Homemade Italian Dressing Recipe
Published January 20, 2021. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Learn how to make this delicious classic homemade Italian dressing recipe that is bursting with cheese and herb flavors!
Growing up my dad used to marinate just about everything in Italian dressing and gosh was it so delicious. If you’re a big marinade fan, then definitely try this dressing out on my T-Bone steak or Chicken Breast recipe.
Italian Dressing
Italian dressing in its simplest form is much different than the Italian dressing we know of here in America. In Italy, it’s maybe red wine vinegar, olive oil, and sugar, and not much else. I’m not sure of how it changed once it came to the United States, but it has many more ingredients. Now, with that being said it is still delicious and incredibly easy to make.
Here are some things that you may find in an American Italian dressing:
- Olive Oil
- Red or White Wine Vinegar
- Garlic
- Onion
- Oregano
- Basil
- Parsley
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Parmesan Cheese
You can swap out dry ingredients with fresh ingredients and in addition, even add things or take them away to make it work for you.
How to Make It
Follow these simple instructions to make this tasty Italian dressing recipe:
Start by adding everything except for the oil to a large mixing bowl.
While continually whisking, slowly drizzle in the oil until the dressing has become emulsified
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can make this up 5 days ahead of time.
How to Store: If using dry ingredients, cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. If using fresh ingredients, it will last covered for up to 7 days in the refrigerator.
chef notes + tips
- Feel free to use just olive oil or just salad oil in this recipe.
- This dressing also works as a great marinade for vegetables or proteins.
More Dressing Recipes
Be sure to follow me on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest, and if you’ve had a chance to make this then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below!
Video
Homemade Italian Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 finely mined garlic cloves
- 2 teaspoons dry oregano
- 2 teaspoons dry basil
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoons sugar
- 1/3 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ cup salad oil
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients except for the oil to a large size mixing bowl.
- Whisk until everything is completely combined and smooth and then slowly drizzle in the oil while continuing to whisk.
- Refrigerate until ready to use.
Notes
- Make-Ahead: You can make this up 5 days ahead of time.
- How to Store: If using dry ingredients, cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. If using fresh ingredients, it will last covered for up to 7 days in the refrigerator.
- Feel free to use just olive oil or just salad oil in this recipe.
- This dressing also works as a great marinade for vegetables or proteins.
This is my favorite Italian dressing. I have one question though, it calls for red wine vinegar( I usually ignore this and go with white wine vinegar) is this a typo? The picture looks like you use white wine vinegar.
It’s not a typo, I used red wine vinegar.
I didn’t have dijon so I used yellow mustard instead. I also used a squeeze of lemon just because I like it! 🤣I. It was delicious as a dressing and we also loved it as a dipping oil for Italian bread! Great recipe!
Great job on making it work for you!
I decided I was going to try to start making our salad dressings. The list of ingredients on the back of the bottle is mind boggling. Anyway, my husband loves Italian dressing more than I do. He is picky about Italian dressings. He had Chef Billy’s recipe and stated that he hoped he didn’t ever have to eat the bottled dressing again. Thanks, Chef, for a great recipe! Even I found it very appetizing.
Fantastic! Thank you for giving it a shot!
What would you add to this to make it a “zesty” Italian dressing? Thank you!
red pepper flakes
I leave OUT the sugar. Just fine without.
Excellent
Thanks for giving it a shot!!
I made this as a Marinade, for a tri tip to be smoked and. grilled, loved it
That’s looks delicious I can waite to make this dressing enjoy watching you thank you
Thank you sooo much ChefBilly tasty plus’s get other ways of using this dressing tasty 🤤 yummy
Yes about to thank you ChefBilly 😋😁🤩👋