Creamy, tangy and a little sweet, Homemade Thousand Island Dressing is way better than store bought. It’s great on salads, burgers and as a french fry dip! 

Have you ever made a salad for dinner and gone to the fridge only to realize that you’re out of dressing? This has happened to me on more than one occasion and that is why I figured out how to make my own.

Overhead photo of thousand island dressing on a wooden spoon with a wooden background and salad.

Whether it is a garlic vinaigrette, buttermilk ranch or honey mustard, you can always make your own dressing with just a few pantry ingredients. The same goes for Homemade Thousand Island Dressing. You only need a handful of ingredients that you probably already have on hand.

What is Thousand Island Dressing made of?

The main ingredients in Thousand Island Dressing are mayonnaise and ketchup. These give you the creamy, sweet flavor that you think of when you think of 1000 island.

Ingredients for Thousand Island Dressing in a white bowl.

It also has vinegar, sweet pickle relish, paprika, onions and salt.

Some recipes call for hardboiled eggs but I prefer it without. Plus, I don’t always have hard boiled eggs handy and it’ll last a bit longer in the fridge without them.

A jar of homemade thousand island dressing

How do you make homemade dressing?

Guys, it could not be easier. Seriously. All you need to do is put all of the ingredients into the bowl and mix it together. That’s it!

Thousand Island Dressing in a white bowl on wooden cutting board.

I like to make it a few hours in advance because I think it tastes a bit better the longer that it has to sit.

What do you use 1000 Island Dressing for?

Well obviously, salad is always an option. But did you know that the “secret sauce” on many of your favorite restaurant burgers is, in fact, thousand island dressing?  Yep! Big Mac’s, your favorite Tavern Style Burgers and those with “Pub sauce”. It’s all thousand island.

Thousand Island Dressing on a green salad on a white plate.

If you love making your own dressing, you might like making other condiments too. Here are some of my favorites!

Habanero Hot Sauce 

Horseradish Cream Sauce 

Garlic Aioli 

Tomato Jam 

Easy Hollandaise Sauce

 

Homemade Thousand Island Dressing
5m
Prep
5m
Total

Servings

1

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons sweet relish
  • 3 teaspoons minced onion
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar

Instructions

  1. Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl until mixed well.
  2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  3. Store leftovers, covered in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories
141
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 584mg 25%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 1g
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
★★★★★ 5.0 (6 reviews)
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Whether it is cooking it, eating it, shopping for it or watching TV about it, food is one of my favorite things.

6 Reviews

  1. Sandra May 10, 2020

    I love this! Homemade is really the best!

  2. Cathy May 8, 2020

    My family loved this! Not nearly as sweet as store bought… and so much more delicious!

  3. Sara Welch May 8, 2020

    One of my favorite dressings! I made this last night and used it on some buns for burgers; hands down delicious!

  4. Catalina May 8, 2020

    This dressing will be a great addition to my dinner! Yum!

  5. Jacque Hastert May 8, 2020

    I love that this is creamy, tangy, and sweet! This is perfect over salads, on top of sandwiches, and a veggie dip.

  6. Jen May 7, 2020

    Thanks for saving the day! I had everything on hand to whip this up. Love it!

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