Thousand Island Dressing

This Thousand Island Dressing recipe is flavorful, creamy, and ready in 5 minutes! Mayonnaise, ketchup, sour cream, and relish combine to make the perfect dressing or sauce to add a tangy kick to your favorite dishes. Spread this on burgers or sandwiches, drizzle on a salad, or leave it as is for a dip.

Salad dressing, sauce, or delicious dip… this Homemade Thousand Island can do it all!!

What starts off with a few condiments, some mayonnaise, ketchup, and sour cream; gets zhuzhed up a bit with sweet pickle relish, vinegar and garlic. (Much like this Secret Sauce I use on burgers!)

Most store-bought brands are loaded with tons of sugar and unhealthy oils.

But not this one. When you make it at home you can control exactly what ingredients go into your sauce.

This Thousand Island Dressing goes fantastic on this Reuben in a Bowl. Or try it on a traditional Reuben sandwich, drizzle it atop some Instant Pot Corned Beef or add to a Corned Beef Hash.

Honestly, you can’t go wrong putting this sweet and tangy dressing on any dish.

Ingredients

The simple ingredients needed to make this homemade Thousand Island Dressing include:

• Mayonnaise. Duke’s and Hellman’s are the preferred brands. You can also mix it up with miracle whip or even a vegan mayo, but that will affect the flavor.
• Ketchup. Any ketchup you have on hand will work. Try to avoid those that contain high fructose corn syrup for a healthier option.
• Sour Cream. For the right tang definitely don’t skip on this. Use Tofutti for a dairy-free alternative.
• Relish. Sweet pickle relish is best for a classic taste. Dill relish is a good option if you don’t want the added sugar.
• Worcestershire. A must for the umami flavor with a hint of molasses and vinegar.
• Vinegar. White wine is recommended, but apple cider vinegar can also be used.
• Onion. You want it very, very finely minced. Sweet is best, but a white onion will work well, too.
• Paprika. Regular paprika is in this recipe, but you can also mix in smoked paprika for more of a kick.
• Garlic. Fresh garlic cloves create the best results, but ½-teaspoon of garlic powder can be substituted.

How to Make Thousand Island Dressing

The basic steps for making Thousand Island Dressing are easy to follow. See the recipe card for more detailed ingredient amounts.

Combine Everything

Collect all of your ingredients. Add mayo, ketchup, sour cream, relish, Worcestershire, vinegar, onion, paprika, and garlic to a medium bowl.

Save time and dishes by preparing the dressing in the container you will store it in.

Whisk Away

Once everything is in the bowl, whisk well.

Don’t be afraid to use a little elbow grease here. You want everything well combined. The flavors will really marry if the dressing is thoroughly mixed.

Let it Chill

Tightly cover dressing and place in the fridge. This dressing is best served after chilling for a couple of hours, but a day or more is best. It will hold in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Serve it Up

The real question is what CAN’T you serve it with? Much like a Spicy Sriracha Mayo, this flavor-packed sauce pairs well with a TON of dishes.

As a dip with Baked Sweet Potato Fries, Air Fryer French Fries, or Baked Potato Wedges.

As a sauce for this Reuben in a Bowl, these Maryland Crab Cakes, or Crispy Zucchini Fritters. It would be fantastic on this Corned Beef Hash, as well.

And of course, as a salad dressing! You can even swap out the honey mustard in this Chicken Cobb Salad.

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead: This sauce is best when prepared up to 24 hours in advance to allow the flavors to meld. Plus, it will save you time.
• To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks if using fresh garlic. The dressing will keep for 1 month if garlic powder is used.
• To Freeze: This is not recommended as separation will occur.

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already gluten-free, vegetarian, and low-carb as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:

• Vegan – Use a plant-based mayonnaise, sour cream, and Worcestershire sauce.
• Keto – Substitute the ketchup for one without any added sugar.
• Gluten-free – Ensure all of the ingredients are gluten-free. Gluten hides in many things, like Worcestershire sauce!
• Dairy-free – Opt for a dairy-free sour cream.

FAQs

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Make it vegan. Use a plant-based mayonnaise, sour cream, and Worcestershire sauce.
• Mince it fine. Avoid big chunks of onion for a creamier texture.
• Sweet is key. Use sweet relish to balance out the tanginess of the dressing.
• Double it up. Make a big batch with garlic powder and store for up to 1 month.
• Let it rest. Allowing the dressing to sit in the fridge for at least a few hours gives the flavors a chance to come together.

Other Dressing Recipes

Homemade dressings are surprisingly simple to make, and so much healthier for you than the store-bought version. Try one of these next!

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Balsamic Vinaigrette

Olive Garden Italian Dressing

Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing

Lemon Tahini Salad Dressing

Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes