Thousand Island Dressing

This easy Thousand Island Dressing recipe is guaranteed to be a hit whenever it’s served. Use it as a salad dressing, sandwich spread or as a dip with your favorite fresh vegetables for snacking and entertaining.

Easy Thousand Island Dressing Recipe

Making your own Thousand Island Dressing is a cinch and so much better than store-bought. This creamy, tangy dressing comes together in minutes using simple pantry ingredients and delivers bold, classic flavor. Keep a jar chilled in the refrigerator so it’s always ready for quick meals, from layering on sandwiches and burgers to drizzling over salads. It also doubles as an irresistible dip for fresh veggies, crackers, and potato chips, making it a handy homemade staple you’ll reach for again and again.

Checkout this quick list of key ingredients you’ll need to make simple Thousand Island Dressing: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Mayo – Real mayonnaise thst’s not too sweet is best for this recipe.
• Chili Sauce – One jar of chili sauce (i.e. Heinz or similar) thins the dressing.
• Ketchup – Ketchup adds color and sweetness.
• Pickle Relish – Sweet pickle relish adds texture,
• Onion and Garlic – Finely diced sweet onion and one garlic clove expands the flavor profile.
• Egg – One large hard boiled egg.
• Horseradish – Prepared horseradish adds just a hint of spice to the taste.
• Spices – Lemon pepper, paprika and Worcestershire sauce.
• Liquid – You’ll also need buttermilk or whole milk to thin.

How to Make the BEST Thousand Island Dressing Recipe

• Prep the Mix-Ins – Mince the onion, garlic and egg.
• Make the Mayonnaise Mixture – Whisk together mayonnaise, chili sauce, ketchup, horseradish, lemon pepper, paprika and Worcestershire sauce.
• Add Mix-Ins – Add minced onion, pickle relish, egg and garlic, Stir to fully combine.
• Transfer to a Container – Place into a mason jar or similar airtight container and let the dressing chill.
• Serve – Enjoy on salads, as a sandwich spread or a vegetable dip.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Homemade Thousand Island Dressing

• Small bowl or medium bowl.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• Balloon whisk.
• Sharp knife and chopping board.
• Mason jar or container for storing.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Mayonnaise – You can lighten up this dressing using your favorite light mayonnaise in any brand that you enjoy. For us, it’s Duke’s mayonnaise, but your favorite brand will do. I prefer mayo over Miracle Whip for this recipe. Estimated nutrient facts are based on whole mayo feel free to adjust based on your desired daily value of intake.
• Finely Chop the Mix-Ins – When mincing the garlic, onion and hard boiled egg, chop them as finely as possible.
• Use Chili Sauce – The chili sauce in this recipe isn’t an Asian chili sauce. It’s like Heinz or you can use a similar private label store brand that you enjoy. You could even use cocktail sauce in a pinch in the same amount.
• Pickle Relish – I prefer sweet pickle relish in this thousand island dressing recipe. That said, if you lean more toward dill pickle relish, you can certainly adapt using that as an ingredient instead. It wouldn’t change the amount, but it will change the flavor.
• Adjust the Spice to Taste – Feel free to increase or decrease, the amount of prepared horseradish to suit your taste. I find 1/2 teaspoon is perfect as reflected in the recipe.
• Spice – You could replace the horseradish with a few dashes of hot sauce.
• Adjust the Thickness at the End – This dressing is thicker by design. I usually wait until the end of the recipe to decide if I want to thin the consistency or not depending on the mayonnaise used. Should you like to thin the dressing, add milk or buttermilk in small amounts until it reaches the consistency you like.

Storage and Leftovers

• Make-Ahead Tip – I recommend giving this dressing chill time to allow the flavors to fully marry. Plan on at least 4 hours in the fridge or even overnight, if time allows.
• Leftovers – You can store homemade Thousand Island Dressing for up to one week in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator.

More Dressings and Dipping Sauces to Make

• This sweet and tangy Poppy Seed Dressing is delicious drizzled over a fresh spinach salad.
• My copycat Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing is a better-for-you option you can make at home.
• My Mom’s Easy Coleslaw Dressing is simply dreamy.
• Garlic and Herb Buttermilk Dressing is like an elevated homemade Ranch dressing.
• This fresh Green Goddess Dressing recipe is packed with the bright flavor of fresh herbs.
• Make your own Caesar salad with this homemade Caesar Salad Dressing recipe for your next Italian night at home.
• Jalapeno Ranch Dressing is perfect for salads, tacos or dipping.
• Homemade Raspberry Dressing from a Mind Full Mom.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Set
• Whisks
• Chopping Boards