Italian Dressing

Total Time

Prep/Total Time: 15 min.

Makes

1-1/2 cups

Updated: Feb. 13, 2023
This is a satisfying all-purpose Italian dressing recipe. Use this homemade version on salad greens, in vegetable salads or even as a marinade for chicken. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 garlic cloves, halved
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 cup olive oil

Directions

  1. Place the first 10 ingredients in a blender. Cover and process until pureed. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Refrigerate leftovers.

Homemade Italian Dressing Tips

What does Italian dressing taste like?

Italian dressing is a zesty, tangy dressing that gets its flavor from bold ingredients like red wine vinegar, raw garlic and lemon juice. Traditional dried herbs found in most Italian dishes, like oregano and basil, are also included. Sugar adds a touch of sweetness, while neutral olive oil brings it all together. It's a good complement to plenty of salad recipes—including pasta salad.

How do you make zesty Italian dressing?

To make this Italian dressing even zestier, you can try cutting down on the amount of sugar. Just remember to taste as you go. You can also swap out the red wine vinegar for white wine vinegar. If you like this Italian dressing, you may be a fan of our other homemade salad dressings, too.

Do you have to refrigerate homemade Italian dressing?

We recommend storing this Italian dressing in an airtight container the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition Facts

2 tablespoons: 167 calories, 18g fat (3g saturated fat), 1mg cholesterol, 163mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.