Creamy Pesto Dressing recipe is an Old Spaghetti Factory Copycat. This creamy dressing with a hint of basil is a family favorite!
When my husband and I were dating Old Spaghetti Factory was a favorite of ours. We loved getting the Spaghetti with Browned Butter and Mizithra but the best part in our opinion was always the creamy pesto dressing. And now, I’m sharing this recipe so that we can all make our own at home!
Making my your own dressing is a money saver for sure. With just a handful of ingredients that you likely have on hand, you can make a plethora of homemade dressings. This creamy pesto is no different. It’s easy too!
What ingredients do you need to make creamy pesto dressing?
MAYONNAISE: This is a staple in a lot of creamy homemade dressings. It adds creaminess as well as a bit of oil and fat.
BUTTERMILK: The buttermilk thins this dressing out a bit and makes it pourable. It also gives it a touch of tanginess.
DRIED BASIL: This is where the “pesto” flavor comes from. Usually I am a huge fan of fresh basil, but this is one time you’re going to want to make sure to use dried. The flavor works better!
GRANULATED GARLIC: just a small amount to add a hint of garlic. You can substitute garlic powder if you like. Don’t use garlic salt because the parmesan will add plenty of saltiness.
PARMESAN CHEESE: Adds saltiness. Make sure you grate it fresh, it’s much better that way!
How do you make creamy pesto?
Oh my gosh. It’s so easy. Seriously. All you need to do is combine all of the ingredients together in a bowl and whisk until combined.
That’s it!
I prefer to refrigerate it for 30 minutes or so to let the flavors meld, but it’s not necessary!
Can you use this for other things besides salad?
Yes, salad is the main thing that we use creamy pesto dressing for. However, it’s also actually really good to dip bread in or to add to sandwiches.
Storing Leftovers:
This stuff goes pretty fast in our house because it’s my husband’s absolute favorite. If you don’t eat it as quickly as us though, it’ll last about a week or so in the fridge in a sealed container.
Want to make more homemade salad dressings like this Creamy Pesto? I have got you covered!
Homemade Thousand Island Dressing
Note: This post was originally published in 2009. It was updated with a modified recipe, photos and tips in 2022.
Servings
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 shredded parmesan
- 3 teaspoons dried basil
- 3/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients together in a bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
[…] Creamy Pesto Dressing is an Old Spaghetti Factory Copycat and one of my family’s favorite dressings. […]
Thank you!
Easy and tasty recipe!
Great to hear Laura! Thank you!
This was super delicious and really easy to make!
I am so happy to hear that! I don’t know much about the keto diet, but I’m glad this fits it!
This turned out great! I was looking for a creamy pesto dressing for a keto diet and this fits the bill perfectly!
I often go to lunch at The Old Spaghetti Factory!!! They are good for a satisfying, quick and cheap lunch :)
Lovely dip here, I’m afraid they don’t have it in the menu here :(
Maybe I can request it!
I love creamy pesto sauce too. This looks great.
Wow! This looks really good…
Oooh this sounds so dreamy…I’ve never been to the spaghetti factory, maybe me and boyfriend will check it out!
That seriously sounds so good to me. As soon as my basil plants are back with enough basil, I’m making this! ;)