Homemade Italian Dressing is so much better than storebought because you can add the best quality ingredients like high-quality olive oil and parmesan cheese. This zesty Italian Dressing Recipe tastes fantastic and keeps really well in the refrigerator.

Homemade Italian dressing in a mason jar pouring form a spoon

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Ingredients for Italian Dressing:

The ingredients for homemade Italian Dressing are pantry and refrigerator staples that we always have on hand to quickly whip up a batch. The addition of parmesan and mayo add a creamy element to this Italian dressing.

Ingredients for Homemade salad dressing

I love to make and serve it right out of the mason jar so you can quickly re-shake it before serving and easily store the leftover dressing in the refrigerator. This is so good over a fresh green salad, Italian Pasta Salad or any recipe that calls for Italian Dressing.

How to make homemade salad dressing in a mason jar

Watch How to Make Italian Dressing Video:

I hope this Creamy Italian Dressing makes you fall in love with salad. If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe to our Youtube Channel and don’t forget to click the bell icon so you get a notification when we post a new video.

Which Oil Should I Use?

Store-bought dressings almost always use cheap, poor quality oils because they are cost-effective. With homemade Italian dressing, you control what goes in it. We love using extra virgin olive oil because it adds another layer of flavor. You just have to smell a bottle of extra virgin olive oil when you open it to know it will be a great choice. You can also use mild-flavored oils like regular olive oil, extra light olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil.

Italian dressing with extra virgin olive oil and white wine vinegar

The Best Vinegar for Italian Dressing:

the most commonly used vinegar is white wine vinegar. It is less acidic than plain distilled white vinegar and has a deeper flavor because it is a vinegar made from white wine, which makes it perfect for making salad dressings. We did a test with distilled white vinegar and in a pinch, you can still use it to make homemade Italian dressing. If using distilled vinegar, you might add a little less, or just add it to taste.

Can I Omit the Sugar?

The sugar in Italian dressing doesn’t make the dressing sweet, but it balances the acidity of the vinegar but you can add the sugar to taste. If you are looking for a natural alternative, you can substitute the sugar for 1 tsp honey.

Why Did My Dressing Firm Up?

It is normal for a homemade dressing to solidify or firm up when refrigerated. Store-bought dressings add emulsifiers to prevent that but it’s an easy fix. If your dressing firms up with refrigeration, let it sit at room temperature 30 minutes before serving then shake vigorously to re-blend before serving.

Cook’s tip: Remove dressing from the refrigerator before you start making your salad so it is ready to use when you are done prepping your salad.

Homemade Italian dressing in a mason jar ready to be stored in refrigerator

More Homemade Dressings and Sauces:

These homemade dressing recipes prove that making your own is best! Check out all of our condiment recipes here.

Italian Dressing

5 from 438 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Italian dressing pouring from serving spoon
Italian Dressing is so much better homemade because you can add the best quality ingredients without any additives. This zesty Italian Dressing Recipe tastes fantastic and keeps really well in the refrigerator. 
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 people

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a mason jar, cover tightly with lid and shake until well combined and emulsified.* Add more salt to taste if desired. Use right away or refrigerate up to 2 weeks.

Notes

*You can also whisk dressing together in a mixing bowl or put it into the bowl of a blender or food processor and whirl it up until well blended.

Nutrition Per Serving

148kcal Calories1g Carbs1g Protein16g Fat3g Saturated Fat2g Polyunsaturated Fat10g Monounsaturated Fat1g Trans Fat3mg Cholesterol186mg Sodium12mg Potassium1g Fiber1g Sugar29IU Vitamin A1mg Vitamin C42mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Italian Dressing
Amount per Serving
Calories
148
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
16
g
25
%
Saturated Fat
 
3
g
19
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
10
g
Cholesterol
 
3
mg
1
%
Sodium
 
186
mg
8
%
Potassium
 
12
mg
0
%
Carbohydrates
 
1
g
0
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
1
g
2
%
Vitamin A
 
29
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
42
mg
4
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Condiments, Dressing, Sauce
Cuisine: American, Italian, Mediterranean
Keyword: italian dressing
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 148
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

5 from 438 votes (325 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Brandy Cope
    April 29, 2025

    Hello! I’m planning to use this recipe to make a pasta salad for a crowd (grad party). I really appreciate the ability to enter how many servings I want to make and the recipe automatically multiplying… that’s awesome! I would like to know, however, either how much pasta salad (how many pounds of pasta) the original 8 servings recipe would be mixed with, please? I am planning to make the dressing for 50, just trying to figure out how many pounds of pasta I would need. Thank you!

    Reply

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