Decoding the Flavor: What are the ingredients in Olive Garden Italian seasoning?

October 24, 2025 •

3 min read

Did you know that many restaurant-style seasonings contain more than just simple herbs and spices? This in-depth guide reveals exactly what are the ingredients in Olive Garden Italian seasoning, exploring the unique mix that creates its signature flavor profile and its nutritional implications.

Quick Summary

The official Olive Garden Italian seasoning includes a blend of salt, garlic, spices, and sherry wine powder, along with anti-caking agents. Understanding these components helps assess its nutritional profile, particularly sodium content, and replicate the flavor at home.

Key Points

Official Ingredients: The packaged seasoning contains salt, spices (like dehydrated garlic and onion), sherry wine powder, and anti-caking agents.
High Sodium Content: Salt is the primary ingredient in the official blend, making its sodium level a key nutritional consideration, especially for low-sodium diets.
Seasoning vs. Dressing: The dry seasoning is distinct from the restaurant's creamy liquid dressing, which contains ingredients like oil, eggs, cheese, and high fructose corn syrup.
Homemade Alternative: A healthier homemade version can be made by combining dried oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, and a small amount of salt, giving you control over additives and sodium.
No Additives: Making your own seasoning allows you to avoid processed ingredients like anti-caking agents and natural flavors found in the commercial product.
Customizable Flavor: A homemade blend can be adjusted to your personal taste, increasing or decreasing the prominence of certain herbs to suit your preferences.

The Official List: What's Really Inside

The packaged Olive Garden Italian seasoning blend contains several ingredients beyond traditional herbs. Understanding this list is useful for those interested in nutrition and food composition.

The Components of the Packaged Seasoning

The dry, bottled seasoning lists the following ingredients:

Salt: This is the main ingredient and contributes significantly to the sodium content.
Spices: This general term includes various seasonings, likely traditional Italian herbs.
Dehydrated Garlic and Onion: These provide concentrated, savory flavors.
Sherry Wine Powder: This ingredient, often made with maltodextrin and sherry wine solids, adds a unique depth.
Red Bell Pepper: Included for color and a mild sweetness.
Natural Flavors: Used to enhance taste.
Silicon Dioxide: An anti-caking agent.
Sulfites: Preservatives that may come from the sherry wine powder.

Nutrition and Additives

The high sodium content from the salt is a key nutritional point to consider, especially for those managing their sodium intake. Ingredients like maltodextrin and natural flavors classify this blend as a processed food.

The Difference: Seasoning vs. Dressing

The dry seasoning should not be confused with the restaurant's liquid Signature Italian Dressing. The bottled dressing contains a different set of ingredients, including water, oil, high fructose corn syrup, and various thickeners and flavorings, resulting in a distinct nutritional profile high in fat and sugar.

The Home Cook's Alternative: A Healthier Copycat Recipe

Creating a homemade version of Italian seasoning offers control over ingredients, sodium, and additives, making it a healthier option.

Recipe for a Fresher Blend

A simple homemade blend can include:

Dried herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and parsley.
Garlic and onion powder.
A small amount of salt, adjustable to preference.
Optional celery salt and red pepper flakes.

Combine these ingredients in a jar. For a touch of tang similar to the sherry wine powder, consider adding a hint of citric acid or white wine vinegar to your dish.

Comparison Table: Official vs. Homemade Seasoning


Feature	Official Olive Garden Seasoning	Homemade Copycat Blend
Key Ingredients	Salt, Spices, Dehydrated Garlic/Onion, Sherry Wine Powder, Red Bell Pepper	Dried Herbs (Oregano, Basil, etc.), Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Salt, Optional Red Pepper Flakes
Sodium Content	High; salt is the primary ingredient.	Fully adjustable; you control the amount of salt added.
Additives	Contains anti-caking agents (Silicon Dioxide) and natural flavors.	Additive-free; contains only the herbs and spices you choose.
Tang Flavor	Uses sherry wine powder for a distinct, processed tang.	Can add tang via vinegar or citric acid directly to the food, offering a fresher profile.
Versatility	Ready to use for a specific flavor profile.	Highly customizable; can adjust herbs and spices to personal preference.

Conclusion

The ingredients in Olive Garden Italian seasoning include salt, spices, dehydrated garlic and onion, sherry wine powder, and additives like silicon dioxide. While it offers a convenient flavor, its high sodium and processed nature are important nutritional considerations. A homemade blend provides a healthier, customizable alternative, allowing you to control ingredients and sodium content. For those seeking healthier flavor options, exploring homemade spice blends is highly recommended.

For further information on making your own spice blends, resources like The Mediterranean Dish offer great recipes and guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the dry Italian seasoning blend is not the same as the powder used to make the liquid dressing. The packaged dry seasoning is a mix of salt, garlic, spices, and sherry wine powder, while the bottled Signature Italian Dressing is a liquid containing oil, vinegar, eggs, and cheese.

Sherry wine powder is a dehydrated form of sherry wine that adds a unique, tangy, and complex flavor to the seasoning blend. It is often created using maltodextrin, modified corn starch, and sherry wine solids.

The official ingredient list does not list gluten as an ingredient, and some product labels may indicate it is gluten-free. However, it is always recommended to check the specific product packaging for the most current information and allergen warnings.

A great homemade substitute can be made by combining dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and dried parsley. This allows you to control the sodium and avoid additives.

To reduce sodium, you can create a homemade blend and simply use less salt, or substitute part of the salt with a potassium chloride-based salt substitute. This gives you full control over the final sodium level.

Yes, the official Olive Garden Italian seasoning lists silicon dioxide as an ingredient, which is an anti-caking agent added to prevent the dry powder from clumping together.

While the dry seasoning blend does not appear to contain any animal products, the official ingredient list is a processed blend with additives. For a truly vegan option, a homemade seasoning blend made from pure herbs and spices is the best choice.