What’s your favorite bottled Italian dressing? Any hacks to make it taste any fresher? I’m using in a very simple pasta salad that just calls for dressing, cucumber, tomatoes, scallions & Parmesan cheese served on the side.
For reference I’ve tried Kraft Zesty Italian and don’t love it for the “zing” and oiliness. I really like Annie’s Ceasar dressing, but this salad needs to be vegan and friendly to a wide range of palates.
clementine / 911 posts
I don't know if it's vegan, but I have Olive Garden's lite salad dressing that I bought at the grocery store, and it tastes just like the restaurant version. I love their salads!
nectarine / 2180 posts
I love wegmans parmesan Italian for pasta salads but obviously it requires a wegmans since it is a store brand
persimmon / 1101 posts
@krispi: I didn't know they sold light Olive Garden! I'll have to check it out.
We buy the regular bottled Olive Garden dressing and it's soooooo good. If you're a Costco member, you can buy two giant bottles for around $6. I'm ashamed to say how quickly we go through them.
ETA I totally overlooked the vegan part. Sorry about that--it very likely is not. 
pear / 1586 posts
I actually like to use a red wine vinaigrette in pasta salad vs. a generic italian dressing. I like the cucina antica brand but it has honey so not vegan. I bet annie's, whole foods, or TJs has a vegan version though.
kiwi / 624 posts
Newman’s, Olive Garden, or golden Italian not zesty. But throwing a splash of extra vinegar in (apple cider, white, red wine) adds a nice little zing to the salad. I find pasta salad really absorbs and loses flavour easily/quickly so it’s ncie to mix some in ahead of time and then great if you can freshen it up with extra or some vinegar right before serving.
I make my own dressing for pasta salad: apple cider vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, fresh grated garlic, dried Italian herbs, a bit of maple syrup, and a bit of salt. I like more vinegar than oil as well.
nectarine / 2460 posts
I like the Newman's Own Olive Oil and Vinegar. Its simple but flavorful and goes with everything. Reading the ingredient list it looks vegan too.
pear / 1599 posts
We like Newmans Italian or Greek for pasta, I get rid of a lot of the oil though there is just way too much in my opinion. I use the kraft zesty Italian as a marinade on chicken and veg though..yummy. But it tastes too tinny for pasta I think.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
@krispi: @babypugs: @Petitduck: @QBbride: a lot of Olive Garden fans over here! Totally forgot the last time I went to an Olive Garden I said aloud “this salad is really good!” 
I’m going to start there and Newman’s because looking at my pantry that seems to be my most prevalent salad dressing brand. Have you all tried Newman’s Buttermilk Ranch with slow baked chicken- amazing!
@Petitduck: @Jennibenni: thanks for the vinegar hack!
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
Great call with the Olive Garden dressing. I tested the recipe this weekend and the pasta salad turned out great. It’s vegetation not vegan and that’s ok.
- 16oz/ 2 cups dry Rotini (measure this because 16oz box of pasta has 32 oz of pasta)
- 8 oz/ 1 cup OG dressing
- 1 tbsp dry Italian seasoning
- 3 chopped plum tomatoes
- 1 chopped cucumber
- 1 bunch chopped Spring onions
- 2 oz/ 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (I used shredded Kraft)
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