What’s in your bottled salad dressing? Unfortunately, it’s not a pretty picture for most store-bought options. The good news is making your own homemade salad dressing really doesn’t take much time or skill. And not only are they usually a whole lot cheaper, but homemade dressings also taste better and contain real ingredients.
My son and I used to use Girard’s Champagne dressing. I thought because it was a premium brand that it had to be “better”—boy was I wrong! With MSG, caramel coloring, preservatives, and lots of other processed ingredients, I ultimately decided to make a change. So when we started our real food journey we gradually made the move to making our own, Homemade Italian Salad Dressing.
The Best Ever Classic Italian Salad Dressing Recipe
After a bit of experimenting, I finally came up with my own homemade Italian Salad Dressing that’s delicious and versatile enough for a lot of different tastes. Just choose your preferred vinegar for the base, and you’ve got an oil and vinegar dressing that’s tailor-made for your family. 🙂
PrintThe Best Ever Classic Italian Salad Dressing
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
5 from 20 reviews
- Author: Bruce Bradley
- Yield: 1 1/2 cups or about twelve, 2 tablespoon servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup vinegar (white wine, red wine, or balsamic are our favorites)
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon onion granules (see notes)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt or less to taste
- freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Choose the vinegar you want for the base of your Italian dressing and pour into a salad dressing carafe.
- Add olive oil, garlic, and dried seasonings. Shake and it’s ready to serve.
Notes
We recommend using organic ingredients when possible.
Organic onion granules don’t get all rock hard or dried up like onion powder does, so I prefer the granules. Onion powder will work just as well, though.
If you’re transitioning from bottled salad dressings, you may want to add a touch of sweetness to get your kids on board. Usually, 2-3 teaspoons of sugar, honey, or maple syrup are more than enough. Gradually, over time, reduce the amount of sweetener you’re adding and your family won’t even know the difference 🙂
Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your tastes. Basil yields a slightly sweeter flavor while oregano is more savory. And if you prefer to use fresh herbs, double the amount of basil and triple the amount of oregano.
Making the dressing several hours or even the night before gives a chance for the flavors to come alive more … so avoid the last minute crunch and make this recipe up ahead of time!
Store the unused portion in the fridge. The oil will solidify when cold so be sure to take it out of the refrigerator and warm it up before serving. I usually set the carafe in some warm water for a couple of minutes.
- Category: Dressings & Condiments
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 164
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 49.1 mg
- Fat: 18.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.4 g
- Protein: 0.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
So whip up a batch of my homemade Italian dressing today! It’s super easy and WAY delicious! And if you haven’t checked me out on Pinterest yet, I’ve just posted a visual version of my homemade Italian dressing recipe PLUS you can find all my other recipes and a whole lot more!
Cheers!
Bruce
Kitchen Tips and Resources for The Best Ever Classic Italian Salad Dressing:
- Looking for something to mix up your Italian Salad Dressing in? Mason jars are a great option that most of us have on hand. I especially love these 16-ounce mason jars. Their wide mouth makes it easy to pour in ingredients, and the graduated measurements along the sides allow for the quick addition of just the right amount of oil and vinegar. The Kolder salad dressing bottle is another good option although its narrower, traditional bottleneck makes it a little harder to quickly add ingredients. The bonus of the Kolder salad dressing bottle is that it has a variety of recipes on the bottle.
- Do you bring salads to work or school for lunch but hate the mess that salad dressing containers can make? Then here are two great options. GoToob travel bottles are not only perfect for your travel needs, but they’re amazing for salad dressing on the go. Made from food grade silicon (100% BPA/polycarbonate free), these bottles are simply amazing. I can personally vouch for them—they’ve NEVER leaked on me yet! Can your travel bottle say that? The other option that I have less experience with (but many folks swear by) are the Dressing 2-Go squeeze bottles.
- A great garlic press makes child’s play of mincing garlic. I just mince the garlic right into my salad dressing shaker. I love this top-rated one, but there are lots of great alternatives out there at all sorts of kitchen, department, and discount stores.
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28 Responses
I’ve always wanted to make my own salad dressing but never have thinking it was just to time consuming. Well, well; thank you girl thus article for this seems really easy and much better for the body.
Thanks
Thanks for the recipe it’s very good. I hate store bought dressing so I went with out. Now I’m not having to go without. So I eat salad now. Yummy . Just one question how long is it safe to keep or should I toss it and make new every night. I heard raw garlic and oil go bad quick.
Hi Bird! Thanks for your comment. Glad you like this recipe. I try to only make enough salad dressing that I can use in 2-3 days, and I always store the dressing in the refrigerator. Homemade oil and vinegar based dressings can usually keep safe for 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator, but again I always try to make just enough for the next couple of days.
Thanks for visiting our site. Hope to see you on here again sometime soon!
Cheers!
Bruce
I love the salad dressing the dressings you buy in the store do not agree with me my favorite vinegar is white Balsamic
Loved the recipe! however I could not leave well enough alone. I added 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, juice of 2 small lemons, 2 packets stevia, and used fresh basil; oregano, and sauteed died onions, celery, shallots 2 garlic. Ran it all through a blender.
it turned a golden creamy texture.
Hi Mary Ellen!
Sorry for my slow reply!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe for my Best Ever Classic Italian Salad Dressing. Sounds like you like to tinker with recipes as much as I do. I’ll have to try your version the next time I whip up a batch!
Cheers!
Bruce
After a year on the Keto, I’ve decided it wasn’t for me and have gone vegan, but in doing so am really watching the oils I eat. That being said, I used avocado oil instead of olive – and was fantastic!!! I totally agree, the Best Italian Salad Dressing Recipe! Reminds me of the store-brought packages my parents used to buy when I was a kid – only much better! One note though, it’s tastes so much better after refrigeration! Thank you very much!
Hi Niko!
Thanks so much for visiting my blog. I’m SO GLAD you enjoyed my Italian Salad Dressing Recipe. It is one of my all-time faves! I love making it with Avocado Oil as well since it has a subtle buttery flavor to me! I also agree that refrigerating the dressing and letting it stand for a while (overnight or a couple of days) really helps bring out the flavors.
Although I’m not vegan, I do eat/make a lot of vegan dishes. So hopefully I’ll see you visit my blog again!
Cheers!
Bruce
Question: What recipe ingredients do you think are in Girard’s Light Champagne salad dressing? Since you used it previously did you try to duplicate it? Your dressing is good but does not taste like Girards’s.
I know you did not say it did but I am hoping you have a good “fake”.
I am working on a “fake” Girard’s Champagne using White wine vinegar, Tamarind soaked in said vinegar, Mustard seeds (black and yellow) salt, Molasses (very small amount), Oil (not much), water. I am working off of what they have on the label. They don’t list “spices” so am in the dark there.
I still don’t get that Girard’s deep, “fill your whole mouth” flavor.
Any suggestions? Please answer, at least saying you got this message.
Thanks,
John Brooks
Bruce,
What does “Your email is awaiting moderation” mean?
John Brooks
John:
“Awaiting moderation” means exactly that … it is awaiting my review of the comment to post on my blog. Unfortunately, there are a long of spammers who love to post junk to blogs and other websites, so I personally review every comment / question posted to make sure it isn’t from a questionable source.
Thanks again for visiting my blog. Feel free to email me back if I didn’t answer your questions!
Cheers!
Bruce
Thanks for visiting my blog and for your comment, John!
I’m glad you enjoyed my Italian Salad Dressing recipe. You’re right, though — it doesn’t taste like Girard’s. I was merely using Girard’s as an example of even how premium dressings can be made with not-so-healthy ingredients.
I’ll do some tinkering in the kitchen to see if I can replicate or at least get closer to the taste of Girard’s. I’ve got a couple of ideas on how to get there, but it’s going to take a little experimentation first. I’ll try to email you at the address you shared when I have made some progress!
Thanks again for visiting my blog and for sharing your comments!
Cheers!
Bruce
I LOVE THIS DRESSING AND REALIZED TO LEAVE ALONE AND LET
IT MARINADE THE FLAVORS TOGETHER.
Well went to Pinterest found maybe 3 resipes found it crowded overrated if you could climb over the pile of junk band heavy sugar and out of control recipes might be of use , me am not a fan of sugar at all in any shape or form and am totaly informed about what the food industry is doing to the world and it’s sad read your book , good for the beginner but ,i was looking for recipes not girls or cars or what the heard mentality follows been there done that I’m 67 , need recipes not hype I like your approach though send me recipes
Thanks old school
Just made this dressing for a pasta salad; it’s delicioso! And it’s so easy to put together!
Hi Elizabeth!
Thanks so much for visiting my site and leaving such a nice comment/review. Sorry, it’s taken me so long to reply. I’ve been working on a big project (launching a new product based on a very popular dog treat recipe from my website).
I do love this Italian Dressing Recipe. It’s one of my “go-to’s” for salads of all kinds, chicken, fish, potatoes, and veggies. It’s so versatile I think it’s great on just about anything.
Thanks again! Cheers!
Bruce
New to your blog – thanks for how you follow-up on questions. I have a great herb garden at the moment with mint, dill, basil, parsley, thyme , chives and rosemary. Help me find fresh herb recipes on your blog or measurement conversions from dried herbs to fresh. Appreciate your help!
Adrienne
Hi Adrienne:
Thanks for your kind words. We’re in the middle of updating my site. But in the meantime, you can use the search function to find recipes using any particular herb you’re interested in using. And, great idea about providing fresh/dry herb conversions. I’ll work on that as soon as we’ve fixed some of the final updates we’ve been working on for our new site.
Thanks again. Cheers!
Bruce
Best Home Made Italian Salad Dressing. I made it this weekend and it is a keeper (I didn’t change anything in the recipe). I even told my friend about this salad dressing. Thanks so very much.
So glad you liked my Italian Salad Dressing recipe. It truly is one of my all-time favorites! Cheers! Bruce
Thank you for your generous share. Hot hot hot today, I started to make a simple black eyed pea lunch salad (black eyed peas, chopped red pepper and onion) and found I had no Italian dressing in the house. Your recipe was a quick and easy rescue of lunch.
Hi Amy! So glad you liked my Italian dressing recipe! Quick, easy, delicious, and unprocessed is always a winner!
Cheers!
Bruce
Very, very good. No garlic or onion granules, so I minced a little shallot and grated a little garlic. Adjusted to make just 2 servings. The base recipe is the winner you touted!
Hi Meg!
So glad you loved the recipe. It’s one of my absolute favorites and can be used to bring flavor to salads, veggies, and so much more!
Cheers!
Bruce
Is there a nutrition count for this Italian salad dressing?
Thank You
Hi Eileen!
Thanks for visiting my site. Sorry, our nutrition information doesn’t appear on this recipe. We’re in the middle of making some upgrades to the site, and we’re experiencing a few technical issues. I’ve updated the recipe, and it now has the nutrition information.
Here are the details: Serving Size: 2 tablespoons. Calories: 164Sugar: 0.1 g Sodium: 49.1 mg Fat: 18.7 g Carbohydrates: 0.4 g Protein: 0.1 g Cholesterol: 0 mg
I hope this helps! Thanks again for stopping by. Hope to see you again soon!
Cheers!
Bruce
Should the recipe be 1 1/2 cups olive olive oil? I have always used a 3:1 ratio oil to vinegar.
Hi William,
Thanks for visiting my site and sharing a comment/question.
The oil-to-vinegar ratio is a matter of preference. I prefer and recommend a more tangy salad dressing. If you prefer a less acidic dressing, feel free to increase the oil in the recipe.
Hope to see you visit again.
Cheers!
Bruce