Everyone needs a tasty and delicious easy Tartar Sauce recipe, and this one won't disappoint! It's so much tastier than store bought, Dill Tartar Sauce can be made in minutes. Perfect with Grilled Fish or Beer Battered Fish.



I hate buying store bought Tartar, it's too expensive for what it is, and homemade Tartar Sauce always tastes better! Plus you probably have most of these ingredients lying around. I always have Dill growing in the garden, which is another secret ingredient for this Tartar Sauce recipe.
Ingredients
This easy Tartar Sauce recipe only needs 6 ingredients, and packs amazing flavor! However, this might be made differently from other recipes. You can adjust with different Tartar variations by adding Capers, Tarragon, Mustard, Pickle Relish or Parsley. It's ok to mix it up with your favorite ingredients, but here's what you'll need.
- Mayonnaise - the creamy base for your sauce
- Dill Pickles - for a crunchy contrast
- Fresh Dill - adds a subtle herb flavor
- Lemon Juice - an acid to cut through the mayo
- Sugar - trust me, you need a bit to balance sweetness
- Onions - for a tasty tang

How to Make Homemade Tartar Sauce
This is a quick and easy Dill Tartar Sauce recipe, that's made in a few easy steps. Trust me, it's worth making!
- Chop Pickles - thinly slice and dice ½ cup of Dill Pickles into small cubes
- Prepare Dill - finely chop a tablespoon of Fresh Dill
- Combine - in a bowl, add Mayo, chopped Pickles, Dill, Lemon Juice and Sugar. Using a Garlic Press, squeeze in the fresh Minced Onion and Onion Juices
- Mix - using a spoon, stir to mix until combined.
- Serve - mix together. Use right away or refrigerate for the flavors to meld together. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips and FAQs
- Fresh Dill - this is such a game changer to elevate flavor and adds color too. Can use dried dill but use half as much.
- Meld - after mixing allow flavors to sit for 30 minutes to infuse together
- Creamier and Light - reduce Mayo and substitute with Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream
- Thinner Sauce - add extra Lemon Juice or Pickle Juice to make sauce runnier
What Mayo Is Best For Tartar Sauce?
It's important to start with a great tasting mayo for this recipe. I suggest Hellmans Real Mayo, Best Foods or Heinz Mayo for the tastiest result. As Mayo is the base of this recipe, the flavor is very important. Some Mayos aren't rich and creamy and taste too vinegar-y. I've made this recipe with Kewpie Japanese Mayo as well, and that was delicious!
How Long Does Tartar Sauce Keep in the Fridge?
If you don't eat all the Tartar Sauce right away, just store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Because it's made fresh, it should last about 1 week because of all the fresh ingredients.
Why is this Tartar Sauce so Tasty?
The secret to this sauce is the Dill Pickles and Minced Onions. What adds a great crunch to this recipe is Dill Pickles. I use either my Homemade Dill Pickles or Costco Vlasic Pickles, and usually have a jar in the fridge. The hardest part of this recipe is chopping the Dill Pickle pieces into small diced pieces, but it's worth it!
The other ingredient that elevates this homemade Tartar Sauce is using Minced Onion. It sounds strange to Mince Onion, but it only takes a few seconds to do. Please don't use Onion Powder, fresh is best! I use my Garlic Press, and squeeze through a few pieces of Onion, which pulverizes and adds Onion Juice. It's a game changer in flavor. Don't add any chunky Onion pieces.

Spicy Tartar Sauce
Always a favorite if you love some heat. Mix in some of these spicy ingredients to take your Tartar Sauce up a notch! Adjust to your personal preference.
- Habaneros - if you dare... finely dice or mince some Habaneros for some heat that will blow everyone away! over my fish fillet, and dip my fries in it. It's also a great sauce to dip Butterflied Shrimp or Salt and Pepper Shrimp. I could almost drink it!
- Hot Sauce - so easy to add a few dashes of Tabasco or Sriracha for mild heat
- Jalapeños - mix through diced pickled Jalapeños or freshly chopped Chili Peppers
- Cayenne Pepper - start with ⅓ teaspoon, mix and adjust as needed
- Chipotles in Adobo Sauce - I always have this in my fridge, adds a smokiness and some heat
Dill Pickle Dip
This recipe could even be used as an easy Pickle Dip for your next party. I usually add an extra diced Dill Pickle to this Dip recipe, with a little bit extra Minced Onion, and sometimes a tiny bit of Grated Carrot. It has the crunchy texture of the Pickles, with the tang of the Onions. Perfect to dip crackers or vegetables for you next party. Make extra as a Fry Dip with your Fish and Chips.

Flavorful Recipes Using Minced Onion
Minced Onion is the secret flavor boost to several of my sauce recipes. Check them out!
- Homemade French Dressing
- Blue Cheese Dip
- Jalapeno Popper Deviled Eggs
- Creamy Coleslaw Dressing
- Bacon Ranch Dressing
Quick and Easy homemade Tartar Sauce, better than store bought! Made with Dill Pickles and Mayo, perfect serving suggestion for Fish Fingers or Fish and Chips, a Seafood Lobster Feast, Grilled Fish, alongside Boiled Crawfish or as a Dip you won't be able to stop eating! Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

Equipment
- Garlic Press
- Knife and Cutting Board
- small Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- ½ cup Dill Pickles finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Dill finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Onion minced through a garlic press
- pinch of Black Pepper
Instructions
- Chop Pickles - thinly slice and dice ½ cup of Dill Pickles into small cubes
- Prepare Dill - finely chop a tablespoon of Fresh Dill
- Combine - in a bowl, add Mayo, chopped Pickles, Dill, Lemon Juice and Sugar. Using a Garlic Press, squeeze in the fresh Minced Onion and Onion Juices
- Mix - using a spoon, stir to mix until combined.
- Serve - mix together. Use right away or refrigerate for the flavors to meld together. Enjoy!
Video
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Laura Sumner
So good! We can never go back to store bought. There are only two of us so i should have made half a batch. How long will leftovers keep?
Peter Kolesnichenko
So happy to hear that! It should last about a week in the fridge!
Allison Carraway
This tartar sauce is SO GOOD! I put in on homemade fish sandwiches-the tartar sauce was the star, almost more so than the fried cod! I chopped zest dill pickle that I already had. I think the onion and onion “juice” really set it off (but I’ll admit that I love onions anyway). So tasty-now I need to make more seafood to finish the jar I made.
Peter Kolesnichenko
I agree and so glad you do too! I just can't get enough of this sauce. I swear the onion juice is the secret, and not sure if any other recipe does it this way, it adds so much flavor, perfect for onion lovers! Enjoy!
Evershine Walls
This homemade tartar sauce with dill adds a refreshing twist to your favorite seafood dishes! The tanginess of the mayo and pickles, combined with the fresh aroma of dill, creates a delightful harmony of flavors. Perfect for dipping crispy fish fillets or shrimp, this sauce elevates every bite with its creamy texture and herbaceous kick. A must-try condiment that brings a burst of flavor to any seafood feast
Peter Kolesnichenko
So glad you enjoyed it! I couldn't agree more! 🙂
Rachelle, Chicago IL
Made the recipe. Quick to make and tastes amazing. Better than store bought. It's a must try.
Darla
Ok love love love ❤️ BUT why did mine get runny?? No I did not use Hellmann Mayo 😩 is that why?? But this is the BEST TASTING TARTER SAUCE EVER 💜🙌🏻
Cori
Perfect!
Peter Kolesnichenko
Thank you! 🤗
Pam Scott
Have always made a sauce withmayo and ketchup, which I always thought was too sweet.
This is perfect! I omitted the sugar because I only had miricle whip.
Ulrike
This is the best tartar sauce
Wish I would thought about making my own sooner
So much better then the store bought one
Peter Kolesnichenko
Thanks so much! I agree! Glad you enjoyed it!
Jan
Fantastic! The best! I left out the sugar - matter of preference. This is definitely a keeper! TY!
Peter Kolesnichenko
Thanks Jan! So glad you loved it! ❤️
Sybil
My Mum is 95 and says this is the best sauce she has ever tried!
Zena
BEST TARTAR SAUCE RECIPE!!
I just made this tartar sauce today, and I wish I had come across it sooner—it was so quick & easy, I couldn’t believe how delicious it tasted! We used this as the main dipping vehicle for our fish & chips; while the ketchup bottle sat in front of us, remaining untouched. Thank you for sharing this yummy recipe!!
Peter Kolesnichenko
Thanks Zena! After making this sauce, it's hard to go back to store bought. It's my favorite dipping sauce too!