shake to combine.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper.
This recipe uses vegetable oil as olive oil can sometimes be bitter. If you have a light tasting olive oil, feel free to use half and half! We do add garlic to this recipe occasionally.
Italian salad dressing will last in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I like to store it in a labelled container with a pour spout to make it easier to use. If you have old dressing bottles, those work too!
Because it lasts so long, I love whipping this Italian dressing up and keeping it in the fridge at all times. It makes last minute weeknight side dishes easy peasy, the perfect pasta salad with Italian dressing and of course it’s great as a marinade!
More Salad Dressing Recipes
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Cowboy Caviar – delicious with Italian dressing!
- Easy Greek Pasta Salad – super fresh
- Caesar Salad – another great salad recipe!
- Classic Wedge Salad – my favorite
- Buttermilk Ranch Dressing & Dip
- Spinach Salad Dressing
Italian Dressing
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Ingredients
- ½ cup vegetable oil (or use half olive oil, half vegetable oil)
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
Follow Spend with Pennies on Pinterest
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a jar with a tight fitting lid.
- Shake well to combine. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
- Serve over fresh greens. Makes about ⅔ cup.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
I think people who gave this a low rating do not know what real Italian salad dressing is. I grew up with Italians and they use a very simple dressing, mostly oil with a little bit of vinegar and some salt – and sometimes they only use oil and salt. This recipe is pretty close to an authentic homemade Italian dressing. It lets the greens shine! Thank you, Holly!
Thanks, Terry! Glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe :)
This recipe is awful. Tastes like nothing and super oily
Hi Kelsey, this is an oil-based recipe so we recommend refrigerating for at least one hour before serving. This helps to allow all the other flavors to shine through!
Delicious and so simple! Used it for a simple pasta salad and it was the perfect match. Thank you for the recipe.
I simply can’t get enough of this salad dressing. I’m having huge salads everyday for lunch. This is so good!! I’ve shared it with at least 30 people.
Best recipe find of the year.
Thank you so much for sharing the recipe, Jennifer! We love this one too!
Sorry but this is not good. Ratios are way off. Way to much oil and not enough emulsifiers.
I like to make homemade instead of store bought.Thank you
I hope you enjoy the dressing Carol!
Really good! I added a little garlic and onion power, a dash of red pepper flakes and half white and half red wine vinegar, and a little parmesan cheese. Really good. May try a little honey next time I get some. Thanks for the recipe!
Those additions sounds yummy J.W. Glad you enjoyed it!
Hello, Your recipes look so delicious and they appear to be simple to make. I made the Pizza Grilled cheese and it was delish.
I have also printed a few more that I will be trying very soon.
I wanted to make a salad dressing without the Red Wine Vinegar and I wanted to know is there is a substitute for Red Wine Vinegar?
Thank you have a Blessed Day!
You could try another type of vinegar such as cider vinegar. Enjoy Cosandra!