The Only Italian Dressing Recipe You'll Ever Need

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This easy homemade Italian dressing is a snap to pull together and lasts for up to a week in the fridge.

Active Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
5 mins
Servings:
8
  • This homemade Italian dressing comes together in five minutes—just shake everything together in a jar.
  • Olive oil provides heart-friendly fats and antioxidants, which are beneficial for inflammation and bone health.
  • If you don't have any red-wine vinegar, you can use white-wine vinegar instead.

This easy, healthy, homemade Italian dressing comes together in a snap and is super versatile—use it as a dressing for salads or a marinade for meats. Garlic, oregano, basil and onion dance together in an olive oil and red wine vinegar base infused with lemon, while a pinch of crushed red pepper adds just the right amount of heat. Keep reading for our expert tips, including what ingredients can be substituted and with what.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • If you don't have red-wine vinegar, feel free to use white-wine vinegar. White-wine vinegar is mild in flavor with a crisp, slightly sweet acidity that works well in this dressing.
  • If you plan to use the dressing immediately and (all of it in one sitting), you can swap the dried basil with 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh basil and the garlic powder for 2 small cloves of fresh garlic, minced.
  • The crushed red pepper adds a touch of heat. But if it's too much, you can leave it out or substitute it with something milder like chili powder or sweet or hot paprika.
  • Some green salads are more flavorful at room temperature—or slightly warmed. However, Italian dressing is best when chilled or at room temperature. So, if you plan to warm a salad, add the dressing afterward.

Nutrition Notes

  • Olive oil is a staple of the Mediterranean diet. It's loaded with antioxidants and heart- and brain-healthy fats. Regularly eating olive oil helps reduce inflammation in your body and has even been shown to be good for your bones.
  • The spices in this dressing contain antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. And while you won't gain health benefits from them in one use, by regularly including herbs and spices in your recipes, their health benefits will add up over time.
Overhead view of ingredients in various bowls for Italian Dressing recipe

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

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Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 3 tablespoons water

  • 3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon dried basil

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano

  • ½ teaspoon onion powder

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • Pinch of crushed red pepper

Directions

  1. Combine 6 tablespoons oil, 3 tablespoons water, 3 tablespoons vinegar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon basil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon salt and pinch crushed red pepper in a medium lidded jar; cover tightly and shake until smooth and combined.

    Overhead view of Italian Dressing recipe in a bowl with a large serving spoon

    Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is there a substitute for extra-virgin olive oil in Italian dressing?

    Yes. You can use avocado oil or grapeseed oil, but both of these have a more neutral flavor—they won't be as flavorful as the extra-virgin olive oil.

  • Is Italian dressing gluten-free?

    Yes, this recipe is gluten-free. It contains no gluten-containing ingredients, such as wheat, barley or rye. And while most store-bought Italian dressings are gluten-free, some might sneak in gluten-containing ingredients. If you're avoiding gluten, it's important to read the label.

  • What's the best way to store Italian dressing?

    Refrigerate the dressing in an airtight container for up to 1 week; shake to combine before using. If your dressing has become a solid mass (which is normal), remove it from the refrigerator about 20 to 30 minutes before you plan to use it, or you can run it under warm water. Once the ingredients are liquid again, shake the dressing well, so all the ingredients combine.

  • What can I use this dressing for?

    This versatile dressing can be used for pasta salad, as a marinade for chicken, pork chops or vegetables before grilling, tossed with roasted potatoes or roasted root vegetables for a tangy side dish and as a dressing for hearty bean salad.

EatingWell.com, May 2023

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

98 Calories
11g Fat
1g Carbs
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size about 1 1/2 Tbsp.
Calories 98
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Vitamin A 8IU 0%
Folate 1mcg 0%
Vitamin K 3mcg 3%
Sodium 74mg 3%
Calcium 6mg 0%
Magnesium 2mg 0%
Potassium 15mg 0%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Jan Valdez

Jan Valdez has years of experience working in test kitchens, primarily in research and development and product development. Her experience in the Good Housekeeping test kitchen in New York City launched a career in professional test kitchens.