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If you’ve spent any time around here, you know I love recreating restaurant favorites at home. One of my family’s favorite places to eat has always been Olive Garden. In fact, there have been plenty of times we’ve gone just for the soup and salad. Once I found a copycat version of their famous Italian dressing years ago, I knew I had to give it a try, and I’ve been making it ever since.

Olive Garden Signature Italian Dressing

What I love most about making this dressing at home is that I can control exactly what goes into it. A simple packet of Italian dressing mix combined with a few pantry staples creates a dressing that tastes even better than the restaurant version. It’s fresh, flavorful, and always ready whenever a salad craving strikes.

For years, I used this dressing mainly on green salads, especially when serving my copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup. It gave us the full restaurant experience right at home. Then one summer, I decided to use it in a pasta salad, and my love for this dressing grew tenfold. The way it coats the pasta and soaks into the vegetables creates a flavor that’s absolutely irresistible. Now making pasta salad is one of my favorite excuses to whip up a fresh batch.

Ingredient Notes

The beauty of this recipe is how simple it is. You don’t need a specialty Olive Garden dressing packet or any hard-to-find ingredients. Any store-brand Italian dressing mix packet works perfectly. Combined with olive oil, vinegar, mayonnaise, and a few seasonings, it creates a creamy, flavorful dressing that’s packed with Italian-inspired flavor.

How to Make Olive Garden Italian Dressing

Making this dressing couldn’t be easier. Simply add all of the ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk until everything is fully combined. Transfer the dressing to a mason jar or airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Since the ingredients naturally separate while sitting, give the jar a good shake before each use.

My Favorite Ways to Use This Dressing

While a classic garden salad is always a great choice, I’ve found so many other ways to use this dressing over the years.

My absolute favorite is pasta salad. The dressing adds so much flavor and gives the pasta that perfect restaurant-style taste. It’s become my go-to dressing whenever I’m making a summer pasta salad for cookouts, family gatherings, or simple weeknight dinners.

I also love serving it alongside my Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup for a complete restaurant-inspired meal at home. It’s one of those combinations that never gets old.

You can also use it:

• On green salads
• As a chicken marinade
• Drizzled over fresh vegetables
• In pasta salads
• As a flavorful dipping sauce for vegetables

Storage Instructions

Store your homemade Olive Garden Italian Dressing in a mason jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Since the oil, vinegar, and seasonings naturally separate while sitting, give the jar a good shake before serving.

For more Olive Garden favorites, try these recipes! 

• Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
• Instant Pot Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup 
• Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
• Olive Garden Copycat Lasagna Fritta Air Fryer

For another delicious homemade dressing

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Olive Garden Signature Italian Dressing

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

If you are looking for an Olive Garden Signature Italian Dressing Copycat that is hands down the best, then this recipe is the one you have been searching for. It is creamy, flavorful and is even better than the original dressing Olive Garden makes. The best thing about it? It is healthier than the restaurant version!

Print

4.5 Stars (2 Reviews)

Ingredients

• 1 (7 oz) Packet Italian Dressing Mix
• ⅓ Cup White Vinegar
• ¼ Cup Water
• ¾ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 TBSP Mayonnaise
• ½ TSP Sugar
• ½ TSP Italian Seasoning
• ½ TSP Salt
• ¼ TSP Pepper
• ¼ TSP Garlic Powder

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, mix all the ingredients together well.
2. Store in a mason jar.
3. Shake before serving.

Notes

1. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
2. Shake well before serving, as the ingredients will naturally separate.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 100Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 88mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

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