Classic Thousand Island Dressing

Name: Classic Thousand Island Dressing
Prep time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 cups mayonnaise (NOT salad dressing); 1/2 cup ketchup; 2 heaping tablespoons sweet pickle relish; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 2 tablespoons grated onion; salt and pepper to taste

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Homemade dressing is always the BEST way to show off fresh greens. This Classic Thousand Island Dressing, made in less than ten minutes, is creamy, tangy with a hint of sweetness and is not only wonderful on salads but also on burgers, sandwiches and as a dip!

A wooden spoon has been dipped into this rich, flavorful, creamy Thousand Island Dressing, and then set to the side as the dressing spills over the sides of the mason jar it's in.

This dressing has been a staple in my kitchen for years. I use it to dress my greens, of course, but it has so many other uses. It’s a must on my Slow Cooker Corned Beef Reubens and when grilling season starts, it’s the perfect topping for a juicy burger. It’s shown up at many a party as a dip with carrot and celery sticks, too. My personal favorite way to enjoy this yummy dressing is just to dunk a few pretzels in that creamy goodness. Now, the secret is out!

I call my recipe a “classic,” mostly because I’ve been making it for so long. It’s original name Thousand Island Dressing, has graced many a restaurant’s menu but you might also know it as “special sauce” or “secret sauce.” As far as the history of the recipe, it appears it was introduced in the early 1900’s. Not that any of this matters in the long run, it’s just kind of fun to know a bit about this yummy concoction since it’s just so stinking good!

A closeup of this creamy, flavorful thousand island dressing shows it's pale peach color as it spills over the sides of the mason jar.

Ingredients For Classic Thousand Island Dressing

Mayonnaise
Ketchup
Sweet pickle relish
Lemon juice
Grated onion
Salt and Pepper

How To Make This Recipe

Just one simple step and 5 minutes is all you’ll need to make this recipe!

Add all the ingredients to a small bowl, whisk to combine well. Transfer to a mason jar and store for up to a week.

People Often Ask…

Why Is It Called Thousand Island Dressing?

I actually didn’t know this until I wrote this recipe, but I encourage you to click here and read the full story for yourself, it’s fascinating!

“According to legend, George and Louise were out for a cruise on their steam yacht, and it was time for lunch. Greens were on the menu, but the Boldts’ chef forgot to bring any dressing with him onboard. So, he improvised with what was on hand — whipping together mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle relish, Worcestershire sauce and a hard-boiled egg. Voila! Thousand Island dressing was born.”

I am not kidding when I say this dressing goes well with so many other dishes. Once you make it you’ll know what I mean. Just let your imagination go wild…and grab some pretzels while you’re at it!

Other great recipes to serve with Thousand Island Dressing:

Classic 1000 Island Dressing made with mayonnaise, ketchup, relish and onion is a great topping for salads and is also a yummy dip!

4.34 from 3 votes