Italian Dressing Recipe

Last Updated on January 3, 2024 by Michelle

The day I perfected the Italian dressing recipe that our family loves was a very happy day indeed. I can’t believe I lived for over 4 decades without knowing you not only CAN but SHOULD make your own Italian salad dressing.

Table of Contents

Let’s make Italian dressing together

Join me as I whip some up this morning. I also break down the details of each ingredient, why I chose that particular one and where I source them as well. Or just skip to 9:45 to see me put it all together.

What’s Italian dressing made of?

Honestly, Italian dressing is simply made from basic pantry ingredients. You’ll need oil, vinegar, something to give it just a little “kick” (I love garlic), something to sweeten it (read notes below for lots of all-natural sweetener options), and some salt and pepper.

Why don’t vinegar and oil mix in Italian dressing?

It can drive you a little batty, if you let it, but it’s totally normal that Italian dressing “separates” quickly and has to be mixed every time you’re going to use it. The reason goes back to high school chemistry class… Vinegar molecules sit closer together, and the substance is more dense than the molecules of oil. So the heavier, denser vinegar will always settle to the bottom of your jar. There’s lots more behind it, actually, but, hey, I never paid close attention in Chemistry class.

Suffice it to say, it’s no biggie and nothing that a little shake of the jar won’t “fix.”

Which salad dressing is the healthiest?

First off, you’re already moving in the right direction if you want a nutritious salad dressing. You most likely are here because you googled about how to make Italian dressing yourself. Any dressing that YOU make, from ingredients in your own pantry, will always top processed salad dressings you buy at the store. Always.

But generally speaking, the best salad dressing will be a vinaigrette option and the worst option will be a creamy one. Unless you’re making a creamy dressing with healthy swaps, like Greek yogurt instead of processed mayo, then you’re on a better path.

I’ve been making my own Italian dressing for almost a decade now. The taste is superior to any I’ve purchased and the quality is second-to-none.

Of course, the first step to making your own quality version of anything in your kitchen is to have the right ingredients on hand. That’s fine if you don’t have all these ingredients today, this recipe is very adaptable to what you DO have in your pantry. But take a second and download my FREE 8-page Pantry Checklist that’s loaded with discounts and special offers on the best ingredients.

Feel free to make this recipe your own, and definitely use what you have in your pantry. This recipe is very forgiving and will be delicious with whatever similar ingredients you have on hand, such as olive oil instead of my avocado, or honey instead of my maple.

Italian Dressing Recipe

Ingredients for homemade Italian Dressing

1 1/2 cups avocado oil
1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
1/4 cups water
4 cloves garlic
1 TB maple syrup (use code SOULYRESTED to save $)
3 tsp salt (use code SOULYRESTED to save $)
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp nutritional yeast (see notes)

Directions for making Italian Dressing

Combine all ingredients.
Stir well or shake in glass jar.
This recipe makes a little over two cups of dressing, and it stores well in your refrigerator.

Notes about my Italian Dressing Recipe

Feel free to use parmesan cheese or omit cheese altogether. I always substitute nutritional yeast in place of processed parmesan. Go here for more about that swap: 6 kitchen swaps I’ve made over the years.
As always, feel free to play with the ingredients and quantities to make this dressing exactly the way your family loves it. That’s the best part of homemade kitchen staples!
Feel free to use different oils or all-natural sugars, depending on what you have on hand or what your family prefers. Go here for great insights in all the best all-natural sugars.
No fancy lid is needed, but if you’d like to up your dressing game and use the lid I show in my Italian Dressing Recipe Video, you’ll love this spout lid for mason jars.
Not sure what sugar you want to use? Go here for a break down of all the best options.
Use Redmond Real Salt in this recipe and add more than 64 trace minerals to your Italian salad dressing! Use code SOULYRESTED to save & stock up on some of this amazing salt today. I buy it in the bulk size because it stores so easily and keeps forever.
I source many of these ingredients from Azure Standard. Go here to find out how this independent food supply chain is fixing a broken food system and connecting food suppliers directly to consumers.

Ingredients in my Italian Dressing Recipe

I use avocado oil for almost everything in my kitchen, it’s extremely versatile, has the highest smoke point of all oils, and is my favorite fat to cook with, after lard. Period.

I use nutritional yeast liberally and often in my kitchen. It completely replaced processed parmesan cheese a while ago and I have never looked back.

Redmond’s Real Salt–the only salt mined in the US–is never heat processed and stripped of their natural trace minerals. Use code SOULYRESTED to save with every order.

This maple syrup is the most delicious all-natural syrup. And it’s not just for pancakes! Use code SOULYRESTED for 10% off.

Talk to me about your homemade Italian dressing!

If you have any questions, leave a comment below. And please tag me on ig to show me your DIY Italian dressing @souly.rested.

More Pantry Staples you can make yourself

Homemade Instant Oatmeal (you won’t believe how easy this is!)

How to make your own granola (this is one of my favorites)

Homemade Everything Seasoning (and all the ways you’ll love using it)

Herb Balsamic Vinaigrette (this recipe is a keeper)

And be sure to Download my FREE Pantry Checklist and all the discounts on the best ingredients

“Listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” Isaiah 55:2

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