Quick & Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe (2024)

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By Lauren on July 7, 2022 | Updated July 7, 2022 | Rate Recipe

With just 3 ingredients, Homemade Tartar Sauce is beyond easy to make! It comes together in just a few seconds. Serve with your favorite fish, shrimp or clams. This easy dip recipe is made with basic ingredients and is a staple that everyone loves, thankfully it is super easy to make!

Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe

Have you ever made something at home and been amazed at just how easy it was? That’s what happened with me and this homemade tarter sauce. This easy dip recipe is made with basic ingredients and is a staple that everyone loves, thankfully it is super easy to make!

I love recipes that have simple ingredients and ones that are always in my pantry or fridge. This classic tartar sauce has been our go to since the first time I made it and we have skipped buying store-bought ever since the first time I made it almost 10 years ago!

We were having fish fingers for dinner and I had them almost ready before realizing we were out of tarter sauce. In our house you have to have dipping sauce when eating fish sticks, fish nuggets and fish finger. However I was too lazy to get the kids ready to go to the store just for that one thing but then I realized we had the main tarter sauce ingredients in the fridge. This easy homemade tartar sauce recipe is the best one to make on a whim!

That’s how this 3 ingredient tarter sauce recipe was born. Mayo and relish, the base of all tarter sauces, plus a dash of chili powder for some extra flavor. Depending on my mood I sometimes change things up and add different flavors to match the meal I am serving. I have included all of the optional ingredients as well so you can make your tartar sauce the way you like it!

2 minutes later, dinner was saved! I had very happy kiddos dipping their fish sticks into their tartar sauce with smiles on their faces.

The thing I love most about making homemade tarter sauce is that not only is it quick and easy but it’s also cheap! My grocery store runs regular specials on both mayo and relish, and I often find coupons for them too. This homemade sauce can cost literal pennies to make.

This creamy tartar sauce is also a great recipe for kids to help with, something I love as it gets the kids interested in cooking. My 4 year old knows this recipe by heart now and can make it easily. She enjoys being able to help out in the kitchen and do things on her own so this recipe is great for her.

What is the best Relish for Tartar Sauce?

I like using dill pickle relish but if you want a sweet tartar sauce use sweet relish.

Can I use pickles instead of Relish?

If you do not have any relish on hand then you can add pickles to a food processor and pulse them until they are chopped finely. The great thing about making homemade tartar sauce is that you can use what you have on hand. I use pickles or relish depending on what I have on hand. You can use dill pickles, sweet pickles, kosher dills

Tartar Sauce Tips and Variations

You can easily change up the flavors of this easy tartar sauce recipe to fit your meal perfectly so easily This is a very basic tartar sauce recipe, which I love, but feel free to get creative. If you are adding spices a little bit goes a long way with this recipe, you will only need a 1/2 a tablespoon of any spices per batch of this homemade tarter sauce recipe.

Here are a few ideas of add-ins that will work for matching your seafood with your tarter sauce and making flavorful variations. Since everyone has a different flavor preference I do suggest playing around with it until you get the perfect match for your preference.

• A squeeze of fresh lemon juice
• Fresh dill
• Fresh parsley
• Sugar to sweeten it up
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Finely chopped onion
• Worcestershire sauce
• Capers
• hot sauce

What Can I use instead of mayonnaise for tartar sauce?

If you don’t have any mayonnaise? You can also use plain greek yogurt or sour cream! You will get the best results using full fat options and I don’t suggest using miracle whip at all.

What to Serve with Tartar Sauce

Tarter sauce typically accompanies seafood and fish. We usually serve it with:

• Fish sticks
• Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
• Keto Fried Shrimp
• Baked Lemon Garlic Shrimp
• Blackened Tilapia
• Tuna Cakes
• fish fillets
• crab cakes

If you find yourself with Tarter sauce and are wanting other uses for it is makes a great dipping sauce for fries, on top of burgers and as a base for tuna sandwiches!

How to Store Homemade Tartar Sauce

After making store in an air-tight container in the fridge. It will keep for 5-7 days. I personally like to store it in a small mason jar or my Rubbermaid containers.

How Long does Tartar Sauce last?

This homemade tartar sauce recipe will last for about a week when stored in an airtight container in the fridge. You can easily make a double or triple batch so you have enough for the whole week at once. Even though it is super simple to whip up on the spot.

Homemade Tartar Sauce Ingredients

• mayonnaise
• pickle relish or chopped pickles
• chili powder
• Optional flavor add-ins like dill, parsley, lemon juice etc.

How to Make Homemade Tartar Sauce

In a small bowl add the mayonnaise and the relish (or chopped pickles depending on what you are using) and mix with a spoon. Add in the chili powder and any optional ingredients and mix well. Use right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Easy Homemade Sauce Recipes

• Creamy Tomato Sauce
• Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
• Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
• Homemade Pizza Sauce