Made in 5 minutes, this recipe is one that will find itself into your rotation often. Simply combine oil, vinegar, cheese, and seasonings for a quick and easy salad dressing recipe that will always serve up delicious flavor.
Why Make this Recipe
- Fresher than Store Bought: Store bought Italian salad dressings works very well in a pinch, but if you can make it at home easily, why wouldn’t you?! I don’t know about you, but eating a meal with fresh, seasonal ingredients always makes me so happy.
- 5 Minutes: Simply collect the ingredients and combine. It’s as easy as that!
- Delightful Flavor: That tangy lemon juice and freshly grated parmesan cheese will add so much flavor to your meal.
What Do I Need to Make this Recipe?
Ingredients
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
- Olive Oil: Because olive oil is the main ingredient in this recipe, I’d recommend a high quality olive oil if you can. A quick and easy way to tell if you’re buying a high quality olive oil is if the bottle displays a “pressed on” or “harvest” date.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh squeezed if possible. You will need about ½ lemon for 2 tbsp.
- Parmesan Cheese: I am always an advocate for the freshest cheese possible (just check my Instant Pot Stuffed Shells recipe). I would recommend fresh grated parmesan cheese if possible, or high quality packaged stuff if not. Pecorino Romano (used in this Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe recipe) would also be delicious.
- Wine Vinegar: I am using red wine vinegar, but you can use white wine vinegar if you prefer.
How to Make this Recipe
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Mix all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- To get more juice out of your lemon, heat it in the microwave for 10-20 seconds. Then use your hands to roll it around on the countertop.
- Some other renditions of this Italian Salad Dressing Recipe call for bell peppers, dill, fennel, and more. Feel free to add anything that sounds delicious to you!
- Store leftovers in a mason jar. Shake it well before each use.
- Feel free to omit the sugar for a healthier alternative, but keep in mind this will change the taste of the recipe.
What To Use Italian Dressing For?
At its most basic, this Italian Salad Dressing Recipe is used commonly as a topping for salads. But there are so many different ways that you can use this recipe! Here are some options:
- Salad Dressing
- Marinating chicken or other meat
- Dressing for this Easy Pasta Salad
- Sandwich spreads
- Dip bread in it
Recipe FAQs
Despite what it’s called, no, Italian dressing is not used in Italy. It is entirely an American invention!
In Italy, it’s typical to use a combination of oil and vinegar as dressing to a salad, but parmesan cheese and the seasonings normally are not added to the combination.
Creamy Italian dressing is often made very similarly to this Italian Salad Dressing Recipe. The main difference is that Creamy Italian Dressing also adds mayonnaise into the dressing (¼-½ cup, depending on the recipe).
This gives the dressing a whiter color and a creamier consistency.
Make sure to store your dressing in an airtight container (I like a mason jar) in the fridge. When stored properly, it will last for up to 3 weeks in the fridge!
Some olive oils harden in the fridge. If this is the case for yours, remove the dressing from the fridge about one hour before using it so that it can thaw.
Did you enjoy this Homemade Italian Salad Dressing Recipe? If so, make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you:
Italian Salad Dressing Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup Olive oil
- 3 tbsp Red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1 tsp Granulated sugar
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp Dried Oregano
- ½ tsp Dried Basil
- ¼ tsp Garlic Powder
- ¼ tsp Salt
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Enjoy!
Notes
- Olive Oil: Because olive oil is the main ingredient in this recipe, I’d recommend a high quality olive oil if you can. A quick and easy way to tell if you’re buying a high quality olive oil is if the bottle displays a “pressed on” or “harvest” date.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh squeezed if possible. You will need about ½ lemon for 2 tbsp.
- Parmesan Cheese: I am always an advocate for the freshest cheese possible (just check my Instant Pot Stuffed Shells recipe). I would recommend fresh grated parmesan cheese if possible, or high quality packaged stuff if not. Pecorino Romano (used in this Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe recipe) would also be delicious.
- Wine Vinegar: I am using red wine vinegar, but you can use white wine vinegar if you prefer.
- To get more juice out of your lemon, heat it in the microwave for 10-20 seconds. Then use your hands to roll it around on the countertop.
- Some other renditions of this Italian Salad Dressing Recipe call for bell peppers, dill, fennel, and more. Feel free to add anything that sounds delicious to you!
- Store leftovers in a mason jar. Shake it well before each use.
- Feel free to omit the sugar for a healthier alternative, but keep in mind this will change the taste of the recipe.
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