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.
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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.
Tartar Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise*
- 1 cup dill pickles, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp dill, fresh or frozen, OR 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 2 Tbsp onion, finely chopped, optional
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.
- Add more lemon juice or pickles if desired.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
I made this tarter sauce months ago and loved it! Kina strange, my mother is a good cook and taught me a lot about cooking. She always made it with mayo and sweet relish and it was never that good, so I have always resorted to jarred tarter. No more!! This stuff is a game changer!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Roxanne!
Excellent tarter sauce. I definitely would have to say this is best I’ve ever had.
Love it! Thanks a lot for your short but very sweet message, Jay!
My recipe is the same, except I like a few drops of tabasco & of Worcetsershire sauced added – gives it a bit of snap! (& for my heavy hubby I use light Salad dressing instead of mayo)
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Sue!
Can you use veganaise instead of Mayo to lower the calories?
Hello Margie, I honestly haven’t tried that yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
This is excellent! I didn’t really want to chop that many dill pickles so I did use dill pickle relish and drained them for about 30 minutes on paper towels. Came out nice and thick!
That sounds perfect, Jeanette! Thanks for sharing that with us and for leaving a review. We appreciate your feedback!
My apologies, Natasha. I had to improvise. I cut the recipe in half. I used 1/4 cup dill relish since I had no pickles. (Yes, it was soupy.) I used dill weed.
OMGOSH! I didn’t have any left. Fish. French fries. Ritz crackers. Nothing was safe. Lol. It was great. Thank you.
No worries at all, Tracey. I’m happy that you loved the sauce! Thank you for leaving a review.
This recipe is excellent. I made it to go with with my husband’s freshly caught Walleye from Lake Erie. Never will I buy jar tartar sauce again
That’s great feedback, thanks for sharing that with us. Great to know that you enjoyed this recipe!
It’s more of the same but worth repeating—-fantastic and easy! Thank you so much for being generous with your recipes. Our supermarket breaded fish was elevated. This is my first time trying one of your recipes and I’m now looking forward to trying something else. I love that this is a team effort with your hubby. It increases my desire to sample more of your offerings.
That’s so great! I’m so glad you discovered my blog and liked this recipe, Anna!
My husband really enjoys tartar sauce on his fish and sadly we have not been able to find his “go to brand” for well over a year now. Have tried several others and none have been keepers. Love your recipes Natasha and figured a home made one that you recommend is worth the try. Well, as with all of your recipes, this tartar gets 5 stars! Just made a batch to have with our dinner tonight and without it even getting to sit and rest for a while, when tasted before it headed into the fridge he said “wow, better than even my old jarred favorite”. Love everything we have tried and when looking for something different to try or even a staple with a new flair, I find we head to find a recipe you have so graciously shared. Thank you!!!
Homemade is always best, and I’m so glad this was no exception! Thank you so much for sharing this lovely review with me!
This was delish with our halibut and cod. The only thing different I did was add 2 TBSP prepared horseradish for a little kick!
Sounds great, Kay. Good to know that you liked this recipe and thanks for sharing that with us!
Love this recipe! I always add a little bit of pickle juice for an extra pickle flavor.
That’s a great idea, Abby!
I do that, too!
Natasha, I made this today because I forgot tartar sauce for our fish fry tomorrow. Am I ever so glad I forgot it. I will NEVER buy tartar sauce again thanks to you!! This is absolutely delicious!!
I’m so happy you tried this! You will never buy store-bought again– we haven’t had to! So so good, and I’m glad you loved it too!
Made it without what I didn’t have on hand… lemon juice and sugar… and used 1/3 mayo and 2/3 plain greek yogurt as the mayo was low- Still great results! Thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
This is so good. Even my husband liked it. It’s a keeper for our family.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Great recipe. I have made your Tartar sauce for several fish fries this summer. Everyone loves it.
Its our absolute favorite and popular for good reason! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I make my own tartare sauce as I don’t like the bought version. I just use chopped capers and mayonnaise and it’s really fantastic. I use it always when I cook fish and it’s quite often, sometimes twice a week
Homemade is always better, I’m glad you always make your own too.
I make my Tartar Sauce with the following.
1/4 cup Dill Relish
1 cup Blue Plate Mayo
If not enough relish, add to taste.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Loved this recipe. Family really enjoyed it, even crab cake and salmon cakes recipe which started it all. I will look to your site again for other recipes.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Amazing recipe! Thanks Natasha! Just tried Bonefish Grill’s fish and chips and yours is better!!
Wow! Thank you for that lovely comment and compliment!
Natasha, you’re amazing, your entire family is amazing, and your recipes are always delicious. Thank you so much for bringing a smile to my face and a happy face to my food. Please don’t allow anyone to dim your shine! Well, I’d write more, but I have tartar sauce to make. Thanks!!!
Hi John, thank you very much for your kind words and good feedback. I feel so inspired when I see messages like this. I appreciate you sharing this with us!