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
In my travels I have found that nothing compares to Ivan’s tartar sauce. But I started my cod and salmon dinner before realizing I didn’t have tartar sauce and too late to run to the store. I quickly looked up and found this recipe…..I will never go back to Ivan’s, kids loved it and so did I…..being an avid foodie, thank you thank you thank you.
I used to think the same Ty, I don’t remember the last time I purchased tartar sauce, I’m so glad you loved this homemade one also!
Enjoyed the tartar sauce recipe! The dill makes salmon taste so fresh and so easy to put together. Thank you!
Delicious treat to have on hand – a friend puts capers in theirs but haven’t tried that before! I have cod loins begging to be cooked off today so will look for fish recipes here too!
Made these with leftover grilled fresh tuna. It was really good! Used what I had on hand…plain bread crumbs and green pepper instead of panko and red pepper. Thank you!
Best tartar sauce recipe. I used dill relish in lieu of chopped pickles. It was easy and delicious.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, B-Rad!
All in all, a good recipe. I thought it needed to be a bit sweeter so added sweet pickle relish (along with some of the sweet pickle juice).
what brand of mayo did you use in this recipe?
Hi Joan! We make our own with our Easy Homemade Mayonnaise recipe. You can use your favorite storebought mayo too, just make sure it’s real mayonnaise.
Very good recipe! I add a shake or two of dried minced onions along with a shake of dried dill weed & parsley. I make this every time I serve fish. My husband loves it! Easy & delicious!
I’m so glad you both loved it, Cynthia!
This tartar sauce is THE BEST IVE EVER HAD! It DOESN’T need ANYTHING added OR replaced! Otherwise it wouldn’t be “your recipe” ….. PERFECT even on sandwiches instead of plain mayo 🤗 thank you and God bless 🙏
Hi Marie! Thank you so much. I’m glad you loved it.
I needed some very fast to eat with my shrimp and I found this recipe. It is awesome! We have fish on Fridays for dinner. So, Thank you!
I wonder able use dill weed season instead fresh or frozen?
Hi Kim, while I prefer fresh, that should work.
THE best tartar sauce. I use one 10oz jar dill relish (drained and pressed to get most of the liquid out), the parsley instead of dill seasoning (1/2 tsp ground dried or 1 tbsp fresh) and dried chopped onion. MUST prep about 1-2 hours before needed so it gives the onion time to soften but always turns out fantastic!
Natasha, I’ve already made your Salmon patties recipe and you Tartar Sauce recipe and, Sweetheart, you are an AWESOME chef…both recipes are fantastic and you have my vote for main seat on Top Chef!!!!😃👍👍👍👍👍🥰
I basically just looked at the ingredients and winged it. Wasn’t even accurate to the measurements (proving it’s an easy recipe) and this has to be the best tartar sauce I’ve ever had. Tempting to just eat it as is. Very delicious.
I followed this recipe once and now I’m THE tartar sauce maker for the family.
Suggestion for the lazy: sub dill relish for the chopped pickle.
Thanks for the tip about the dill relish. It turned out great, and it was so quick…… ! I did add some onion powder to it instead of onion.