I’m a bit of a fan of salad dressings, and Italian dressing is no exception. Before I switched to healthier foods, ranch was the only way to get me to eat raw broccoli. Thankfully, my real food journey has taught me to enjoy all kinds of salads, even without a lot of dressing.
When a green salad is fresh, homemade and filled with dried herbs and spices, it doesn’t need much dressing. A simple homemade dressing takes a regular salad to a whole different level.
From a health perspective, it’s worth it, too. Most store-bought condiments contain dangerous vegetable oils (rich in omega-6, which we already consume too much in the American diet), MSG, and preservatives.
Homemade Italian Sauce only takes 2 or 3 minutes to mix. Plus, it contains healthy, real ingredients like olive oil, fresh garlic, and dried or fresh herbs. I also love that it keeps for weeks at a time. It’s a win-win!
Making Italian Salad Dressing in the Kitchen
This homemade salad dressing is one of my favorite vinaigrettes. Not only does it make a great addition to almost any salad, but it also serves as a simple marinade for most meats. Not Just Meat… Marinate the fresh veggies for an hour or two and then grill them! The smokiness from the barbecue and the herbaceous notes from the seasonings combine perfectly to create a complex blend of flavors.
I like to use leftover dressing on a big salad with some chicken for a quick meal or as a dressing alternative for dipping raw veggies. Healthy oils boost energy and taste great! You can also use it to make a pasta salad with some black olives, parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes for a delicious Mediterranean flavor.
Not a fan of Italian clothing? You can also check out more of my favorite DIY alternatives to bottled seasonings in this post.
How to Make and Store Homemade Italian Dressing
This dressing will keep in the refrigerator for about two weeks, but I highly recommend making it in smaller quantities as needed because it tastes absolutely best the first few days. Sometimes, if I’m making it for a crowd, I’ll double the batch.
If there’s a shortcut, whip up a batch of homemade Italian dressing to substitute the thyme, basil, and oregano. Simply use 1 ½ teaspoons of the Italian seasoning mixture in place of the vanilla listed in the recipe. Then making this recipe from memory is easy. After a few practices, you may not even need to measure!
They make shaker bottles for homemade sauces, but I prefer glass bottles. I love that these tops provide a pour spout for any mason jar.
Ingredient Substitutes
I used white wine vinegar here, but you can also use apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or red wine vinegar. They both 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 used fresh garlic, but a little garlic powder would work too if you have some. See below for some favorite Italian salad dressing recipes.
Homemade Italian Sauce Recipe
A better-for-you Italian salad dressing recipe without refined vegetable oils! This also works well as a marinade.
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Place all ingredients into a small glass jar, secure the lid, and shake vigorously. Serve immediately.
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You can also use an immersion blender for easier blending.
nutrient content
Homemade Italian Sauce Recipe
Amount per serving (2 tablespoons)
Calories 127
Calories from fat 126
% Daily Value*
fat 14 gramstwenty two%
2 grams of saturated fat13%
Polyunsaturated fat 1g
Monounsaturated fat 10g
sodium 306 mg13%
Potassium 26 mg1%
carbohydrate 1 g0%
Fiber 0.4g2%
0.1g sugar0%
protein 0.3g1%
Vitamin A 12 international units0%
Vitamin C 1 mg1%
calcium 16 mg2%
iron 1 mg6%
*Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Stores in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. The dressing may solidify slightly if refrigerated. That’s totally fine. This happens when the olive oil cools.Simply remove from the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature about an hour before needing to use
Salad combinations with Italian dressing:
- Classic Chopped Salad – Toss with lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives (and a little feta if you’re in the mood!).
- Strawberry Spring Salad – Try using Italian dressing in place of the honey mustard dressing in this favorite spring salad mix, paired with toasted pecans, fresh strawberries and chicken.
- Easy Summer Salad – Spread a little Italian dressing over thinly sliced cucumbers and red onions, and add some cherry tomatoes. Top with fresh basil leaves.
- Bell Pepper Steak Salad – Italian dressing isn’t just for chicken!
For other new recipes using Italian dressing, try my favorite meal planning tool, Real Plans!
What’s your favorite salad dressing? Have you tried making your own? I’d love to hear about your favorite condiments to shake up at home!