Many of you love my Italian dressing, an easy to make vinaigrette, but some of you are asking if I have a recipe for a creamy Italian dressing, so here it is! Many creamy dressings use mayonnaise to achieve their creamy status. While I’m not against mayonnaise in any way, I like to keep things a bit more healthy by using Greek yogurt in place of the mayo. The dressing is nice and creamy without as many calories (and it’s egg-free!) This Italian dressing has loads of flavor and it really is perfect for a simple green salad, especially with tomatoes and pickled red onions. I love topping it with shaved Parmesan and homemade croutons. It’s a delicious dressing for pasta salads, too.

About this dressing

This homemade dressing recipe is so easy to make. There’s no chopping or mincing. Just grab dried herbs from your pantry. How easy is that! You can throw it together in about five minutes. And I’m sure you’ll agree that homemade is way fresher tasting than store bought dressing.

What you need

Olive Oil – You could also use grapeseed or canola oil but I like a good quality extra virgin olive oil. Plain Greek Yogurt – Any type is fine: nonfat, lowfat, or regular, as long as it is plain/unflavored. This replaces the mayonnaise found in most creamy Italian dressing. White Wine Vinegar – White balsamic would work too but don’t use plain white vinegar because it’s too acidic. Honey or Sugar – Just a touch, to balance the tangy yogurt. Lots of Flavorful Seasonings – Garlic powder, dried basil, oregano, and parsley, and kosher salt. All stuff you probably have in your pantry! Like it zesty? Add a pinch (or more!) of red pepper flakes.

How to make it

Find a nice little jar (about 12 oz.) or small bowl. I like to use recycled jars that have a tight fitting lid. Mason jars are great, too. Measure out all the ingredients and add them to your container. Cover the jar and shake it until the ingredients are blended. If you’re using a bowl, a small whisk will do the trick. Now this next step isn’t crucial but we found that the dressing tastes a little bit better if you refrigerate it for 30 minutes or so. The dried herbs sort of come into their own, hydrating until they are full flavored. That’s just enough time to make your salad, right? Make the dressing first, put it in the fridge, prepare the salad, and you’re good to go. Enjoy!

How to make this dressing your own

Looking for a vegan recipe? Simply use a vegan mayo product to replace the yogurt in this recipe. Experiment with the dried herbs. This is a classic Italian dressing but there are plenty of ways to change it. Make it more “zesty” by adding additional red pepper flakes. Use fresh herbs. Fresh herbs add tons of great flavor but keep in mind that your dressing will only keep a day or two. Add 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese to the dressing for even more flavor.

Make Ahead Ideas

Since this dressing will keep in the fridge for up to a week, you can make it whenever you have five minutes or so and it will be ready when you are.

Storage Suggestions

Simply store the dressing in the fridge in the same jar you mixed it up in. It will keep for up to a week (depending on when your yogurt expires). Shake it well before serving.

Leftover Love

Have a little dressing leftover? Try it on a sandwich. Pile your favorite cold cuts, cheese, and veggies on a sub bun or between slices of bread and top it with creamy Italian dressing.

More dressing recipes

If you’re not convinced yet that homemade dressing is way better than store bought, and so easy to make, too, or if Italian dressing isn’t your favorite, try one of these recipes:

Blue Cheese Dressing or Dip Creamy Maple Dressing with Black Pepper Sweet BBQ Salad Dressing with Lime Homemade Thousand Island Dressing Healthy Ranch Dressing Recipe White Wine Vinaigrette Recipe Red Wine Vinaigrette Recipe Sweet and Tangy Honey Mustard Vinaigrette Lemon Basil Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe Thai Peanut Dressing by Gimme Some Oven sounds really good, too. Creamy Italian Dressing Recipe  - 89Creamy Italian Dressing Recipe  - 13Creamy Italian Dressing Recipe  - 33Creamy Italian Dressing Recipe  - 57Creamy Italian Dressing Recipe  - 50Creamy Italian Dressing Recipe  - 56Creamy Italian Dressing Recipe  - 79Creamy Italian Dressing Recipe  - 62Creamy Italian Dressing Recipe  - 81Creamy Italian Dressing Recipe  - 22