This Italian Dressing recipe is just like the one you get at Olive Garden! Perfect for all your salad needs! Just 5 minutes to make, this is a great way to add flavor and interest to any salad.

Italian dressing in a labelled glass jar

Is anyone else obsessed with Olive Garden’s dressing? I can’t get enough of it! I wanted to recreate it at home and my gosh, it tastes just like the real thing!

Use this dressing on our copycat Olive Garden salad, and don’t forget the Olive Garden BreadsticksOlive Garden breadsticks.

How to Make This Italian Dressing Recipe

You just need 5 minutes to make this amazing dressing!

  • Whisk together vinegar, mustard, oregano, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt and black pepper in a medium bowl.
  • Continue whisking and drizzle in the olive oil. Whisk until combined and smooth.

Italian dressing in a glass bottle in front of a salad

Italian dressing being poured over a salad

How long does this homemade salad dressing keep?

This Italian salad dressing recipe makes enough for eight servings and it’s easily doubled. Once you have made it, place it in an airtight jar and it will be good for up to two weeks. It will separate, so be sure to shake or whisk it before each use and you are good to go. It’s great on so many salad recipes, try it with:

What is in this Olive Garden salad dressing recipe?

This Italian dressing recipe is made with simple pantry ingredients:

  • red wine vinegar
  • dijon mustard
  • Dried oregano, Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes.
  • Sugar, salt and black pepper
  • Extra virgin olive oil

Salad dressing doesn’t have to be complicated! Use good quality ingredients you will have an amazingly flavorful dressing in no time at all!

Top shot of a salad in a white bowl

Close up of dressing being poured on salad

The Best Italian Dressing!

I’m always looking for ways to make my salads more interesting, I have one several times a week and have tried a tonne of different recipes in that time! I love the herby-ness of this Italian dressing recipe – it’s flavorful whilst remaining light. Keep a bottle of this in your fridge at all times!

Top Tips to Make This Recipe

  • Use good quality ingredients in this dressing for maximum flavor and check that the dried herbs aren’t stale.
  • Be sure to use extra virgin olive oil in this.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge. A mason jar would work perfectly – just shake it before each use.

Italian dressing in a glass bottle

Be sure to check out these other dressing recipes!

Recipe Card

Homemade Italian Dressing - Olive Garden Copycat

4.69 from 63 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Author: Becky Hardin
a bottle of italian dressing on a table
This Italian Dressing is just like the one you get at Olive Garden! Perfect for all your salad needs! Just 5 minutes to make, this is a great way to add flavor and interest to any salad. 
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Ingredients 

  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
  • teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • ¾ teaspoon granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions 

  • Whisk together vinegar, mustard, oregano, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt and black pepper in a medium bowl.
  • Continue whisking and drizzle in the olive oil. Whisk until combined and smooth.
  • Place leftovers in an airtight jar and refrigerate. Shake or whisk before each use.
  • The dressing will keep up to 2 weeks.
Calories: 124kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 158mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 9IUCalcium: 2mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.69 from 63 votes (54 ratings without comment)
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23 Comments
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Samantha Marceau
February 9, 2024 8:30 am

Hi Carol, the final color varies a lot based on the type of mustard, actually! We used a very yellow creamy Dijon, while a coarser, browner mustard can produce a muddier (but no less tasty!) result.

Robert Spencer
Robert Spencer
May 30, 2023 3:02 pm

Good dressing. One question though. Why do your dressing look more yellow than mine? Mine has more of a reddish color. Followed recipe exactly.

Samantha Marceau
May 30, 2023 3:22 pm
Reply to  Robert Spencer

More than likely, it’s just a natural change in color from the red wine vinegar! Nothing to worry about!

Hillary
Hillary
February 12, 2023 12:50 pm

This dressing is great! I did use an avacado/EVOO blend just for personal preference, but it has a great balance of flavors with the herbs. Thanks for the recipe!!5 stars

Carol
Carol
September 24, 2022 6:43 pm

Oops…I figured out how to print. Sorry!!

Carol
Carol
September 24, 2022 6:42 pm

Hi Becky! I am new to your site but so far I love it. One prob – I can’t figure out how to print/save your recipes.
p.s. this dressing is delicious.5 stars

Last edited 2 years ago by Carol
Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
October 18, 2021 3:45 pm

Modify to your liking, Caroline

Carmen Tourte
Carmen Tourte
May 16, 2021 6:58 pm

YUMM-Y-TALIAN!!
I’ve never liked Italian dressing that I’ve made from scratch & trying to buy pre-made that doesn’t have sugar in it is a joke. This recipe is SUPER easy to Keto-ize & YUMMY!5 stars

B2F79E00-EA5D-4041-A34A-C52BB3BCCCFE.jpeg
Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
May 25, 2021 2:53 pm
Reply to  Carmen Tourte

That looks great, Carmen!

Joao Paulo
Joao Paulo
March 26, 2021 4:13 pm

Where did you find this bootle? I’m obsessed with this object! <3

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
April 1, 2021 3:31 pm
Reply to  Joao Paulo

It’s been so long, it’s hard for me to remember! I just collect all of the cute things to use for this blog!

Katie
Katie
October 8, 2019 4:44 pm

Oh this totally brings a salad to the next level! Also delicious on pasta salad.5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
October 11, 2019 8:33 am
Reply to  Katie

Great idea there with the pasta salad!

Natasha
Natasha
October 8, 2019 1:12 pm

I love Olive Garden! Great copycat recipe – can’t wait to make this at home!!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
October 11, 2019 8:33 am
Reply to  Natasha

Thanks, Natasha!