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This quick and easy Homemade Thousand Island Dressing is creamy, chunky, tangy, and a thousand times better than any store-bought version. Make this not-so-secret “secret sauce” in less than 5 minutes, add it to salads and burgers, or use it as a delicious dipping sauce.
How is it that something so simple can taste so good? Made with a delicious blend of mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, and a handful of pantry staples, consider this homemade 1000 island dressing a gentle nudge (or friendly reminder) to put back the store-bought dressing. Thousand Island dressing is one of the easiest salad dressings to make from scratch. Just mix the ingredients together in a bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. That’s it! The result is your very own super creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet “special sauce” that’s great on burgers, sandwiches (Reuben, anyone?), this everyday house salad, or as a dipping sauce.
The Secret to Flavorful Thousand Island Dressing
Want to know the key to making the best Thousand Island dressing? Don’t skip the chill time—it’s one of the most important (and most overlooked) steps when making homemade Thousand Island dressing. While the ingredients come together quickly, the flavor really develops and deepens as it sits. Chilling the dressing for at least 30 minutes gives the mayo time to absorb the acidity of the vinegar, the sweetness from the relish, and the subtle heat from the seasonings. It allows everything to mellow, meld, and balance.
Bonus: Your homemade Thousand Island dressing also thickens slightly as it chills, making it perfect for spreading, dipping, or drizzling. If you can make it a few hours ahead—or even the day before—it’s even better the next day.
Thousand Island Dressing Ingredients
What’s in Thousand Island dressing? My recipe calls for mayo, ketchup, some minced onion and relish. Tie it all together with a little vinegar (or lemon juice), paprika, salt, and pepper. That’s it!
Swaps and Additions
- You can substitute regular mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or vegan mayo for a lighter or vegan option. Note that using Greek yogurt will taste considerably less rich and creamy.
- Swap some of the ketchup for chili sauce for a tangier, slightly spicier flavor.
- Use dill relish or finely chopped dill pickles if you prefer a less sweet dressing. Use jalapeño relish or minced pickled jalapeños for a tangy spicy kick.
- The original Thousand Island dressing included finely minced hard-boiled egg for a richer texture. If you plan to enjoy your homemade dressing within a few days, give it a go (beyond that, the hard-boiled eggs start to smell a little funky).
- Add a dash of Tabasco sauce or Sriracha to spice it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While both are creamy and ketchup-based, Russian dressing is typically spicier and tangier, often made with horseradish and chili sauce. Thousand Island is milder and sweeter, thanks to the addition of relish or chopped pickles.
Stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container, it will stay fresh for up to 5–7 days. Always give it a quick stir before using.
No, freezing is not recommended. Once thawed, the mayo base may separate, resulting in a grainy or broken texture.
Yes, it’s gluten-free; use gluten-free ketchup and relish. It is not vegan because the mayo contains eggs. To make this recipe vegan, swap regular mayo for vegan mayo.
Thousand Island Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- 2 tablespoon finely minced white onion
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your preference.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings to your preference, then cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve as a dressing, dip, or sandwich spread.
Notes
- Yield and servings: This recipe makes approx. 1 cup of dressing, or 8 servings (2 tablespoons per serving).
- Make it chunky or smooth: For a smoother texture, blend the dressing in a food processor. Prefer it chunky? Just mix by hand and leave the onion and relish as-is.
- Add heat: Stir in a dash of hot sauce or finely chopped pickled jalapeños for a spicy kick.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Stir well before each use.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
For more delicious and creamy salad dressings, don’t miss my Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing, Sweet and Tangy Poppyseed Dressing, Classic Buttermilk Ranch, and bold, flavor-packed Chipotle Ranch Dressing—each one made from scratch and perfect for salads, sandwiches, and dipping.
