This Italian salad dressing recipe is easy to make at home using olive oil, red wine vinegar and a handful of herbs and spices.

A jar of Italian salad dressing with a salad in the background.

Italian Dressing Recipe Overview

It’s easy to make your own Italian salad dressing at home with a simple combination of olive oil, red wine vinegar, herbs and spices. You can drizzle this over salads, toss it with chopped veggies before roasting, or even as a marinade with chicken!

To make the salad dressing, just prep all the ingredients and add them to an air-tight container. Seal and give it a good shake, then it’s ready to serve. It’s easy to make, more flavorful and costs a fraction of the store-bought versions.

My favorite way to use dressings like this one is in a pasta salad, on homemade salads, or in an easy cucumber tomato salad. I also love to marinate fish, chicken, and vegetables using this salad dressing!

Ingredients in a bowl to make Italian salad dressing recipe.

Recipe Ingredients

¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp granulated sugar – or honey/maple syrup
1 minced garlic clove
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried basil
½ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
2 Tbsp parmesan cheese – optional

Two overhead images in one: 1. Ingredients in a bowl to make Italian salad dressing recipe. 2. Ingredients mixed in bowl with spatula.

How To Make Italian Salad Dressing Recipe

Full ingredients and instructions are also in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.

STEP 1: In a small bowl or mason jar combine ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil, ¼ cup red wine vinegar, 1 tsp granulated sugar, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tsp dried parsley, 1 tsp dried basil, ½ tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper, and 2 Tbsp parmesan cheese.

STEP 2: Whisk all ingredients together until well combined. You can also add these ingredients straight into a small mason jar, seal it, and shake vigorously until it emulsifies.

STEP 3: Taste the dressing and adjust with more seasoning if needed. For example, add extra garlic, basil, dried oregano, or salt and pepper. If you prefer a sweeter dressing, add a pinch more sugar.

Salad dressing drizzled overtop of a salad with chopped cucumber, tomatoes, olives and onion.

Recipe Tips

If you don’t have red wine vinegar, try using white wine vinegar or lemon juice.
Fresh garlic will give you the best flavor but you can also use 1/2 tsp garlic powder.

Swap out any of the dried herbs for fresh herbs like fresh parsley and fresh basil. Be sure to dice it quite small. You can also add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a hint of heat.

Use this dressing on any kind of salad, use it as a marinade for chicken and fish, or toss it with your favorite veggies and roast in the oven.
Olive oil will naturally start to solidify when it’s stored in the fridge. Just give the dressing a shake and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to help it melt.

How To Store Salad Dressing

Store the dressing in a glass jar for up to 10 days. Mason jars work great because they prevent air from getting in which can oxidize the olive oil turning it rancid. It’s also easy to shake it up and drizzle onto your plate.

A hand holding a jar of homemade italian dressing.

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Italian Salad Dressing Recipe

This Italian salad dressing recipe is made with simple ingredients and can be customized easily to your tastes. Drizzle it on salads or use it as a marinade.

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Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp granulated sugar - or honey
1 minced garlic clove
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried basil
½ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
¼ cup parmesan cheese - optional

Instructions

In a small bowl or mason jar combine ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil, ¼ cup red wine vinegar, 1 tsp granulated sugar – or honey, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tsp dried parsley, 1 tsp dried basil, ½ tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper, and ¼ cup parmesan cheese – optional.
Whisk all ingredients together until well combined. You can also add these ingredients straight into a small mason jar, seal it, and shake vigorously until it emulsifies.
Taste the dressing and adjust with more seasoning if needed. Add extra garlic, basil, dried oregano, or salt and pepper. If you prefer a sweeter dressing, add a pinch more sugar.

Recipe Notes:

Store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 10 days.

Olive oil will naturally start to solidify when it’s stored in the fridge. Just give the dressing a shake and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to help it melt.

Nutrition

The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving.

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