Once you learn how to make tartar sauce, you’ll never buy it from the store again! This recipe is creamy, tangy, and easy to make in under 10 minutes.
This is the tartar sauce recipe. Creamy, fresh, tangy and full of flavor. There are very few store bought versions I’ve tried! Luckily, this homemade tartar sauce is easy to make with simple ingredients like mayonnaise, dill pickles, capers, and lemon. You can complete a batch in less than 10 minutes!
Tartar sauce is traditionally served with seafood, but we love this recipe with potatoes, vegetables, and more. Really, whenever you feel like your dish needs some rich, tangy flavor, you can make this tartar sauce recipe to brighten up your dish!
Tartar Sauce Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make the tartar sauce recipe:
- mayonnaise – Creates a rich and creamy base for the sauce. I also love this recipe, which mixes mayonnaise and Greek yogurt for a slightly lighter, tangy flavor.
- fresh lemon juice – Makes the sauce clean and bright.
- Capers and chopped dill pickles – It adds a salty, salty, and thick texture. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, you can use chopped sweet pickles or sweet pickle relish instead of dill pickles. In this case, you may need less sugar. Start with a pinch and add more to taste.
- Dijon Mustard – Adds a tangy and peppery taste.
- fresh garlic and onion powder – You want a sharp, savory depth of flavor.
- sugar – The sweetness is balanced by the tangy mustard, capers and pickles.
- fresh dill – I think the dill is what sets this recipe apart from store-bought recipes. It adds amazing freshness and delicious sourness. Feel free to substitute other fresh herbs if you wish. Fresh parsley or chives work well!
- freshly ground black pepper – The mustard’s peppery flavor pops!
Find the full measured recipe below.
How to make tartar sauce
This easy recipe has two simple steps.
- First prepare the ingredients. Dice the pickles, chop the capers, chop the dill, and grate the garlic.
- Then mix it all together! Add mayonnaise, chopped pickles, capers, dill, lemon juice, sugar, mustard, garlic, onion powder, and a few grinds of pepper to a medium bowl. Stir until everything is completely mixed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
That’s it!
What to serve with homemade tartar sauce
Tartar sauce is traditionally served with seafood dishes such as crab cakes, fish and chips, and even fish sticks, but in our house we often eat it with vegetables! Here are some of the best ways to enjoy it:
How about using homemade tartar sauce? Let us know in the comments!
Storage method
Leftover sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Just stir briefly before using!
More Homemade Sauce Recipes
If you like this recipe, try one of these easy homemade sauces:
Tartar Sauce Recipe
serve 8
This homemade tartar sauce recipe is so much better than store-bought! It’s creamy, tangy, and easy to make with simple, fresh ingredients. See the blog post above for my favorite ways to serve.
Prevent your screen from going dark
In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, pickles, capers, dill, lemon juice, sugar, mustard, garlic, onion powder, and a few grinds of pepper. Season to taste.
