Zesty Italian Dressing

This simple zesty Italian dressing is packed with fresh, zingy flavor. Super easy to mix together from pantry staples, you’ll love it on salads, pasta, or chicken.

Making your own salad dressings is an EASY way to save TONS of money off your grocery budget.

From Homemade Ranch Dressing to Balsamic Vinegar Vinaigrette to Cilantro Lime Dressing, I’ve made so many salad dressings myself that I rarely even buy them anymore!

Every now and then, though, my husband will see a salad dressing at the grocery store and ask if we can buy it.

Take Zesty Kraft Italian Dressing. That was the most recent dressing he requested, but instead of spending $3-4 on a small bottle, I set out to make my own version.

And it was a smashing success!

WHY MAKE ZESTY HOMEMADE ITALIAN SALAD DRESSING

You’ll want to try the zesty version of homemade Italian salad dressing, too. It’s:

• Super easy to make. Just add the ingredients to a glass jar and shake!
• Healthier. Skip the added sugars, hydrogenated oils, and preservatives in the bottles from the store.
• Cheaper. It only costs pennies to mix up a batch from staple ingredients.
• Zesty flavor. Zesty Italian dressing has a bright, zingy, bold flavor that’s even more vibrant and tangy than the original.
• A chance to try something new. If you’ve never branched beyond your usual salad dressing choices, whip up a batch of homemade Italian dressing for something totally different!

INGREDIENTS FOR ZESTY ITALIAN DRESSINGS RECIPES

This recipe is based on my original Italian Dressing Recipe, with a few minor tweaks to make the depth of flavor a bit brighter and, well, zestier!

Here’s what you need:

• Dried Spices and Herbs: garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, parsley, salt, black pepper, thyme, and basil. You can even add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a bit of kick.
• Mustard: I use both regular yellow mustard AND spicy brown mustard in this recipe. They add that tangy flavor and help emulsify the dressing (that’s the fancy way of saying they keep everything mixed together). Dijon mustard would be fantastic too!
• Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is a flavorful base for many salad dressings, and it helps the dressing coat the salad ingredients.
• Vinegar: Red wine vinegar is a must if you want that trademark zesty flavor! White wine vinegar lacks the flavor you need for this recipe.

Psst! Not all salts are made the same! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!).

HOW TO MAKE ITALIAN DRESSING ZESTY

Making your own dressing is as easy as 1-2-3:

Step 1. Add all of the ingredients, except the red wine vinegar, to a 16-oz jar.

Step 2. Add the red wine vinegar, filling the jar until there’s about a finger-width gap from the top. You’ll add about 1 cup.

Step 3. Cover the jar with a lid and shake well.

Use the zesty Italian salad dressing recipe to top your favorite salads or pasta salads or use it as a marinade for chicken or even to flavor your sub sandwich!

TIPS FOR MAKING ZESTY ITALIAN DRESSING

• To save time, I usually make triple or quadruple quantities of the dry portion of this recipe and store it in a jar in my spice cabinet.
  • I write “2 Tbsp” on the jar, and that’s to let me know I need that much dry seasoning mix to make a batch of dressing.
  • You can always use more or less, depending on how you like your dressing to taste. I also eyeball the mustard measurements, considering a “good hefty squirt” of each to be good enough!
• Store homemade zesty Italian dressing in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks. Give it a good shake or stir before serving.
• I love using mason jars for homemade Italian dressings recipes, and these lids make it super easy to shake and pour!

MACRO FRIENDLY ZESTY ITALIAN DRESSINGS RECIPES

Salad dressings are one of those condiments that are easy to overdo.

But you really don’t need very much to add a ton of great flavor to your salad, pasta, or chicken!

When you’re out to eat, ask for dressing on the side, and add just a little bit to your dish.

When you’re at home, make your own dressings, like this zesty Italian dressing, full of healthy fats from the olive oil.

Pair with plenty of protein and produce, and you’ve got a delicious meal that fits with your nutrition goals!

ZESTY ITALIAN SALAD DRESSING RECIPE FAQS

MORE DELICIOUS HOMEMADE DRESSING RECIPES

• Homemade Italian Salad Dressing (not zingy)
• Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
• Caesar Salad Dressing
• Homemade Greek Salad Dressing
• Creamy Sesame Ginger Dressing