Tartar sauce should always be made fresh! And good news—all that’s needed are a handful of simple ingredients to create this creamy, tangy dip that’s perfect for serving with your favorite seafood dishes.
The Best Homemade Tartar Sauce
Whenever these crab cakes or salmon patties are on the menu, a side of my homemade tartar sauce is a non-negotiable. They’re the perfect pairing and go together like bread and butter. But if you’ve only ever tried store-bought tartar sauce, you’re in for a treat—this version tastes infinitely fresher and boasts a perfectly chunky, creamy texture (without being overly thick). Here’s what else you’ll love about this recipe:
- It’s quick and easy. While you can chop fresh dill pickles from scratch, I opt for jarred dill pickle relish for a faster, hassle-free way to whip up this sauce.
- It’s extremely versatile. This tartar sauce isn’t just for crab cakes. Use it as a dip for potato wedges, spread it on a seafood sandwich, or pair it with grilled or baked fish. Check out even more ideas below!
Tartar Sauce Ingredients
- Mayonnaise: I love making my own mayonnaise for the best flavor and texture, but feel free to use your favorite store-bought brand. For a lighter option, you can substitute Greek yogurt or reduced-fat mayo.
- Relish: I use jarred dill pickle relish (and my mom opts for sweet pickle relish) for a quick and convenient method. Look for a brand with a bright green color and no unnecessary food dyes. Plus, you can use any leftover relish to dollop on my turkey burgers! If you prefer a homemade approach, finely chop fresh dill pickles instead.
- Shallots and Lemon Juice: Shallots bring a mild, slightly garlicky, and sweet onion flavor, while fresh lemon juice brightens the tartar sauce with a refreshing, zesty acidity.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How To Make Tartar Sauce
Stir together. Add the mayonnaise, relish, shallot, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to a bowl. Stir together until it’s all well combined — that’s it!
Refrigerate for the best flavor. Although you can serve it as is, the sauce will taste even better if you chill it in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes before serving. This will give the sauce time to let the flavors meld together.
Ways To Use Tartar Sauce
- Use as a dip. Whether it’s topped on roasted potato wedges, roasted vegetables like roasted broccoli, or fried seafood like calamari, this is the perfect creamy, tangy dip to pair with those items.
- Layer it in a seafood sandwich. Slather this tartar sauce into any type of seafood sandwich!
- Serve with grilled or baked fish. Besides crab cakes or salmon patties, tartar sauce tastes great when served with baked salmon, grilled salmon steaks, or baked cod.
Storage Tips
Tartar sauce can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. You also might notice it separates slightly after sitting in the fridge, so just give it a quick stir before serving. As for freezing, Tartar sauce doesn’t freeze well because the mayonnaise base can separate when thawed, resulting in a watery and grainy texture.
More Homemade Sauces
- BBQ Sauce: Fresh BBQ sauce always reigns supreme!
- Marinara Sauce: All you need are 5 simple ingredients.
- Chimichurri Sauce: This vibrant herb sauce is delicious served over grilled skirt steak.
- Horseradish Sauce: A must-make for holiday mains like prime rib and beef tenderloin.
If you make this tartar sauce recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration (and exclusive content), join my free newsletter.
Super Easy Tartar Sauce
Description
Video
Equipment
- Glass Mixing Bowls My favorite set of nesting mixing bowls!
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup dill relish or sweet pickle relish
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Stir together. Add the mayonnaise, relish, shallot, lemon juice, salt and pepper to a bowl. Stir together until well combined.
- Refrigerate. If possible, chill the tartar sauce in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes before serving, to let the flavors meld together.
Lisa’s Tips
- Storage tip: Tartar sauce can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. You also might notice it separates slightly after sitting in the fridge, so just give it a quick stir before serving. As for freezing, Tartar sauce doesn’t freeze well because the mayonnaise base can separate when thawed, resulting in a watery and grainy texture.
- Make it unique: Feel free to add other ingredients like capers, diced jalapeños, or fresh herbs like chives or parsley for a unique twist!
- Watch ingredient labels when you’re buying relish. Some brands have unnecessary ingredients and food dyes (though a little turmeric for color is fine). If you can’t find any clean brands in your supermarket, then I do recommend dicing dill pickles and making your own relish!
Nutrition
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I made this tartar sauce last night and it was delicious. What i loved about it it was so simple to make, and I made just enough to eat for the evening. And I can make it again when I want. This is a gold star condiment.
I’m so glad you loved this homemade tatar sauce, Katherine!
Delicious. We used sweet relish. We thought the lemon juice was a little too present. Next, we will cut the quantity in half. Had this with your crab cakes recipe. They were outstanding. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I’m glad you enjoyed this tartar sauce, and yes, definitely feel free to adjust the amount of lemon juice.
You said that you would put a link for the jarred dill pickle relish in the recipe card. I do not see it. I would love to know what brand you use.
Hi Erica – Thanks for pointing that out! I actually couldn’t find the one I use from Sprouts on Amazon. But, if you have a Sprouts near you, you can look for their organic dill pickle relish.