Can you substitute a vinaigrette for Italian dressing in a recipe?

You could substitute Italian dressing and flour for use in the ranch chicken recipe, but without the breadcrumbs you won't have anywhere near the same texture. It'll be good, but not the same.

Italian dressing is basically oil and vinegar, or oil and lemon juice, like a vinaigrette dressing. Ranch dressing is a creamy dressing, completely unlike vinaigrette.

You could marinate chicken pieces in any sort of bought or home-made Italian dressing, in a dish or plastic bag: leave for at least an hour, or overnight. Preheat the oven to 175C (350F), oil a pan with a little olive oil, drain the chicken and bake, turning now and then, for an hour, or until the juices run clear when pierced to the bone or at the thickest part.

*Use proportions of about six chicken breasts (halves) to two cups (500ml or 16oz) dressing.

*When the chicken is drained from the marinade you could dredge it in flour (put flour in a plastic bag and shake a couple of chicken pieces at a time) before baking.

*A salad, with Italian dressing, and crusty bread, would be a good accompaniment. You could also bake peeled and halved potatoes in with the chicken.

*It might be a good idea to give the dish a different name, because anyone expecting ranch chicken will be surprised and maybe disappointed to find themselves served something that, however delicious, isn't ranch chicken.

Don't use the Word 'ranch' at all, to avoid misleading your family or guests. You might call it Italian baked chicken, or put your own name to it.