Tartar Sauce Recipe
Apr 17, 2020, Updated May 08, 2025
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Forgot about store bought, once you make this homemade tartar sauce recipe, you will never want to but it again.
My family calls me the condiment queen. I love to dip my food in all kinds of sauces like boom boom sauce, Wingstop ranch, or blue cheese dip. This tartar sauce from scratch is no exception. It’s so flavorful without all of the preservatives that many bottled sauces have.
Try serving this with shrimp, air fryer fish sticks, or air fryer crab cakes.
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise – Used to make the base of the sauce. I like using full fat mayo for the best flavor but you can use your favorite.
- Pickles – Diced, crunchy pickles add a nice dill flavor. If you prefer sweet, you can substitute with sweet pickle relish.
- Lemon juice – Balances out everything with a nice, bright flavor.
- Capers – Add a unique flavor and texture.
- Parsley – Fresh parsley adds an earthy flavor.
- Optional – Ground black pepper or horseradish.
How to make tartar sauce
Scroll down for full printable recipe, ingredients and video.
- Stir: Mix all of the ingredients together and be sure to let it chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour to let the flavors come together.
Heather’s recipe tips
- Make sure to chop the pickles very small.
- Don’t have fresh parsley, substitute with 1/4 teaspoon of dried parsley.
- Let the sauce sit in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving to ensure the flavors all come together.
How long does tartar sauce last?
This recipe will last for about a week in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Just give it a good stir when you are ready to serve.
What are the best pickles to use?
I really like the taste of classic dill pickles. They have the perfect amount of tang that works well with this recipe. You can substitute with gherkins, pickle relish, or bread and butter pickles for sweetness.
More recipes to enjoy
If you are a condiment fan like me, be sure to give these sauce recipes a try.
- Chick-Fil-A sauce tastes just like the restaurant.
- Crab cake sauce is another wonderful sauce for seafood.
- Buffalo sauce is a simple homemade version.
- Copycat McDonalds breakfast sauce is great for a breakfast sandwich.
Tartar Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup chopped dill pickle or pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon drained capers
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Mix together mayonnaise, pickles, pickle juice, capers, lemon juice and parsley.
- Optional, add 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper.
Video
Notes
- Make sure to chop the pickles very small.
- Don’t have fresh parsley, substitute with 1/4 teaspoon of dried parsley.
- Let the sauce sit in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving to ensure the flavors all come together.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’m not a fish lover but I will be sure to share this recipe with my mom and fiance’
wow! It’s so easy to make this tartar sauce at home! I will make it today!
Tartar sauce is one of my son’s fave sauces ever. I haven’t tried preparing it myself, though. Thank you for the recipe. Will try it sometime.
Ooohh this sounds delicious. I pinned it so I can make it next week when we’re having fish. Thanks for the great recipe!
This sounds yummy. I would have never thought to make my own tartar sauce, and it is nice to be able to customize it too.
Bingo! You gotta have the lemon juice. I had some once without it and it was so flat and flavorless.
I’ve never made tartar sauce before, but we love it. I’ll have to make this.
This sounds tasty! I’ll have to make it when I prepare fish sticks for my daughter. She loves her seafood.
I love condiments too! I haven’t tried making a tartar sauce. Sounds very delicious.
I’ve had a major fish stick craving lately so this is perfect! Thanks for sharing!
When my wife and I used to make our own tartar sauce, we just mixed dill relish (I made a little for myself with sweet relish!) and Hellman’s Mayonnaise! This is a great recipe!