Homemade Tartar Sauce

More Ways to Search: Recipe Index

Home » Sauces » Homemade Tartar Sauce

This recipe for homemade tartar sauce is far superior to any store-bought sauce. It’s incredibly easy to make, bursting with flavor, and is the perfect complement to your next seafood meal!

Overhead view of tartar sauce on a tuna patty.

Making homemade tartar sauce is really easy, and I am not just saying that. It’s one of those things that once you make it, you will be questioning yourself: why haven’t I been doing this before?

Trust me, I have been there…the thought of making one extra thing at mealtime can seem overwhelming, but this sauce is totally worth the 5 minutes! We love serving it with fish sticks, Baked Fish and Chips, and Salmon Burgers.

Reasons To Make This Homemade Tartar Sauce

  • Made with 6 simple ingredients that are real and many you may already have on hand.
  • Thick and creamy and perfect for dipping or spreading on a fish sandwich.
  • Fresh and flavorful
  • Can be stored in your fridge for 2 weeks!
Ingredients: mayo, dill pickle, lemon, onion powder, dried dill, and salt.

Ingredients For This Tartar Sauce Recipe

MAYO: Use only real mayonnaise in this recipe, PLEASE!
DILL PICKLE: I usually just mince dill pickles when making this sauce, but you can also use dill pickle relish.

LEMON JUICE: Please, no bottled lemon juice, its taste is so different than fresh!
ONION POWDER, DRIED DILL, AND SALT

Overhead view of all ingredients in a bowl ready to be mixed.

How To Make Homemade Tartar Sauce

This is just a quick overview of the method for this tartar sauce recipe. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.

STEP 1: Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.

STEP 2: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors combine.

Overhead view of ingredients all combined in a bowl.

Serving Suggestion

There is the obvious choice of fish sticks or breaded fish fillets, but also these Crab Cakes or Tuna Patties! But don’t let that stop you from trying it with different meals!

Try adding it to a baked potato instead of sour cream, or dip your french fries in it! So delicious!

Spread it on any Po Boy sandwich or other sandwich in place of mayo, like this French Dip Sandwich.

Use it with your fish tacos or grilled fish, or use it to make tuna salad!

Fish stick dunking into homemade tartar sauce.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for all my latest updates!

Overhead view of tartar sauce on a tuna patty.

Homemade Tartar Sauce

Course: Sauce
Cuisine: American
Keyword: tartar sauce recipe
This recipe for homemade tartar sauce is far superior to any store-bought sauce. It's incredibly easy to make, bursting with flavor, and is the perfect complement to your next seafood meal!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 24
Calories: 28kcal
Author: Malinda Linnebur
Print Recipe Save Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (240g) real mayonnaise
  • ½ cup (95g) dill pickle relish (or finely chopped dill pickle)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl mix together the mayonnaise, dill pickle, lemon juice, onion powder, dill, and salt.

Notes

  1. This sauce can be served immediatley but tastes best if refrigerated for at least 1 hour before serving. 
  2. STORAGE: Store leftovers in a tightly sealed container for up to 2 weeks. 
  3. NUTRITION FACTS: Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the information shown is just an estimate. This website is not intended as nutritional advice, or a diet or health plan. Readers of this website are ultimately responsible for all decisions pertaining to their health.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 28kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 160mg | Potassium: 10mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 18IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg

4 thoughts on “Homemade Tartar Sauce”

  1. 5 stars
    After purchasing several brands, including the upscale ones, of Tartar Sauce – I have discovered that I greatly prefer the basic Walmart House Brand, much to my surprise.
    However the above recipe sounds exactly like what I’ve been searching for and a cost saver to boot! THANX,
    AgingHotie

    Reply
  2. Can you substitute Sweet Pickle Relish, if that is your preference, without altering any of the other ingredients or portions?
    “AgingHotie”

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating