This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through those links (at no extra cost to you).
This homemade Thousand Island Dressing Recipe comes together in 5 minutes with just 5 ingredients. It’s thick, delicious, and perfect on your next salad.
What is Thousand Island Dressing?
Thousand Island dressing, or close variations thereof, goes by many names: “burger sauce,” “secret sauce,” “house sauce,” or even “spread” at In-N-Out. Despite the name, it’s pretty much always the same thing: an addictive blend of mayo and ketchup with pieces of vegetables like pickles, red onion, dill relish, or some other element with tang stirred in.
As a classically-trained chef, I was determined to nail down my own favorite “sauce.” My secret ingredient is bread and butter pickles because they add a little sweetness to balance out the garlic, ketchup, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Don’t substitute sweet pickle relish here because it it’s too watery for your dressing.
This homemade salad dressing is great on salads like Garden Salads or a Wedge Salad – anything with a crunchy green that can stand up to the thick texture. It’s also delicious smeared on a Cheeseburger or Reuben Sandwich and is also an essential element in Hot Rebuen Dip. And, it’s the perfect dipping sauce for French fries. Animal style, anyone?
Table of Contents
- What is Thousand Island Dressing?
- Thousand Island Dressing Recipe Ingredients
- How to make Thousand Island Dressing
- Thousand Island Dressing Recipe Tips
- 1000 Island Dressing Variations
- More like this recipe for Thousand Island Dressing:
- Homemade 1000 Island Dressing FAQs
- Homemade Thousand Island Dressing Recipe
Thousand Island Dressing Recipe Ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
- Mayonnaise: I love Best Yet/Hellman’s, but use your own favorite mayo. If you decide to substitute Miracle Whip, your dressing will be much sweeter, but that’s fine with me if it’s fine with you.
- Pickles: Sweet pickle relish sounds like an easy substitute, but it’s too heavy and wet in this dressing. For a more savory sauce, substitute dill pickles.
- Ketchup: Some recipes use chili sauce (such as Heinz chili sauce), so feel free to substitute that if you prefer.
- Lemon juice: Lime juice or white vinegar works here too.
- Garlic: Just 1 clove, and you can leave it out if you want to, or substitute 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Salt: You might not even need it here. I add just ½ teaspoon.
How to make Thousand Island Dressing
- In a small bowl or mason jar, add together mayonnaise, pickles, ketchup, lemon juice, garlic, and salt to taste (I like ½ teaspoon). Whisk or shake to combine.
- Use immediately or refrigerate up to 4 days.
Thousand Island Dressing Recipe Tips
- Yield: This recipe makes 1 ½ cups homemade dressing or 12 servings, 2 tablespoons each.
- Storage: Store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
1000 Island Dressing Variations
- More mix-ins: If you love an extra-chunky dressing, stir in 4 minced green olives (with pimientos) and/or 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley.
- Less sweet: To tone down the sweetness, use dill pickle relish instead of the sweet. To remove sugar entirely, choose a no-sugar ketchup.
- Spicy flavor: Turn up the heat in your dressing with hot sauce, fresh horseradish, sriracha, or cayenne pepper. A pinch of black pepper can go a long way, too.
More like this recipe for Thousand Island Dressing:
DIY dressings are always better than store-bought. Make your own Ranch Dressing, Blue Cheese Dressing, Creamy Cilantro-Lime dressing (made with Greek yogurt), Red Wine Vinaigrette, Balsamic Vinaigrette, or French dressing (which is a lot like Russian dressing).
Homemade 1000 Island Dressing FAQs
The fundamental components of Thousand Island dressing are mayonnaise, ketchup, and pickles, but everyone has their own special twist on this classic.
The original Thousand Island dressing was created at by a chef from Boldt Castle. The chef, Oscar Tschirky, forgot a salad dressing for his employer, and improvised with a quick mixture of mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, pickle relish, and a hard-boiled egg.
The ingredients in Thousand Island and Big Mac sauce are similar but different, and they are used in different ratios. Instead of ketchup, try French Dressing. Substitute white vinegar for the lemon juice, and add some minced white onion with the minced sweet pickles.
Put your dressing to work
Grilling and Smoker Recipes
Bacon Cheeseburgers
Sandwich Recipes
Rachel Sandwich
30 Minute Meals
Cheeseburger Quesadillas
Salad Recipes
Easy Garden Salad
Join Us
Homemade Thousand Island Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup bread and butter pickles finely chopped (see note 1)
- 1/4 cup ketchup (see note 2)
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice or white vinegar
- 1 clove garlic minced
- Salt optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, pickles, ketchup, lemon juice, garlic, and salt to taste (I like ½ teaspoon). Use immediately or refrigerate up to 4 days.
Notes
- Pickles: Sweet pickle relish sounds like an easy substitute, but it’s too heavy and wet in this dressing. Not recommended.
- Ketchup: Some recipes use chili sauce (such as Heinz chili sauce), so feel free to substitute that if you prefer.
- Yield: This recipe makes 1 ½ c. dressing or 12 servings, 2 Tbsp. each.
- Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
As billed! Delicious and fast! Easy to make KETO fit. THANKS!
Mayonnaise has eggs ls there a substitute for This ingredient
Or is there a mayo egg free on the market or a recipe where I can make my own. So happy you have this amazing web site. I prefer to make mine fresh due to sugar content thank you
Hi Patty! First of all, thank you so much for your kind words. Secondly, yes! They do make egg-free mayo. You just have to look for the mayo at the store labeled vegan, and it will be egg-free. I know they definitely carry it at Target, but you can probably find it at most grocery stores.
Great recipe to try! Thanks for sharing it with us.
This would be very good drizzled over deviled eggs immediately before serving, with chopped green onions!
I made this for Shrimp Louie. Extra garlic, combo lemon juice and vinegar, added finely chopped red onion. Wonderful. Thanks! Definitely try it on burgers, and will do the taco salad innovation!
My mom used to make a lot of her own salad dressings. She was a food preparer for a restaurant. She passed away 12 years ago and I lost her recipe book! Finding your blog page has been great, now I can make the dressings for my family! Thank you!!! Now, I have a question, have you ever made a recipe that was mashed potatoes with chopped beats in it? My mom used to say it was a Norweig Potato salad!! If you have, could you please post the recipe for it? I would truly love to have it!!!! Thank you!!!
Mmmm. I just can’t wait to make this dressing. And I’m stealing David’s ^^^ idea for taco salad as well.
Thanks Meggan!
Recipes states 1 minute cook time ? No cooking mentioned in instructions.
That number represents the total time it takes to make the recipe. It’s called cooking time but that is a misnomer. There is no way for me to change what the field is called. So sorry for the confusion. A correct title would be something like “recipe assembly time.” Thanks and sorry again.
Sarah: *salt optional*. It’d be five for me. 🙃
Great recipe! I do mine in small batches. Love it!
Dana dingies berry kidding right 😂 can you say thanks for the recipe I’m surprised you count what do you do for a encore lol….. Thank you for your recipe really appreciate you sharing it with us
There are actually 6 ingredients. The heading says five.