This homemade Creamy Italian Dressing is better than anything in a bottle and so easy to make! It’s packed with flavor and is the perfect dressing for garden salads and crudites!
If you love salads but are tired of being disappointed by store-bought bottled brands, you need to try this homemade Creamy Italian Dressing!
It combines red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, fresh parsley, garlic, Parmigiano Reggiano, and mayonnaise and comes together in just a few minutes!
Recipe Ingredients
All ingredients for this recipe are shown in the pic below and special notes are made in this bulleted list to assist you.
- Vinegar. I’m using red wine vinegar but you can also use distilled white vinegar.
- Mayonnaise. This provides that rich, creamy texture to this dressing, and really differentiates it from classic Italian vinaigrette.
- Parsley. Use fresh parsley here for the best results!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Top tip
Creamy Italian Dressing is easy to make but one step to not skip is the taste test! After you’re done combining the dressing ingredients, be sure to taste the dressing and adjust salt and pepper as needed before tossing with your favorite garden salad.
More homemade dressing recipes
There’s nothing that compares to homemade dressings and vinaigrettes! Here are just a few of my favorites!
- Buttermilk ranch – creamy dressing with sour cream, mayo, dill, and parsley.
- Balsamic vinaigrette – with dijon, honey, and shallots.
- Creamy parmesan peppercorn dressing – with buttermilk, peppercorns, and Parmigiano Reggiano.
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Creamy Italian Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon hot crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 clove garlic paste
- 1/4 cup minced Italian flat-leaf parsley
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk the ingedients until a smooth creamy dressing has formed. Alternatively, use a food processor.
- Taste the dressing and season with salt and pepper to taste. If the dressing is too thick, simply thin with water, an ounce at a time. Enjoy!
Notes
- One serving of dressing equals 2 tablespoons. This recipe makes almost 2 cups of dressing or 16 servings.
- This dressing can be made by hand whisking, in the blender, or by adding the ingredients to a mason jar with the cap on and shaking vigorously.
- Dressing can be saved in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Excellent as usual
We’re so happy you enjoyed it, Gene!
Absolutely love every recipe! Love FB videos as well! (Get a kick out of your son! His taste buds must be excellent.)
We’re so happy you’re enjoying the recipes, Janet, and thanks for the comment!
this is so delicious! Thank you for posting and I will be making this often
We’re so happy you enjoyed the dressing and appreciate the comment!
That creamy Italian dressing looks fantastic. Thank you for sharing it with me.
We hope you love it, Yvonne!
1010 for all your recipes.
P
Thank you, Penny!
Every recipie I have used from Jim has been excellent and that includes this one!
Thanks for the comment, Dolly, and so happy you’re enjoying the recipes!
Excellent summer dressing! Enjoyed it twice.
We’re so happy you loved it, Michele!
This is amazing
I’m enjoying reading your deli recipes! I needed a good Italian dressing for a salad to go with my pasta e fagioli and here it is! I had all the ingredients, it’s easy, and it’s DELICIOUS.
This is a keeper!
We’re so happy you enjoyed, Nancy!
Great job, love your recipes and your site. You have never let me down. Also would like to mention the great job you do with the explanations of why 👍
I very much appreciate it, Jeff. Thank you!
Sounds delicious! Parm, James? I am your kindred spirit with pecorino romano! LOL! I trust you and will use parm!
Hi, Lynn. So it’s not going to hurt with Pecorino lol. But I would probably start with about half the amount. Enjoy!
Just a quick line because I’m not one to leave comments, but every recipe that I’ve tried it has been outstanding. I just wanted to thank you so much.
We very much appreciate it. Thanks, Aaron!