Thousand Island Dressing

Thousand Island Dressing

A creamy, thick homemade Thousand Island dressing that is made the traditional way with common pantry ingredients.

I love making my own homemade condiments. You can control the ingredients and come up with the tastiest dressing to use on salads.

Making your own condiments is especially important if you have a food allergy or sensitivity.

Thousand Island Dressing Ingredients

A few simple ingredients are needed to make this tangy salad dressing.

• some mayonnaise
• ketchup
• celery seed
• a few boiled eggs
• onion powder
• pickle relish
• salt

How to Make Thousand Island Dressing

Remove the shells from the hardboiled eggs. Mash the hardboiled eggs until the pieces are small.

Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.  

Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

How to use Thousand Island dressing

This dressing is not just for salads! You can use it as a dip for veggies, a sauce on burgers, and sandwiches like Reubens.

Why are there boiled eggs in Thousand Island dressing?

There are boiled eggs in the traditional Thousand Island dressing recipe. The boiled eggs are used to thicken the dressing.

Can I skip adding the boiled eggs to Thousand Island dressing?

Yes, you can skip adding boiled eggs to Thousand Island dressing. The dressing might be a little runnier, but it will still taste great!

How to store homemade Thousand Island dressing

Store homemade Thousand Island dressing in your refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. I recommend writing the date you made it on some tape and sticking it to the lid.

How long does homemade Thousand Island dressing last?

Homemade Thousand Island dressing lasts up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Why do they call it 1000 island dressing?

Thousand Island dressing was named after the place it was created, Thousand Islands, New York.

In the early 20th century, Sophie Lalonde, who was a fishing guide’s wife, made the dressing to go with her husband’s dinner.

Somehow, actress May Irwin tasted it and liked it so much that she requested the recipe.

Then Irwin served the condiment with a meal to George Boldt, the owner of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York.

Boldt loved it so much that he had it added to the hotel’s menu immediately. (source)

What does Thousand Island dressing taste like?

Thousand Island dressing has a creamy texture with a tangy and sweet taste. When this condiment is homemade you can adjust the taste to make it tangier, or sweeter, or even add some spice to it!

Is Thousand Island dressing the same as Big Mac Sauce?

No, Thousand Island dressing is not the same as Big Mac Sauce. Both sauces look the same but Thousand Island dressing has ketchup in it and Big Mac sauce does not.

You can use it as a sauce on your burgers if you want.

Does Thousand Island dressing have dairy?

No, Thousand Island dressing does not contain dairy. It does have mayonnaise and eggs, which might confuse someone to think it includes dairy. Eggs are not considered dairy.

Does Thousand Island dressing have eggs?

Yes, Thousand Island dressing has eggs. The base of this dressing is made with mayonnaise and some recipes use boiled eggs to thicken the sauce. Using boiled eggs is part of the traditional way to make Thousand Island dressing.

Is Thousand Island dressing gluten free?

Yes, normally Thousand Island dressing is gluten free. I checked many brands and read the ingredient labels and they were all naturally gluten free. Always read the ingredient label if you are purchasing this salad dressing.

Some homemade versions of Thousand Island dressing are not gluten free because they added Worchester sauce, which is not gluten free.

My recipe for Thousand Island dressing is gluten free.

Is Thousand Island dressing keto?

No, Thousand Island dressing that is bought at a grocery store is not keto. You can make the salad dressing keto by making it yourself and selecting keto-friendly ingredients.

For this recipe, you would need to use keto-friendly no-sugar added ketchup and a no-sugar added relish.

More homemade condiments

• 5-Minute Maple BBQ Sauce
• Simple Salad Dressing
• Mango Salad Dressing
• Peach BBQ Sauce
• Dairy Free Caramel Sauce
• Sauce for Ham

Are you confused about which condiments are safe to eat on a gluten free diet? Read my article: Are Your Condiments Gluten-Free?

Thousand Island Dressing Recipe

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