Low Carb Keto Thousand Island Dressing

I used to think Thousand Island was off the keto table—too sweet, too questionable. But turns out, with the right swaps (and zero weird aftertaste), this dressing is back in my fridge full-time. It’s creamy, tangy, and works on everything from bunless burgers to chopped salads.

And unlike store-bought “keto” versions that sneak in starches or sketchy oils, this one’s clean, quick, and doesn’t spike blood sugar. I’ve meal-prepped it, macro-tracked it, and—yes—dunked bacon-wrapped pickles in it.

Why This One Works So Well

Classic Thousand Island gets its signature flavor from that sweet-tangy balance and little hits of texture from the pickles and onion. Most keto versions flop by either going too vinegary or overdoing the sweetener.

This one nails it by:

• Using powdered monk fruit allulose—no cooling effect, no aftertaste
• Chopping the pickles and onion just right so you get that texture without chunkiness
• Balancing the mayo/ketchup/vinegar ratio so it actually feels like the real deal

Ingredients That Kept It Keto

• 240g (1 cup) Mayonnaise – Fat base, creamy texture. Go for avocado oil mayo or homemade if you want to avoid seed oils.
• 60ml (1/4 cup) Sugar-Free Ketchup – Adds sweetness and color. Look for one with <1g carbs per tablespoon.
• 30ml (2 tbsp) Apple Cider Vinegar – Tang! Balances out the mayo. Don’t skip this.
• 2 tbsp Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – Sweetness without blood sugar drama. Powdered blends dissolve better than granules.
• 22g (1½ tbsp) Dill Pickles, finely chopped – Crunch, salt, zing. Don’t sub with relish unless it’s sugar-free.
• 2 tsp White Onion, minced – Small amount, big flavor. Raw onion has carbs, but in this dose, it’s worth it.
• ¼ tsp Sea Salt + ⅛ tsp Black Pepper – Because bland dressing is a tragedy.

Low-Carb Substitutions That Hold Up

Want to tweak it? Here’s what works (and what doesn’t):

• No sugar-free ketchup? Use tomato paste + a little vinegar + extra sweetener. Texture will be thicker but still good.
• Too sweet? Dial back to 1 tbsp sweetener. Everyone’s palate is different.
• Need dairy-free? No problem—there’s no dairy in this unless you use a mayo that sneaks it in.

⚠️ Don’t use coconut flour as a thickener. I tried it once. Just… no.

What Went Sideways (And Why)

What Went Wrong	Why It Happens	How to Fix It
Dressing too runny	Low-fat mayo or not enough chilling	Use full-fat mayo and let it sit
Bitter aftertaste	Wrong sweetener (erythritol alone)	Use monk fruit-allulose blend
Pickles overwhelmed flavor	Too much or wrong kind (sweet vs dill)	Stick to dill, and measure right

Step-by-Step: How to Make It

1. Mix it all – Whisk everything in a medium bowl. It should look creamy and smooth, not chunky or split.
2. Chill – Cover and let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Overnight is even better.
3. Serve – Use it as dressing, dip, or sauce. I portion mine into 12 servings (about 2 tbsp each) for easy tracking.

Keto Cooking Tricks That Help

• I grate my onion on a microplane to get flavor without chunks.
• I keep pre-chopped pickles in a jar for quick dressings and sauces.
• This doubles easily. Make a batch Sunday, and you’re good for the week.

How I Store and Track It

• Fridge life: Up to 7 days in a sealed jar.
• Tracking tip: 2 tablespoons = 138 kcal, 14.7g fat, 0.8g net carbs
• Stir before using – natural separation happens, especially if your mayo is homemade.

What I Googled Before Making This

Will this spike blood sugar?
Nope—assuming your ketchup and sweetener are truly sugar-free. Check labels.

Can I freeze it?
I wouldn’t. Mayo-based dressings separate after thawing.

Is it dairy-free?
Yes, unless your mayo brand sneaks in dairy. (Read. The. Label.)

Nutrition Facts

Per 2 Tbsp Serving

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	138 kcal
Total Fat	14.7g
– Saturated Fat	0.6g
– Polyunsaturated Fat	4.3g*
– Monounsaturated Fat	9.1g*
Cholesterol	3mg
Sodium	184mg
Potassium	15mg
Total Carbohydrate	0.8g
– Dietary Fiber	0.1g
– Sugars	0.4g
Net Carbs	0.7g
Protein	0.1g

Check out More Recipes:

• Low Carb Keto Avocado Tuna Salad
• Low Carb Keto Tahini Sauce Recipe
• Low Carb Keto Almond Flour Recipe