Thousand Island Dressing is a classic American condiment that’s delicious on salads, burgers, ruebens, and more! It’s perfectly creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet. Today, I’m giving y’all a healthy twist on the traditional thousand island dressing recipe. My version is gluten free, dairy free, and soy free. It only takes a few minutes to whip up a large batch for the week and much healthier than store-bought options!
Why Homemade Thousand Island Dressing Is Better
Here’s why you should make your thousand island dressing at home instead of buying it at the store.
- It’s Healthier. Most store bought dressings contain soybean oil as the main ingredients along with a slew of other ingredients, such as preservatives, thickeners, and additives. By making it at home, you’re able to control exactly what ingredients you add and the amount in which you add them.
- It’s Cheaper. Although I opt for higher quality ingredients in my homemade thousand island dressing, such as avocado mayonnaise, it still comes out cheaper in the long run.
- It Tastes Better. Fresh is always best!

Thousand Island Dressing Recipe Ingredients
You only need a handful of ingredients to make this dressing and you may already have them in your pantry.
- Avocado Mayonnaise. This gives us that creamy texture without having to use other types of oils and thickeners. Opt for an avocado mayonnaise that’s high quality with minimal ingredients, such as the one from Chosen Foods.
- Ketchup and Tomato Paste. These give the dressing that tangy, slightly tomato flavor. Opt for a high quality ketchup, such as Primal Foods Ketchup.
- Raw Honey. The best tasting thousand island dressing always has a hint of sweetness.
- Apple Cider Vinegar. To add a bit more tang, add a splash of ACV!
- Pickled Relish. Whether you choose regular or sweet, pickled relish is a must when making thousand island dressing. Personally, I love the sweet one. I like the organic lines from Sprouts or the Woodstock brand.

How to Make Thousand Island Dressing
It’s a very simple dressing recipe that you can whip up in minutes.
- Mix. Add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Water. Add a few tablespoons of water to thin out the consistency to your liking.
- Chill. Let it chill in the fridge for a few hours and enjoy!
Storage and Tips
- Storage. Keep this salad dressing stored in the fridge until ready to serve.
- Freezer. This salad is not freezer friendly because of the mayonnaise base.
- Gluten Free. Yes, this salad dressing is gluten free.
- Dairy Free. Yes, this salad dressing is dairy free.

More Healthy Salad Dressings and Dips
If you’re on the search for more healthy salad dressing recipes and healthy dips, here’s a few of my favorites.
- Homemade Ranch Dressing (dairy free)
- Cilantro Lime Dressing (dairy free and vegan)
- Buffalo Cheese Dip (high protein and gluten free)
- Homemade Avocado Mayonnaise (use as a base to all creamy salad dressings)

Thousand Island Dressing (dairy free)
Video
Ingredients
- 1/2 C. plus 1 Tbsp of Avocado Mayo (homemade avocado mayo recipe)
- 1 Tbsp Ketchup (I like Primal Kitchen)
- 1 Tbsp Tomato Paste
- 1/2 tsp Raw Honey
- 1/2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 3-4 Tbsp Regular or Sweet Pickled Relish (I like Woodstock or Sprouts brand)
- 3 Tbsp Water
Instructions
- Add all ingredients, except the water, to a mixing bowl and whisk until fully combined.
- Add the water one tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Transfer to a glass storage jar and keep in the fridge until ready to serve.



