Olive Garden Salad Dressing Recipe

The best Olive Garden salad dressing recipe is fresh, zesty and so much better than any store-bought or restaurant version. This fresh take on a popular recipe can be used for much more than a salad!

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Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing

No need to head to the Olive Garden when you crave their salad and vibrant dressing. It’s so easy to make at home and tastes exactly like it! 

You can’t have one without the other so it was super important to me to come up with the best copycat dressing to pair with my favorite copycat Olive garden salad! 

This zesty, tangy, bright, and bold Olive salad dressing recipe stands up to the fresh crispy veggies every time. I use an Italian dressing mix to add the traditional flavors of an Italian dressing and then vinegar for tang. Mayo provides richness and of course, a little sugar balances it all out.

Olive Garden Salad

It’s a combination of iceberg lettuce, sliced Roma tomatoes, black olives red onions, pepperoncinis, and topped with Parmesan cheese and homemade croutons. Together with the dressing, and a basket of soft garlicky Olive Garden breadsticks, it’s a light lunch made in heaven!

Of course, if you’re looking to complete your meal try a soup! Zuppa Toscana or pasta e fagioli are always a great choice!

Olive Garden Dressing Recipe Ingredients

• Italian dressing mix packet – This can be found anywhere you pick up your groceries in the same section you’d find dips and dressings. If not, check out the seasoning section. We’re taking this shortcut so we can get the flavors and essence of Italian dressing without all of its other ingredients. 
• Olive oil – Extra virgin olive oil is neutral tasting and a popular choice in many salad dressings. It’s loaded with good fat and nutritional benefits, so don’t skimp on this! If you don’t have any on hand, you could opt for avocado oil instead.
• White vinegar – Oil and vinegar is a traditional base for a basic vinaigrette. The acidity delivers a zesty lip-smacking punch!
• Sugar – The sweetness that counterbalances the above-mentioned punch. You can opt to use non-refined honey. 
• Mayo – The mayo adds a creamy texture which helps to thicken it up. The added oil and fat give it a richness taking it from a runny dressing to something with a little more substance.  takes it from a 

How to Make Olive Garden Salad Dressing

You’ll have this recipe memorized in no time which is great for whipping up last minute. It contains ingredients you’ve already got in your fridge I’m sure, then you can use it for so much more than Olive Garden salad.

Here’s the fun part! There’s virtually no work involved.

1. Prepare: Grab your ingredient and a mason jar with a lid. You can also combine ingredients into a bowl, add and start whisking, it’s up to you.
2. Combine: Combine ingredients, a bit of salt and pepper to taste, and give it a shake. Then pour it overtop the salad, or use it as you please!

Tasty Variations

• Italian – Combine 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1Tbsp dijon mustard, 1 Tbsp honey, 1 tsp minced garlic, 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. 
• Balsamic vinaigrette – 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, and 1-2 Tbsp of honey, 1/2 tsp minced garlic, and 2 tsp dijon mustard (optional). 
• Make it even creamier – 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1 Tbsp honey, and 2-3 Tbsp mayonnaise. You can use sour cream or plain Greek yogurt as well. Salt and pepper to taste, of course!

Serving Suggestions for This Dressing

It makes a great dip for veggie platters, a delicious marinade for grilling meat, and of course a dressing for pasta salad among many others!

• As a marinade on grilled chicken or chicken kabobs
• Use it as a dip with veggie cups or a Mediterranean Mezze platter.
• I love this dressing on these salads cucumber tomato salad, Caprese pasta salad, and this Greek pasta salad too. 

Storage

Keep homemade Olive Garden dressing in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Shake before using!