Best Zesty Italian Dressing Mix (Bulk Recipe) (2024)

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Learn how to make the BEST Dry Zesty Italian Dressing Mix, with this simple bulk mix recipe. Plus, it has directions to make the dressing as well. A full batch of this recipe will fill a pint jar (which means it makes about two cups of dry dressing mix). Whether you want to use it as dressing, or add a little bit of this mix to your favorite dish, it is sure to spice them up just right.

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Lately I’ve been seeing recipes all over the place (cough…Pinterest;) that call for either Zesty Italian Dressing Mix or some of the prepared dressing.

It’s been driving me crazy that I can’t try these recipes due to all the junk in pre-made/ packaged spice mixtures/dressings (I’m on a clean eating kick lately).

However, I found a “from scratch” homemade recipe that has really good reviews so I’ve adapted it to fill a pint jar.

I only made a few minor changes (less sugar, less salt, & one other little change). I hope that you like it.

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So, Now I’m sharing with you my bulk recipe for the Best Homemade Zesty Italian Dressing Mix, plus directions for making the dressing.

Please note that if you’re nervous about making a giant batch of it like me, maybe try making a small batch of the original recipefirst and see what you think before you go crazy and make a large batch.

If I use something a lot, I hate making it from scratch frequently, which is why I’m sharing with you the big batch that I make which can be used as you need it.

Now I’m going to share with you some still pics of the process of making both the dressing and turning the dressing mix into Salad Dressing.

How to make this Zesty Italian Dressing Mix Recipe:

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You guys may not believe it, but this recipe is actually so simple that you literally just put the ingredients in a jar (pint or larger), put a lid on it, and SHAKE… that’s it!

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To make the dressing you literally only mix some vinegar, oil, water, and a bit of the spice mix.

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**Remember, If you like this recipe, you may also like my entire Salads and Dressings section. **

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What’s in Zesty Italian Dressing Mix? Let’s find out!

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Best Zesty Italian Dressing Mix {Bulk Recipe}

Yield: 1 Pint

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 13 minutes

Using dry Zesty Italian Dressing Mix is a great way to spice up your various food dishes or can be used as a dry rub for meat. Or, easily mix it into a tangy dressing. Learn how to make the BEST Zesty Italian Dressing Mix with this simple bulk recipe. Plus it has directions to make the dressing as well.

Ingredients

  • Dry Mix:
  • 2 T Garlic Powder
  • 1/4 C Onion Powder
  • 1/2 C Dried Oregano
  • 1 T+1 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 T+1 tsp Dried Thyme
  • 1 T+1 tsp Dried Basil
  • 1 T+1 tsp Dried Parsley
  • 1 to 2 T Sugar
  • 1 T Salt (I used Iodized Sea Salt)
  • 1/2 tsp Celery Seed
  • 1/2 C Cajun Seasoning
  • Dressing:
  • 1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar (original recipe called for white wine vinegar)
  • 2/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 T Water
  • 2 T mixed spice (above spice mix)

Instructions

How To Make Zesty Italian Dressing Mix (dry):

  1. Layer all of the ingredients into apint sized jar(may be a good idea to use a wide mouth jar…I struggled to keep the mess contained w/the regular mouth jar).
  2. Puta lidon and shake your little heart out (it condenses quite a bit when mixed, otherwise it would fill the jar nearly completely).

How To Make Zesty Italian Dressing (wet):

  1. Place ingredients in a blender and mix well.
  2. Store in an airtight container for up to one week in the refrigerator.

Notes

*Make Sure To ShakeWell Before Each Use*

Use as needed. Can be used as a dry rub on meats or sprinkle it on veggies.

Make sure mix stays tightly sealed, if you live somewhere humid it may be a good idea to addan oxygen absorbing packetif you will be storing it for very long.

**from some of the reviews I've read from the original version of the recipe, it seems that you may want to add a bit more vinegar for more tang.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

I love this dry mix when added to my Zesty Italian Chicken recipe…it’s so delicious!

You will easily start finding more and more ways to use it if you end up loving it as much as I do. In fact, I need to mix up another batch this weekend because I use it so much.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! If you liked what you saw, please make sure to share it via social media or even send the link via email to your family and friends. Either way, I super appreciate it!

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Here are five of my posts that you’ll also love:

Grandma’s Famous Cold Shrimp Dip Recipe
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For those of you that would like other options for a “pinnable” image to share on Pinterest, here you go. Thanks so much for sharing!

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*Reposts: Please note that this idea/post was originally posted to this website on 08/25/2012, but it was in great need of a refresh so it now is more user friendly/shareable and has a free printable recipe card.

Best Zesty Italian Dressing Mix (Bulk Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between Italian dressing and zesty Italian dressing? ›

What's the difference between Italian dressing and zesty Italian dressing? Regular Italian dressing and zesty Italian dressing use the same base recipe, but the zesty version has added flavor for more zing.

What's the difference between Italian seasoning and Italian dressing mix? ›

No, the two are not the same. Italian seasoning is a blend of dried herbs, including basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and sometimes marjoram. Italian dressing mix includes similar dried herbs as well as salt and additional seasonings that will create a flavorful salad dressing when mixed with oil and vinegar.

How to make bottled Italian dressing taste better? ›

Adding freshly ground black pepper can often be an easy way to up your dressing game, but also freshening up any ingredient listed on the bottle can be useful. An extra dollop of mustard in your Dijon vinaigrette, or pinch of oregano in your Italian dressing can make a world of difference.

How much is in a packet of Good Seasons Italian dressing mix? ›

You can even make it with red wine vinegar to add more flavor. This Italian dressing mix contains 5 calories per serving. This 0.7 ounce packet is safety-sealed to preserve flavors and each packet makes eight fluid ounces of dressing.

Who makes zesty Italian dressing? ›

We didn't name it Ken's Zesty Italian because it was shy about flavor. Robust and balanced, this dressing adds onion, garlic, red pepper, and oregano to its oil and vinegar base to create a deliciously bright, memorable, and crowd-pleasing flavor.

What makes golden Italian dressing? ›

Ingredients. Soybean Oil, Distilled Vinegar, Water, Sugar, Salt, Contains Less Than 2% Of Garlic,* Xanthan Gum, Onion,* Red Bell Pepper,* Spice, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Natural Flavor, Beta Carotene And Oleoresin Paprika (Color).

What does McCormick Italian seasoning have in it? ›

MARJORAM, THYME, ROSEMARY, SAVORY, SAGE, OREGANO AND BASIL.

What can I use in place of Italian seasoning mix? ›

Simply use equal parts basil and oregano! These are the main ingredients in Italian seasonings and the ones that have the strongest flavor profile. These are the main herbs that you need to make your own Italian seasoning. Honestly, if you have those two then you've got yourself a great substitute.

Why add water to Italian dressing? ›

But just a bit of water mellows out all of the flavors so that each can shine through. The tip isn't limited to this one vinaigrette.

How do you make Italian dressing less tangy? ›

Taste (most accurate taste comes by dipping lettuce in dressing) and adjust according to taste. For less acidity- add more sugar, less tang – add more olive oil, more tang – add additional vinegar.

Why does my Italian dressing taste bitter? ›

Avoid using a blender for olive oil based dressings as the rapid mixing will cause the oil to oxidize and turn bitter. A squeeze bottle or a mason jar with the lid secured works well when giving a good shake to mix and emulsify the dressing properly.

Why is Italian dressing so good? ›

Italian dressing is notable for that brilliant punchy balance of yummy oil, tangy vinegar, sweet sugar, and bites of spice. And while those flavors are fine over lettuce and crunchy veggies, the strong flavors work even better as an all-purpose marinade for every kind of protein, from chicken to shrimp.

How long does Kraft Zesty Italian dressing last? ›

Unopened jars of mayonnaise and salad dressing may be stored in the pantry. After opening, keep refrigerated up to 2 months. For more information, you may call the Food and Drug Administration's toll-free at 1-888-723-3366 or go to FDA's website.

Do Italian dressing packets go bad? ›

Unopened: Italian dressing can generally last for 12 to 18 months at peak quality when stored in a proper location. Opened: Once opened, the shelf life reduces significantly. It is commonly recommended to use it within 6 to 12 months for optimal freshness.

Is zesty italian dressing good for you? ›

Italian dressing is often considered a healthy option when compared with creamy dressings because it's lower in calories and fat. But because it can be high in sodium and the calories quickly add up if you use more than the serving size, it's still important to watch the amount you eat.

What is the most common salad dressing in Italy? ›

Oil and vinegar (Italy)

Oil and vinegar dressing is made from a simple ratio of three parts oil to one part vinegar with a generous pinch of salt. This simple dressing is a popular way to dress a salad in Italy. The dressing starts with extra virgin olive oil, as it's the ideal choice for its light texture and flavor.

What is Italian dressing called? ›

In American cuisine, Italian dressing is a vinaigrette-type salad dressing in that consists of water, vinegar or lemon juice, vegetable oil, chopped bell peppers, sugar or corn syrup, herbs and spices (including oregano, fennel, dill and salt) and sometimes onion and garlic.

What is Olive Garden's dressing called? ›

Olive Garden Signature Italian Dressing.

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