Italian dressing has been one of my favorites for as long as I can remember. My mom always served a simple green salad with dinner, and I gravitated toward Wish-Bone’s Italian dressing for drizzling on top. I was especially glad to reach for the extra zesty variety when we had it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—homemade salad dressings taste so much better than store-bought. This classic Italian vinaigrette is bold, lively and irresistible! My collection of salad dressing recipes was incomplete without it.
This dressing is easy to make with basic pantry ingredients. You’ll need olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, and dried oregano. You’ll also reach for salt, pepper and red pepper flakes (if you like mild heat). Finely grated Parmesan is entirely optional, but lends a familiar Olive Garden vibe. The beauty of making your own Italian dressing is that you know exactly what’s going into it—like real olive oil and no preservatives. You can also adjust the flavors to suit your preferences. Whether you like extra zesty or more mellow dressing, you’ll find guidance in the simple recipe below. It’s ready in under five minutes and keeps for a week!
How to Serve Italian Dressing
Salad made with Italian dressing goes well with many meals. This homemade vinaigrette balances out heavier entrées—think anything cheesy, creamy, or marinara saucy.
Complementary Salad Ingredients
Make my Italian Chopped Salad, or improvise your own Italian salad with any of the following ingredients:
Bell peppers Chickpeas Mozzarella, Parmesan or provolone cheese Pepperoncini peppers Red onion Romaine lettuce and radicchio, chopped Tomatoes, fresh or sun-dried
Meal Suggestions
This lively Italian vinaigrette is the perfect accompaniment to Italian dishes, such as:
Baked Ziti with Roasted Vegetables Hearty Spaghetti with Lentils & Marinara Sauce Italian Eggplant Parmesan Pasta alla Norma Pizza of any variety Vegetable Lasagna
Watch How to Make Italian Dressing
More Classic Salad Dressings to Make
Here are just a few more homemade salad dressings to keep in your repertoire:
Greek Salad Dressing Homemade Caesar Salad Favorite Balsamic Vinaigrette Homemade Ranch Dressing How to Make Vinaigrette (Plus 3 Essential Variations)
Please let me know how your Italian dressing turns out in the comments! I love hearing from you.
Change it up: Add ⅓ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese before adjusting the mixture to taste.
