Homemade Zesty Italian Dressing Mix
Published Jan 24, 2023 Updated Dec 19, 2023
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A delicious, homemade zesty Italian seasoning mix that makes a cute, simple DIY gift, or an awesome salad dressing! Includes a free printable recipe PDF to go along with the gift.
What Makes This Recipe Great
I love a good homemade salad dressing. And if you’ve tried my homemade ranch seasoning, you know they turn out pretty darn delicious! This time, I set out to not only create a delicious homemade zesty Italian seasoning mix but thought it might actually make a perfect DIY gift as well. No more store-bought Italian dressing or seasoning packets for me.
Introducing both a wonderful homemade Italian seasoning recipe and a simple homemade gift box idea. This makes the perfect gift for friends, family, teachers, co-workers, and more! Or mix it up and make a delicious zesty Italian dressing!
Ingredient Notes
Italian Seasoning Blend: This is a simple combination of herbs and spices such as garlic powder, dried onions, dehydrated garlic, dried oregano, freshly ground pepper, dried thyme, dried basil, dried parsley, lemon pepper, celery seed, and salt.
Sugar: Healthier alternatives like granulated monk fruit or coconut sugar work great. Use depending on the desired sweetness.
Red Pepper Flakes: Optional. This will give it a little spice. If you prefer no spice, you can omit this.
Oil and Vinegar: If making the dressing, you’ll need olive oil and red wine vinegar.
Recipe Step by Step
- Layer all the ingredients into a mason jar.
- Leave it layered if you want to give it as a gift or mix it up if you want to use it right away.
- To make homemade Italian dressing: Mix together 2 tablespoons of Zesty Italian Seasoning with 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/2 cup light olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of water.
Italian seasoning
Recipe Tips
Storage: Stores for up to 6-7 months in the pantry in an airtight container.
Homemade Italian Dressing Recipe: Mix together 2 tablespoons of Zesty Italian Seasoning with 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/2 cup light olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of water.
Other Uses: This spice blend is also great for pork chops, chicken breasts, veggies, pasta sauces, pasta salads, and more.
Simple DIY Gift: Add this mixture to a mason jar with a twine bow. Package in a basket along with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and printable instructions on how to make it into a dressing.
Nutrition Facts: Please note the nutrition facts below account for the dry seasoning mix alone.
Recipe FAQs
You can find the jars, boxes, and crinkled packing paper on Amazon. I have linked them below.
Yes! I like using extra virgin olive oil because it’s on the lighter side. But use whichever you prefer.
Yes! When mixed with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and water as stated in the recipe above, it’s just 53 calories per 2 tablespoons of dressing!
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Homemade Zesty Italian Dressing Seasoning
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 ½ tablespoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried onions
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dehydrated garlic
- 1/3 cup dried oregano
- 1/2 tablespoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
- 3 tablespoons dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons lemon pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons Monk Fruit or coconut sugar depending on the desired sweetness
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Salt or less if you are sensitive to salt
- 1 tsp celery seed
- OPTIONAL: 1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes; This will give it a little spice. If you are sensitive omit
Instructions
- Layer all the ingredients into a mason jar.
- Leave it layered if you want to give it as a gift or mix it up if you want to use it right away.
- To make homemade Italian dressing: Mix together 2 tablespoons of Zesty Italian Seasoning with 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/2 cup light olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of water.
Notes
- Storage: Stores for up to 6-7 months in the pantry in an airtight container.
- Homemade Italian Dressing Recipe: Mix together 2 tablespoons of Zesty Italian Seasoning with 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/2 cup light olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of water.
- Other Uses: This spice blend is also great for pork chops, chicken breasts, veggies, pasta sauces, pasta salads, and more.
- Simple DIY Gift: Add this mixture to a mason jar with a twine bow. Package in a basket along with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and printable PDF instructions on how to make it into a dressing.
- Nutrition Facts: Please note the nutrition facts below account for the dry seasoning mix alone.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I have read your bio and I’m curious if you know about the erythritol and the dangers nit healthy and there are better choices like monk fruit without it .
Curious to why you would use it
What’s really great about all my recipes, I give options. I have BOTH coconut sugar and monk fruit as an option. If monk fruit isn’t for you, don’t use it. But please don’t shame others for doing what works for them!
I have and use monk fruit without erythritol!!!
Where did you get those sweet oil and vinegar jars?
I actually got those from the seasonal aisle at Target a few years back. I’m not sure if they would still have them.
Making this for Christmas gifts. Where do I find printable pdf? Thanks
It is within the blog post. There is a big photo that says “FREE PRITNTABLE.’ Click that and it will take you to the download page.
Is there a link to the brown boxes? Thank you!
I do not have a link to those. I found them at Hobby Lobby.