Catalina Dressing - Homemade Hooplah (2025)

With a sweet blend of oil, ketchup, sugar, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings, this catalina dressing is ideal for salads and grilled meats.

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Catalina Dressing - Homemade Hooplah (1)

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  • About Catalina Dressing
  • What is Catalinadressing?
  • Catalina dressing vs French dressing
  • How long is catalina dressing good for?
  • Can you freeze catalina dressing?
  • More delicious sauce recipes
  • How to make Catalina dressing
  • More flavorful sauces
  • Recipe Details

About Catalina Dressing

When the warmer months are approaching, I always try to keep a few fresh salad dressing options in the fridge, and this Catalina dressing is one of the newest additions to my rotation.

It’s the idea garnish for summer salads or even grilled meats!

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that I’ve recently fallen in love with taco pasta salad and this dressing just happens to be a key ingredient.

What is Catalinadressing?

Catalina dressing has a sweet tomato flavor with a thin (yet slightly creamy) texture. It’s best served with classic garden salads, pasta salads, and burgers.

Catalina dressing vs French dressing

While these two dressings are similar in look and texture, there are a few key differences.

French dressing typically refers to a dressing with an oil-and-vinegar base with hints of mustard and seasonings. The store-bought versions are usually creamy and have a light orange in color.

On the other hand, Catalina dressing tends to be thinner and has a bold red hue. And though it also has an oil-and-vinegar base, the sweet flavor has hints of tomato and the spices aren’t as potent.

Catalina Dressing - Homemade Hooplah (2)

How long is catalina dressing good for?

Once prepared, this dressing can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Can you freeze catalina dressing?

Yes, you can freeze catalina dressing – but be prepared for the ingredients to separate a little during the freezing and thawing process. This should be easily fixed by whisking or blending the ingredients again once the dressing has thawed.

Once frozen in a sealed container or freezer bag, catalina dressing can be frozen for up to three months.

Notes & tips for catalina dressing

  • This dressing must be blended, and while you could use a whisk to get the job done, I highly recommend using a hand mixer or food processor instead.

More delicious sauce recipes

How to make Catalina dressing

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – Put all of the following ingredientsin a bowl (if using a hand mixer) or in the bowl of your food processor:canola oil, ketchup, sugar, red wine vinegar, onion powder, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.

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Step 2 – Mix ingredients thoroughly, until the oil is incorporated with the other ingredients. I typically keep mixing until the sauce appears thickened and bubbles begin to form while mixing.

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Step 3 – Serve and enjoy!

Notes & tips for this Catalina salad dressing recipe

  • As mentioned above, you can use either ahand mixeror a food processorto mix this dressing together. I prefer to use a hand mixer for easier cleanup, but either method will work just as well.

More flavorful sauces

  • Homemade Marshmallow Fluff
  • Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
  • Catalina Dressing
  • Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • Chamoy Rim Paste
  • Strawberry Syrup

Recipe Details

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Catalina Dressing - Homemade Hooplah (23)

4.14 from 22 votes

Catalina Dressing

5 minutes mins prep

127 kcal

Yields: 10 servings (2 tbsp per)

With a sweet blend of oil, ketchup, sugar, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings, this catalina dressing is ideal for salads and grilled meats.

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

  • 1/2 cup canola oil

  • 1/4 cup ketchup

  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika

  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 pinch salt, to taste

  • 1 pinch black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, add canola oil, ketchup, sugar, red wine vinegar, onion powder, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.

  • Using a hand mixer, blend ingredients together until oil appears incorporated. Sauce is ready when it appears thicker and bubbles easily form while mixing.

  • Serve dressing immeciately. TIP: Before serving, shake dressing thoroughly.

Notes

Recipe makes roughly 1 1/3 cup dressing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 127kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 28mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

I do my best to provide nutrition information, but please keep in mind that I’m not a certified nutritionist. Any nutritional information discussed or disclosed in this post should only be seen as my best amateur estimates of the correct values.

Author: Chrisy

Catalina Dressing - Homemade Hooplah (2025)

FAQs

What is Catalina salad dressing made of? ›

Most Catalina dressings are made with a blend of ketchup, vinegar, sugar and oil. This recipe gets its zippy flavor from the addition of Worcestershire sauce, ground mustard and a dash cayenne pepper.

What is the difference in French dressing and Catalina dressing? ›

The basic distinction between the two is that Catalina contains more ketchup, less oil, and usually fewer spices than French dressing, making for a deeper red-orange color. Because French dressing has more oil, it tends to taste creamier and look a paler shade of orange.

What are the ingredients in Kraft Zesty Catalina dressing? ›

Ingredients : TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE), VINEGAR, WATER, SOYBEAN OIL, SUGAR, FRUCTOSE, SALT, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SPICES, PHOSPHORIC ACID, DRIED ONION, POTASSIUM SORBATE AND CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (TO PROTECT FLAVOR), XANTHAN GUM, GUAR GUM, DRIED GARLIC, SUCRALOSE, RED 40, BLUE 1.

What are the ingredients in Kraft Sweet Honey Catalina dressing? ›

Ingredients. Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Vinegar, Soybean Oil, Water, Sugar, Fructose, Honey, Salt, Contain Less than 2% of Modified Food Starch, Refiner's Syrup, Xanthan Gum, Dried Onion, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Sorbate and Calcium Disodium EDTA (to Protect Flavor), Sucralose, Red 40.

Is Catalina dressing high in sugar? ›

French or Catalina dressing contains 1048 calories per 250 g serving. This serving contains 98 g of fat, 2.2 g of protein and 47 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 44 g sugar and 6 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate.

Does Catalina dressing have egg? ›

This product is likely egg free. Which diet do you follow? Follow more than one?

Why did they stop making French dressing? ›

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration is revoking the standard of identity for French dressing in response to a citizen petition from the Association for Dressings and Sauces. The petitioners shared information documenting that the standard is outdated.

Is Russian dressing similar to Catalina? ›

A variant known as red Russian dressing is very much like Catalina or French dressing. In Germany, a similar salad dressing is called "American dressing".

Is Kraft Catalina French dressing? ›

Kraft Classic Catalina Dressing adds tangy, zesty flavor to almost anything. Bursting with tomato puree, vinegar and spices, our family favorite Catalina dressing delivers mouthwatering flavor in every bite. Pre-mixed for convenience, our dressing is ready to enjoy after a quick shake.

What does zesty Catalina Dressing taste like? ›

This is a slightly spicy dressing. It's great for salads or basting meat with.

What is hidden gluten in salad dressing? ›

Salad dressings can all harbor gluten. Common ingredients in salad dressing that contain gluten include malt flavoring, malt vinegar, and soy sauce made from wheat. Therefore, some salad dressings could be wheat free but not gluten free, as malt comes from barley.

What are the ingredients in Kraft Ranch salad dressing? ›

INGREDIENTS: SOYBEAN OIL, WATER, VINEGAR, SUGAR, EGG YOLKS, SALT, BUTTERMILK, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, GARLIC*, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, XANTHAN GUM, WHEY, PHOSPHORIC ACID, ONION*, POTASSIUM SORBATE AND CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (TO PROTECT FRESHNESS), SPICE, PARSLEY*, DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DISODIUM ...

What dressing is the same as Catalina? ›

Catalina dressing is similar to French dressing, but has less fat and more sugar.

Where did Catalina dressing come from? ›

Where does Catalina Dressing Come from? Most will say that Kraft Foods initially invented Catalina Salad Dressing, however, some say that it originated in Catalonia region in north east Spain, where they're known for for their sweet and savory foods.

What is Green Goddess Dressing Kraft? ›

Kraft Green Goddess Dressing adds cool, refreshing flavor to almost anything. Bursting with sour cream, vinegar and spices, this family favorite dressing for salad delivers deliciously creamy texture and zesty flavor in every bite.

What is Catalina flavor? ›

Tangy and sweet, Catalina dressing is a rusty red condiment made with a medley of ingredients like oil and vinegar along with ketchup and sugar. It's also common for additions like a sprinkle of cayenne, a dusting of mustard powder, or even a splash of Worcestershire sauce to be worked into recipes.

Is classic Catalina dressing vegan? ›

Kraft. That's right—even Kraft has “accidentally vegan” creamy salad dressings, including Classic or Zesty Catalina and Fat Free Creamy French. The Creamy Italian is also milk- and egg-free, but the variety made with olive oil isn't, so be sure to check the ingredients.

What is pasta salad dressing made of? ›

This easy pasta salad dressing is the perfect combination of mayonnaise, olive oil, and red wine vinegar to make a light and creamy dressing. Garlic, mustard, and herbs add a burst of flavor.

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