This copycat olive garden salad dressing is the closest to the original that I've ever had! It's gluten-free, plus 21 Day Fix and Weight Watchers friendly!
Hey guys! I hope all of you who celebrate it had a great Easter! Even though as I'm writing this it's still mostly been in the 40's here, Easter has me feeling all the spring vibes - hence, the salad cravings have been hitting me hardcore as of late.
That, along with still only doing outdoor dining has me really missing some Olive Garden Salad! And, man I can't wait for you guys to try this one - it's sooooo close to the original that my husband couldn't tell the difference, and just a damn good Italian dressing!
Oh, and I also have a fun Olive Garden breadstick hack for you, because what is an Olive Garden salad if you can't pile some on top of a warm, garlicky breadstick??
Ok, let's do some Q&A and then I'll show you how to make it!
What is in an olive garden salad?
- Iceberg lettuce
- croutons*
- black olives
- parmesan or romano cheese - I prefer romano and heard a rumor recently that that was what was actually used at the restaurant anyway! (I used this Microplane {affiliate link} to grate the cheese right over our salad, but you could also use the small side of a box grater!)
- red onions
- Roma tomatoes
- pepperoncini peppers
- this famous dressing
*To make the croutons, preheat oven to 350°. Cut a slice of bread (whole wheat if you're doing 21 Day Fix) into cubes, lay on baking sheet covered in foil or parchment in a single layer. Spray with olive oil cooking spray, season with salt, garlic powder, dried parsley and grated pecorino-romano cheese. Turn the pieces over and season the other side the same way. Bake 5 minutes, flip, then bake another 3-4 minutes until the second side is golden brown and croutons are crunchy. Let cool completely before serving.
Is Olive Garden Salad Dressing vegan?
No, there's egg and cheese in the dressing. It would be considered vegetarian though!
Is this copycat olive garden salad dressing gluten-free?
Yes! You can also make the full salad gluten-free by using gluten-free bread or leaving the croutons off entirely.
Is this Olive Garden Dressing healthy?
Yes! It's 21 Day Fix approved, Weight Watchers friendly and gluten-free!
How long does this healthy Olive Garden Salad Dressing last in the refrigerator?
I would say a good week! If you don't use the xanthan gum, it'll separate in the fridge and look a little funky, but give it a good shake and you're good to go!
Does this 21 Day Fix Olive Garden Salad dressing have egg in it?
The original Olive Garden Salad Dressing recipe includes egg in the ingredients. Since I didn't think you guys would be into using raw egg for this (and I can never seem to get my hands on pasteurized eggs), I decided to use a little bit of mayo in place of it, since mayo is basically what happens when you combine eggs and oil and they're both in this dressing. It actually worked really well!
What is xanthan gum?
Let me start by saying that this is an optional ingredient for this recipe and I give instructions on what to do if you don't have it, so no need to worry if you don't want to pick it up!
Xanthan gum is a natural thickener that most grocery stores carry (mine carries it in the organic section - from Bob's Red Mill). It's often used in gluten-free bread products, but it works really well for dressings, too! I love that it not only thickens this dressing (allowing you to use a little extra water in this recipe, making it closer to the original), but it also keeps it from separating in the fridge!
A little goes a long way and I was just eyeballing it before (eyeballing a little less than half of my ⅛ tsp), which worked perfectly fine, but I saw this neat measuring spoon set and had to pick it up! It includes odd measurements like a spoon measuring 2 teaspoons, a ¾ teaspoon and a 1/16th teaspoon!
Olive Garden Breadstick Hack:
Ok, guys, this is going to sound silly, but bear with me. My breadstick hack is just warming a whole wheat hot dog bun in the microwave for 5-7 seconds, brushing on a teaspoon of melted butter (on both sides, a little messy but worth it!), then sprinkling it all over with a little salt and garlic powder. This rang all of the flavor bells for me, I hope you love it, too!
What to serve with an Olive Garden Salad:
Any of these faves would be amazing!
- Pasta Fagioli
- Zuppa Toscana from Confessions of a Fit Foodie
- Chicken Parmesan {Air Fryer | Oven}
- Healthy Alfredo Sauce from Confessions of a Fit Foodie
How to make Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing:
To a small food processor (you can also just whisk together if you aren't using xanthan gum), add the water, vinegar, mayo and olive oil...
then the sugar, mayo, salt, spices, and xanthan gum if using and process until well blended!
Refrigerate for several hours or overnight to thicken and enjoy!
If you guys give this copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing recipe a try, please let me know what you think!! You can leave a comment below or tag me on Insta @thefoodieandthefix. Or if you’re in my private Facebook group, I’d love to see a photo of your creation in there! I hope you enjoy ♥
Don’t forget to save this copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing recipe to Pinterest! ⇓
📖 Recipe
Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing Recipe
This easy homemade Olive Garden Salad Dressing is a great start to a make-your-own-takeout night!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbs water (use 2 ½ Tbs if using xanthan gum)
- 3 Tbs + ¼ teaspoon white distilled vinegar
- ½ Tbs mayonnaise
- 1 Tbs grated pecorino-romano (or romano) cheese
- 2 teaspoon sugar (2 ⅛ teaspoon if using xanthan gum)
- ¾ + ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried minced garlic (or garlic powder)
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (not Italian dressing mix)
- optional: scant 1/16 teaspoon xanthan gum (see notes)
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a small food processor, process until smooth. (You can also just whisk it together if you're not using the xanthan gum, but that blends best in the food processor.)
- It’ll be pretty watery at this point. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight to thicken (it’s best to do this whether or not you’re using xanthan gum, it’ll be pretty thin otherwise).
Notes
* Xanthan gum is a natural thickener that's great for dressings because it not only thickens the dressing, but it also keeps it from separating in the fridge! My regular grocery store (Stop and Shop) carries it in their organic section (Bob's Red Mill makes it), but you can also get it on Amazon, which I've linked to below.
Using it gets you a little closer to the original Olive Garden Salad Dressing because you're able to use more water as they do, but this recipe is still delish without it if you'd prefer not to pick it up!
21 Day Fix Container Counts per Serving: 1 Orange
Weight Watchers Smart Points Link: Olive Garden Salad Dressing
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As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 Serving Size: 2 TbsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 116Total Fat: 13g
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