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I have a bit of a love for salad dressings, and Italian dressing is no exception. Before I switched to healthy foods, farm was all that got me through raw broccoli. Fortunately, my journey to real food has made me love all kinds of salads, even without a lot of dressing.
A green salad doesn’t need a lot of dressing when it’s made fresh at home and packed with dried herbs and spices. A simple homemade dressing takes an ordinary salad to a whole different level.
And it’s worth it from a health perspective, too. Most store-bought dressings contain dangerous vegetable oils (high in omega-6, which we already get a lot of in the American diet), monosodium glutamate, and preservatives.
Blending homemade Italian dressing only takes 2 or 3 minutes. Plus, it contains healthy, real ingredients like olive oil, fresh garlic, and dried or fresh herbs. I also love that it stores well for weeks at a time. It’s a win-win!
Italian salad dressing in the kitchen
Homemade salad dressing is one of my favorite vinaigrettes. Not only does it make a great addition to almost any salad, it also serves as a simple marinade for most meats. And not just meat… marinate fresh veggies for an hour or two and then grill them! The smoky flavors of the grill and the herbal flavors in the sauce combine perfectly for a complex flavor combination.
I like to use leftover dressing on a big salad with some chicken for a quick lunch or as a condiment substitute for dipping raw vegetables. Healthy oils give a boost of energy and the flavor is amazing! You can also use it to make an Italian pasta salad with some black olives, Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes for delicious Mediterranean flavors.
Not a fan of Italian clothing? You can also check out more of our favorite DIY alternatives to bottled clothes in this post.
How to make and store homemade Italian dressing
This sauce will last for about two weeks in the refrigerator, but I highly suggest making it in small batches as needed because the flavor is definitely best in the first few days. Sometimes I double the batch if I’m making it for a crowd.
For a great shortcut, whip up a batch of your homemade Italian seasoning blend to replace the thyme, basil, and oregano. Just use 1 1/2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning blend instead of the herbs mentioned in the recipe. So it’s easy to make this recipe from memory. You may not even need to measure after doing a few workouts!
They make shaker bottles for their homemade marinade, but I prefer a glass jar. I love These peaks To give any mason jar a pouring spout.
Ingredient substitutions
I’m using white wine vinegar here, but you can also use apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or red wine vinegar. They all add some acidity to balance the olive oil. I prefer a smoother flavor or white wine vinegar in this recipe.
This recipe calls for all dried herbs but you can use fresh herbs if you prefer. I use fresh garlic, but a little garlic powder will do if you have it on hand. Check out the recipe below for some of my favorite salads with Italian dressing.
Homemade Italian sauce recipe
Your best Italian salad dressing recipe without highly processed vegetable oils! This also works well as a marinade.
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Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, close the lid tightly, and shake vigorously. Serve immediately.
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You can also use an immersion blender to make mixing easier.
Nutritional facts
Homemade Italian sauce recipe
Amount per serving (2 tablespoons)
Calories 127
Calories from fat 126
% daily value*
fat 14 grams22%
Saturated fat 2 grams13%
Polyunsaturated fats 1 gram
Monounsaturated fat 10 grams
sodium 306 mg13%
Potassium 26 mg1%
Carbohydrates 1 gram0%
Fiber 0.4 grams2%
Sugar 0.1 grams0%
protein 0.3 grams1%
Vitamin A 12 IU0%
Vitamin C 1 mg1%
Calcium 16 mg2%
iron 1 mg6%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Store in the refrigerator for up to one week. If refrigerated, the dressing may freeze slightly. That’s totally fine. It occurs when olive oil is refrigerated. Simply take it out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for about an hour before you need to use it
Salad combinations you can try with Italian dressing:
- Classic Chopped Salad – Top with romaine lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives (and a little feta if you’re in the mood!).
- Strawberry Spring Salad – Try the Italian method instead of honey mustard dressing with this favorite spring salad with toasted pecans, fresh strawberries, and chicken.
- Simple Summer Salad – Drizzle a little Italian dressing over sliced cucumbers and red onions and top with a few cherry tomatoes. Place fresh basil leaves on top.
- Sweet Pepper Steak Salad – Italian dressing isn’t just for chicken!
For other new recipes using Italian dressing, try my favorite meal planning tool from Real Plans!
What is your favorite salad dressing? Have you tried making your own? I’d love to hear about your favorite dressings to mix at home!
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