Olive Garden Salad Dressing

I think one of my favorite things to do is to recreate my favorite restaurant meals at home.

Sometimes I get a really good end result, sometimes it is total crap. 

Ok, lots of times, it is total crap.

But the process itself is enjoyable for me. 

Now, if you follow my blog, then you know I always say that even though recipes can sometimes come close to those restaurant favorites, I will never say it tastes exactly like what you get in the restaurant.

Because many times, we just don't have access to certain ingredients that the restaurants do but we can sometimes get the taste pretty darn close.

And also, there is just something about eating out that makes food taste better sometimes.

First of all, you didn't have to cook it.

Second of all, you won't have any dishes to wash.

Thirdly, you're out on the town having a really great time with good folks.

All that adds up to a very tasty and enjoyable meal. So even if you can recreate the taste at home, you can't exactly recreate the experience because those dishes ain't gonna wash themselves.  Having said all that, it's still fun to try.

And one of those recipes that I had to try is the good ole Olive Garden Salad Dressing. 

It's kinda like the holy grail of salad dressings.

If you've never eaten at an Olive Garden, be sure to put it on your bucket list. 

Most folks like to go there for the salad and breadsticks alone.

So I'm gonna say that even if you don't think this dressing tastes exactly like the one at Olive Garden,  I think you're still gonna really like the way it tastes.

Ingredients:

1 packet Good Seasonings Italian Dressing

(Ingredients needed to make dressing; oil, water, vinegar)

½ tsp. dried Italian Seasoning

½ tsp. table salt

¼ tsp. black pepper

½ tsp. sugar

¼ tsp. garlic powder

½ tbsp. mayonnaise (no Miracle Whip, please)

¼ cup olive oil

2 tbs. white vinegar

1 ½ tbsp. water

If you've never seen Good Seasons Italian Dressing before, you can usually find it down the aisle in your grocery store where all the other salad dressings are.  The packets are usually near where they keep the packets of ranch dressing. Most stores carry the boxed sets that also come with the salad dressing cruet like the one I have above.

Directions:

Prepare Good Seasonings Italian Seasonings Dressing as it states on back of packet.

The packet makes just a small bit of dressing.

Once prepared, pour dressing in a medium bowl, then add additional ingredients

listed above (starting with the dried Italian Seasoning).

Using a whisk, mix all ingredients until mixed thoroughly combined and pour it into a container with a lid. Mason jars also work well for this.

Serve with your favorite salad fixings.

Store unused dressing in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. 

Be sure to give the bottle a good shake before using.

Enjoy!

Printable Recipe Here

If you like this recipe, be sure to check out these ones!

Olive Garden Breadsticks

Pasta E Fagioli Soup

recipe adapted from Barenaked Chef