The BEST Italian Dressing (Easy + Homemade)

Homemade Italian Dressing recipe in jar close-up.

The BEST Italian Dressing (Easy + Homemade)

Homemade Italian Dressing is zesty, delicious on green salads or pasta salads, and excellent as a marinade…plus it's all-natural and easy to make! This is the only Italian dressing recipe you need!

Course Salad

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings (2-tablespoon) servings (approximately 1 cup total dressing)

Calories 132kcal

Author Samantha Skaggs

Equipment

Ingredients

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil OR neutral vegetable oil such as sunflower, safflower, or avocado oil
¼ cup white wine vinegar OR red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons water
1 to 2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
¾ teaspoon garlic salt
¾ teaspoon dried parsley
¾ teaspoon dried basil
⅛ teaspoon dried oregano
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Measure all ingredients into a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake vigorously until well-blended and emulsified. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more salt and pepper if necessary.

Video

Notes

- FRESH INGREDIENTS: The quality and freshness of your ingredients will affect the flavor of your dressing, so use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best tasting dressing.
- OIL: Use your favorite type of neutral-flavored oil, but keep in mind that some oils (such as olive oil) will thicken/solidify in the fridge.
- VINEGAR: I actually prefer making this Italian Dressing recipe with half white wine vinegar and half red wine vinegar (so 2 T. of each).
- HONEY: The honey mellows out the acidity of the dressing, but you may add more or less, to taste.
- LEMON JUICE: Bottled lemon juice will work if you don't have fresh, but try to use one where "lemon juice" is the only ingredient.
- GARLIC: If you'd like to incorporate fresh garlic for more zing, substitute ½ teaspoon sea salt plus one small clove of garlic, either pressed or grated, for the garlic salt.
- HERBS: If you'd like to substitute any/all of the dried herbs with fresh, you'll need to multiply the amount X 3 (since fresh herbs are 3 X less potent than dried).
- ALTERNATIVE METHODS: Instead of shaking this recipe in a jar, you may whisk ingredients together in a bowl OR process ingredients in a mini food processor/blend them in a blender instead.
- LEFTOVERS: Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Allow to come to room temperature and shake well before using, particularly if your oil has thickened. If you need to bring your dressing to room temperature quickly, rest the dressing jar in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes and then shake.

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