Homemade Italian Dressing

4.34 from 3 votes
Jump to RecipeEmail Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Make your own Homemade Italian Dressing at home with Ingredients you already have on hand. There are no added preservatives, it’s easy to make, and so good for you. Drizzle it over your favorite healthy salad recipe today.

Italian dressing in a jar.
email me this recipe
Plus, enjoy weekly doses of recipe inspiration as a bonus!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Homemade Italian Dressing Recipe- It’s So Easy

There are so many different Italian salad dressings on the market, forget about them! Forget the store bought Italian dressing and make your own right in the comfort of your own home. You only need a few ingredients to make a classic Italian dressing that you can serve over a crunchy salad or a delicious pasta salad.

Why you’ll love it!

  • It is so easy to make. Just throw everything into a bowl or jar and mix.
  • You can keep this homemade Italian dressing in your refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Not only is this homemade Italian dressing a perfect dressing to top any salad, but it is also a great marinade for chicken, pork, steak, veggies, and more.
  • This Homemade Italian Dressing is a healthy spin on a classic salad dressing without all of the preservatives and added sugar.
A bowl of Italian seasoning.

We weren’t joking that this homemade Italian dressing is so easy to make. Honestly, you probably have everything you need for the dressing in your pantry right now! Check out the ingredients for this homemade Italian dressing recipe below.

  • Olive oil: olive oil acts as a binder for many dressing recipes or vinaigrette. We use olive oil but you can use your favorite oil as a binder as well. You can use olive oil or extra virgin olive oil.
  • Vinegar: you can’t skip the vinegar for this Italian dressing recipe because it adds the perfect bite and flavor to this dressing. We use rice vinegar but you can use white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or a combination of any of these types of vinegar.
  • Lemon juice: a little citrus goes a long way in dressing recipes. Fresh lemon juices adds a freshness and brightness to any dressing.
  • Italian seasoning: the Italian seasoning adds many different wonderful flavors to this dressing. We highly suggest making our homemade Italian seasoning that is a combination of simple dried herbs. Our homemade seasoning is made of minced dried garlic, oregano, basil, parsley, onion powder, red pepper flakes, and more. It’s a big step up from a store bought, classic Italian seasoning.
  • All-natural sweetener: a bit of honey is all you need to cut the savory and saltiness in this dressing.

here’s a tip

If you have a store bought Italian seasoning at home it is usually made of dried oregano, basil, parsley, and other green herbs. Take it up a notch and add a teaspoon of red pepper flakes, a teaspoon of garlic powder, and a teaspoon of kosher salt to your mix. It will really take it to the next level.

Italian seasoning on a plate.

the best

Italian Seasoning Recipe

One ingredient that brings this Italian Dressing up a notch is a quality Italian seasoning. We love to use our u003ca href=u0022https://fitfoodiefinds.com/italian-seasoning/u0022u003ehomemade Italian seasoningu003c/au003e because it has so much flavor.

How to Make Italian Dressing from Scratch

  1. Place all of the ingredients for this Italian dressing into a salad dressing jar or mason jar. You can also add all of the ingredients to a bowl except for the olive oil and mix. Then, drizzle oil into the bowl and whisk until combined.
  2. Cover the jar with a lid and shake until all the ingredients are combined.
  3. Pour the dressing over a salad, vegetables, or use it as a marinade!

Storage

Store this Italian dressing in an air-tight jar for up to 7 days in the refrigerator.

How to use Italian dressing

There are many different ways you can use this Italian dressing that isn’t just on a salad! Check out our favorite ways below.

  • Use this Italian dressing as a marinade for chicken, pork, steak, vegetables or tofu.
  • Pour this Italian dressing over pasta, add veggies, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together and you’ve got a pasta salad.
  • Make this Italian dressing your new favorite simple vegetable dip. We like to dip tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, and other fresh veggies into this dressing for a little extra flavor.
Chicken with Italian dressing over it.

Homemade Italian Dressing FAQ

What is Italian dressing made of?

Most Italian dressing is made with oil, vinegar, a mix of dried herbs and spices and citrus.

How do I use Italian dressing?

We like to use Italian dressing as a dressing for green salads, pasta salad, as a dip, or marinade.

What does Italian dressing taste like?

Italian dressing tastes light, bright, and a little tart.

How do I thicken my Italian dressing?

To thicken your Italian dressing we recommend adding a bit of dijon mustard or butter milk.

4.34 from 3 votes

Italian Dressing Recipe

This homemade Italian dressing is made with olive oil, vinegar, Italian seasoning, citrus, and a bit of honey. Perfect for a salad dressing, pasta salad dressing, or as a marinade.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 6
email me this recipe
Plus, enjoy weekly doses of recipe inspiration!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Ingredients 

  • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions 

  • Place all ingredients into a mason jar and twist the lid on tight.
  • Shake mason jar until all ingredients are combined.
  • Serve over your favorite salad or use as a marinade.

Tips & Notes

Store in the refrigerator for 2-5 days in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 173 kcal, Carbohydrates: 4 g, Protein: 0 g, Fat: 18 g, Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 4 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

love this? leave a comment below!

Don’t forget to tag your posts on social media with the hashtag #fitfoodiefinds, we’d love to see what you’re up to!

Similar Recipes:

About Linley Hanson

Linley has played an important role in the success of Fit Foodie Finds over the last 10 years. She is an incredible home cook and has an amazing palate. She is the brain behind our recipes and has spent thousands of hours developing, testing, and perfecting the delicious meals you see here at Fit Foodie Finds.

0 0 votes
Recipe Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
Recipe Rating




Recipe Rating

13 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ajey
March 27, 2023 9:17 am

5 stars
First of all, I think the recipe itself is very well-written and easy to follow. The ingredients are all common pantry items, so it’s a convenient recipe to make on the fly without having to go to the grocery store. I also appreciate that the recipe is customizable in terms of the vinegar and oil used, as well as the ratio of herbs and spices to suit personal preferences.

In terms of the nutritional content, homemade dressings are often healthier than store-bought ones because they don’t contain preservatives or added sugars. This recipe is no exception – it’s a low-calorie, low-sugar option that can be used to liven up a variety of dishes.

Lastly, I appreciate the versatility of this recipe. The dressing can be used on salads, as a marinade for meats, or even as a dip for vegetables. It’s a great staple to have in the fridge for easy meal prep throughout the week.

Overall, I think this Homemade Italian Dressing recipe from Fit Foodie Finds is a winner. It’s easy to make, customizable, healthy, and versatile. I would definitely recommend giving it a try!

Emily Richter
March 30, 2023 12:17 pm
Reply to  Ajey

Thank you so much for this thoughtful review!

Christine - Jar Of Lemons
July 18, 2015 11:37 am
Recipe Rating :
     

5 stars
Oh my goodness! I’ve been wanting to make my own salad dressing. Thank you for sharing this!

Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
July 17, 2015 10:03 am

Love love loving the rice vinegar! Good thing I just stocked up on a new bottle ๐Ÿ˜‰ The best!

Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona
July 17, 2015 8:47 am

Homemade dressings are always so much better than store bought ones. I’m going to give this one a try this weekend.

samantha P.
samantha P.
July 17, 2015 7:59 am
Recipe Rating :
     

3 stars
Question: How long does this last in refrigerator? Or do you recommend leaving on room-tempature counter in sealed container?
Thanks!!

Lee Funke
July 19, 2015 7:35 pm
Reply to  samantha P.

I’d say this needs to be used within a week or so just because there’s fresh lemon juice (which you could omit) and there’s no preservatives!

Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen
July 17, 2015 6:38 am

Love this recipe and the use of the coconut sugar and rice vinegar! Sounds awesome! Can’t wait to try it out.
Have fun at the party! Sounds like my idea of a fun time as well ๐Ÿ™‚

Lee Funke
July 19, 2015 7:34 pm

THANKS! I love substituting with coconut sugar when I can!

Erin @ The Almond Eater
July 17, 2015 5:08 am

I love this recipe! I seriously struggle with making my own dressing–like, I actually jus sprinkle lemon juice on everything ๐Ÿ˜€ NOT THE SAME. Have a great weekend!

Lee Funke
July 19, 2015 7:33 pm

I DO THAT TOO. Especially at Chipotle ๐Ÿ™‚

Stella @ Stellicious Life
July 17, 2015 4:57 am

Sounds like you’ll have a terrific weekend Lee, enjoy! ๐Ÿ˜€

This recipe sounds great, I’ll try it this weekend when due to the heatwave the only thing we’ll probably eat are salads and ice cream (and chilled mojito & lemonade ๐Ÿ˜‰

I have just 1 question: why is there need to add lemon juice to the vinegar? Why not only one of them? Thanks!

Lee Funke
July 19, 2015 7:33 pm

The vinegar is a great base for the dressing and I added lemon juice because I love the flavor! If you’re going to use one or the other, I’d use the vinegar ๐Ÿ™‚