I still remember my first visit to Olive Garden. I was in college, perpetually hungry, and the unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks deal was miraculous for my student budget. While the warm breadsticks were undoubtedly a highlight, the salad truly won me over. That perfect blend of crisp lettuce, zesty dressing, and those little pepperoncini peppers created a combination I couldn’t stop thinking about.
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After countless visits (and countless dollars spent), I became determined to recreate that iconic dressing at home. After much experimentation and fine-tuning, I’m thrilled to share this copycat recipe that captures the magic of Olive Garden’s famous dressing – with the added benefit of being customizable to your preferences.
Why This Homemade Version Outshines the Store-Bought Option
Yes, you can find bottles of Olive Garden dressing in many grocery stores. But here’s why making it yourself is so much better:
- Fresher flavor – No preservatives mean a brighter, more vibrant taste
- Customizable – Adjust the sweetness, tanginess, or herb levels to your preference
- Cost-effective – Pennies per serving compared to buying the bottled version
- Fewer additives – Control precisely what goes into your dressing
- Always available – Never run out as long as you have basic pantry ingredients
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise – Creates a creamy base and helps emulsify the dressing; Hellman’s or Duke’s brands are recommended for best flavor
- White vinegar – Provides the signature tangy flavor and helps preserve the dressing
- Vegetable oil – Creates the proper consistency and mouthfeel; contrary to what you might expect, Olive Garden doesn’t use olive oil in their dressing
- Light corn syrup – Adds the perfect amount of sweetness and creates the signature texture
- Grated Parmesan cheese – Contributes savory depth and authentic Italian flavor
- Grated Romano cheese – Adds a sharper, more complex cheese flavor that balances the dressing
- Garlic powder (or fresh garlic clove) – Provides essential aromatic flavor that makes the dressing distinctively Italian
- Dried Italian seasoning – Contains the perfect blend of herbs to create that signature Olive Garden taste
- Dried parsley flakes – Add color and a fresh herbal note
- Lemon juice – Brightens all the flavors and adds a subtle citrus note
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Combine all ingredients: Blend or process the mayonnaise, white vinegar, vegetable oil, corn syrup, Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, parsley flakes, and lemon juice in a food processor.
- Blend thoroughly: Process until all ingredients are completely combined and the dressing is smooth, about 30-60 seconds.
- Taste and adjust: Sample your dressing and adjust to your preference. Add a little more corn syrup or sugar if it’s too tart. If it needs more zip, add more vinegar or lemon juice.
- Transfer to container: Pour the finished dressing into an airtight container or glass bottle.
- Refrigerate: For best flavor, refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt, or 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a blender until well mixed.
- If this is a little too tart for your own personal taste, add a little extra sugar.
- Store dressing in an airtight container.
Video
Notes
No Blender? No Problem!
If you don’t have a blender, you have two easy alternatives:- Whisk method: Place all ingredients in a bowl and whisk vigorously until completely combined and smooth.
- Shake method: Put all ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously until well mixed. This method works great and makes for easy storage afterward!
Nutrition
How long does homemade Olive Garden dressing last?
If stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, Olive Garden salad dressing can be enjoyed for about ten days.
What do you need to make an Olive Garden Salad?
To create an authentic Olive Garden salad experience at home, gather these ingredients:
- Iceberg lettuce – Provides the signature crunch
- Romaine lettuce – Adds nutrition and a different texture
- Thinly sliced red onion – Offers a sharp flavor contrast
- Pepperoncini peppers – Gives that distinctive tangy heat
- Black olives – Adds briny, savory notes
- Roma tomatoes – Provides fresh sweetness and color
- Croutons – Delivers the essential crunch
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese – For sprinkling on top
Toss all ingredients except the Parmesan in a large bowl, add your homemade dressing, and gently mix. Sprinkle with Parmesan just before serving.
Pro tip: If the dressing separates during storage, shake or whisk it before using.
Beyond Salad: Creative Uses for This Dressing
This versatile dressing has many uses beyond your salad bowl:
- Drizzle for roasted vegetables – Add just before serving for a flavor boost
- Marinade for chicken or fish – The acidity tenderizes protein beautifully
- Pasta salad dressing – This creates a fantastic cold pasta dish
- Sandwich spread – Use instead of plain mayonnaise for extra flavor
- Dip for vegetables – Makes raw veggies irresistible
Looking for more Olive Garden copycat recipes? Check these out
- Olive Garden Lasagna Mia
- Olive Garden Creamy Chicken Pasta
- Pasta Rustica
- Olive Garden Breadsticks Copycat Recipe
Popular Homemade Salad Dressings
- KFC Coleslaw Dressing
- Santa Fe Salad Cheesecake Factory
- Blue Cheese Salad Dressing Recipe
- Bacon Salad Dressing
- Ginger Salad Dressing
- Buttermilk Salad Dressing
- Green Jacket Dressing
Be sure to check out more of the best Olive Garden copycat recipes and easy salad dressing recipes.
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My kids need to eat more greens! And they love Olive Gardens dressing. I can’t wait to give this a try. I knew your website would be the place to check.
I agree it doesn’t taste like Olive Garden’s but it is absolutely the best salad dressing ever! My eight year old son won’t eat salad unless I’ve made this dressing and to tell you the truth, I’m kind of the same way. I have even made changes with cheeses, sugar instead of corn syrup, etc and it’s always good!
This was nothing like Olive Garden’s dressing. Sorry!
This was nothing like Olive Garden’s dressing. Sorry!
I tried this and was very dissappointed. I do nto think it tasted like Olive Garden dressing. Got too much of the vinegar flavor in it.
Wow, so many negative comments here … I have to say my daughter and I made this dressing, no it wasn’t like Olive Garden, and I added extra sugar so it wasn’t so tart, however, with that said, I tried it for a dinner party (they were my test subjects) and they absolutely loved it … the entire bowl of salad was gone very fast … so I am serving it for Thanksgiving and I know they will love it! so bah humbug to those who aren’t very nice in their postings … if you don’t like it, don’t make it or eat it!
I have made this dressing twice in the past two weeks and am on the third round. My step-daughter loves this dressing. I agress that it does not taste exactly like Olive Gardens, but it’s pretty good and it gets our family to eat salad as often as I make the dressing. I also added extra sugar as well.
instead of using white vinegar use red wine vinegar and instead of vegetable oil use olive oil its better for you…also use less mayo and add about 2 tablespoons of sugar…to die for!!
now i don’t even want to make it lol…ill just go to Olive Garden, or ill substitute Olga’s Kitchen’s house salad dressing cuz that you can aswell purchase in the bottle and tastes extremely similiar to Olive Gardens Olgas uses feta chz on their regular salads tho…i worked there for over ten yrs and yes the dressings came pre packeged saying Simply…”Olgas Salad Dressing” n im sure Olive gardens does aswell…esp if you an purchase it. this one has me thinking now that they are actually the same dressing lol…think what you want i don’t mind. Buut to put to rest ANYONE who thinks restuarants just re heat things…you can’t do that all the time without a food violation duh…olive garden couldn’t possibly JUST RE HEAT things…maybe some, but if you’ve worked in any type of kitchen you DO kno, what n how tings really happen. OH n i believe Olive Garden makes they’re soups fresh, mayyyybe not everyday, but as needed, Olgas does the same…with some, some do come pre pgkd aswell. so quit thinking n bickering bout silly stuff and lets just appreciate the website…the ppl whom share their own recipes, n so on! If you buy the bottle of Olive Garden Dressing there’s no need for all this then lol…easy! but to try to duplicate is fun for us whom enjoy cooking…and i swear Olga’s Kitchen’s ‘Regular” salad dressing is the same stuff i swear, if your in Mich or Ohio, find an Olgas and order the small salad WITHOUT the feta n i bet money its closer than anyone has gotten. (yes i kno Olgas is suppose to be a Greek(ish) restuarant…but ya never kno these days…OLGA is alive still n IS VERY SWEET lol…thats true too! ) Now going to search for the Olgas recipe to solve this mystery…thank you everyone for the recipes ill have fun trying diff ones. =)
now i don’t even want to make it lol…ill just go to Olive Garden, or ill substitute Olga’s Kitchen’s house salad dressing cuz that you can aswell purchase in the bottle and tastes extremely similiar to Olive Gardens Olgas uses feta chz on their regular salads tho…i worked there for over ten yrs and yes the dressings came pre packeged saying Simply…”Olgas Salad Dressing” n im sure Olive gardens does aswell…esp if you an purchase it. this one has me thinking now that they are actually the same dressing lol…think what you want i don’t mind. Buut to put to rest ANYONE who thinks restuarants just re heat things…you can’t do that all the time without a food violation duh…olive garden couldn’t possibly JUST RE HEAT things…maybe some, but if you’ve worked in any type of kitchen you DO kno, what n how tings really happen. OH n i believe Olive Garden makes they’re soups fresh, mayyyybe not everyday, but as needed, Olgas does the same…with some, some do come pre pgkd aswell. so quit thinking n bickering bout silly stuff and lets just appreciate the website…the ppl whom share their own recipes, n so on! If you buy the bottle of Olive Garden Dressing there’s no need for all this then lol…easy! but to try to duplicate is fun for us whom enjoy cooking…and i swear Olga’s Kitchen’s ‘Regular” salad dressing is the same stuff i swear, if your in Mich or Ohio, find an Olgas and order the small salad WITHOUT the feta n i bet money its closer than anyone has gotten. (yes i kno Olgas is suppose to be a Greek(ish) restuarant…but ya never kno these days…OLGA is alive still n IS VERY SWEET lol…thats true too! ) Now going to search for the Olgas recipe to solve this mystery…thank you everyone for the recipes ill have fun trying diff ones. =)
now i don’t even want to make it lol…ill just go to Olive Garden, or ill substitute Olga’s Kitchen’s house salad dressing cuz that you can aswell purchase in the bottle and tastes extremely similiar to Olive Gardens Olgas uses feta chz on their regular salads tho…i worked there for over ten yrs and yes the dressings came pre packeged saying Simply…”Olgas Salad Dressing” n im sure Olive gardens does aswell…esp if you an purchase it. this one has me thinking now that they are actually the same dressing lol…think what you want i don’t mind. Buut to put to rest ANYONE who thinks restuarants just re heat things…you can’t do that all the time without a food violation duh…olive garden couldn’t possibly JUST RE HEAT things…maybe some, but if you’ve worked in any type of kitchen you DO kno, what n how tings really happen. OH n i believe Olive Garden makes they’re soups fresh, mayyyybe not everyday, but as needed, Olgas does the same…with some, some do come pre pgkd aswell. so quit thinking n bickering bout silly stuff and lets just appreciate the website…the ppl whom share their own recipes, n so on! If you buy the bottle of Olive Garden Dressing there’s no need for all this then lol…easy! but to try to duplicate is fun for us whom enjoy cooking…and i swear Olga’s Kitchen’s ‘Regular” salad dressing is the same stuff i swear, if your in Mich or Ohio, find an Olgas and order the small salad WITHOUT the feta n i bet money its closer than anyone has gotten. (yes i kno Olgas is suppose to be a Greek(ish) restuarant…but ya never kno these days…OLGA is alive still n IS VERY SWEET lol…thats true too! ) Now going to search for the Olgas recipe to solve this mystery…thank you everyone for the recipes ill have fun trying diff ones. =)
now i don’t even want to make it lol…ill just go to Olive Garden, or ill substitute Olga’s Kitchen’s house salad dressing cuz that you can aswell purchase in the bottle and tastes extremely similiar to Olive Gardens Olgas uses feta chz on their regular salads tho…i worked there for over ten yrs and yes the dressings came pre packeged saying Simply…”Olgas Salad Dressing” n im sure Olive gardens does aswell…esp if you an purchase it. this one has me thinking now that they are actually the same dressing lol…think what you want i don’t mind. Buut to put to rest ANYONE who thinks restuarants just re heat things…you can’t do that all the time without a food violation duh…olive garden couldn’t possibly JUST RE HEAT things…maybe some, but if you’ve worked in any type of kitchen you DO kno, what n how tings really happen. OH n i believe Olive Garden makes they’re soups fresh, mayyyybe not everyday, but as needed, Olgas does the same…with some, some do come pre pgkd aswell. so quit thinking n bickering bout silly stuff and lets just appreciate the website…the ppl whom share their own recipes, n so on! If you buy the bottle of Olive Garden Dressing there’s no need for all this then lol…easy! but to try to duplicate is fun for us whom enjoy cooking…and i swear Olga’s Kitchen’s ‘Regular” salad dressing is the same stuff i swear, if your in Mich or Ohio, find an Olgas and order the small salad WITHOUT the feta n i bet money its closer than anyone has gotten. (yes i kno Olgas is suppose to be a Greek(ish) restuarant…but ya never kno these days…OLGA is alive still n IS VERY SWEET lol…thats true too! ) Now going to search for the Olgas recipe to solve this mystery…thank you everyone for the recipes ill have fun trying diff ones. =)
Ok, I have read enough about the OG dressing. Let’s get a few things clear. I worked there for 16 years and NOT ONCE have they EVER used Wishbone dressing. We used to make it by scratch and then corporate had it made in massive amts that came in bottles. We also made the soups, sauces and yes the lasagna fresh every day, even the eggplant was cut and breaded fresh every day – no matter what. Also people are not aware of that the receipe DO come straight from Italy – corporate in Florida has bought the rights to these receipes that ONE LADY makes for the Olive Garden, she is a sweet lady.
I am OBSESSED with this dressing!! I made a salad for a dinner my husband and I were invited to and it was the best part of the meal. I put less mayo in and used a little more parmesan, and replaced the other cheese with extra sharp white cheddar. It was amazing.
I am OBSESSED with this dressing!! I made a salad for a dinner my husband and I were invited to and it was the best part of the meal. I put less mayo in and used a little more parmesan, and replaced the other cheese with extra sharp white cheddar. It was amazing.
If you have ever looked at the sodium content of the Olive Garden Dressing – 1 serving – 1930 mg of sodium (taken from the nutrition facts from their website) you will understand why this copy cat recipe is not exactly the same…WOW!
Look at the rest of their menu – I get hypertension just looking at theri menu!!
Everything on the Olive Garden menu is punishingly salty. I refuse to eat there now. The time I complained about an inedible dish due to salt the manager just looked puzzled and offered to give me another salty dish instead. I can’t believe nobody else notices this.
I have to point out that it IS Italian food. Italian is not a very healthy food selection especially if you are a diabetic. People eat it because it is delicious. Not because it is healthy.
this isn’t even close to the recipe. i’m sure it would taste fine but the olive garden’s italian dressing is NOT a creamy one at all. I hate creamy dressings.
TOO many ingredients and not not correct! There is pectin in it, no mayo. Buy the book Top Secret Restaurant Recipes from Amazon. Flawless!!!!
Dear Joyyvette66: Which “Top Secret Restaurant Recipes” book exactly? Great tip you have. I just need more info to be sure that I buy the right book! Thanks a bunch.
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How do I view the recipe.
It’s right here on the page.
If any of the readers have tried, and enjoyed, Freschetta’s Hawaiian Pizza, here is the recipe for the BBQ sauce. I use sandwich rounds for my pizza – the white flour – toast them first so they are crispy. Then, smooth the sauce on, add mozzarella, in fact add more than is on the Freschetta, add ham bits and pineapple tidbits – drained a bit. Now, the sauce recipe. 6 oz. tomato paste. 2 TA brown sugar, 1/4 cup Tamarina. Add just water enough to make it easy to spread. Bake at 350F for about 20-25 minutes, or when the cheese is melted. Tamarina is a brand name for a tamarind sauce. i buy mine from an Indian foods store. It is also available for purchase on the Internet. May also be available in Asian food stores or even Philippine food stores. It is tamarind, which is a sour fruit that is used in cooking and baking. Add sugar and it is a sweet/sour, tangy taste. The Tamarina is ready to use since it is a dipping sauce for samosas and other Indian foods.