As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
This is a copy cat recipe of The Old Spaghetti Factory’s Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing. It’s super easy to make, and is excellent as a dressing or dip!
I’ve been eating at The Old Spaghetti Factory for as long as I can remember. We’ve had so many family dinners and birthday celebrations there since I was a kid, and I still love to eat there today!
My favorite things about that restaurant are the Spaghetti with Browned Butter and Mizithra cheese, endless amounts of sourdough bread, and the creamy pesto salad dressing! I found this amazing copy cat recipe for the dressing on Cooking Classy. I did make a couple of tweaks to it, so I thought I would share it with you!
If you haven’t had this dressing before, let me tell you, it is AMAZING! If you like basil, you will LOVE it as much as I do. My kids (4 year old and almost 2 year old) have even been known to eat salads with this dressing on it. WHAT?!
What is Creamy Pesto Dressing Good With?
- salads
- raw veggies
- garlic bread
- french fries or potato wedges
- jalapeño poppers, onion rings, cheese sticks
Tips for Making Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing
- Make sure your dried basil is still “fresh.” Dried herbs and spices can get old and stale over time, and trust me, you want the basil in this dressing to really shine through.
- Use good quality, finely grated Parmesan cheese.
- Let the dressing sit for a few hours or over night before serving it. This gives all the flavors time to blend together and taste amazing!
What if I Don’t Have Buttermilk?
This recipe calls for buttermilk. If you don’t have any on hand, no problem!
Mix 1/2 cup of milk with 1/2 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, and you have the perfect buttermilk substitute!
How Do You Make Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing?
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of full fat mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup of buttermilk
- 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 2 1/2 teaspoons of dried basil
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- a pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup of good quality, finely grated Parmesan cheese
Step 1: Grate your Parmesan cheese using a fine-tooth grater. If you’re using pre-grated cheese and it’s not super fine, you can blend it in a spice or coffee grinder. This step is optional, but it does give the dressing a smoother consistency.
Step 2: Mix all of the ingredients together until fully combined. Then, pour it into a mason jar or other air-tight container. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour, or overnight. Enjoy!
Try these delicious salads!
- Roasted Veggie Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Apple, Gorgonzola & Candied Walnut Salad
- Vegan Southwestern Salad with Creamy Chili-Lime Dressing
Creamy Pesto Dressing – The Old Spaghetti Factory Copy Cat
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup full fat mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- pinch salt
- 1/4 cup good quality, finely grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Grate your Parmesan cheese using a fine-tooth grater. If you’re using pre-grated cheese and it’s not super fine, you can blend it in a spice or coffee grinder. This step is optional, but it does give the dressing a smoother consistency.
- Mix all of the ingredients together until fully combined. Then, pour it into a mason jar or other air-tight container. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour, or overnight. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure your dried basil is still “fresh”. Overtime, dried herbs can become stale.
As always, sharing is caring! Please click on the buttons below to share this post with your friends!
