Tartar Sauce Recipe - Quick & Easy - Dishes & Dust Bunnies

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If you're looking for a simple yet delicious way to elevate your seafood dishes, this homemade tartar sauce recipe is exactly what you need. Made with just a few basic ingredients, this creamy and tangy sauce is perfect for pairing with everything from fish sticks to fried fish. Plus, it comes together in just a few minutes!

Here's What Our Readers Are Saying About This Recipe

“Tastes just like tartar sauce and made it in 5 minutes. Better than store bought” – Mary from Pinterest

“I made this the other night and it was really good! Super easy! I will definitely be using this again! Also better than store bought. Thank you!” – Jennifer from Pinterest

“Very good! Super simple with things I already had in the kitchen.” – Jessica from Pinterest

“This was very, very good!! Easy too! No more store bought for me! Thanks!” – Dawn from Pinterest

Anyone who knows me is well aware of my obsession with fish and seafood—so naturally, tartar sauce is a must-have around here! Whether it's fish and chips, breaded shrimp, or just about any seafood dish, this creamy, tangy condiment takes things to the next level. Among all the tartar sauce recipes I've tried, this one is definitely a keeper.

Tartar sauce has a tangy, slightly sour flavor with just a touch of sweetness, and it pairs beautifully with seafood. This homemade version is made with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand—mayonnaise, sweet green relish, a splash of lemon juice, and a hint of yellow mustard. You can even jazz it up with extras like fresh dill or a dash of dill pickle juice if you like!

Ever wonder why it’s called tartar sauce? The name actually comes from the French word tartre, meaning gravel or stone. It’s said the sauce was created by fishermen to help mask the flavor of fish stored on ice for long periods—thankfully, now we just use it to enhance already delicious seafood dishes!

After tasting this quick and easy homemade tartar sauce, you’ll be wondering why you ever bought the store-bought kind. It’s so much better, easy to adjust to the amount you need, and honestly—once you try it, there’s no going back!

I hope you enjoy this recipe! ❤️ If you give it a try, please let me know how it turned out for you in the comments section at the bottom of the page or share a pic of your om noms on Instagram and tag @dishesanddustbunnies! ❤️

Table of Contents

• How to make homemade tartar sauce – Overview
• Variations & Substitutions
• Storage Instructions
• What goes well with Tartar Sauce? Ways to use Tartar sauce:

Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredients & instructions!

How to make homemade tartar sauce – Overview

You’ll find the full recipe with exact amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here’s a quick look at how it’s made.

Homemade tartar sauce is super simple—just mix mayonnaise, sweet green relish (or chopped pickles), lemon juice, and a touch of yellow mustard. That’s it! For a little extra flavor, you can stir in dried dill or a splash of pickle juice.

Let it chill for a bit before serving so the flavors can come together. It’s perfect for fried fish, crab cakes, or even as a dip for roasted veggies!

Variations & Substitutions

One of the best things about homemade tartar sauce is how easy it is to customize.

Relish & Pickle Options:If you don’t have sweet relish—or prefer something tangier—try using chopped dill pickles, dill relish, sweet pickles, or butter pickles. Just chop them finely and mix them in!

Flavor Boosters:For extra depth, stir in a bit of dijon mustard, garlic powder, lemon pepper, capers, or even a splash of hot sauce if you like a little heat.

Lighter Options:Swap some (or all) of the mayo with Greek yogurt or sour cream for a lighter version. Fresh dill or dill weed also adds a nice herby touch.

No Lemon Juice?You can substitute vinegar for lemon juice—just a splash will still give the sauce that perfect tang to pair with seafood.

This recipe is super flexible, so feel free to play around and make it your own based on what you’ve got in the fridge!

Storage Instructions

Homemade tartar sauce is great for making ahead! In fact, giving it a little time to chill in the fridge actually helps the flavors come together even more. After mixing it up, just store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It’ll stay fresh for up to 2 weeks.

Freezing tartar sauce isn’t recommended because the mayonnaise base can separate and lose its creamy texture once thawed. Since it’s so quick and easy to make, you’re better off preparing it fresh whenever you need it.

What goes well with Tartar Sauce?

This best tartar sauce is ideal for all your favorite seafood dishes. It's perfect with fish and chips, but it also pairs wonderfully with fried fish, crab cakes, and even roasted veggies. It also works as a dipping sauce for french fries!

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 ½ tbsp sweet green relish
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp yellow mustard

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Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients thoroughly using a whisk.
2. You can use this right away and it will taste great, or you can let it chill in the fridge for a while so the flavors deepen.
3. Serve along with fish and chips (try my homemade battered fish recipe here!) or any of your other favorite seafood dishes!

Notes

Instead of sweet relish, you could also use dill or tangy relish. Sometimes I like to finely chop up a couple of dill pickles and use those instead of relish. 😋

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Category: Sauce/Condiment

Filed Under: By Course, By Cuisine, By Method, Condiments, English, No Cook, Recipes, Sauces Michelle Dunster

I'm a busy mom and passionate home cook, sharing comforting recipes and modern homemaking tips to add a little magick to your kitchen and make your time joyful and stress-free!

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7 Comments

7 Comments

1. Very simple and delicious!

   Reply

2. This is one of my favorites to do on the side with fish my mother loved it it’s better than the store bought or even in a restaurant. I lost the pin when I got my new phone or tablet and I lost all my recipes on Pinterest so I’m glad I found it again can’t wait to make it again thanks for sharing this recipe.

   Reply

   1. Thanks so much Kay! I’m so happy you found the recipe again and glad you enjoy it!

      Reply

3. Hi Michelle! I made this in 4 minutes (how long the cod had left to cook in the oven) after a quick Pinterest search. This was delicious!! I made it and served it immediately. Probably would have settled better with fridge time but I didn’t have the time– definitely will be making this again!! Thank you!

   Reply

   1. Thanks so much for commenting Erin!

      Very glad you enjoyed it and like I said, it really is quick and easy! 😀

      Michelle

      Reply

4. I just made this and it was very good. It was my first time making homemade tartar sauce but I’ve been meaning to for awhile. I halved the recipe but used a full tablespoon of (homemade) relish. I did toss in a little salt and pepper along with a pinch of dried dill (because I love dill!). Mine sat in the fridge for about two hours before we ate it. Definitely going to keep this recipe handy for the future. Thank you!

   Reply

   1. So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Michelle

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Michelle!

I'm a busy mom and passionate home cook, sharing comforting recipes and modern homemaking tips to add a little magick to your kitchen and make your time joyful and stress-free!

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