I Asked 3 Experts for the Best Italian Dressing—They All Said the Same Thing

One of the trickiest recipes to make at home is salad dressing. I have one recipe I rely on for most salads, but it takes a lot of time and effort to prepare—chopping shallots, measuring ingredients—and no single dressing suits every salad. 

Recently, I wanted a classic Italian chopped salad to go with the pizza I ordered, so I stopped at the store to pick up a bottle of Italian dressing. I realized I had no idea which brand was best. After purchasing one I didn’t like, I decided to reach out to three of my favorite salad-loving chefs to find out which brand they buy, so I never have to endure a poorly dressed salad again.

The Experts:

• Shawna Clark: Recipe developer, cookbook author, and creator of Healthy Foodie Girl 
• Amy Goodson: Registered dietitian, board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, and author of The Sports Nutrition Playbook
• Sally Cameron: Professional-trained chef and certified health coach at A Food Centric Life

The Very Best Store-Bought Italian Dressing

The best? “It has to be Primal Kitchen Italian Vinaigrette & Marinade,” says Clark. The brand Primal Kitchen prides itself on crafting all kinds of dressings and sauces with non-GMO, real, high-quality ingredients, and it shows. “I am choosy and like to eat healthy. So when I’m shopping for Italian dressing, I read labels,” says Cameron. “Primal Kitchen Italian Dressing and Marinade is one of the cleanest I’ve found.”

Goodson, who makes sure the ingredient label meets her standards, applauds the dressing, particularly because, she says, “it’s made with avocado oil and it contains no added sugar.” Furthermore, she favors the brand because it’s gluten-free and made without artificial flavors. Cameron additionally appreciates the brand's commitment to non-GMO certified ingredients, saying, “all of the ingredients are something you would already have in your own kitchen, which makes it, for me, a top choice.” 

The three experts agree that the dressing also tastes delicious. “I love how zesty and herb-packed it is,” adds Clark. “The flavor is just so bright and clean.” 

But the tangy and herby dressing is not just meant for salads. “Besides tossing it with salads, I love using it as a marinade for chicken or vegetables,” says Clark. “It adds instant flavor and makes everything taste like I spent way more time prepping than I actually did.” 

Goodson seconds Clark in applauding the bottle’s multi-use nature: “I love it tossed with quinoa, pasta, or grain bowls for extra flavor without needing a heavy sauce. It’s also great drizzled over roasted veggies or used as a zesty dip for raw vegetables.”

Whether you’re tossing together a quick weeknight salad, marinating chicken for the grill, or drizzling something zesty over a grain bowl, having a go-to bottle of Italian dressing you can trust makes all the difference.