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.
alejandra
This tartar sauce is delicious and easy to make with staple ingredients, and that’s exactly my kind of recipe. I served it with homemade nuggets and it was a hit!
Beth Pierce
So happy that you liked it, Alejandra!
Kat
I always keep a jar of Duke’s in my fridge for recipes just like this one. Adding a dash of hot sauce is such a great way to cut through that creamy base and give it some personality.
Amy
I whipped up this tartar sauce for dinner, and it’s so much better than the bottled stuff. The balance of acidity and crunch was perfect with our fried fish.
Beth Pierce
So happy that you like it. We love it too!
Angela
This tartar sauce turned out so delicious!! It was perfect with our fish and chips. I can’t wait to make it again…YUM!!!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Angela! So happy that you liked it.
Leah
Those photos looks so yummy. I might have to make this tonight!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Leah! Enjoy!
Vidhya
I love homemade tartar sauce! This one is my new favorite!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Vidhya!
Catalina
I made this to go with fried fish and it was perfect. Creamy, tangy, and way better than store-bought.
Tammy
I love tartar sauce so much! I actually put it on all my sandwiches…this is so delicious and comes together easily!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Tammy!
Ben
Nice. I made this to go with some frozen fish sticks. Best combo I’ve had in a while.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Ben!
Terri
This is so yummy! I made it to go with my fried catfish last night, and it’s better than anything in a restaurant.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Terri! So glad that you liked it.