This homemade copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing tastes even better than the original and the bottled stuff! It works great in pasta salads and as a marinade too!
A CREAMY ITALIAN DRESSING RECIPE
I think one of my favorite things to do is to recreate my favorite restaurant meals at home, like with this Olive Garden Salad Dressing. 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 but we can get the taste pretty darn close. Also, I know you can totally buy this stuff in the grocery store now but I promise you that this version will taste WAY better.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Yes. First you are going to prepare the packet of Good Seasons Italian Dressing just like it tells you to do on the back of the packet. Then you will take that prepared dressing and add the other ingredients listed below to turn this into Olive Garden Salad Dressing.
If you want the full Olive Garden experience then serve this with my Olive Garden Breadsticks and Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli or Zuppa Toscana!
This dressing is delicious in pasta salads and as a chicken marinade!
Store unused dressing in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Be sure to give the bottle a good shake before using.
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. See my ingredient image below for reference.
You will need:
- 1 bag of iceberg lettuce mix
- 6-8 pepperoncini peppers
- 6 ounces of whole black olives
- ½ red onion, sliced into rings
- 1 Roma tomato, sliced
- 1 cup of croutons
- ½-1 cup of parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Add the lettuce to a large salad bowl then add the peppers, olives, onion slices, tomatoes, croutons and parmesan to the salad. Drizzle the salad dressing over top and toss to combine, then serve.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- Good Seasonings Italian Dressing mix
- (Ingredients needed to make the dressing mix; oil, water, vinegar)
- Italian Seasoning
- salt and pepper
- sugar
- garlic powder
- mayonnaise
- light extra virgin olive oil
- white vinegar
- water
HOW TO MAKE OLIVE GARDEN SALAD DRESSING:
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 whisk in additional ingredients listed above (starting with the dried Italian Seasoning.)
Using a whisk, mix all ingredients until mixed thoroughly combined.
At this point you pour it into a container with a lid. Mason jars also work well for this or pour it over your salad and enjoy!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Olive Garden Salad Dressing Recipe (+Video)
Ingredients
- 1 packet Good Seasonings Italian Dressing
- Ingredients needed to make dressing; oil, water & vinegar
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon mayonnaise
- ¼ cup light extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a bowl, prepare Good Seasonings Italian Seasonings Dressing as it states on back of package (mixing with oil, water & vinegar in the measurements given on packet)
- Once prepared, add the rest of the ingredients listed to the bowl
- Using a whisk, mix all ingredients until mixed thoroughly combined.
- Serve with your favorite salad fixings.
Video
Notes
- Store unused dressing in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Be sure to give the bottle a good shake before using.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Recipe Credit: Barenaked Chef
Originally published: January 2012
Updated & republished: June 2019
Anyeli
Very easy and delicious.
Annie
I have made this recipe several times and I keep coming back to it. It is excellent and the best! I follow the recipe exactly as stated. I always get the best comments from others when using this dressing.
Debra
I was searching for this recipe and your site was included in the search. Now I have made several of your posted recipes, let’s try this one. I know Brandi thinks in terms of simplicity for cooks, this should be good. (Family favorite is your Chicken & Dumpling Casserole.) This recipe is very good. I Thank you for the work you do with recipes!
Kyla
How much does this recipe make?
Wendy
Kyla. It's going to make whatever the amount of liquid totals in the recipe.
Holly
I love this recipe, but try it with red wine vinegar! It is a great color and if possible...even a better flavor. Thanks Brandie.
joann
Delicious
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thanks so much Joann!
Denise
This recipe turned out Great! My husband and I thought it matched the restaurant's dressing to a T.
Thanx.
Sharon
I just made this and my dressing isn't white looking yours is yellow looking..did I do something wrong
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Nothing wrong at all. You probably just used a deeper color olive oil than I used. No worries! 🙂
Pam Phillips
Just tried this recipe and it was very good. I did leave out the salt because the dressing mix has too much for me, but everything else was perfect. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Sara
Really good,I used 1/2 water and 1/2oil for the package ingredients to lighten it up added about 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese and increased mayonnaise to a tablespoon,fantastic!
Anonymous
Just made this today, it was awesome. After I poured the majority of the dressing back into the dressing jar I poured some salad into the bowl (I had mixed the dressing in) so I wouldn't waste a drop.
Phillippa
I made this exactly as directed and used it to dress a summery Pasta Salad. YUMMY is it an excellent dressing.
Jenna A.
Looks great! always wondered how to! only thing id advise is add like a TBsp of powdered parm...i know there's has it in it! 🙂
bibslady
This was absolutely wonderful. Way better than the bottled stuff!
Anonymous
During the holidays everyone in the family gets together and we all have one food item to bring or make for dinner. Last year I was responsible for doing the SALAD. I made this recipe and it was such a hit that it's been a favorite family request ever since. Now it's "official" I am the family's" Holiday "Salad King" (It's Christmas!) and I'm whipping up a batch of this fabulous dressing right now!
Ann
What type of oil do you suggest using in making the packet of dressing, before adding additional ingredients. Also, will apple cider vinegar work as well as white vinegar....thanks...love your blog and all the great recipes and info!