Thousand Island dressing
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
Thousand Island dressing is a creamy, pinkish-orange condiment with a sweet-tangy profile and a slightly chunky texture from finely minced pickles and onions. It's a high-fat, calorie-dense sauce, delivering over 35 grams of fat per 100 grams, making it a rich addition to salads and sandwiches. Its flavor is a balanced blend of savory, sweet, and acidic notes, often with a subtle hint of paprika or chili.
Calorie split: 1% protein · 15% carbs · 83% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People adore it for its uniquely addictive sweet-and-savory flavor that transforms simple dishes like salads, burgers, and seafood. Its creamy texture and nostalgic appeal, often tied to classic American diners and the Reuben sandwich, make it a beloved comfort food staple.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Its high fat and sugar content can contribute to excess calorie intake and may not suit low-fat or low-sugar diets. The sodium content can be significant, and it often contains common allergens like eggs (mayonnaise base) and sometimes soy or fish (anchovies). To counteract, use it sparingly as a flavor accent rather than a main component, and pair it with high-fiber vegetables or lean protein to balance the meal.
Key benefits
- Provides quick energy from fats and carbs
- Contains small amounts of antioxidants from tomato and paprika
- Enhances palatability of vegetables, encouraging consumption
- Offers a convenient, pre-made flavor boost for meals
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Despite its name, it has no direct connection to Thousand Islands, New York; the dressing was popularized by a maître d' at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel who claimed a fishing guide's wife created it in the region.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 46.5 g |
| Energy | 379 kcal |
| Protein | 1.1 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 35.1 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 14.6 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.80 g |
| Total Sugars | 15.2 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 17.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.2 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 8.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 27.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 107 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 962 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.26 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.00 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 1.5 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 1.4 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.06 mg |
| Niacin | 0.42 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.00 mg |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 0.00 ug |
| Choline, total | 4.6 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 14.0 ug |
| Retinol | 4.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 92.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 2.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 52.0 ug |
| Lycopene | 2597 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 29.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 4.0 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 69.1 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 5.1 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 3.5 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 1.3 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 7.9 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 7.7 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.15 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 18.2 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 15.9 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 2.4 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 26.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Salad dressing, thousand island dressing, reduced fat — USDA does not publish this profile for Thousand Island dressing.
| Tryptophan | 0.00 g |
| Threonine | 0.00 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.00 g |
| Leucine | 0.00 g |
| Lysine | 0.00 g |
| Methionine | 0.00 g |
| Cystine | 0.00 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.00 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.00 g |
| Valine | 0.00 g |
| Arginine | 0.00 g |
| Histidine | 0.00 g |
| Alanine | 0.00 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.00 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.14 g |
| Glycine | 0.00 g |
| Proline | 0.00 g |
| Serine | 0.00 g |
FAQ
Is Thousand Island dressing the same as Russian dressing?
They are similar but distinct. Thousand Island is generally sweeter and chunkier, with visible pickle relish, while Russian dressing is typically spicier, smoother, and more tomato-forward with horseradish.
What is the main base of Thousand Island dressing?
The primary base is mayonnaise (oil and egg emulsion), which is then blended with ketchup or chili sauce, sweet pickle relish, and other seasonings.
Can I make a healthier version at home?
Yes. You can substitute Greek yogurt for some or all of the mayonnaise, use sugar-free ketchup, and add fresh minced pickles and onions to control sodium, sugar, and fat content.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.79 kcal/g · 1% calories from protein · 0.8 g fiber · 15.2 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 8.99 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.