This Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing Recipe is better than the restaurant version. It is full of flavor & so easy, you can make it in 3 minutes!
My husband’s family loves Olive Garden. When we go there, I am a stickler for ordering their soup and salad. I love their salads with the delicious dressing, the spicy pepperoncini, and the big black olives. I could eat that huge bowl they expect us to share family style all by myself. Their Zuppa Toscana is pretty tasty also. Recently I shared a post on how to make a low carb crock pot version. It has the same great taste with less guilt. You can check it out here: Healthy Crockpot Low Car Zuppa Toscana.
Now that spring is here and bathing suit season is around the corner, I have been “TRYING” to eat a little better. I have been eating a salad pretty regularly for lunch. Store-bought salad dressings are not really my favorite thing. I will admit, I have found a few I can live with, but I prefer to make something homemade. It just tastes better.
Can you buy Olive Garden Salad Dressing in the store?
You can buy Olive Garden Salad Dressing in the store. Maybe I am crazy and completely wrong, but to me, it NEVER tastes like the same salad dressing as they serve on their salads at Olive Garden. It just tastes different and not in a good way. This is why I was determined to try to develop a homemade Olive Garden dressing recipe. It is much better than the store bottled version.
Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing Recipe
This copycat Olive Garden salad dressing recipe is semi-homemade. I use a packaged Good Seasonings Italian Dressing mix to make this. This stuff is really tasty and makes this dressing recipe very easy. Plus, it gives it that Olive Garden Salad Dressing taste. What makes my recipe version better than the original restaurant version is I use olive oil and white wine vinegar. It gives the dressing a little more richness and flavor. Most copycat versions use vegetable oil and regular vinegar. I am kind of a snob to vegetable oil and don’t think I even have any in my house. I prefer to use olive oil in most of my cooking for the taste and health benefits. You can however use vegetable oil if you prefer.
You can recreate your salad just like Olive Garden’s. This dressing does not add in Parmesan Cheese. You can just add Parmesan Cheese to your salad. I have been on a radish and endive lettuce kick, so my salad in the pictures are a bit different than Olive Garden’s Salad.
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What goes in an Olive Garden Salad?
I use this copycat Olive Garden Salad dressing on any kind of salad, but if you want to make a true copy cat Olive Garden Salad, this is what you need:
- iceberg lettuce
- small red onion sliced paper thin
- sliced roma tomatoes
- pitted black olives
- mild pepperoncini peppers (I always add extra because I love them so!)
- Italian seasoned croutons
- freshly grated parmesan cheese
- freshly ground pepper
- Olive Garden Salad Dressing
My favorite food processor
The Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless Steel and Cuisinart BDH-2 Blade and Disc Holder Bundle
is my favorite food processor for the blending, grating, and chopping. I use it for almost everything. You can use a blender also. I use this blender for blending my salad dressing.
This dressing delicious on EVERYTHING…. from salads, pastas, wraps, sandwiches, and meat marinades. It really does take about 3 minutes to make. Try it yourself. You will love it.
Looking for other homemade salad dressings? Try:
- Creamy Parmesan Dressing
- Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Homemade Chunky Blue Cheese Salad Dressing
- 20 Incredibly Delicious Homemade Salad Dressing Recipe Roundup
Homemade Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- .7oz dry packet of Good Seasonings Italian Dressing Mix
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tbs mayonnaise
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, mix everything until completely blended and mayonnaise has no clumps.
- Keep refrigerated.
Video
Nutrition- Nutrition info is based on estimation only.
Katie Crenshaw says
Up to a week.
Monique says
It’s delish! How long does it last in the fridge?
Katie says
Yes, one serving is about 2 tbs. There are 10 servings.
Maggie says
I’m going to use light mayonnaise and am trying to recalculate the nutritional information based on that ingredient. I assume the nutritional info you provided is for a 2-tbsp serving, right? How many 2-tbsp. servings does this recipe make? Thank you!!!!
Katie says
I only use one tablespoon. It is a vinaigrette similar to Olive Garden’s Italian Dressing. I will say this, if I just shake it in the jar when I first make it, it doesn’t look as creamy as the picture. But if I put it in the blender and pulse it, it mixes perfectly and creamy like the picture. That is how I made it. It will stay pretty thick and creamy even after refrigeration also with just a few shakes… Hope that helps. With that said, if you are looking for a true creamy dressing, then you will love my Creamy Parmesan Dressing. That one is very simple to make also. https://www.aforkstale.com/creamy-parmesan-salad-dressing/
Aditi says
I keep looking out for healthy salad dressing recipes. This recipe looks amazing. Definitely for keeps.thanks for sharing
Abra says
I haven’t been to an Olive Garden in probably about 15 years but the only thing I would ever want to order there is the salad! I love that dressing. Thanks for posting!
Elaine @ Dishes Delish says
I too am not a fan of store bought dressings, but will eat them if they are natural and don’t have a lot of sugar in them. This dressing looks so delicious!
Kim | Low Carb Maven says
Must. Make. This. Dressing. I’m a big salad lover and I can’t imagine another salad with out this dressing, Katie. Thanks so much for sharing.