Tartar Sauce Recipe (with Video)

Try this homemade tartar sauce, and you’ll never want store-bought again. This has amazing flavor and texture with every bite. It’s perfect as a dip for fish sticks, crab cakes, or a spread for seafood sandwiches.

Homemade Tartar Sauce

I was frustrated with store-bought tartar sauce; one disappointing can after another. Solution: homemade tarter sauce. Making your own is really easy. It’s fresh and amazing for these salmon cakes fish sticks or breaded fish fillets.

My Aunt Anna taught me how to make this Tartar Sauce recipe – she learned it in culinary school, and this is the recipe they made in their restaurant. I’ve probably made this a hundred times, and my fishstick-loving teenage son makes it regularly. It’s our go-to because it’s so easy to make, has simple ingredients and keeps really well in the fridge.

See those fish sticks in the photo – yeah, those are from Costco. Maybe one day, I’ll make my own fish sticks, but for now, these are really good (the Trident brand). Sometimes, I find that I eat more tartar sauce than fish sticks (sounds gross, but this sauce is THAT GOOD!). This recipe stays fresh in the fridge for a few days.

Tartar Sauce Video

Watch my easy video tutorial, and you’ll have this recipe memorized in no time!

Ingredients for Tartar Sauce

• Real Mayonnaise – you can use your favorite storebought mayo or homemade mayonnaise
• Dill pickles – I prefer baby dills for extra crunch since they have more surface area.
• Dill (or) Parsley – you can use fresh or frozen – it adds freshness.
• 1 tsp lemon juice – freshly squeezed is best
• 1 tsp sugar – this balances the sauce, but you can add it to taste
• Pepper – freshly cracked smells and tastes the freshest
• Onion – it’s 2 Tbsp of chopped onion, and it’s optional (I usually skip it when I’m feeling lazy to chop an onion).

How to Make Tartar Sauce

This is really complicated, so pay attention. Are you ready?…
1. Combine everything in a mixing bowl and give it a good stir. Done!

Serve Tartar Sauce With

There are so many great uses for Tartar Sauce, from a dipping sauce to sandwiches. Outside of fish sticks, we love it with:

• Crab Cakes
• Shrimp Cakes
• Fish Tacos
• Salmon Patties
• Onion Rings
• Air Fryer French Fries
• Grilled Salmon Sandwich

Storing Tartar Sauce

Homemade Tartar Sauce keeps really well in the refrigerator. Transfer to an airtight container or jar and refrigerate. It is best enjoyed within 1 week but can last up to 2 weeks.

More Homemade Condiments and Sauces

• Marinara Sauce
• Pesto Sauce
• Creamy Caesar Dressing
• Homemade Ranch
• Tzatziki Sauce
• Homemade BBQ Sauce