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Creamy And Tangy Olive Garden Salad Dressing

By Author Aiden Riley

Posted on Last updated:

Categories APPETIZERS

Creamy And Tangy Olive Garden Salad Dressing

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Another recipe article—another culinary delight that reminds me of my favorite country, Italy. I truly love writing about Italian dishes because they have it all—tradition, history, flavor, texture, and nutrition.

This time, I’m excited to share a recipe for something Italians do best: dressings.

In this case, it’s the dressing for the popular Olive Garden Salad. While this salad didn’t originate in Italy, everything about it, especially the dressing, couldn’t be more Italian.

Let’s dive in!

Olive Garden salad dressing poured over salad in a white bowl

Olive Garden Salad Dressing

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Experience the flavors of Italy with this refreshing Olive Garden salad and its tangy and creamy dressing.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 (5 ounce) packages American salad mix
  • 3/4 cup pitted black olives
  • 3/4 cup pickled pepperoncini
  • 2 plum tomatoes, sliced
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1 (4 1/2 ounce) package large seasoned croutons
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 149Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 471mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 2g
© Aiden Riley
Cuisine: American / Category: APPETIZERS

Instructions

1. Gather Dressing Ingredients: Place mayonnaise, olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, sugar,  pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic, and Parmesan into a food processor.

Ingredients for salad dressing ready for mixing in a food processor

2. Blend the Dressing: Blend the dressing ingredients until they are smooth and well-mixed.

Blending ingredients for salad dressing in the food processor

3. Prepare the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the salad greens, olives, pepperoncini, onion, tomatoes, and croutons.

Freshly combined ingredients for the salad in a white bowl

4. Add Dressing to Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture in the bowl.

Olive Garden salad dressing poured over salad in a white bowl

5. Mix the Salad: Gently toss everything together until the dressing evenly coats all ingredients.

Freshly-combined Olive Garden Salad in a white bowl

6. Let the Flavors Combine: Allow the salad to rest for 5 minutes to let the flavors come together.

7. Serve and Enjoy: Serve the salad and savor the fresh, delicious flavors!

Freshly made Olive Garden salad and dressing served on a plate

As you can see, both this dressing and salad are incredibly easy to make and, at the same time, deliver amazing results.

Unlike most American food, this dish will make you feel as if you’re dining at the finest restaurant in Italy.

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