Russian Dressing

Our Russian dressing recipe may just become your new favorite condiment. It only takes five minutes and five simple ingredients to whip it up: mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, relish, and Worcestershire sauce. The result is a creamy, tangy sauce that’s as delicious on burgers and sandwiches as it is alongside fries or crunchy vegetables. And while it’s similar in look and flavor to Thousand Island dressing, Russian dressing is typically less sweet and a bit more savory, thanks to the addition of umami-rich Worcestershire. Whether you slather it on your next Reuben sandwich or use it as a dip, you’re sure to love this easy, simple dressing.

Ingredients for Homemade Russian Dressing

Mayonnaise: Much like other creamy dressings like ranch, blue cheese, and green goddess, this one starts with a base of good old mayonnaise. You can use a light mayo to cut down on fat or a vegan option if you're avoiding eggs.

Ketchup: A couple tablespoons of ketchup are responsible for Russian dressing's subtle sweetness and rosy hue.

Pickle relish: You can use either dill or sweet relish here, so feel free to add whichever you prefer. Dill will result in a slightly tangier dressing while sweet pickle relish will be a tad less savory. No relish on hand? Toss in two tablespoons of very finely minced dill or sweet pickles instead.

Lemon juice: Lemon juice brightens up this creamy dressing and contributes just the right amount of acidity. For the best flavor, use fresh squeezed juice.

Worcestershire sauce: For a dose of umami and delicious depth, we use savory Worcestershire sauce. Since this condiment is made with anchovies, it's not suitable for vegetarians; look for a vegan Worcestershire sauce instead.

Russian Dressing Versus Thousand Island Dressing

Although they are often referred to interchangeably, Russian dressing and Thousand Island dressing are two different condiments.

Like Russian dressing, Thousand Island is made with mayonnaise and ketchup but tends to be sweeter and less tangy. It also (traditionally) contains one key ingredient that you'll never find in Russian dressing: hard-boiled eggs. Finely chopped and mixed in at the very end, hard-boiled eggs help to bind the dressing and give it an added richness and texture that firmly sets it apart from other similar sauces.

Russian dressing can sometimes include spicier ingredients like hot sauce, chili sauce, or horseradish. While our recipe is on the milder side, you can experiment with adding a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce or stir in a teaspoon or two of prepared horseradish for a bolder taste.