Copycat Olive Garden Italian Dressing Recipe That Tops the Original

Ranch may be the most popular salad dressing in the United States, but in our home Italian dressing wins every time. My husband’s family is half Italian on his mother’s side, and they love recipes that celebrate those roots. Early in our marriage I discovered my mother‑in‑law’s secret: Good Seasons Italian dressing mix. I’ve used it ever since. While it’s good made exactly as the package directs, a few simple tweaks make it even better — this is my version of a Better‑Than‑Olive‑Garden copycat Italian dressing.

For this recipe I begin by preparing the Good Seasons Italian dressing according to the package directions. I prefer apple cider vinegar here for its flavor and color, but you can substitute red or white wine vinegar, or plain white vinegar if that’s what you have. After mixing the base dressing, I “doctor it up” with a few additional seasonings, a touch of agave syrup or sugar for balance, and a small amount of creamy mayonnaise to round the texture. The result is an easy, inexpensive dressing that tastes homemade and, in my opinion, surpasses most bottled dressings.

Better-Than-Olive-Garden Copycat Italian Dressing

Marsha Maxwell, FoodLove.com

This easy semi-homemade Italian salad dressing is even better than the one from the popular restaurant.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Salads

Cuisine Italian

Servings 1 1/4 cups

Calories 126 kcal

Equipment

Mason jar or small mixing bowl

Measuring cups and spoons

Whisk or shaker

Ingredients

  

• 1 packet Good Seasons Italian dressing mix
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar (or red/white wine vinegar)
• 3 tablespoons water
• ½ cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon agave syrup or sugar
• ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• ¾ teaspoon garlic salt
• ¼ teaspoon dried mustard
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise

Instructions

 

• Prepare the Good Seasons Italian dressing mix according to the package directions, using canola oil and apple cider vinegar (or your preferred vinegar).
• Add the remaining ingredients — water, agave or sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, dried mustard, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and mayonnaise — and shake or whisk until well combined.
• Refrigerate. If possible, make the dressing a few hours ahead to allow the flavors to meld.

Notes

Adapted from Dessert Now, Dinner Later.

Nutrition

Calories: 126kcalCarbohydrates: 2gFat: 13g

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