Simple Recipes with Italian Dressing

Italian dressing is like the little black dress of the kitchen pantry—it goes with nearly everything and can be dressed up or down easily. Like high-quality vinegar or crunchy coarse sea salt, Italian dressing can be used as a final flourish to add zippy flavor to roasted or grilled veggies, salads, dips, and cooked proteins. 

Marinating meats or vegetables in Italian dressing prior to cooking imparts robust flavor without the need to add any extra seasoning or oil before heating. When you’re short on time, inspiration, or are just looking for a minimalist way to add big flavor with little effort, these recipes using Primal Kitchen Italian Dressing & Marinade and Primal Kitchen Dreamy Italian offer a perfect, simple way to create an impactful meal for everyone at your table.

One-Skillet Italian Chicken 

This herby, zesty one-skillet dish really is a winner-winner chicken dinner. Our version uses chopped red onions, sliced cherry tomatoes, and a generous bunch of fresh parsley, but you can use whatever you have on hand to whip this one up. Diced zucchini, quartered mushrooms, whole garlic cloves, fresh thyme or even dried parsley or herbs de Provence would also work beautifully.

Fall Salad with Acorn Squash and Bacon

This easy-to-assemble salad is bursting with all of the delicious flavors and gorgeous colors of the season. Crisp, savory, salty bacon contrasts with the lightly sweet flavor of roasted squash, with the slight bitterness of the Brussels sprouts to intensify the mix. All of these mouthwatering autumn essentials are blanketed in a cozy coat of our herbaceous Italian dressing, but you can also make the swap to Dreamy Italian if you prefer a creamy texture.

Gluten-free Italian Pasta Salad 

Looking for a simple pasta dish that satisfies? This salty, briny, and a bit sweet gluten-free pasta is a cinch to throw together at the end of a long workday. All you need are five simple ingredients (salt and pepper too), 15 minutes, and bam—dinner is on the table.

Italian Antipasto Skewers 

Who doesn’t love to eat food off of a stick? There’s something inherently fun about it. These elegant skewers are ideal for cocktail parties or potluck buffets. You can marinate the fresh mozzarella balls and sliced artichoke hearts in Italian dressing before spearing, or simply serve the dressing in a bowl as a drizzling sauce.

Mediterranean Chicken with Cauliflower Rice

Embrace the bold, zesty flavors of the Mediterranean with this easy skillet dinner featuring grilled chicken marinated with a one-two punch of our Balsamic Vinaigrette and Italian Dressing. We subbed cauliflower rice for fewer carbs and a savory, earthy veggie flavor, and added lightly sweet tomatoes, briny olives, and feta for pure Mediterranean flavor. The end result is an eye-opening dish that the whole family will love. 

Zoodle Primavera with Shrimp 

If you’re trying to cut out dairy or eat a little better, this one’s for you! The three-ingredient sauce uses only Italian dressing, nutritional yeast, and soaked cashews. Brilliant, quick, and tasty, you can also add broccoli or green peas for additional flavor.

Dreamy Italian Cauliflower Wings 

Craving the crisp, breaded goodness of deep-fried mushrooms or zucchini sticks, but not willing to splurge? Try these smoky, spicy, salty oven-roasted cauliflower wings lightly coated with almond flour, paprika, garlic, and avocado oil spiked with hot sauce. The nutty breading creates a crisp exterior that contrasts the yielding, roasted, and lightly caramelized interior.

Instant Pot Italian Pasta 

No need to wait for water to come to a boil on the stove or drain out the starchy cooking liquid with this easy one-pot meal. When you cook pasta in an Instant Pot, you simply throw in all of the ingredients and liquid at once and let it do the work. This savory dish is finished with a luxe tomato “cream” sauce made with just tomatoes and our Dreamy Italian Dressing.

Italian Pesto White Fish Packets 

When you want a main dish that’s light in texture but heavier in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, this baked halibut recipe is a great go-to. Flavored with Primal Kitchen Dreamy Italian Dressing, lemon, garlic, and parsley, the mild white fish gets steamed in a parchment packet. Dice or slice any veggies you have in the crisper drawer and add them to the bottom of the packets before placing the fish on top.

Pesto Kelp Noodles

If you’re looking for a cheese-free pesto recipe that actually tastes good, look no further. We blended Primal Kitchen Dreamy Italian Dressing with pine nuts, basil, salt, cherry tomatoes, extra virgin avocado oil, and avocado—for extra richness—to make a creamy, delectable sauce that pairs beautifully with any veggie-based noodle.

Grilled Chicken Salad 

This easy, vintage-inspired grilled chicken salad starts with a bed of greens topped with grill-kissed chicken slices. We added some pizzazz with crumbled smoky bacon, avocado, and pumpkin seeds. Top this sassy salad with either our classic Italian or Dreamy Italian dressing, find a sunny spot outside to sit, and dig in.