5 Best Substitutes For Russian Dressing
Russian dressing is a very unique and specific flavor. It definitely stands out and there really are not any other dressings that taste exactly like it.
Some people use Russian dressing for salads, but it’s also commonly used for things like sandwiches because it offers just a hint of spiciness. You might find it on a regular sandwich or even maybe on a Reuben to spice it up a bit.
The challenge to Russian dressing is that it’s not usually something that we commonly keep in our pantries and a lot of restaurants don’t have it readily available either.
So, what can you use as a substitute for Russian dressing? One of the most common substitute options is Thousand Island dressing. Other great substitutes include sweet Catalina dressing, French dressing, and more.
In this guide, we will share with you the 5 best substitutes for Russian dressing. You can easily make your own if you need to, but you can also just grab one of these simple substitutes and make it work.
Who knows, maybe you’ll even decide you like another dressing better! So stick with us to learn about the 5 best substitutes for Russian dressing and more.
Choosing A Substitute For Russian Dressing
Before you take a look at the options, check out these simple tips to help you make the best decision for a substitute.
1. Recipe
One thing that might affect what substitute you choose or use would be the recipe or dish you need it for.
Are you looking for something to cook into a recipe? Are you making a marinade? Will it be a sandwich or salad topping?
Each of these questions will most likely play a role in how you pick a substitute.
2. Flavor Profile
What part of the flavor of Russian dressing do you want to mimic the most?
If you’re trying to mimic the spicy kick, you will want a substitute that has a little spice. If you want something that will just taste similar, then go for the closest substitute for overall flavor.
3. DIY Options
If you just don’t like any of your substitute options or you want to try to recreate Russian dressing, you can always try a DIY version.
Russian dressing is primarily mayonnaise, ketchup, and horseradish. There are a couple of other ingredients, but you might be able to make it on your own with ingredients that already exist in your kitchen.
The 5 Best Substitutes For Russian Dressing
Now, let’s go ahead and check out the options. Most of the substitutes are typically another type of dressing. There are other similar dressings out there, so it’s just a matter of choosing what will be the closest for you.
Below, you will find our top picks for the 5 best substitutes for Russian dressing.
1. Thousand Island
Thousand Island dressing is probably one of the closest substitutes where flavor is concerned.
It is slightly sweeter than Russian dressing, but it still has that little bit of a kick to it. Thousand Island has a lot of the same, or at least similar, ingredients.
Both types of dressing have mayonnaise and ketchup in them. Thousand Island dressing typically is a creamy dressing, though, while Russian dressing is not quite as creamy.
Thousand Island also has Worcestershire sauce as well as paprika, which contribute to that little touch of spicy flavor you are after.
The biggest difference you will notice for these two types of dressing is that Thousand Island is creamier and it’s also slightly sweeter.
Suggested Product – Premium Thousand Island Salad Dressing
This Thousand Island dressing is a bit more of a premium blend than some, but that simply means the flavor is worth the investment.
It’s made in small batches so they get fresh herbs that create a delicious zest and enhance the overall flavor, which is why this is our recommendation for a good Thousand Island dressing.
2. Sweet Catalina
Next up, you can try Sweet Catalina dressing when you need a good substitute for Russian dressing. This is another dressing with similar ingredients and even a similar appearance. Both of these will have a red color and a similar taste and texture.
Both of these are made using ketchup, which is where the red color comes from. Sweet Catalina will also add paprika and Worcestershire sauce to its recipe.
Sweet Catalina dressing is sweeter than Russian dressing but it is both sweet and tangy at the same time, which is why it makes a decent substitute option. Sweet Catalina uses oil instead of mayonnaise in it so it may be slightly thinner.
Suggested Product – Kraft Sweet Honey Catalina
You will find both original Catalina and sweet. We recommend sweet for this purpose.
You really can’t beat a classic brand like Kraft and their sweet honey Catalina makes a great option!
3. French Dressing
If you’re looking for a dressing that is really similar in taste, you might want to check out French dressing. French dressing does taste a lot like Catalina dressing, but that is perhaps what makes it a good substitute option.
French dressing brings you both a creamy comparison and tangy but sweet comparison. The ingredients are different, but the end result is similar and French dressing even has that hint of spiciness to it!
Suggested Product – Ken’s Steak House Creamy French
This creamy French dressing will give you a close comparison to Russian dressing with both flavor and texture.
The creamy spin gives you creaminess much more like Russian dressing, plus you get that sweet but tangy and maybe a touch spicy flavor too.
4. Fry Sauce
Ok so this one isn’t actually a dressing, it’s a dipping sauce. The cool thing is that it is made similar to a dressing and it is also creamy.
Fry sauce tends to be similar in flavor to Thousand Island, but it also has a hint of Russian dressing flavor to it. Sometimes it just depends on which fry sauce you get.
Fry sauce is typically made using things like ketchup, mayonnaise, and then some other seasonings to give it flavor.
This is popular at fast food restaurants and might be found on burgers or sandwiches, but also might be served with your fries, which is why it is called fry sauce.
Here is a great recommendation!
Suggested Product – Freddy’s Famous Fry Sauce
Freddy’s fry sauce is one of the most famous options out there. It comes from the Freddy’s burger chain restaurant and people absolutely love it!
You can use it for fries or on sandwiches and it’s perfectly zesty and creamy so it also makes a great substitute when you need something for your Russian dressing requirements.
5. DIY Russian Dressing
If you’re really in a pinch but you want something similar to Russian dressing, why not go ahead and make your own? You might already have the ingredients in your pantry!
If none of these options are quite calling out to you or you simply want to try to throw together what you have on hand to mimic Russian dressing, this is a great option. You may not be able to get it exactly right, but you should be able to get pretty close.
You will find that there are a lot of different recipes out there, but remember that traditional Russian dressing is made with mayonnaise and ketchup as the primary ingredients.
Ingredients For DIY Russian dressing:
- Mayonnaise
- Ketchup
- Horseradish
- Pickle relish
- Lemon juice
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt & Pepper
If you want that little bit more of a kick, you will also want some chili pepper or a hot sauce.
The directions are simple if you have the ingredients. You simply need to mix everything together.
Related Questions
We hope that this guide to the best substitutes for Russian dressing is helpful for you. Take a look at these related questions to see if they might also be useful.
Are French Dressing And Russian Dressing The Same?
French dressing and Russian dressing are similar, which is why you can use French dressing as a substitute. However, they are not quite the same and are made with a different list of ingredients.
What Is Russian Dressing Made Of?
The primary ingredients for the traditional recipe are mayonnaise, ketchup, and horseradish. Some recipes use relish or pickle juice and some leave out the horseradish.
You might also find that some people add a touch of hot sauce since Russian dressing has a little kick to it.
Can You Use Catalina Dressing Instead Of Russian Dressing?
Yes, Catalina is a suitable substitute for Russian dressing. We recommend using sweet Catalina for the most similar flavor, but you can get away with using original Catalina too if that is what you have readily available to you.
