By: Jill Mills Updated: May 22, 2024

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This Russian dressing recipe uses 6 simple ingredients to make a creamy, zesty dressing that can be used for anything from salad to sandwiches and even as a dip!

russian dressing on spoon with clear glass jar

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy. Just mix everything together and then chill your dressing for an hour. That’s it!
Creamy & flavorful. Despite being incredibly simple to make, this dressing packs a flavorful punch. It’s creamy, tangy and zesty in all the right ways.
Flexible. You can use Russian dressing in so many ways. I love adding it to sandwiches as a thin layer along with mayo. It’s also fantastic as a dip for french fries! I’ve shared some more ideas below.

What is Russian Dressing?

Did you know that this dressing came from New Hampshire and not Russia? Despite its name, Russian dressing was made by James Colburn, a native of Nashua, New Hampshire. An earlier version was made without mayonnaise but Colburn was the first to use it in his “Americanized” take on the recipe. There are a variety of ways that it is made today but the base is generally mayonnaise and a form of ketchup.

ingredients to make homemade russian dressing

Ingredients You’ll Need

Mayonnaise: This is the main ingredient and one of the most important. You can use any brand you prefer.
Ketchup-style chili sauce: Make sure it’s not a sweet chili sauce.
Sweet relish: Any kind of chopped sweet pickle relish works great.
Lemon juice: A little tart lemon juice gives the dressing some tang.
Sugar: Just a tiny bit of sugar adds a very light touch of sweetness.
Salt: The use of salt almost always makes the other flavors stand out.

How to Make Russian Dressing

This is the easiest 2 step recipe to make a rich and creamy Russian dressing!

ingredients in clear glass bowl to make russian dressing

russian dressing mixed in clear glass bowl with plastic cover

Mix. Whisk all of the ingredients in a medium bowl until well combined.
Chill. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour before serving.

Ways to Use It

In addition to salad, here are some more ways to use Russian dressing:

Reuben Sandwich: Russian dressing is usually used in a classic Reuben sandwich. Add it to rye bread along with corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut before grilling the sandwich. So good!
Burgers: I love adding this dressing to burgers. It’s delicious and my second favorite after using burger sauce.
Dipping Sauce: Serve it as a dip for vegetables, chicken tenders, fries, or onion rings.
Potato Salad: Mix it into potato salad for a creamy, tangy twist.
Deviled Eggs: Add some to the filling for deviled eggs to add a delicious and unique flavor twist.
Grilled Chicken: Drizzle it over grilled chicken at your next summer BBQ.

How to Store

Pour your dressing into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 1 week. Give it a good shake before using it.

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