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
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The best tartar sauce! I love all of your recipes!
Thank you so much, Elizabeth!
Made for batter fried cod last night. My picky family members devoured it! I thought we would have a lot left. Nope!
I could never find tartar sauce with clean ingredients but now that I found this recipe I used my own homemade mayonnaise and this was the best tartar sauce I ever had. I made it for our annual Christmas Eve fish fry and my family absolutely loved it. Fantastic recipe, thank you.
So happy you found this recipe, Lucy!
No need to look elsewhere for a tartar sauce recipe. This is absolutely delicious and my family went cuckoo over it.
Only had sweet gherkins – still divine! Only added the tiniest bit of sugar to compensate.
My mom can’t believe how fast and easy tartar sauce is to make, at 69 years old she said she’ll have to try making it too for the first time!
That’s great to hear that she’s gonna make the recipe too!
Made this exact. I had fish and didn’t have any tartar sauce 😞. But I found this recipe and I love it. I will not be buying store-bought anymore.
I’m so glad to hear that you loved the tartar sauce!
We ran out of tartar sauce so I tried your recipe since it had 5 stars with 1K+ reviews!!! and my family LOVED it. I finely diced sweet onion. Had to omit the fresh dill since I didn’t have any on hand. We had hamburger dill pickles that I chopped which made the sauce juicier than your photo — so next time I will buy baby dills or spears. Much better tasting than store-bought tartar sauce! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Best tartar sauce recipe you’ll ever find! I used Bubbie’s dill relish in place of the pickles, and added both parsley and dill. It’s just perfect.
Thank you for your kind words and good feedback!
Excellent recipe. I added a bit of onion. Didn’t have fresh dill so I used dried.
Could you explain to me how 1 cup of mayo and cup of chopped pickles (along with the other ingredients) nets you 1 1/2 cups of tartar sauce. Am I missing something here? I mean I guess the space between the chopped pickles but that can’t be 1/2 cup…. Or can it be?
Sorry, it’s 2am and looking for tarter sauce recipes so onliously all my pistons are not firing properly.
Hi there! The pickles have lots of air space between pieces. When they’re stirred into mayo, that air disappears and the mixture compresses.
My husband said 5* and that’s impressive.
The very best tartar sauce ever. I used the Devil Spit pickles from Famous Daves and it was amazing and added a little kick to the sauce
I’m so glad you loved it, Ed!
I’ve made this many times. My grandsons will just eat it pla9n out of the bowl. Everywhere I take it, I’m sharing your link. My husband hates onions so I finely chop chives instead. Fresh squeezed lemon is best and I use Nalley baby banquet pills. Thank you for sharing this
That’s wonderful, Diane! So glad to hear it’s been a hit!
this is far the best tarter sauce ever! I will never buy store bought again!
Thanks a million . I took the tartar sauce and Caesar dressing for my recipe box . I really love homemade cooking for i can add what I want . I deeply appreciate this 🩷🫶🏼🌷
You’re very welcome, Sandra! I’m so glad you love them both.
I’m not typically a tartar fan but this recipe changed it for me. Love it!
That’s so great to hear, Helene! Thanks for trying the recipe!
Giving 5 stars, just because everything I have made from you is DELICIOUS!
So quick to come together and delicious!
So glad you loved it, Kat!
Delicious, didn’t realize it was so simple. Thank you!
Better and healthier than store bought. I used monk fruit and light miracle whip. It’s yummier than from the store.
Homemade really is best. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!