Vegan Thousand Island Dressing Recipe

Name: Vegan Thousand Island Dressing Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup vegan mayo; 2 Tablespoons ketchup; 2 Tablespoons pickle relish ((sweet or dill)); 1 teaspoon lemon juice ((or substitute white wine vinegar)); ½ teaspoon paprika; salt and pepper (to taste)

Creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet, it's easy to make Vegan Thousand Island Dressing in minutes with only 5 ingredients. It's perfect on salads, sandwiches, and as a dipping sauce.

Special diet: gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free option, vegan

Plate of salad drizzled with dressing and jar of dressing behind it.

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So yummy! Tastes just like the traditional version, if not better!

- Jennifer

Nothing beats a versatile sauce or dressing when it comes to adding incredible flavor to your favorite dishes. And this Vegan Thousand Island Dressing is one I turn to often.

I love it on a big meal sized salad made with assorted greens, veggies, and pan fried chickpeas or walnut meat crumbles. Plus it's my favorite "secret sauce" for chickpea burgers. It can even stand in for vegan ranch as a dipping sauce for raw veggies and French fries.

And since it comes together in less than 5 minutes with only 5 ingredients you may already have in your kitchen, you can enjoy it whenever you want without splurging on store bought versions!

Jump to:

Why you'll love this recipe
Ingredients and substitutions
Variations
Instructions
Amy's tip
Serving suggestions
Storing
Recipe FAQs
More vegan dressing recipes
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💬 Comments

Why you'll love this recipe

It's incredibly creamy and flavorful yet only requires 5 ingredients (plus salt and pepper).
You can make it in 5 minutes and enjoy it right away.
It tastes wonderful on a variety of foods such as salads and sandwiches, and can be used as a dip.

Ingredients and substitutions

Jar of vegan mayo, bottle of ketchup, jar of pickle relish, jar of paprika, salt and pepper grinders, and a lemon on a kitchen counter.

Vegan mayo: Made without eggs, the ingredients among different brands of vegan mayo will vary. My favorite is Follow Your Heart's Vegenaise, which is available in different varieties such as Grapeseed Oil, Avocado Oil, and Soy-Free. I also like Trader Joe's Vegan Mayo Spread & Dressing made with avocado oil and aquafaba (chickpea liquid).

Pickle relish: While many recipes call specifically for sweet pickle relish, you can use either sweet or dill.

Lemon juice: If fresh lemon juice isn't available, bottled lemon juice or white wine vinegar can be substituted.

Paprika: While I use sweet paprika in this recipe, smoked or hot paprika can be used if you prefer your dressing to have a little kick.

Variations

Vegan Thousand Island Dressing is easy to customize to make it your own. Add any of the following ingredients, to taste.

Onions: If you enjoy onions in your dressing, minced sweet red or white onions can be added. Or use ½ teaspoon onion powder.

Chili sauce: For a spicy version, add a little Sriracha or your favorite hot sauce.

Other add-ins: Stir in chopped red bell pepper, black olives, or fresh chives.

Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete ingredients, measurements, and instructions.

Instructions

Ingredients in a mixing bowl and a bowl with the mixed up dressing.

Place the vegan mayo, ketchup, pickle relish, lemon juice, and seasonings in a small mixing bowl.
Mix with a spoon or fork until well combined. Use right away or refrigerate in an airtight container for later.

Amy's tip

After mixing, taste the dressing and adjust the seasonings, as needed.

Serving suggestions

Veggie burger on a bun with dressing dripping down the side and a jar of dressing in the background.

Vegan Thousand Island Dressing can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.

Try it on a simple green salad, California guacamole salad, or butternut squash spinach salad.
It's also delicious as a sandwich spread with vegan tuna salad or on baked chickpea burgers.
Or use it as a dipping sauce for air fryer hand cut fries, air fryer home fries, or carrot and celery sticks.

Storing

Homemade Vegan Thousand Island Dressing should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Do not freeze.

Recipe FAQs

Why is it called Thousand Island?

According to Great Lakes Now, "The original recipe can mostly be traced back to the early 1900s in Thousand Islands, New York, where the tangy pinkish condiment got its namesake."

Is Russian dressing the same as Thousand Island?

While Russian dressing and Thousand Island are similar, Russian dressing contains horseradish and is typically less sweet than Thousand Island.

What's vegan mayo made from?

While mayonnaise is made from oil and eggs, vegan mayo is made from oil and and other plant-based ingredients. Some brands include vinegar and/or lemon juice and soy or aquafaba (chickpea liquid).

More vegan dressing recipes

Made this recipe? Have a question? Please leave a comment below. 💙 And for even more recipes, join the Vegan Mediterranean Diet Recipes Facebook group for community, inspiration & fun!

Love and Veggies,

Amy

Amy sitting on a couch with her laptop computer.

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