Calories in a Tablespoon of Dressings and Sauces

By NYUS Inc. · Published 28 October 2026

Ranch and caesar dressing, barbecue, teriyaki and oyster sauce each have a tablespoon, serving or packet weight printed on their SR Legacy record page. This guide gives fifteen salad dressing and sauce records from the SR Legacy table of USDA FoodData Central (six salad dressings, barbecue, teriyaki, oyster, fish, Worcestershire, sweet and sour, hoisin, tartar and tomato chili sauce), with the portion weights printed on their record pages. IFCT 2017, the Indian Food Composition Tables from ICMR-NIN, prints per 100 g only and has no tablespoon weights, so this page uses SR Legacy only. Mayonnaise, ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, mustard and sriracha are in our spreads and sauces guide.

The short answer

By the SR Legacy records, 1 tablespoon of ranch dressing (15 g) is 64.5 kcal, 1 tbsp of caesar dressing (14.7 g) 79.7 kcal and 1 tbsp of barbecue sauce (17 g) 29.2 kcal. Our reading: the dressings are mostly fat and most of the sauces are mostly carbohydrate and water, so 1 tbsp of caesar dressing (14.7 g) is 79.7 kcal against 6.3 kcal for 1 tbsp of fish sauce (18 g).

SR Legacy: per 100 g

Every figure below is exactly as the record page shows it. The record names are the dataset's own.

SR Legacy: per printed portion

Each figure is our arithmetic on exact weights: kcal per 100 g times the grams, divided by 100, with the exact product in the sums line and the result shown to 0.1 with half rounding up. Every weight below is printed on the SR Legacy record page; none is ours. Only the tablespoon, serving, packet and fluid-ounce portions are listed; several records also print a cup, which is not used here, and each record prints 100 g.

The sums: 173592 430 × 15 / 100 = 64.5, so 64.5 kcal; 173592 430 × 30 / 100 = 129, so 129.0 kcal; 169055 542 × 14.7 / 100 = 79.674, so 79.7 kcal; 169055 542 × 30 / 100 = 162.6, so 162.6 kcal; 171414 419 × 16 / 100 = 67.04, so 67.0 kcal; 171414 419 × 12.3 / 100 = 51.537, so 51.5 kcal; 171005 355 × 15 / 100 = 53.25, so 53.3 kcal; 171005 355 × 30 / 100 = 106.5, so 106.5 kcal; 169056 404 × 19 / 100 = 76.76, so 76.8 kcal; 171417 449 × 16 / 100 = 71.84, so 71.8 kcal; 174523 172 × 17 / 100 = 29.24, so 29.2 kcal; 171167 89 × 18 / 100 = 16.02, so 16.0 kcal; 171167 89 × 36 / 100 = 32.04, so 32.0 kcal; 174529 51 × 18 / 100 = 9.18, so 9.2 kcal; 174531 35 × 18 / 100 = 6.3, so 6.3 kcal; 171610 77 × 17 / 100 = 13.09, so 13.1 kcal; 174066 154 × 35 / 100 = 53.9, so 53.9 kcal; 172886 220 × 16 / 100 = 35.2, so 35.2 kcal; 171826 211 × 30 / 100 = 63.3, so 63.3 kcal; 171595 92 × 6 / 100 = 5.52, so 5.5 kcal.

What stands out in the numbers

• Energy per 100 g, SR Legacy, highest first: 169055 (caesar dressing) 542, 171417 (vinegar and oil dressing) 449, 173592 (ranch dressing) 430, 171414 (french dressing) 419, 169056 (coleslaw dressing) 404, 171005 (russian dressing) 355, 172886 (hoisin sauce) 220, 171826 (tartar sauce) 211, 174523 (barbecue sauce) 172, 174066 (sweet and sour sauce) 154, 171595 (tomato chili sauce) 92, 171167 (teriyaki sauce) 89, 171610 (Worcestershire sauce) 77, 174529 (oyster sauce) 51, 174531 (fish sauce) 35.
• Per printed tablespoon, highest first: 169055 (caesar dressing) 14.7 g, 79.7 kcal, 169056 (coleslaw dressing) 19 g, 76.8 kcal, 171417 (vinegar and oil dressing) 16 g, 71.8 kcal, 171414 (french dressing) 16 g, 67.0 kcal, 173592 (ranch dressing) 15 g, 64.5 kcal, 171005 (russian dressing) 15 g, 53.3 kcal, 172886 (hoisin sauce) 16 g, 35.2 kcal, 174523 (barbecue sauce) 17 g, 29.2 kcal, 171167 (teriyaki sauce) 18 g, 16.0 kcal, 171610 (Worcestershire sauce) 17 g, 13.1 kcal, 174529 (oyster sauce) 18 g, 9.2 kcal, 174531 (fish sauce) 18 g, 6.3 kcal.
• The tablespoon is not a fixed weight: the printed tablespoons run from 14.7 g to 19 g across the records, so a tablespoon of one is not a tablespoon of another. Two tablespoons are printed as 30 g on 169055, 171005 and 171826 and as 35 g on 174066.
• Fat per 100 g, the four highest: 169055 (caesar dressing) 57.8 g, 171417 (vinegar and oil dressing) 50.1 g, 173592 (ranch dressing) 44.5 g, 171414 (french dressing) 39.1 g. The records 171167, 171595, 171610, 172886, 174066, 174523, 174529, 174531 print 3.39 g of fat or less per 100 g.
• Packets are printed too: SR Legacy 171414 prints 1 individual packet of french dressing as 12.3 g, 51.5 kcal, and SR Legacy 171595 prints 1 packet of tomato chili sauce as 6 g, 5.5 kcal.

Why these are reference rows, not your plate

• Names are the records'. We do not say that a bottle, a sachet or a restaurant sauce sold in India matches any record, and the record names are used exactly as printed. "Russian dressing" and "french dressing" are the dataset's own names.
• No row for chutney, schezwan or raita. A search of the SR Legacy table on 28 Oct 2026 returned no record named chutney, schezwan sauce, raita or mint sauce, so the page gives no figure for them and none should be inferred from the records above.
• Every portion here is printed. No tablespoon, serving, packet or fluid-ounce weight on this page is ours: each is printed on its record page, and the only weight that is ours is the labelled 10 g example in the logging section.
• The records' own notes. The record pages mark the kcal energy of all fifteen records "Calculated" and the carbohydrate of 171595, 174066 and 171826 with an estimate or label-claim note instead; protein and fat carry notes that differ record by record (analytical, manufacturer supplied, estimated, label claim or none). They are USDA values, not our measurements.
• For a packaged product, the pack wins. This page uses no pack labels.

How to log it so the numbers hold

• Log by weight. 10 g of ranch dressing (our example weight, not a dataset value) on SR Legacy 173592 is 430 × 10 / 100 = 43, so 43.0 kcal.
• Spoons differ. Do not count a spoonful as a fixed weight: the printed tablespoons here run from 14.7 g to 19 g, so weigh it when it matters.
• Oil is separate. The oil you cook in is in our spoon guide.
• Do not mix datasets inside one day. If you log a sauce from SR Legacy, keep to that record for the same dish.

Where NYUS fits (our app)

We make NYUS, so read this as ours. NYUS is an AI fitness and nutrition coach in early access on Android, with no ads and no data selling. You log foods yourself by searching 8,900+ Indian and global foods or by barcode, and a weekly check-in adjusts your calories, macros and step goal once enough is logged. Barcode coverage of Indian packaged foods is not complete, so search by name when a scan finds nothing.

What this page leaves out

• A calorie, sugar or fat target, and any claim about what sauces and dressings do to your weight or health: we have not looked up one for any person, so we give none. If you have a medical condition, ask your doctor or dietitian.
• Green chutney, tamarind chutney, schezwan sauce, raita and mint sauce, and any named brand or sachet: no record used here.
• Mayonnaise, ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, mustard and sriracha are in our spreads and sauces guide, hummus and salsa in our dips guide and pasta sauce and pesto in our baked beans and pasta sauce guide.
• Other salad dressings the SR Legacy table lists (for example fat-free and reduced-fat french dressing), and the cup portions the records print: not used here.
• Nutrients beyond energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate: not covered here.

Sources

• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 173592 (Salad dressing, ranch dressing, regular): Energy 430 kcal (1800 kJ), protein 1.32 g, total fat 44.5 g, carbohydrate 5.9 g per 100 g; portions used: 1 tablespoon 15 g, 1 serving 30 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 169055 (Salad dressing, caesar dressing, regular): Energy 542 kcal (2270 kJ), protein 2.17 g, total fat 57.8 g, carbohydrate 3.3 g per 100 g; portions used: 1 tbsp 14.7 g, 1 serving (2 tbsp) 30 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171414 (Salad dressing, french dressing, commercial, regular): Energy 419 kcal (1750 kJ), protein 0.87 g, total fat 39.1 g, carbohydrate 18.8 g per 100 g; portions used: 1 tbsp 16 g, 1 individual packet 12.3 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171005 (Salad dressing, russian dressing): Energy 355 kcal (1480 kJ), protein 0.69 g, total fat 26.2 g, carbohydrate 31.9 g per 100 g; portions used: 1 tbsp 15 g, 1 serving (2 tbsp) 30 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 169056 (Salad dressing, coleslaw): Energy 404 kcal (1690 kJ), protein 0.85 g, total fat 34.5 g, carbohydrate 22.4 g per 100 g; portions used: 1 tbsp 19 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171417 (Salad dressing, home recipe, vinegar and oil): Energy 449 kcal (1880 kJ), protein 0 g, total fat 50.1 g, carbohydrate 2.5 g per 100 g; portions used: 1 tablespoon 16 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 174523 (Sauce, barbecue): Energy 172 kcal (720 kJ), protein 0.82 g, total fat 0.63 g, carbohydrate 40.8 g per 100 g; portions used: 1 tbsp 17 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171167 (Sauce, teriyaki, ready-to-serve): Energy 89 kcal (371 kJ), protein 5.93 g, total fat 0.02 g, carbohydrate 15.6 g per 100 g; portions used: 1 tbsp 18 g, 1 fl oz 36 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 174529 (Sauce, oyster, ready-to-serve): Energy 51 kcal (213 kJ), protein 1.35 g, total fat 0.25 g, carbohydrate 10.9 g per 100 g; portions used: 1 tbsp 18 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 174531 (Sauce, fish, ready-to-serve): Energy 35 kcal (146 kJ), protein 5.06 g, total fat 0.01 g, carbohydrate 3.64 g per 100 g; portions used: 1 tbsp 18 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171610 (Sauce, worcestershire): Energy 77 kcal (321 kJ), protein 0 g, total fat 0 g, carbohydrate 19.2 g per 100 g; portions used: 1 tbsp 17 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 174066 (Sauce, sweet and sour, ready-to-serve): Energy 154 kcal (645 kJ), protein 0.27 g, total fat 0.02 g, carbohydrate 38.2 g per 100 g; portions used: 2 Tbsp 35 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 172886 (Sauce, hoisin, ready-to-serve): Energy 220 kcal (920 kJ), protein 3.31 g, total fat 3.39 g, carbohydrate 44.1 g per 100 g; portions used: 1 tbsp 16 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171826 (Sauce, tartar, ready-to-serve): Energy 211 kcal (883 kJ), protein 1 g, total fat 16.7 g, carbohydrate 13.3 g per 100 g; portions used: 2 tablespoons 30 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 171595 (Sauce, tomato chili sauce, bottled, with salt): Energy 92 kcal (384 kJ), protein 2.5 g, total fat 0.3 g, carbohydrate 19.8 g per 100 g; portions used: 1 packet 6 g (read 28 Oct 2026).
• ICMR-NIN, Indian Food Composition Tables 2017 (IFCT 2017): per 100 g edible portion only; not used for the figures on this page.
• nyus.in, the NYUS landing page, read on 28 Oct 2026 for the app statements in the NYUS section and the CTA.

The per portion figures, the sums, the rounding, the comparisons and every sentence starting "Our reading" are NYUS's own arithmetic or opinion, not from USDA. The SR Legacy values and portion weights are exactly as printed on the record pages. The names in the first column are the dataset's own record names.

Frequently asked questions