Name: Homemade Tartar Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup mayonnaise; 1/4 cup dill pickles, finely chopped; 1 Tbsp lemon juice; 1 Tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped; salt, to taste; pepper, to taste; sugar, to taste

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This easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe is just what you need in your condiment repertoire. In just about 5 minutes, you’ll have a dipping sauce that’s so much better than store bought.

It’s creamy, tangy, fresh, and the perfect accompaniment to your fried seafood and more!

This easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe is just what you need in your condiment repertoire. It's a must with fried seafood.

Some things just demand a good sauce, and for many tartar sauce is a top contender.

Use it as a dip for Fried Green Tomatoes or Salmon Patties, slather it on a Shrimp po’ Boy, and it’s a must next to Fried Catfish.

What is Tartar Sauce

Tartar sauce is more than just a condiment, it’s a flavor celebration that brings seafood dishes to life.

It combines the creaminess of mayonnaise with the tangy crunch of dill pickles and the fresh zest of lemon juice. Some variations also include capers, onions, Worcestershire sauce or mustard.

Although now it is most commonly associated with fried seafood, it gets its name from the French dish Steak Tartare, with which the sauce was commonly served in the 19th century.

While store-bought options are available, nothing compares to our homemade version. Your seafood platter will thank you!

Ingredient Notes

Mayonnaise – Provides a rich and creamy base. Our favorite is Duke’s, but you can use any high quality mayo you prefer.
Dill Pickles – Adds that tangy crunch that’s essential to any great tartar sauce.
Lemon Juice – Only fresh squeezed, please.
Fresh Dill – We love fresh here. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have any on hand, replace with 1 teaspoon of dried dill.
Salt, pepper, and sugar – To taste, if necessary. It depends on your palate, and your mayo.

Easy Tartar Sauce Recipe

Mix everything in a bowl. Taste and adjust… Easy, huh?

What to Serve with Tartar Sauce

Tartar sauce is a nice dipping sauce to add to a crudité platter, as well as some cooked veggies like Roasted Broccoli, Roasted Asparagus or Steak Fries.

We also like to substitute it in for regular mayo for sandwiches, wraps and burgers for a little extra zing. It’s yum on our Salmon Burgers.

And, of course, it’s pretty much a must for any kind of fried seafood.

Storing Leftovers

Leftover tartar sauce can be refrigerated for about a week. Make sure to keep it in an airtight container, or cover the bowl tightly with cling wrap. Give it a good stir before using.

More Homemade Condiments

The next time you’re frying up some seafood, or just want a yummy dipping sauce, whip up our easy homemade tartar sauce recipe. Trust me, it blows that jarred stuff out of the water!