This homemade copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing tastes just like the restaurant version. Learn how to make this salad at home for your family and friends!
Love Olive Garden Copycat Recipes? Try my Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce Recipe next!
I definitely like Olive Garden’s salad more than anyone else on the planet. I really do. Although you can buy their salad dressing online or in stores, it’s easy/inexpensive to make your own!
Be sure to pair your dressing with the classic salad ingredients that Olive Garden uses! ⬇️
Olive Garden Salad Ingredients
- Fresh Iceberg Lettuce
- Vine Ripened Tomatoes
- Large Black olives
- Red onions
- Pepperoncini’s– Jarred and are found in the same section as the pickles/olives
- Croutons-You can actually purchase Olive Garden’s Croutons, OR make my homemade crouton recipe!)
- Parmesan cheese
Pro Tips
- Be sure to use a high quality olive oil that is made for salads and marinades. It should indicate this right on the front label. I use Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil. (I prefer smooth over robust.)
- Using a mini food processor makes it much easier to emulsify this dressing, which thickens in a bit and ensures it doesn’t separate.
- If your dressing separates, simply shake it prior to serving.
- If your olive oil solidifies during storage: Let it sit at room temperature until it liquifies, then shake to combine and serve. It may also become cloudy but is still safe. This may or may not happen, it depends on the type of olive oil used.
Storing Leftover Salad
- Refrigerate prepared salad as soon as possible in an airtight container, free from as much moisture as possible.
- Refrigerated salad lasts anywhere from 1-3 days, it’s only as good until the least-fresh ingredient in the salad begins to go bad.
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- Mini Food Processor– My favorite tool to easily combine/emulsify salad dressing.
- Salad Dressing Shaker
- Salad Dressing Serving Container (Cruet)
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil– Developed for dressings and marinades.
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Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, high-quality olive oil yields much better results in this recipe
- .7 oz Zesty Italian Dressing Mix
- 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 Tablespoon Romano, grated. (Optional.)
- 3 teaspoons sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons mayo, not miracle whip
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon EACH: Italian seasoning, salt
- ¼ teaspoon EACH: pepper, garlic powder
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a mini food processor or a jar with a lid and blend/shake thoroughly until combined. Chill until ready to use.
- Be sure to shake before each use.
Notes
- Be sure to use a high quality olive oil that is made for salads and marinades. It should indicate this right on the front label. I use Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil. (I prefer smooth over robust.)
- Using a mini food processor makes it much easier to emulsify this dressing, which thickens in a bit and ensures it doesn't separate.
- If your dressing separates, simply shake it prior to serving.
- If your olive oil solidifies during storage: Let it sit at room temperature until it liquifies, then shake to combine and serve. It may also become cloudy but is still safe. This may or may not happen, it depends on the type of olive oil used.
Nutritional information is an estimate and is per tablespoon there are approximately 22 tablespoons in this recipe.
Hi! I lived in CO and OG was my favorite restaurant. I moved to Mexico and they just opened up one down here. They sell their dressing but it is very pricey so I CANT WAIT to try it!!! Im sooo excited! 🙂 THANKS!
OH my gosh, Yohanna…first of all, I am so happy for you that OG has made it’s way to you in Mexico. That’s like, amazing! And oh my gosh, the dressing IS pricey. I was in the grocery store the other day, and I was hungry, (bad combination)… and the salad dressing was sitting on the shelf, totally calling my name, and I bought it. WHYYY did I buy it when I can make it!?! Moral of the story, I really can’t go to the grocery store hungry anymore. (Enjoy this recipe!)
Would this taste the same using a neutral oil like canola instead of the olive oil? Anybody try it this way?
Delicious. Tastes like the original. My family loves this. Thanks for posting 😀😀
That’s great to hear Mary! I love his one too, it’s amazing how close it is to Olive Gardens salad dressing, I think I would fail a blind taste test! Thanks for visiting and taking the time to let me know!! Enjoy your Sunday!
OMG!!! This recipe was Soooo easy and perfect! Can’t wait to make a salad just to have it lol
Hi Tracy!!! … isn’t it amazing?! I was stunned to find how it takes nothing to make it! HA, it takes longer to make the actual salad!! 😉 I’m so glad you like it, thank you for taking the time to comment!
OMG! very cool, looks delicious and definitely it, I have to try… LOVE it
Great, can’t wait for you to give it a try- I love it! 🙂
Sure thanks Stephanie :3
Just wondering how long it’ll last after you make it?
Hi Jane, My recipe source indicates 4 weeks. I’ve kept this in the fridge for a couple of months before and it’s been fiiiiine! 😉 Just make sure the mayo will still be good for a while (check the date on the jar) and you’ll be in good shape!
AWESOME recipe. Any idea how long it lasts refrigerated? I found most people on Google saying two weeks. What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance!
Hi Maegan! I’ve kept this in the fridge for a couple of months before and it’s been fiiiiine! 😉 Just make sure the mayo will still be good for a while (check the date on the jar) and you’ll be good! 🙂 Glad that you love this recipe, I do too!!
I found a recipe for og dressing, it is almost the same but you make the Italian packet according to directions then add the other stuff but you must add Parmesan cheese to the dressing as well I do about two tablespoons….fabulous, I make this all the time!! The one thing I can’t find is the breadstick recipe…I have tried everyone on the Internet and no recipe even comes close!!! Ugh!!!
Hi Jackie! I’m with you, I’ve actually tried it with Parmesan cheese too and it’s to DIE for, I can’t believe how close this recipe is to the real thing, I’m not sure if I’d be able to tell the difference! The breadsticks, on the other hand… definitely trickier! I do have a copycat recipe for those too if you want to check it out! Not exactly the same thing but I actually kind of liked them better?! Here’s the link!
https://thecozycook.com/copycat-olive-garden-breadsticks/
Have a great day!
Hi Stephanie!
I’m from Indonesia … I’ve never seen this excellent recipe has inspired .. thanks .. i will share with all my friends .. thanks
Hi! We live in Europe now, and I have been SERIOUSLY missing OG salad. The Italian food here is outstanding, but nothing beats a good OG salad. THANK YOU for this recipe! I’ll be whipping up a batch tonight!
Hey Julie!! Sooo awesome that you relocated to Europe!!! But, like you, I’d be SERIOUSLY missing OG! (I actually just went there on Sunday, haha!)- I am excited for you to make this dressing, I think you’ll love it. Feel free to add a little freshly grated Parmesan to the mix, YUM!! 🙂