A delicious Italian Salad Dressing Recipe that is perfect for salads and more. Made with fresh ingredients, this homemade Italian dressing is also great as a marinade for pasta salads, and vegetables.

What is nice about making your own salad dressing, is that you can use fresh ingredients and you don’t have to worry about any preservatives in the dressing. You can also control the amount of sodium in it. 

Why This Recipe

This easy Italian dressing is delicious and so incredibly easy to make. I love that it has a lot less sodium than store bought blends or mixes. The result is a tangy Italian spiced dressing with the traditional spices that is full of flavor.

Salad dressing can make the salad and this simple Italian blend is perfect for so many types of salad. You can use this on a your favorite salads – green salad, a chickpea salad, a pasta salad or even as a marinade for chicken breasts.

There is nothing fresher than Homemade Italian vinaigrette and you can even add some additional ed pepper flakes or use a different style of vinegar to change things up. Making your own dressing is easy and cheaper than buying bottled dressing. Plus, you can control what is in it.

 

Golden Italian Salad Dressing Ingredients

This homemade dressing just requires a few ingredients. It is the perfect dressing to make in minutes.

Oil – I like to use vegetable or corn oil for this dressing. Olive oil will thicken while in the refrigerator, so I do not use it for this recipe.

Vinegar – I use Red Wine vinegar, but you could also use white wine vinegar

Spices – The spices in this recipe are everything. I use Italian Seasoning for a nice flavor. I use just a touch of red chili flakes for the blend. You will also need salt and pepper for this recipe. I like to use freshly ground pepper, but regular black pepper works fine. 

Cheese – Finely grated Parmesan cheese is what I use to make a nice creamy dressing

Kitchen Tools Needed

• Bowl
• Whisk
• Salad Dressing cruet or mason jar

How to Make Italian Salad Dressing

The full recipe is below, but I have outlined the basic steps:

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Grate the Parmesan cheese with a fine grate.
2. Place cheese, Italian seasoning and chili flakes in a medium-sized bowl.
3. Blend together with a whisk
4. Add oil and vinegar and whisk. Chill for 1-2 hours. Store in the refrigerator when not in use.

Timesaving Tips to make this perfect every time

• The best way to add dressing to a salad is to drizzle a small amount over your greens, just before serving.
• When adding dressing, the drier the leaves, the better the salad dressing will cling. I like to serve a bit of the dressing with the salad in a jar so that people can add more dressing if they like.

Variations and Substitutions

Try using apple cider vinegar for a tangier taste. Balsamic vinegar will make it more of a balsamic vinaigrette.

Make this with fresh herbs – use equal parts Italian hergs – basil, parley and oregano to replace the Italian seasoning.

Add a 1/2 teaspoon of dijon mustard to change up the flavor.

FAQ

Could I use Italian Dressing for Pasta Salad?

Absolutely yes! I have used it on many pasta salads and it is terrific.

Can Italian Dressing be used as a Marinade?

Yes, it is a perfect marinade for chicken or vegetables. 

Can I Make the Salad Dressing ahead of time?

Yes, in fact, it is encouraged to make the dressing ahead and let the flavors combine in the refrigerator.

Can Italian Dressing Be Left Out?

Yes, you will need to refrigerate the salad dressing as it contains cheese. This homemade salad dressing can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

More Recipes for Salad Dressings

Honey Mustard Dressing  A delicious tangy salad dressing that is also great for with chicken.

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.   This classic buttermilk ranch dressing is the best for salads and fresh cut vegetables.

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing – A lovely dressing that is made with just a few simple ingredients and perfect for salads and as a marinade.

Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing This steakhouse style Blue Cheese dressing is delicious on salads and also goes well with chicken wings.

Check out our favorite salad recipes too!

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