Healthier Copycat Olive Garden Salad

I don’t know about you, but on the rare occasion I dine at Olive Garden, I can’t get enough of their endless salad bowl. It’s a good thing that it’s endless because I can easily eat at least 2 bowls by myself. I had to find a way to recreate a healthier copycat Olive Garden salad at home.

Sure, I could’ve grabbed a bottle of Olive Garden’s Light Italian Dressing, but I prefer to whip up my own with simple, real food ingredients to bring this healthy-ish Olive Garden salad dressing to life. 

Of course, “healthy” means something different to everyone, but this homemade version is lighter and more wholesome than the store-bought stuff. Toss it with my favorite copycat version of the Olive Garden house salad and you’ll be well on your way to the full restaurant experience at home (minus the wait time). 

Recipe Features

• Quick and easy to make- chop the ingredients, blend the dressing, and serve.
• Creamy, zesty, and packed with that signature Olive Garden flavor.
• Made with real, wholesome ingredients you can feel good about.

Olive Garden Salad ingredients

 To make this salad, I use a blend of iceberg, romaine, and baby spinach. I love adding baby spinach to the mix for extra iron, fiber, and a fresh pop of color. Other signature ingredients in the OG version are tomatoes (I love both Roma and Campari tomatoes here), black olives, pepperoncini peppers, red onion (be sure to slice it very finely), shaved parmesan cheese  (none of that shaker stuff here, please), and freshly cracked pepper. Croutons are amazing, but optional. I love using sourdough croutons here. I also sometimes add sliced fresh mushrooms to the mix.

Dressing ingredients

• Mayonnaise. Avocado oil mayo or an olive oil blend works beautifully –they’re creamy without being heavy or overly tangy. Use a high-quality brand or homemade for the best taste and texture.
• Olive oil. I prefer bold peppery extra virgin olive oil, but if you prefer a milder dressing, you can use an extra light-tasting olive oil instead. 
• Vinegar. Adds the tangy-zip! White distilled vinegar works just fine, but white wine vinegar will give you a bit more complexity. 
• Parmesan & Romano. This salty, nutty cheese blend is what really gives the dressing its restaurant-worthy edge. I just use a pre-grated mix for this, but shredding fresh blocks of Parmesan and Romano (or one or the other) works, too!
• Lemon juice. The touch of citrusy zing lifts the whole dressing. Bottled will work in a pinch, but fresh lemon juice really does make a difference here.
• Sugar. A little sweetness balances out the acidity. You could swap in a little honey or a sugar-free sweetener if preferred, just taste and adjust as needed.
• Dried herbs. I used classic Italian seasoning and dried parsley for the dressing’s signature herbaceous flavor, but you can mix and match whatever dried herbs you have (dried oregano, basil, thyme, parsley, etc.). 
• Garlic salt. This adds both savory garlic flavor and just the right amount of salt. Feel free to substitute a dash of garlic powder and a generous pinch of salt if needed. 
• Pepper. I highly recommend grinding your pepper fresh for the finishing touch of warmth and spice. A few twists will do the trick. 

How to make Olive Garden salad dressing

Step 1: Blend. Add all of the salad dressing ingredients to a blender, and blend on high for 15-20 seconds or until everything is fully emulsified.

Step 2: Taste. Taste and adjust as needed before using the dressing right away or storing it in the fridge for later. 

Make it a meal

If you want to turn this into an all-out Olive Garden “lunch special” experience, pair your salad with warm breadsticks and a comforting bowl of zuppa toscana, minestrone, chicken & gnocchi, pasta e fagioli, or one of these delicious Italian-inspired soup recipes:

• Gluten-Free Lasagna Soup
• Instant Pot Creamy Tortellini Soup
• Italian Artichoke Soup with Chicken
• Italian Sausage Soup with Ravioli
• Slow Cooker Chicken & Bean Soup

Or opt for a full-on family-style feast and serve the salad as a starter for your favorite Italian entrées, such as:

• Baked Chicken Parmesan
• Baked Mostaccioli
• Beef Bolognese
• Gluten-Free Chicken Piccata
• Spaghetti Arrabiata
• Slow Cooker Italian Chicken
• Pesto Lasagna
• Pasta with Savory Spaghetti Sauce, Fresh Tomato Basil Sauce, or Marinara Sauce 

Recipe tips and FAQs

• Don’t rush the dressing blending step. A high-speed blender helps everything come together efficiently. If you’re not using a blender, slowly drizzle the oil into the other ingredients while whisking vigorously to create that silky, emulsified texture.
• Tweak ingredients to taste. After blending, give it a quick taste. You may need to add a bit more salt, vinegar, or sweetness to balance things out –everyone’s palate is different! 
• Chill before serving. If you have time to let the dressing sit in the fridge for 30 minutes, it will taste even better, as the flavors have more time to mingle.

Dressing Variations

I wouldn’t deviate too far from this light Italian dressing recipe as written, but there are a few subtle ways to jazz it up while keeping the flavor satisfyingly familiar:

• Use fresh garlic and herbs – Swap the garlic salt for minced fresh garlic and the dried Italian herbs for fresh ones. Just keep in mind that fresh ingredients can slightly shorten the dressing’s shelf life.
• Add finely minced shallots – A bit of raw shallot adds a mild oniony sweetness that instantly makes the dressing feel a little more gourmet.
• Whisk in Dijon mustard – About ½ teaspoon helps emulsify the dressing and adds a zippy, slightly tangy layer that pairs well with the sharpness of the cheese.

Storing

This salad is best consumed within a couple of hours of preparing. Wait until you’re ready to serve before adding the tomatoes and croutons, if using. This homemade Olive Garden salad dressing keeps well in a glass jar or bottle in the fridge for up to 1 week. It may separate a little as it sits, and that’s totally normal. Just let it come to room temperature and give it a good shake to bring it back to life.

More favorite salad recipes

Farro Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Cuban Avocado Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Fig Prosciutto Salad

Roasted Beet Salad with Feta

If you love this copycat salad and light Olive Garden dressing recipe, I would be so grateful if you could leave a 5-star 🌟 rating in the recipe card below. I love reading your comments and feedback!

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