Zesty Italian Dressing - Don't Waste the Crumbs (2024)

My Zesty Italian Dressing recipe is fresh, herby, spicy and full of zing! It’s super budget-friendly, easy to make, and so much healthier than Kraft Italian dressing! Enjoy on salads – or as a marinade to add kick to your favorite chicken dishes!

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

From homemade ranch dressing to balsamic 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.

Have you heard of 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 our own version.

Not only is this version super easy to make, but it’s much healthier too!

Ingredients for Homemade Zesty Italian Dressing

This recipe is based off my original Italian dressing recipe, with a few minor tweaks to make the flavor a bit brighter and, well, zestier!

Here’s what you need:

1. Dried Seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, parsley, salt, pepper, thyme, and basil
2. Mustard: I use both regular AND spicy brown mustard in this recipe.
3. Vinegar: Red wine vinegar is a must if you want that trademark zesty flavor!

See Also

How to Make Jar Pasta Sauce Better | PremioTurn over a new leaf: Ditch your salad's harmful chemicals with healthier dressingsHealth Benefits Of Italian Dressing For You- HealthifyMeHow To Choose a Healthy Salad Dressing

Step by Step Instructions

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

Step 1. Combine all the ingredients in a 16 ounce jar.

Step 2. Shake well.

Step 3. Serve over your favorite salads!

Tips for Making Zesty Italian Dressing

• To save time, I usually triple or quadruple the dry portion of this recipe and store it in a jar in my spice cabinet.
• I love using mason jars for homemade dressing and these lids make it super easy to shake and pour!
• 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” to be good enough!

FAQs

More Homemade Dressing Recipes

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

Zesty Italian Dressing

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My Zesty Italian Dressing recipe is fresh, herby, spicy and full of zing! It’s super budget-friendly, easy to make, and so much healthier than Kraft Italian dressing! Enjoy on salads – or as a marinade to add kick to your favorite chicken dishes!

• Author: Tiffany
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 16 ounces 1x
• Category: Sauces/Condiments
• Method: Mix
• Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Scale

• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1/2 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 Tbsp spicy brown mustard
• 1 cup olive oil
• Scant 1 cup red wine vinegar

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Instructions

1. Combine everything above in a 16 oz jar, or larger.
2. Add all of the ingredients except the red wine vinegar.
3. Add the red wine vinegar, filling the jar until there’s about a finger-width gap from the top.
4. Cover the jar and shake well.

Notes

To save time, I usually triple or quadruple 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” to be good enough!

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1
• Calories: 60