The Old Spaghetti Factory’s Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing

Published August 10, 2017. Updated October 28, 2018

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

A must have salad dressing recipe! This rich and creamy dried basil Pesto Salad Dressing tastes just like the Old Spaghetti Factory’s! And did I mention it’s super easy to make and only calls for a few simple ingredients? You can’t beat that!

Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing

My Go-To Salad Dressing

There are three reasons I go to The Old Spaghetti Factory. The warm sourdough bread. The spumoni ice cream. And the creamy pesto salad dressing!

I loved it so much since I was a kid that I decided to figure out how to make it on my own and this is what I’ve came up with (many years ago).

And it’s been a family favorite every since.

I make this dressing probably more than any other. It’s one of the easiest dressing recipes, yet it’s so flavorful and satisfying.

Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing mixture in mixing bowl.

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Recipe

  • Mayonnaise
  • Buttermilk
  • Dried basil
  • Garlic powder
  • Salt
  • Parmesan

Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing

How to Make Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing

  • Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk until well blended.
  • Pour into an airtight container and refrigerate 30 minutes. Serve over green salad.

Homemade Salad Dressing doesn’t get any easier!

Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing over green salad on plate.

Where’s the Fresh Basil?

The term “Pesto” in the dressing is kind of funny to me because there isn’t even fresh basil in it but I stuck with the name all the same.

I love the signature flavor of the dried basil in the dressing and actually wouldn’t recommend substituting fresh here.

Can I Use the Buttermilk Substitute?

I don’t recommend using the milk + vinegar/lemon juice substitute for the buttermilk. I’ve tried and it doesn’t quite taste the same. Unfortunately.

Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing

I also love this dressing on a salad with chicken – for more of a main dish instead of a side dish. But it’s also perfect on a side salad to go with your spaghetti.

More Salad Dressing Recipes You’ll Love

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Spaghetti Factory Creamy Pesto Dressing
4.75 from 20 votes

The Old Spaghetti Factory’s Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing Copycat

This rich and creamy dried basil Pesto Salad Dressing tastes just like the Old Spaghetti Factory's! It's perfect over a simple crisp green salad. It only takes minutes to make and calls for a few simple ingredients!
Servings: 6
Prep6 minutes
Ready in: 6 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk until well blended.
  • Pour into an airtight container and refrigerate 30 minutes. Serve over green salad.

Notes

  • *Don't use stale dried basil (as in one that has been sitting in the cupboard for a year or two). A fresher pack is best. This is also delicious with fresh basil, 1/3 cup finely chopped.
  • **I use the the pokey side of a box grater to get the fine grate. Just be careful. Also store bought grated parmesan such as Kraft can be used as well when in a rush.
Nutrition Facts
The Old Spaghetti Factory’s Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing Copycat
Amount Per Serving
Calories 150 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 11mg4%
Sodium 200mg9%
Potassium 37mg1%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 50IU1%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 74mg7%
Iron 0.3mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Leave a Comment

Rate this recipe




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

80 Comments

  • Gmail QA

    Gonna try this salad dressing, our salad dressing is always mayonnaise with apple cider vinegar. Thank you for sharing the recipe!

  • Stacy

    I am soooo not a chef but I love this dressing & it seemed so easy to make, I thought I would give it a shot. It’s spot on!! Thank you for sharing! We can finally have a decent salad with our meal without using a store bought dressing! I recommend 200 percent!

  • Chelsi

    Really love old spaghetti factory sad they closed ours down but there dressing is amazing! This is perfect !

  • Sherry

    Excellent recipe! Exactly like OSF’s creamy pesto dressing that I love so much!! I can’t wait till dinner..thank you!!

  • Tricia Telio

    Yummy..I just made it..super easy..I tried three little tastes out of curiosity.. Delicious..I’m planning to dip toasted sourdough bread in mine in an hour..My mouth is watering. Thank you for sharing your yummy recipe. I appreciate it

  • Shelley

    I really want to find the House Italian dressing from the Spaghetti Factory ..does anyone know it?

    Desperately Seeking

  • Stacey

    The only problem with this recipe is, if you dont put in Pesto this is NOT creamy Pesto dressing. The Basil and garlic are not what makes it “Pesto.” the main ingrediant in Pesto is pine nuts and also contians Basil, Garlic and Olive Oil.You can buy jars of pesto in the pasta isle and you add that to the mayo and buttermilk.

    • Heather

      I was also looking for the “Pesto” as it doesn’t have pine nuts in it or olive oil.

      • Jaclyn

        Jaclyn Bell

        Yeah I’m not exactly sure why they call it this at spaghetti factory, especially considering it’s dried basil instead of fresh but I just went with their name so people would know what it was :).

  • Lou

    HELP. I want to make this using my great fresh lemon basil plant. You use only dried — what would the ratio be if I use fresh?

    This is our fave dressing. So happy to find it.

    Lou

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      The general rule is that you triple the amount for fresh so that’s probably what I’d do here.