Creamy Italian Dressing

Salads made at home with the freshest seasonal produce and a homemade creamy Italian dressing are the best. Despite coming together in just a few minutes, this weeknight-friendly Italian salad dressing recipe has a bounty of complex flavors—bold herbs, bright lemon and nutty Parmesan cheese—that harmonize to produce a versatile accompaniment to various dishes.

Our creamy Italian dressing recipe is great for tossing with your favorite salads but thick enough to slather on Italian sandwiches. The mayonnaise makes this dressing an excellent marinade for grilled meats and vegetables. Or, use the dressing as a dip or sauce after the meat is char-grilled to perfection. The low effort required to produce a batch of this versatile, creamy Italian salad dressing will inspire you to ditch the store-bought stuff for good.

Ingredients for Creamy Italian Dressing

• Mayonnaise: This versatile condiment lends the dressing a smooth and creamy texture. Use your favorite store-bought mayo brand or make mayonnaise for extra points.
• Olive oil: High-quality extra virgin olive oil, known for having a more robust flavor than regular olive oil, is an excellent base for salad dressings like this one. However, if you have only regular olive oil on hand, that works too.
• Parmesan cheese: A few tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese (either freshly grated or store-bought) add sharp and nutty notes to the dressing. Cheese you grate yourself will be softer in texture than the pre-grated stuff and will melt into the dressing better.
• Lemon juice and red wine vinegar: Both lemon juice and red wine vinegar bring lip-smacking acidity to creamy Italian dressing recipe.
• Garlic: Minced garlic pairs beautifully with lemon juice, red wine vinegar and herbs. It gives just the right amount of punch to this homemade creamy Italian dressing.
• Seasoning: Salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients. Pepper adds a whisper of smokiness. And sugar brings a hint of sweetness.
• Dried herbs: A medley of dried herbs—pungent oregano, peppery basil and earthy parsley—gives the creamy Italian salad dressing a range of complex flavors that play well with the components of crisp, fresh vegetables.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the ingredients

Mark Derse for Taste of Home

In a small bowl, whisk the mayo, olive oil and red wine vinegar. Add the Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, garlic, sugar, herbs, and salt and pepper. Mix everything until the dressing is well blended.

Editor’s Tip: Instead of a small bowl, add all the ingredients to a jar, close it with a tight-fitting lid, and shake it well until smooth and combined.

Mark Derse for Taste of Home

Creamy Italian Dressing Variations

• Incorporate fresh herbs: You can use fresh chopped parsley, basil and/or oregano in the creamy Italian dressing recipe, but you’ll need to triple the amount. A good rule of thumb for converting fresh to dried herbs in recipes is 3 to 1: Use 3 teaspoons fresh to 1 teaspoon dried. So here you’d use 1-1/2 teaspoons fresh herbs instead of 1/2 teaspoon dried.
• Use other seasonings: For a more complex flavor, a good no-salt seasoning blend, like Italian seasoning, can replace the dried herbs in this creamy Italian salad dressing.
• Make it lighter: If you prefer a less creamy dressing, cut the mayo in half or swap in avocado or Greek yogurt. Or, omit the creamy entirely and try our recipe for classic Italian dressing.
• Zest things up: To enhance the dressing’s flavor profile, add 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder and 1/2 teaspoon paprika.

How to Store Creamy Italian Dressing

This homemade creamy Italian dressing recipe can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Since the components separate once chilled, bring the dressing to room temperature when ready to use it and shake it well to re-combine the ingredients.

How long does creamy Italian dressing last?

Knowing how long condiments last depends on whether they’re homemade or store-bought, what ingredients were used, the expiration dates and more. Like most homemade dressings, this creamy Italian salad dressing will last up to one week in the fridge.

Can you freeze creamy Italian dressing?

Because the recipe contains mayo—an oil-based emulsion that can break apart when frozen—we don’t recommend freezing your creamy Italian dressing recipe. Thankfully, it’s easy to whip up a fresh batch, so you don’t have to freeze it!

Creamy Italian Dressing Tips

Mark Derse for Taste of Home

Do you need a blender or food processor to make creamy Italian dressing?

The beauty of this dressing is its simplicity. A blender or food processor isn’t necessary, but you can use either to ensure this homemade creamy Italian dressing is super emulsified.

What’s the best way to toss a salad?

While tongs are helpful, tossing a salad with your (clean) hands is one of the easiest ways to ensure every bite is evenly dressed. Be sure to gently toss your salad until all the greens are evenly coated and uniformly glossy.

How else can you use creamy Italian dressing?

The sky’s the limit when it comes to enjoying this versatile dressing. It’s a flavorful addition to any salad, from caprese to pasta salad. Or, use it as a punchy dip recipe for carrots, celery and other fresh veggies. You can also use it as a marinade for shrimp or chicken. The acidity helps tenderize proteins, while the sugar promotes caramelization.