Copycat Olive Garden Italian Dressing
This easy Copycat Olive Garden Italian Dressing is creamy, zesty, and perfect for salads, marinades, or dipping—ready in minutes!
Skip the bottled version—this Copycat Olive Garden Italian Dressing is incredibly easy to make at home and tastes just like the restaurant favourite. With a perfect balance of zesty, tangy, and savoury flavors, it’s great for tossing with a fresh garden salad, marinating chicken, or serving as a dipping sauce for breadsticks.
This homemade dressing comes together in just minutes using pantry staples, and it’s a great way to elevate your salads. Plus, you can tweak it to your taste!
Tips for the Best Olive Garden Dressing
- Use a blender or shake in a jar to fully emulsify the dressing and get that creamy texture.
- Let it chill for at least 30 minutes before serving – this helps the flavours come together.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- Shake well before each use as the oil and vinegar may separate over time.
- If the dressing thickens in the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes and give it a stir or shake before serving.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Adds richness and body to the dressing. You can substitute with regular olive oil or a neutral oil like canola if preferred.
- White Wine Vinegar – Gives the dressing a bright, tangy kick. Red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be used in a pinch.
- Mayonnaise – Helps emulsify and add creaminess. Greek yogurt or sour cream could work for a lighter version, though the flavour will change slightly.
- Garlic Powder & Onion Powder – These provide subtle, savoury depth. You can use fresh garlic or onion if desired, just blend well for a smooth texture.
- Italian Seasoning – Brings in those classic herb flavours. If you don’t have a mix, combine equal parts of basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary.
- Sugar – Balances the acidity and rounds out the flavours. Honey or maple syrup can be used as alternatives.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese – Adds a salty, umami-rich flavour. Use freshly grated for best taste, or swap with Romano cheese if you like.
- Salt and Black Pepper – Essential for seasoning. Adjust to taste.
Copycat Olive Garden Italian Dressing
Yields: 1 Cup | Prep time: 5 Minutes
Ingredients:
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Directions:
- Combine Ingredients: Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, water, mayonnaise, and lemon juice until smooth.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, sugar, Parmesan, salt, and black pepper.
- Shake or Blend: For the best texture, shake in a jar or blend for a few seconds.
- Chill & Serve: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavours meld. Shake before serving.
Copycat Olive Garden Italian Dressing
This easy Copycat Olive Garden Italian Dressing is creamy, zesty, and perfect for salads, marinades, or dipping—ready in minutes!
Ingredients
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, water, mayonnaise, and lemon juice until smooth.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, sugar, Parmesan, salt, and black pepper.
- Shake or Blend: For the best texture, shake in a jar or blend for a few seconds.
- Chill & Serve: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavours meld. Shake before serving.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
2 TablespoonsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 165Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 191mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 1g
This information is provided as a courtesy and for entertainment purposes only. This information comes from online calculators. Although frugalmomeh.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
