Tartar Sauce

Creamy homemade tartar sauce is made with 5 simple ingredients. A bit of mayonnaise, dill pickles, shallots, and lemon juice come together to make this staple seafood dipping sauce in no time at all.

Why this recipe works

This creamy concoction is the perfect accompaniment to so many different seafood dishes, especially of the fried variety. Our favorite vehicle for tartar sauce has got to be crab cakes, fish cakes, or beer battered fish but realistically, you can use it as a condiment or dipper for anything you want!

Though tartar sauce from scratch is really quick to throw together, you’ll want to allow the sauce to sit in the refrigerator for around 2 hours to let the flavors truly mingle together.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

MAYO – We’re using both regular mayonnaise and a small amount of horseradish mayo for extra flavor. If desired, you can substitute the horseradish mayo for regular mayonnaise.

LEMON – Use fresh lemon juice for this recipe, it will make all the difference.

PICKLES – We prefer to use chopped dill pickles, but you can easily use sweet pickles or substitute them with relish instead.

ADDITIONS – You can add 1 – 1 1/2 tablespoons of fresh chopped dill if desired. Another popular addition to tartar sauce is capers. You can add up to 2 Tablespoons of chopped capers for additional flavor.

How to Make Tartar Sauce

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Combine all ingredients in an immersion blender.
2. Blend until combined but some chunks remain.
3. Refrigerate for 2 hours to allow flavors to mingle before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

If properly stored, this homemade tartar sauce will keep for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator. Store the tartar sauce with an air-tight lid for proper storage.

Serving Suggestions

Serve tartar sauce with anything from fried fish, fried crab legs, fish tacos, drizzled on top of sandwiches, or even for dipping vegetables into. This dip is so versatile and doesn’t have to be limited to only seafood!

More Sauce Recipes

• Salmon Sauce
• French Fry Sauce
• Alabama White Sauce
• Rosemary Cream Sauce
• Remoulade Sauce

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