11 Best Copycat Salad Dressings from Your Favorite Restaurants

We’ve all been there – shoving sauce and dressing packets into our pockets and purses for *later use*. It’s not considered being a klepto – it’s called being resourceful because you never know when you’re going to need Chick-Fil-A Sauce. However, with restaurants skimping on condiments more then ever, it’s important to have a back up plan for your salads, nuggets, and wraps. Lucky for you, we’ve got a roundup of the best salad dressing recipes from all your favorite fast food restaurants. The best part? Most of them are made from ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Enjoy!

Olive Garden Italian Dressing

Olive Garden’s Italian salad dressing is one of the most iconic concoctions in the food industry. And while we may not have the exact recipe, it’s pretty easy to come up with a copycat version when they sell the stuff in grocery stores. It’s just more fun to make at home, and I honestly think it tastes way better.

• 1 packet Italian Dressing Mix
• 3/4 cup vegetable/canola oil
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

Outback Steakhouse Bleu Cheese Pecan Salad Dressing

There’s something about a creamy bleu cheese dressing that pairs perfectly with a steak dinner. Or any dinner, really. Outback’s Bleu Cheese Pecan Salad has the perfect flavor, and it’s super easy to make. Just add all the ingredients to a blender or food processor.

• 1/4 c. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/4 c. White Vinegar
• 2 tsp. Dijon Mustard
• 2 tbsp. Sour Cream
• 2 oz. Crumbled Bleu Cheese

Portillo’s Chopped Salad Vinaigrette

If you’re conscience about your sugar intake, you can always sub the granulated sugar for another sweetener like honey, monk fruit, or coconut sugar. I wouldn’t recommend leaving it out all together if you want the signature taste you’d get at Portillo’s.

• 1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar
• 4 small garlic cloves, finely grated
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4-1 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Cheesecake Factory Luau Salad Dressing

Some people think adding fruit to a salad is the weirdest thing. I, however, can’t live without adding some berries (and maybe even a little pineapple) to my weekly salad bowls. A sweet vinaigrette is always the best option for fruity salads with nuts, so you can’t go wrong with the Cheesecake Facotry Luau Salad Dressing.

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Chick-Fil-A Honey Mustard

If you’re a true Chick-Fil-A fan, you know that their honey mustard dressing and dipping sauce are two totally different things. Usually, honey mustard dressing recipes are some combo of honey, mustard, and BBQ sauce, but this one has a whole host of fun ingredients. (Don’t worry, you can’t taste the horseradish).

• ³⁄₄ cup mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice or 1 tablespoon juice form 1/2 a lemon
• ¹⁄₄ tablespoon horseradish
• 2 tablespoons orange juice

Maggiano’s Chopped Salad Dressing

If you’re prepping a chopped salad of any kind at home, this Maggiano’s salad dressing is a great option. It’s got that traditional Italian dressing taste with tons of flavor and a slight sweetness. It’s pretty universal, so it’ll pair well with any toppings you choose.

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1⁄3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1⁄3 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Benihana’s Ginger Salad Dressing Recipe

If you’re making Asian cuisine for dinner, this salad dressing from Benihana is the way to go. It’s refreshing and healthy compared to most dressings that are full of sugar and fat. If you want to make a “cleaner” version of Benihana’s Ginger Salad Dressing, swap the soy sauce for liquid aminos and the vegetable oil for olive or avocado oil.

• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon chopped ginger root
• 1 tablespoon chopped celery
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Texas Roadhouse Ranch Dressing

Everyone needs a good ranch dressing recipe in their cookbook (or Pinterest board). This Texas Roadhouse copycat recipe jazzes up a packet of Hidden Valley seasoning and turns out to be the creamiest, most flavorful ranch I’ve ever had. The buttermilk is the key to perfecting this recipe, so I wouldn’t recommend subbing it for any other kind of milk.

Applebee’s Asian Salad Dressing

I have to be craving an Asian-style salad to be willing to make this one, but I’m never disappointed when I do. Applebee’s Asian Salad dressing has a nice zing to it, but it’s also pretty sweet from the honey and dijon mustard. It goes great with a grilled chicken or shrimp salad.

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 6 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

McDonald’s Southwest Salad Dressing Recipe

When it comes to salads, McDonald’s is never my first choice, but the Southwest dressing is worth every calorie. It’s creamy and slightly spicy, perfect for a homemade salad with grilled chicken or steak, as well as tomatoes, cucumbers, and black beans.

• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp chili flakes

Panera Apple Salad Dressing

Panera sells most of their best salad dressings in stores, but I’m a big fan of the Apple dressing made from scratch. There’s only a few basic ingredients, so it only takes a minute or two to whip up. Plus, it’s mild, yet slightly sweet flavor pairs well with any kind of protein and salad toppings.

• White balsamic vinegar
• Olive oil
• Honey
• Salt & pepper
• Garlic powder

Not in the mood to whip together your favorite salad dressing? Check out the best fast food best salads you can buy.