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.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
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
Excellant ,so tired of store bought and there not even half as good as yours
T
Home made truly is best.
Not to tart not .to sweet with dill pickle relish I used 1 cup of mayo for future use
Amazing flavor. I use half portions because it’s just two of us but this is m go to recipe for tartar sauce!
simple and delish!! I will never buy store bought again. We also make our own mayo and I think that makes this so much better 🙂
Homemade truly is best! I’m so glad you loved it.
Always go to Natashas recipes for the best taste. This sauce I tweak with some onion powder, tarragon, and fresh parsley. I use the dried dill as I never have the fresh on hand but it does taste better with fresh dill.
I just made this today! I used Dukes mayonnaise because that’s all I had on hand! We love it! How do we store it and how long does sit last?
Glad to hear that you loved this recipe! You can transfer the sauce in an airtight container with a tight fitting lid and refrigerate it.It should last about a week but I recommend checking it before using it just to be sure.
Never knew homemade tartar sauce could be so delicious 😋 This will be my go-to here on. Thanks for sharing
Made this multiple times. Great. Also allows for little tweaks, ie capers, chives, etc
I make this all the time now! Thank you. It’s delicious
Hi Mary! Glad to hear that. Thank you.
Is the 1 cup of pickles AFTER they have been diced? If so, could you use drained dill relish instead of dicing pickles?
Hi Theresa, if the relish isn’t sweet, it could work here but add it to taste. 1 cup of dill relish would be too much for this Tartar sauce recipe. Also relish has other things in it besides pickles so it will change the flavor of the tartar sauce. I haven’t tested it to say for sure if it’s a good idea.
This was delicious tartar sauce. I needed it quick so I found this recipe and it was delicious.
I’m glad you found this recipe, Sherry!
How long can this last in he refrigerator
Hi Ginni, this recipe stays fresh in the fridge for a few days.
WILL BE MAKING THIS EVERY TIME . GREAT TAST AND FLAVOR
Delicious recipe as is, but for anybody who didn’t pay attention and accidentally added a bit of tarragon 🙄 it definitely works too.
Amazing. I’ll never buy tartar sauce again
I’ve been looking for a yummy homemade tartar sauce recipe. This looks perfect!!! Can I substitute dried dill for the fresh, or frozen? If yes, then how much should I use. Love trying your recipes Natasha. Cheer’s from your fans in Ontario, Canada. <3
Hi Carolyn. We really prefer fresh/frozen because the flavor is so much better (and stronger). Dry dill tends to loose some of its flavor in the drying process. A general rule is to use a 3:1 ratio (3 parts fresh to 1 part dry) but I would definitely add it to taste. And allow the sauce some time to sit to develop its flavor if you are using dry dill.
I use dry dill all the time and even though fresh is better, dry is fine if you use more and give it time to hydrate. This recipe is a great basis for experimenting with your own tweaks, and I always find that it’s better if it sits in the fridge for a bit before you use it so whatever flavors you use are able to come together.
Came upon this recipe by accident because I had crab cakes and no tartar sauce. Can you say “Bomb Dot D@MN!” Sorry for the almost expletive, but I had to. Super easy to make and I didn’t even have to go to the grocery store, everything was in my kitchen. I had spicy dill pickles and used them instead. Added a little more sugar for my taste. This is so amazing that I will never eat store bought again!
I have also made with spicy dill pickles and instead of minced onion, added a pinch of minced garlic. Absolutely delicious!
Can I use Chilli garlic mayo for this recipe?
Hi. I have never tested anything like that with tartar sauce, but feel free to experiment.
Excellent Recipe. Definitely worth the 5 starts. Easy yet very tasty! Thank you.
Thank you for the easy and delicious recipe! Do you happen to know how long this is good in the fridge once prepared?
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Keri. This recipe stays fresh in the fridge for a few days.
this was so easy and so yummy. I made it to go with the salmon cakes! It was so delicious together.
This recipe was simple and easy. I whipped it up and was so pleased with the outcome. It was delicious! I’ll never buy store bought again.