This Creamy Italian Dressing recipe is such a simple and delicious homemade recipe! Made from fresh ingredients and with no additives or preservatives, it will become one of your absolute favorites!
What You Need
Not only can you pronounce everything in this creamy italian dressing because it’s homemade, but it also tastes really fresh which makes your salad taste that much better with every bite. A full list of ingredients with measurements is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Garlic – Give this dressing a little punch of garlicky goodness with minced cloves. Fresh garlic is always preferred over the pre-minced jarred version.
- Carrots – These add a touch of sweetness and a little texture. Plus, extra veggies never hurt!
- Red bell pepper – Bell peppers add a slightly sweet crunch that complements the savory ingredients.
- Mayonnaise – This is the creamy base that makes this dressing irresistibly rich. Just grab your favorite brand or easily make your own mayo.
- Lemon – We use both fresh lemon juice and lemon zest. Zest adds a concentrated bright citrusy flavor. A little acidity from the juice cuts through the creaminess.
- Red wine vinegar – Use this vinegar to bring a little tanginess to the table! It complements the acidity of the lemon nicely.
- Dried Italian seasoning – This blend of herbs adds layers of flavor. Try making your own with my italian seasoning recipe!
- Sugar – A pinch of sugar rounds out the tangy, acidic ingredients. Regular granulated sugar is perfect.
- Worcestershire sauce – Worcestershire gives the dressing a little something extra with its kick of umami.
- Fine Sea Salt – Sprinkle in sea salt to bring out the flavors of the other ingredients. Use a fine version so that it mixes in easily!
Let’s Make It
It only takes a few simple steps to make this creamy italian dressing goodness. It’s as perfect for meal prep as it is for making on the fly.
- Blend the veggies. Pulse the garlic, carrots, and red bell pepper in a food processor until everything is finely chopped.
- Mix it up. Pour in the mayo, lemon zest, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, sugar, and Worcestershire sauce and pulse again until everything is smooth and creamy.
- Chill and serve. Let the sauce chill in the fridge for a bit to allow the flavors to mingle before serving.
5S Philosophy 👩🏻
- Salt – Sea salt might seem like a small addition, but it plays a big role in making the flavors pop. Keep in mind that different salts measure differently.
- Seasoning – The blend of dried herbs in the Italian seasoning ties together the other ingredients and gives the dressing a boost of savory flavor. You can add garlic or onion powders for more flavor.
- Sauces – Worcestershire sauce is the secret weapon that adds a hint of umami that makes this dressing hard to resist. It’s one of those ingredients you don’t always think about, but you’d miss it if it weren’t there.
- Swaps – No red bell pepper? Try a roasted red pepper for a slightly smoky twist. Out of Italian seasoning? A mix of dried oregano and basil will do the trick. If you’re out of Worcestershire sauce, a tiny splash of soy sauce or balsamic vinegar can take its place.
- Senses – This sauce is bursting with flavors and textures! The smell of fresh garlic and lemon hits first, followed by the tangy, and slightly sweet taste that will have you digging back in for more. Plus, the smooth base is perfectly contrasted by the subtle crunch of the veggies.
Perfect Pairings
This sauce is made for multitasking! Spread it on burgers, sandwiches, and paninis, or use it as a dip for fries, roasted veggies, or even shrimp kebabs. We also love it with chicken or as a drizzle over veggies.
This creamy italian dressing is perfect for your favorite salad, for veggie dip platters at a party, or on the table for your next BBQ mixed in with your favorite pasta salad recipe. It is super versatile and packed with the zest and zing you love in those store-bought bottles.
Storage and Freezing
How to Store
Because this creamy italian dressing is free of those pesky preservatives and stabilizers, I would suggest storing it in the refrigerator. Keeping them in an airtight container is key. I typically reach for my mason jar which is great because they come in so many sizes or for the salad dressing shaker.
Can I Freeze Creamy Italian Dressing?
This creamy italian salad dressing isn’t a great candidate for freezing since mayo-based sauces tend to separate.
More Homemade Dressings
If you know me, you know how much I love a homemade dressing. Here are some of my favorites.
Creamy Italian Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 clove fresh garlic , grated
- 1 tablespoon carrots , minced
- 1 tablespoon red bell pepper , minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 3-4 grates lemon zest
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the 3/4 cup mayonnaise, grated 1 clove fresh garlic, minced 1 tablespoon carrots, minced 1 tablespoon red bell pepper, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 3-4 grates lemon zest, 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce and 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt .
- Cover and chill for 30 minutes. Stir before serving.
- If you've tried this recipe, make sure to come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Nutrition
So when do you add the carrots and red bell pepper to the dressing?
Thanks for catching that Sheila and sorry for the delay, I literally just had a baby yesterday. I updated the instructions. 🙂