This Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe is the easiest way to take a quick fish dinner from boring to irresistible. With just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes, you'll be serving up a restaurant-quality tartar sauce that makes everything more delicious.
Since dill pickles and real mayonnaise were staples in my house growing up, homemade tartar sauce was a regular dinner co-star along with fish sticks and salmon patties. I've added a bit of Dijon for heat and tang, and fresh dill for the perfect flavor.
This sauce is perfect with store-bought fish sticks on a Friday night, pan-seared salmon fillets, or Southern breaded cod. Just like my Homemade Cocktail Sauce, I like to double or triple the recipe to feed a crowd!
Ingredients to make this sauce at home:
Before we get to the step by step directions, a few notes about the ingredients:
Mayo: real mayo is the only way to go. Hellman's is my childhood favorite, but depending on where you live, Dukes is a great option, or a quality store brand.
Pickles: diced hamburger dills or a garlicky, crunchy kosher dills work perfectly. For a sweeter dipping sauce, choose cornichons or bread and butter pickles. Pickle relish is an option, though it will thin out your tartar sauce considerably. For a more upscale option, substitute capers for pickles.
Dijon: French mustard adds the perfect zing and sophistication to our dipping sauce. Substitute whole grain mustard, spicy brown or even yellow mustard.
Dill: fresh dill is ideal...substitute dry dill, if needed. Use 1 teaspoon of dried dill in place of 1 tablespoon of fresh dill. You can also use finely diced chives, scallions or flat-leaf parsley.
Lemon juice: if you're out of fresh lemon, substitute an equal portion of dill pickle juice in place of citrus. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
Full ingredient list and measurements included in printable recipe card below.
How to Make the Best Tartar Sauce:
Combine mayonnaise, diced pickles, Dijon, fresh dill, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a bowl. Stir until combined. Chill until service.
This is the perfect salmon tartar sauce, so serve it with Greek Salmon Steaks, Crispy Baked Walleye or Crispy Panko Shrimp!
Can I make tartar sauce recipe without pickles?
Absolutely. Substitute capers or your favorite pickled veggie (carrots, onions, cauliflower) for added zing. Or finely dice scallions, shallot or onion. For a completely smooth sauce with tartar sauce vibes, try my Salmon Cake Sauce.
How long is homemade tartar sauce good in the fridge?
This homemade tartar sauce will last 5-7 days if kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Print
Tartar Sauce Recipe (Easy!)
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons dill pickles, finely diced
1 tablespoon fresh dill
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch of kosher salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the easy tartar sauce in a small bowl. Mix well to combine.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Garnish with fresh dill and serve with your favorite seafood!
Notes
- Use either full fat mayo or reduced fat in this recipe.
- Substitute capers for dill pickles, if you'd like.
- If you're out of lemon juice, substitute equal amount of the juice from your jar of dill pickles.
- For a spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few drops of hot sauce to the tartar sauce.
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: Easy Recipes
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
jill
This was soooo good and a great way to use the fresh dill I have in my herb garden. Yum!
Christina Jolam
Love hearing this! There's a million ways to make it fancy, but a tasty, 5-ingredient tartar sauce always wins the day! Thanks for coming back to leave a great review.