Healthy Italian Balsamic Salad Dressing
Updated: Oct 6
We love a good salad and often load ours with flavorful proteins, seeds, and beans. After realizing how much sugar and additives were hiding in store-bought dressing packets, we switched to making our own—and never looked back.
This healthy Italian balsamic salad dressing has become our go-to recipe for fresh, bold flavor. It pairs perfectly with salads and also works as a simple, delicious marinade. Bring this with your meal-prepped lunch, and don’t be surprised when coworkers start asking for the recipe—the aroma and vibrant look say it all.
We keep a jar of this dressing at all times because it makes putting together a quick meal so much easier. It's especially useful when we're meal prepping or grilling because the same dressing can work on a salad, as a marinade, or drizzled over roasted vegetables.
Ingredient Notes
Balsamic Vinegar – This is the main flavor of the dressing, so we like using a balsamic vinegar with a good balance of tanginess and sweetness. A very sharp vinegar can make the finished dressing taste harsh.
Olive Oil – Olive oil gives the dressing a smoother, richer texture and balances the acidity of the balsamic vinegar. We prefer a good-quality olive oil for this recipe because its flavor comes through.
Italian Seasoning – Italian seasoning brings the herbs together without requiring several individual spices. We like the combination of basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme with the balsamic vinegar.
Garlic Powder – Garlic powder adds savory flavor throughout the dressing and is easy to distribute evenly when the ingredients are shaken together.
Spring Water – A small amount of water softens the intensity of the vinegar and gives the dressing a lighter consistency. If you prefer a stronger balsamic flavor, you can reduce the amount slightly.
Healthy Italian Balsamic Salad Dressing Ingredients
1 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/3 cup of spring water
Step 1: Start with the Acid
Add the balsamic vinegar to a large salad dressing shaker or jar.
Step 2: Build the Base
Add the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and water.
Step 3: Blend
Secure the lid and shake well to combine. This helps the seasonings dissolve and prevents clumping when the oil is added.
Step 4: Add the Oil
Pour in the olive oil and shake again until the dressing is fully combined and smooth.
Beyond Salads:
This dressing is useful for much more than salads. We also use it to:
Marinate meat: Use it with chicken, pork, or beef tenderloin before grilling or roasting.
Marinate vegetables: Toss zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, or other vegetables with the dressing before grilling or roasting.
Dress grain bowls: Drizzle it over rice, quinoa, roasted vegetables, and your favorite protein for an easy meal.
Dip with crusty bread: Serve it alongside focaccia, French bread, or sourdough for dipping.
Finish roasted vegetables: A drizzle over roasted vegetables adds a bright, tangy finish.
How We Store This Dressing
We keep this dressing at room temperature so it's ready to use whenever we need it. The olive oil can become cloudy and firm when refrigerated, which makes the dressing difficult to pour and use right away.
If you choose to refrigerate your dressing, let it sit at room temperature until the olive oil becomes liquid again, then shake well before serving.
One caution: Don't leave the dressing sitting out for extended periods, particularly in a hot kitchen. When in doubt about freshness, discard it.
Pro Tips
Shake before serving. The oil and vinegar naturally separate, so give the dressing a good shake every time you use it.
Taste before serving. Balsamic vinegars vary in sweetness and acidity. If your dressing tastes too sharp, add a little more olive oil or water. If it tastes too mild, add a splash more balsamic vinegar.
Let the flavors come together. If you have time, let the dressing sit for 10–15 minutes before using it. This gives the Italian seasoning and garlic powder time to flavor the vinegar and oil.
Adjust the consistency. If you prefer a thinner dressing, add a small amount of water. For a richer dressing, use a little more olive oil.
Use a jar with a tight lid. A jar makes this dressing easy to shake and gives you a convenient container for storing it between uses.
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