Homemade Tartar Sauce

This easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe is a creamy, flavorful dipping sauce perfect for serving with fish, crab cakes, shrimp, oysters or any seafood dish. Chill thoroughly before serving for the best flavor.

Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe

Tartar sauce is one of my go-to condiments for seafood nights. Whether I’m serving grilled or fried fish, crispy shrimp, or crab cakes, it always adds the perfect creamy, tangy touch. The best part is how simple it is to make at home, just a few everyday ingredients from your refrigerator and pantry come together to create a fresh, flavorful sauce that tastes so much better than a store-bought version.

Checkout this quick list of ingredients you’ll need to make easy Tartar Sauce Recipe: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Mayonnaise – Mayonnaise forms the creamy base of homemade tartar sauce.
• Pickles – Sweet pickle relish or chopped pickles, depending on your taste you can use sweet pickles or dill pickles.
• Onion – Finely minced sweet onion for a hint of onion flavor.
• Lemon – Fresh lemon juice adds the acidic component that balances the taste.
• Herbs – Fresh dill adds a bright tangy flavor.
• Spices – Salt, lemon pepper, granulated garlic and granulated sugar.

How to Make the Best Homemade Tartar Sauce

• Combine – Whisk together mayonnaise, pickle relish, minced onion, lemon juice, dill, granulated sugar, salt with lemon pepper or black pepper.
• Refrigerate – Once combined, pop it into an airtight container and chill in the fridge for several hours to allow the flavors to fully develop and marry.
• Serve – Enjoy chilled with your favorite seafood dishes.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Tartar Sauce

• Large mixing bowl.
• Balloon whisk.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• Sharp knife and cutting board.
• Citrus juicer.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Mayo – You can use lighter mayonnaise to make tartar sauce, if desired. I don’t recommend using Miracle Whip but should you choose to do so, omit the sugar.
• Dried DilI – I highly recommend using fresh dill in this recipe but you could adapt using dried dill if that’s what you have on hand. You’ll only need a fraction of the amount so begin with 1/4 teaspoon then taste and add more to your taste. Dried herbs have a much more intense flavor that fresh herbs.
• Fresh Herbs – You could add fresh chives or fresh parsley.
• Onion – You could use finely diced shallots or green onions in place of sweet onion.
• Capers – You can add 1 tablespoon of finely diced capers to the mix.
• Customize – When making homemade tartar sauce, there’s always room for personalization. For example, a more tart sauce may suit your taste so in that case you should use diced dill pickle. If you like a hint of sweetness, go with sweet pickle relish.
• Sugar – The granulated sugar won’t make the tartar sauce sweet it primarily serves to balance the flavor of the other ingredients. You can use an alternate sugar free sweetener that you enjoy.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers – Store leftover Tartar Sauce in an airtight container or in a jar chilled in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Southern Style Dishes to Serve with Tartar Sauce

• Crispy Panko Fried Shrimp can be served as an entree or an appetizer.
• Skip frying and make this Baked Flounder in the oven.
• This Southern Fried Catfish is the only recipe you’ll ever need.
• Cajun seasoned Air Fryer Shrimp is perfectly seasoned and cooks in minutes.
• Beer Battered Fish with a side of french fries and tarter sauce for dipping.
• Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes are packed with flavor.
• Salmon Lemon Kabobs from Family Fresh Meals.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Set
• Cheese Grater
• Whisks