Everyone needs an easy and delicious homemade Tartar Sauce recipe, and this one won't disappoint! It's so much tastier than store bought Tartar Sauce and can be made in minutes.
I hate buying store bought Tartar Sauce, it's too expensive for what it is, and home-made always tastes better! Plus you probably have most of these ingredients lying around. I always have dill growing in the garden, which is the secret ingredient for this Tartar Sauce recipe.
What's Tartar Sauce Made Of?
This is a 6 ingredient recipe made from mayo, dill pickles, fresh dill, lemon juice, sugar and onions. However, this might be made differently from other recipes. Some people add these ingredients as a tartar sauce variations. It's ok to mix it up with your favorite ingredients.
- capers
- tarragon
- mustard
- pickle relish
- parsley
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!
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 creamy and taste too vinegar-y. I've made this recipe with Japanese Mayo as well, and that was delicious!
The other main ingredient is dill pickles. I use either my homemade Dill 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!
Tartar Sauce Flavor Secret
The secret that elevates this Tartar Sauce recipe is using minced onion. It sounds strange, minced 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. Don't add any chunky onion pieces.
Minced onion is the secret to several of my sauce recipes. Check them out!
- Homemade French Dressing
- Blue Cheese Dip
- Jalapeno Popper Deviled Eggs
- Creamy Coleslaw Dressing
- Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
- Bacon Ranch Dressing
You're gonna love this Tartar Sauce recipe, much tastier than what you buy in a bottle! I smother it all 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!
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.
Quick and Easy homemade tartar sauce, better than store bought! Made with dill pickles and mayo, perfect for fish fingers or fish and chips, a dip you won't be able to stop eating! Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!
Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe (VIDEO)
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup dill pickles finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon dill finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons onion minced through a garlic press
- pinch of black pepper
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix all the ingredients together. Enjoy!
Video
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Nanette
Could I use hamburger pickles in place of the Vlasic whole pickles?
Peter's Food Adventures
sure you can! Use your favorite pickles, I just love Vlasic and the flavor they provide. Different pickles will alter flavor but I'm sure it will taste good!
Nikki Krakauer
I have made my tartar sauce this way for over 53 years now, but I use bread & butter pickles AND I use a grater to finely process my onion! All it took was 1 kid, born in 1966, who couldn’t “stand” feeling onions in her food, & I learned!!! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Linda Jahnke
Made a batch and loved it! However, did not have dill pickles on hand, so I used bread & butter pickles...OK! was delish also. Have not purchased tartar sauce in years, but this recipe is a keeper! Thanks for sharing.
Peter's Food Adventures
Thanks Linda! Love hearing this! Good tip on the bread and butter pickles too! Thanks! 👍🏻
Linda
Really liked the fresh taste of this tartar sauce! How long do you think this sauce could stored in the refrigerator?
Peter's Food Adventures
Thanks so much Linda! I wouldn't keep it longer than a week, but suppose it might last longer. Honestly we usually use it all up in on sitting, as everyone devours the sauce! 😊
Marge
This recipe is easy and very good. I will definitely make it again. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Peter's Food Adventures
Thanks Marge! So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the feedback!!
Cheryl
Great recipe. My parents owned a seafood restaurant many years ago, they used dill pickle too!! Delish
Peter's Food Adventures
Thanks! I love the combo of dill pickles and fresh dill! ❤️
Steph
We loved this sauce! We live on a small island on Canada’s east coast and we eat a lot of fresh fish both at home and in restaurants.
This was by far the best tartar sauce we ever had!
Thank you!
Peter's Food Adventures
Thanks so much for the feedback! It's so tasty, and really quick to make, we don't buy Tartar Sauce anymore! So glad you guys love it!!
Dee Chandler
I also add 2 anchovy fillets to my sauce. It also adds to the taste
Peter's Food Adventures
Great tip. Thanks for sharing!
TIsha Pletcher
Love your story. I’ve been looking for a Russian recipe for a mild meat savory rolled in a crepe. They also had sweet ones with cherries. Wish I knew what they were called. We live in Indiana,USA and one of my sons is at Butler University where the theater has a connection with the Moscow Theater Where some Russian locals in Indianapolis, Indiana, brought them to a party.
Peter's Food Adventures
Thanks for checking it out! They are called Blinchiki or stuffed Blini. If you search on my site you will find a meat filled recipe, which you can adapt with other fillings! 😊
Sam
This sauce sounds really good! I have some fish to fry up at home tonight so I will definitely try it out. Do you think adding some minced garlic to the recipe will heavily alter it? Thanks for sharing!
Paula
Definitely not garlic but you can try another delicious sauce.... just ketchup mayo and garlic is really good