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Home » Sauce + Dip » Tartar Sauce Recipe

Tartar Sauce Recipe

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon Jessica Randhawa
June 3, 2022
4.92 from 48 votes


Last Updated June 3, 2022 | 2 Comments

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Homemade Tartar Sauce made with mayonnaise, dill pickles and fresh dill, lemon juice, dijon mustard, and capers. So easy to make and way better than any of the jarred stuff you’ll find at the store, you’ll love this tangy, creamy, delicious tartar sauce recipe.

Tartar sauce in a small white serving dish on an aluminum pan.

The Best Tartar Sauce

Some things taste better when they’re homemade. Tartar sauce, for example, is one of those things. The store-bought stuff, promising flavor and freshness, was always such a letdown that I finally decided one day to make my own.

This amazing (and flavorful) homemade tartar sauce will take you just 5 minutes to make. Perfect with all of your favorite fish and seafood recipes, it’s made with a handful of simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry or refrigerator.

What is Tartar Sauce?

From the French word sauce tartare, tartar sauce is tangy, delicious, and perfectly creamy. This staple condiment, perfectly paired with all of your favorite fried finger foods and seafood dishes, is easily made with pantry essentials such as mayonnaise, dill relish, pickle relish, fresh herbs, capers, shallots, and even jalapeño.

Tartar sauce in a small white serving dish on an aluminum pan.

What’s in Tartar Sauce

In this recipe, you’ll find,

  • Full-fat mayonnaise
  • Dill pickle
  • Fresh dill
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Sugar
  • Dijon mustard
  • Capers
  • Salt and Pepper

The key to achieving delicious tartar sauce is by finding a perfectly balanced creamy tanginess (or piquancy), without it being overly sweet or overly tart.

To help reach this, I ditch the bread-and-butter pickles or sweet pickle relish (too sweet) and swapped it with finely chopped dill pickles or dill pickle relish. I also add a small teaspoon of sugar – not necessarily for sweetness, but just to balance some of the tartness.

Optional Additions:

  • Fresh parsley in place of fresh dill
  • Pickle juice
  • Hot sauce (like Tabasco) for heat
  • Horseradish for kick
Individual ingredients for tartar sauce in their own individual glass bowls.

How to Make Tartar Sauce

Stir together the mayonnaise, dill pickle, fresh chopped dill, lemon juice, sugar, dijon mustard, and capers in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and add additional lemon juice or lemon zest, if desired. Mix again and refrigerate until ready to serve and enjoy.

Recipe Tip

For best results, chill in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours, or up to overnight before serving.

White mixing bowl filled with unmixed ingredients for tartar sauce.

How to Serve

Perfect for dipping, dunking, and scooping onto all of your favorite recipes. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

  • Grilled fish
  • Fried fish
  • Pan-seared fish
  • Fish sticks
  • Crab cakes
  • French Fries
  • Chicken poppers or Chicken Tenders
  • Hushpuppies
  • Onion rings
  • Fish sandwiches
  • Fish tacos
  • Roasted Potatoes
  • Fried calamari
  • Tuna salad
White bowl filled with fully combined tartar sauce.

How Long Does Tartar Sauce Last?

Homemade tartar sauce will last for up to 5-7 days when stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

It is not recommended that you freeze tartar sauce as the base is made of mayonnaise which will separate after thawing.

More Delicious Sauce Recipes

  • Enchilada Sauce
  • Best Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
  • Chimichurri Recipe
  • Garlic Butter Sauce
  • Easy Honey Mustard Sauce Recipe
  • Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
Tartar sauce in a small white serving dish on an aluminum pan.

Have you tried making this Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe?

Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts. And tag me #theforkedspoon on Instagram if you’ve made any of my recipes, I always love to see what you’re cooking in the kitchen.

Tartar sauce in a small white serving dish on an aluminum pan.

Tartar Sauce Recipe

4.92 from 48 votes
Chef: Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa
Homemade Tartar Sauce made with mayonnaise, dill pickles and fresh dill, lemon juice, dijon mustard, and capers. So easy to make and way better than any of the jarred stuff you'll find at the store, you'll love this tangy, creamy, delicious tartar sauce recipe.
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Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 5 mins
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 16 tablespoons (approximately)
Calories 97 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup mayonnaise - (full-fat recommended)
  • ¼ cup dill pickle - drained and finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill - minced
  • 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoon capers - drained and chopped
  • salt + black pepper - to taste
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Instructions
 

  • Stir together the mayonnaise, dill pickle, fresh dill, lemon juice, sugar, dijon mustard, and capers in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly until fully combined.
  • Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • For a little heat, add 2-3 drops of Tabasco sauce to your tartar sauce. Refrigerate until ready to serve and enjoy.

Jessica’s Notes

  • I have not tried making this recipe with dried dill, so I can’t say for sure how it will taste, but if that’s all you have and you’ll like to add some, start with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of dried dill for every one tablespoon of fresh dill.
  • Keep leftovers stored in a sealed container and in the refrigerator. Best enjoyed within 5 days. Freezing is not recommended.
  • Nutrition facts are per (1) tablespoon of tartar sauce.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 119mg | Potassium: 3mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Keyword How to Make Tartar Sauce, Tartar Sauce, Tartar Sauce Recipe
Did You Make This Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @theforkedspoon or tag #theforkedspoon and please leave your star rating in the comment section below.

 

About Jessica

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

532 shares
Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

About Jessica Randhawa

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

Comments

  1. Laura says

    February 7, 2023 at 4:38 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight for our fish. My husband who is is a store bought only tartar sauce kinda guy, actually ate this tartar sauce and was impressed! I did not have any fresh dill and added a dried lemony dill mix and it was fabulous. I also used dill pickle relish. Will be keeping this recipe around for sure!!
    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa says

      February 7, 2023 at 5:24 pm

      Thanks for the great feedback, Laura 😀

      Reply

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Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

I’m Jessica! Aka mom, wife, chef, and travel-obsessed photographer. Welcome to The Forked Spoon. Here you can browse hundreds of incredible family-friendly recipes covering dozens of diets, courses, and cuisines. Learn more about me.

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