A homemade vinaigrette such as Italian dressing typically uses at least twice as much oil as vinegar. If you are looking for an Italian dressing substitute that is lower in fat, change this ratio and use equal parts oil and vinegar, or leave out the oil altogether. Add tomato juice or fat-free stock to make the dressing's flavor less aggressively acidic. If you're looking for an Italian dressing alternative that is healthier than the commercial options because it contains no preservatives, simply make a vinaigrette from scratch using two parts oil for each part vinegar, along with salt, dried herbs, and even a bit of prepared mustard or chopped shallot.

Use low-fat or nonfat yogurt as a substitute for creamy Italian dressing if you're looking for a healthier alternative. Seasoning the yogurt with Italian-style herbs such as basil and oregano will provide many of the flavors that you typically enjoy in creamy Italian dressing. To make a homemade substitute for commercial Italian dressing, use buttermilk or mayonnaise for creaminess, and season your dressing with Italian-style herbs and mustard.

Commercially made Italian dressing often uses low quality oils to save on ingredient costs. When making homemade Italian dressing, substitute extra virgin olive oil to add a flavor that gracefully complements Italian-style herbs such as basil and oregano. Flavorful vinegar substitutes such as balsamic vinegar and sherry vinegar can also improve your homemade Italian dressing.

A wide range of flavorful sauces can stand in for Italian dressing as a marinade for meat, chicken or vegetables. Chimichurri, an Argentinian sauce made from vinegar, oregano and red pepper flakes, works well as a marinade for steak, and lemon juice, olive oil and herbs makes a worthy Italian dressing substitute when used as a marinade for chicken.