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This creamy Italian salad dressing recipe is a tangy, herby, and robust dressing that takes just 5 minutes to make with simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand. It will jazz up any garden salad, pasta salad, or sandwich, and it’s also great as a sauce for grilled chicken!
I’m a sauce girl all the way. I keep a constant stash of a variety of condiments in my fridge. I have a backup in the pantry for some items (because who has time to make homemade ketchup?). And for others I have quick and easy recipes that I regularly make (like my favorite homemade ranch dressing!).
And I’m a firm believer that if you want to eat more salad, find a really good salad dressing. Something packed with flavor that will season your salad into excitement without overwhelming it. Like this one!
If you enjoy Olive Garden creamy Italian dressing you’re going to love this. This dressing is so good, it even makes plain old salad greens exciting. Whip up a batch of this when you meal prep on the weekend, and you’ll be looking forward to eating salad all week long.
What is Creamy Italian Dressing?
This salad dressing uses mayo to add creamy texture to the zippy, herby flavor of regular Italian vinaigrette. The creaminess means this dressing isn’t quite as tangy; instead, it has a velvety smoothness that takes the edge off the flavor, and also adds richness.
Creamy Italian dressing isn’t heavy or really thick the way that some mayonnaise salad dressing recipes are. This is closer in texture to a creamy vinaigrette (TIP: if you want it thicker, add more mayo until it reaches your desired consistency).
Ingredients
Breaking It Down
Ingredients Explained
In this section I explain the ingredients and give substitution ideas where applicable. For the full recipe (including the ingredient amounts), see the recipe card below.
- Extra-virgin olive oil – Or light olive oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil.
- Mayo – For rich flavor and creamy texture. You can swap out up to half of the mayo with Greek yogurt or sour cream if you want.
- White wine vinegar – Adds tangy flavor and helps create balance.
- Fresh, finely-grated Parmesan cheese – For the best flavor, use freshly-grated Parmesan cheese (although the powdered stuff will work in a pinch).
- Sugar – Sugar adds sweetness and helps create a balanced flavor profile. Use regular granulated white sugar (or your favorite granulated keto sweetener). If you prefer a natural sweetener, you can use 2 teaspoons of honey instead of 1 tablespoon sugar.
- Dried Italian herb seasoning – Adds herby depth of flavor.
- Salt and black pepper – These pantry-staple seasonings make sure this dressing isn’t bland.
- Garlic – Use a small clove of fresh garlic; this is the secret ingredient that takes this quick and easy creamy salad dressing over the top!
How to Make Creamy Italian Dressing
- Add all ingredients to a bowl.
- Whisk to combine. (TIP: If you want it super smooth, puree it in a blender or food processor.)
Storage
Store this homemade dressing in a covered glass jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. Give it a vigorous shake or a stir before using.
Tips For the Best Creamy Italian Dressing
- Fresh Parmesan makes a huge difference. It’ll still be okay if you only have the powdered stuff on hand, but freshly-grated cheese takes it to the next level.
- And the same for fresh garlic! It adds a punchy, zippiness that blows garlic powder out of the water.
- You might be tempted to skip the sugar. By all means, hold off on adding it until the end after you’ve tasted the dressing; however, just know that a touch of sweetness helps create a beautifully balanced flavor profile. If you prefer, you can use your favorite granulated keto sweetener instead of granulated white sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main difference is that creamy Italian has either mayo or dairy (like sour cream or heavy cream) added. This results in a thicker texture, richer flavor, and creamy opaque color.
Yes! To make this homemade salad dressing without mayo, you can use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream instead. If you make one of these substitutions, your dressing will have a slightly tangier flavor than if you use mayo.
This punchy dressing will elevate just about anything! It’s a summer staple at my house when we eat a ton of salads with fresh seasonal vegetables. Here are a few different ways to use it:
1. Garden salads or other leafy green salads
2. Pasta salads
3. Bean salads (combine 2 cans drained cannellini beans, 1 cup chopped roasted red peppers, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley and/or basil, and one batch of this dressing for a super easy and delicious crowd-pleasing salad that’s perfect for a potluck)
3. Condiment on sandwiches or wraps
4. Dip for breadsticks, pizza crust, or chicken wings
5. Sauce for grilled chicken or steak
More Creamy Salad Dressing Recipes to Try
- Parmesan Peppercorn Dressing
- Honey Mustard Dressing
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Easy Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing
Let’s Connect
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Creamy Italian Salad Dressing Recipe
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Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (or light olive oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil)
- 6 tablespoons mayo
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup finely-grated parmesan cheese (preferably freshly-grated, but you can use the powdered stuff in a pinch)
- 1 tablespoon granulated white sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon dried Italian herb seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 small clove garlic (grated or crushed)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine. (TIP: If you want it super smooth, puree it in a blender or food processor.)
Notes
- Recipe Yield and Serving Size: This recipe makes about 1 cup of dressing, or 8 (2-tablespoon) servings.
- Storage: Store this homemade dressing in a covered glass jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. Give it a vigorous shake or a stir before using.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximate.
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I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
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OMG this is the best recipe ever!! I have been looking for a Creamy Italian Dressing! I did use a stick blender, which I loved how creamy it was!!!