Homemade Tarter Sauce is easy to make with eight common ingredients, and it tastes so darn delicious. You will want to dip everything in it.
I love this tartar sauce. It pairs well with fried and baked fish and or as a dipping sauce for French fries, onion rings, and vegetables.
What Is Tartar Sauce?
Tartar sauce is a creamy, mayonnaise-based, dill-flavored, pickled condiment primarily served with seafood such as fried and baked fish, crab cakes, and shrimp. It is also delicious with potatoes or as a dipping sauce for appetizers.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients on the recipe card below.
- Mayonnaise: I love Duke’s mayo, but you can use your favorite brand.
- Pickle relish: Use sweet pickle relish or add a little sugar to regular pickle relish.
- Dill: For optimal flavor, use fresh dill.
- Lemon juice: Fresh is always best.
- Dijon mustard: I love the tanginess it adds, but you can substitute yellow mustard or spicy brown mustard.
- Hot sauce: A little dash adds dimension to the overall flavor.
How To Make Tartar Sauce
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
Mix all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if desired. Sprinkle with chopped fresh dill. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Enjoy this tartar sauce for up to a week.
Serving Suggestions for Tartar Sauce
- Serve with fried or baked fish, or seafood such as fried cod, baked lemon-dill tilapia, baked lemon cod, or grilled shrimp.
- Use it as a dipping sauce for air-fried potato wedges, fried mushrooms, or sweet potato fries.
- Spread it as a condiment on your favorite sandwich, such as a pork tenderloin sandwich or crispy chicken sandwich.
Tartar Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sweet pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons grated yellow onion
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- dash of hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if desired.
- Sprinkle with chopped fresh dill.
Notes
- Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Enjoy this tartar sauce for up to a week.
- I do not recommend freezing this.
Jerry
I loved how this tartar sauce recipe brought such bold flavor to a classic condiment while staying simple enough to whip up in minutes. Skip the jarred stuff and make this recipe. You will not regret it.
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it, Jerry!
barbie r
Tarter sauce reminds me of being a kid. Fish and chips at a restaurant we used to dine at all the time. So yummy. I love fish, but have not had tartar in years.
Lisa
Mmm, so good! I love making homemade tartar sauce. It actually took the kids a little while to try it at first, but once I started making it myself, they were hooked. I serve it with our fish, and now they even dip their French fries in it too.
Beth Pierce
It is so darn delicious!