This Quick & Creamy Vegan Italian Dressing covers all the bases! It makes an incredible cold pasta salad, you know those one's you see at every backyard BBQ? I always gravitate to those first! Blended raw cashews deliver silky richness, while red wine vinegar and maple syrup create perfect balance. Nutritional yeast adds subtle savory depth, and a mix of dried basil, parsley and oregano brings that herb garden vibe. Oil-free, mayo-free and ready in minutes. Read on to see what else you'll want to slather this dressing on!
On a Sunday afternoon Chris and I enjoy this dressing slathered on a good toasted sourdough bread sandwich piled high with veggies and a yummy plant based cheese!
Or use it to baste skewered vegetables on the grill for the family! Think zucchini, those little yellow potatoes, sweet onions, plump cherry tomatoes, pineapple chunks, and bell pepper of every color! Boom, dinner!
Looking for another oil free dressing option? Try my Creamy Dairy Free Ranch Dressing & Dip, it's ready in under 5 minutes! And for a dinner idea that really makes that Ranch dressing the star of the show try these easy Roasted Cauliflower BBQ Wraps (shhhh, the oven does all the work)!
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❤️Why you'll love this Quick & Creamy Vegan Italian Dressing
- Quick & Easy: Just toss everything in the blender and you’ve got creamy, flavorful dressing in minutes.
- Anything Goes: Pour it over pasta, slather it on veggie stacked sandwiches, or give your roasted veggies a flavor explosion!
- Healthy & Plant-Based: Oil-free, mayo-free, and packed with protein rich cashews and nutrient boosting nutritional yeast.
- Family Approved: Super smooth, tangy, and downright addictive. I've been caught just eating it with a spoon.
🥄Equipment
- High speed blender - I love my Nutri Bullet Pro for all the blending jobs, it gets used daily at our house.
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Liquid measuring cups
- Lemon squeezer
🌿Ingredients & Helpful Substitutions
For the full list and measurements, see the recipe card below. Here are the main ingredients and easy swaps.
- Raw cashews: Raw is what you want here. Nothing roasted or salted.
- Red wine vinegar: White wine vinegar will work too.
- Lemon juice: I always try to use fresh squeezed, however, this recipe does not call for a lot so feel free to use bottled if you don't have a lemon handy.
- Nooch (Nutritional Yeast): I prefer the taste of Unfortified in my recipes
- Herbs Out of basil, parsley, or oregano? Swap with 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning to get the job done.
- Maple syrup, use agave if you prefer.
⏲️Advance Prep
If you have a high speed blender you can skip this step. If you don't then you will want to soak your cashews for at least 30 minutes. In a hurry? You can also boil the cashews for 10 minutes, drain, and rinse under cold water before adding to the blender.
🔪Instructions
Step 1. Gather all of your ingredients!
Step 2. Measure out ingredients and add everything to the blender.
Step 3. Blend on high for 1 minute or until it has a creamy consistency. It should be silky smooth.
Serve any way you like! This dressing is perfect for pasta salad with all the yummy add ins like artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, avocado, fresh cherry tomatoes, maybe some Calamata or black olives too!
Level it up for an even tastier version with a sprinkle of vegan parmesan. Or try my 5 minute homemade vegan parmesan for a tasty topping to any pasta, hot or cold!
💭Pro Tip
Adjust to Taste: Love tangy? Add a little extra vinegar. Want it sweeter? A touch more maple syrup does the trick.
Storage Tip: Keeps beautifully in the fridge for up to 5 days. This dressing does tend to thicken slightly in the fridge, so give it a quick stir or even add in a splash of water.
Pasta Salad Tip: This dressing made just the right amount to pour over 8 ounces of cooked pasta with added mix ins. For my recipe testing I used Bow Tie Pasta. Rotini would be great too.
🧊Storage & Meal Prep
Refrigerator: Store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Stir or add a splash of water if it thickens too much for your liking.
Freezer: Not freezer friendly, this dressing is best enjoyed fresh.
Meal Prep: I've made this dressing on a Sunday and poured it over pasta salad to have lunch for 2-3 days. If you do this add just a touch more dressing than you think you need because the pasta will soak it up like a sponge. By adding a bit more it will ensure you don't end up with a dry meal.
❓FAQ's
If you have a high speed blender soaking is not necessary. If you do not have a high speed blender I recommend a 30-minute soak to ensure ultimate creaminess. In a rush? You can also boil the cashews for 10 minutes then drain and rinse with cold water before adding to blender.
Yes! This creamy vegan Italian dressing is completely oil free and still super creamy and silky smooth! Who knew cashews were so magical!
Store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Stir or add a splash of water if it thickens too much for your liking.
This creamy vegan Italian dressing is so versatile. Definitely try it in a cold pasta salad, on sandwiches, baste or marinate roasted or grilled veggies with it! It's also great for dipping warm, soft, chewy breadsticks into!
👩🏻🍳 Want to see some behind-the-scenes fun (and maybe a little kitchen chaos)? Keep scrollin’ — it’s all happening below the recipe card!
Print
Quick & Creamy Vegan Italian Dressing (No Mayo, No Oil)
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 11 ounces 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Quick & Creamy Vegan Italian Dressing covers all the bases! It's oil-free, mayo free, and perfect for pasta salads, sandwiches, and drizzling over greens! And it's totally guilt free!
Ingredients
1 cup raw cashews (soaked for 30 min if not using a high speed blender)
¼ cup red wine vinegar (can also use white wine vinegar)
½ cup water
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon dijon
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon garlic granules
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ tsp salt
⅛ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on high for 1 minute or until it has a creamy consistency. The dressing should be silky smooth.
Notes
Vinegar swap: Use white wine vinegar if you don’t have red.
Herb hack: Out of basil, parsley, or oregano? Swap with 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
Sweetener tweak: Maple syrup can be swapped for agave.
Storage: Fridge for up to 5 days, it may thicken slightly so stir before using or add a splash of water if needed. Do not freeze.
Pasta Salad Tip: This dressing made just the right amount to pour over 8 ounces of cooked pasta with added mix ins. For my recipe testing I used Bow Tie Pasta. Rotini would be great too.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Condiments
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: Plant Based
⭐Did you enjoy this Quick & Creamy Vegan Italian Dressing Recipe?
If you give this Italian Dressing a try please leave a comment and rating below! Justin and I read every one! Your feedback helps more people find my recipes and keeps the delicious messy chaos going in the Fresh Fun Flavor kitchen. Plus, we just love hearing from you!
👩🏻🍳Creating the shot: A behind the scenes look
Setting up ingredients before the sun goes down!
Preparing the final scene, sometimes it feels like putting together pieces of a puzzle until it looks just right.
What really happened
In my effort to beat sunset while taking pictures a giant storm rolled in and made it super dark....and then the sun set during the storm. So I had to move everything to another room to use artificial lighting.
Also, no Charlie kitty creating mischief this week, he's visiting Grandma & Grandpa while my kiddo and I are enjoying some time in Asheville, North Carolina. Justin is helping rebuild homes that were devastated in hurricane Helene last Fall. Today he learned to put up insulation in a crawl space 😳🕷️🕸️. I can only imagine they call it a crawl space because it's crawling with spiders.
Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided for Quick & Creamy Vegan Italian Dressing is an estimate calculated using Nutrifox, an online tool. Please note that this information is for general guidance only and should not replace advice from a qualified professional. Additionally, this page may include affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through those links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Fresh Fun Flavor!
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