Homemade Tartar Sauce

This homemade tartar sauce is a creamy, salty-dill flavored condiment with a touch of horseradish. It’s the perfect companion for all your favorite fried foods and, of course, fish!

With just a few simple ingredients and 5 minutes of your time, you can make this classic tartar sauce that’s packed with flavor. It’s the perfect addition to fish and chips, sandwiches, or even as a dipping sauce for your favorite appetizers.

If you love making condiments and dips, then you’ll also enjoy my cucumber dip. And for more homemade sauces, try my spinach salad dressing or the cherry tomato pizza sauce.

Why I Love This Recipe

• Versatile: This tartar sauce isn’t just for fish – it’s also great with meats and vegetables! This stuff would make a McDonald’s chicken nugget taste gourmet.
• Quick and Easy: It takes just a few minutes to mix up a batch of this one-of-a-kind sauce! It’s a quick and easy recipe to have on hand.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: The flavors in this tartar sauce only get better with time. It can be easily made ahead of time!
• Homemade: There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of making your own condiments, and this tartar sauce is a great place to start.

Key Ingredients

• Mayonnaise: This will be the base of our tartar sauce, giving it a creamy and rich texture. Use your favorite here, but go with the good stuff!
• Red Onion: When chopped, this will add a subtle sharpness and a pop of color to the sauce. Red onions are ideal for non-cooked dishes and sauces because their mildness adds flavor rather than spice.
• Lemon Juice: It will provide a tangy flavor that cuts through the richness of the mayonnaise.
• Relish: The dill relish will add a sweet and tangy flavor, while also giving the sauce a bit of texture.
• Horseradish Mustard: This will add a bit of heat and a depth of flavor to the sauce.
• Dry Dill: It will add a lovely, subtle herbal flavor that pairs perfectly with the dill relish.
• Salt: This will help to balance all the flavors in the sauce, making them more pronounced.

Equipment

• Food Processor – You’ll need this to combine the ingredients and achieve a creamy texture. If you don’t have one, you can use a bowl and a whisk.
• Pint-Sized Jar – I used a pint-sized jar to store this tarter sauce, and it was the perfect size as this recipe makes about 1 1/4 cups of tarter sauce!

How to Make Homemade Tartar Sauce

Preparation

Start by chopping the red onion. This will be added to the tartar sauce later, so set it aside for now.

Step 1 – Combine the Main Ingredients

In a bowl, mix together the mayo, lemon juice, dill relish, horseradish mustard, dried dill, salt, and black pepper. If you prefer, you can also use a food processor for this step.

Step 2 – Blend the Ingredients

If you’re using a food processor, blend the ingredients until they are creamy. If you’re mixing by hand, use a whisk to blend the ingredients together. A blender also would work for this recipe.

Step 3 – Add the Red Onion

Once the main ingredients are blended, stir in the chopped red onion. This will add a nice crunch and flavor to your tartar sauce.

Step 4 – Refrigerating

Pour the tartar sauce into a serving dish or jar. It’s best to refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving to let the flavors meld together.

Expert Tip

For the best homemade tartar sauce, make sure to refrigerate the sauce for a couple of hours before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together, giving you a more delicious tartar sauce to enjoy with your favorite seafood.

Recipe Variations

• Spicy: If you like a bit of heat, add a finely chopped jalapeno or a dash of cayenne pepper to the tartar sauce.
• Herbs: Mix in a teaspoon of fresh chopped parsley, chives, or even tarragon for a more herby flavor.
• Garlicky: For a garlicky twist, add a clove of finely minced garlic to the sauce. This is perfect for garlic lovers.

What to Serve With

• This homemade tartar sauce is a classic accompaniment to fish and seafood dishes. Serve it with your favorite fish and chips for a deliciously satisfying meal.
• You can also use it as a dipping sauce for a variety of appetizers. It pairs well with fried calamari, shrimp, or even as a dressing for a seafood salad.
• This tartar sauce is also great with meats and vegetables! This stuff would make a McDonald’s chicken nugget taste gourmet.
• Use this tartar sauce as a spread for fish sandwiches. Simply slather it on a bun, and add a crispy fish fillet, and some lettuce for a quick and tasty meal.

Recipe FAQs

Storing and Reheating

• Storing: After you’ve enjoyed your homemade tartar sauce, any leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator. Just place it in an airtight container. Your tartar sauce will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 1 week.
• Freezing: Unfortunately, tartar sauce doesn’t freeze well due to its mayonnaise base. I recommend making it fresh when needed for the best flavor and texture.

Serving Size

• What to Expect: This homemade tartar sauce recipe yields about 1 1/4 cups of sauce.
• How to Scale: If you’re planning to serve a larger crowd or just want to have extra tartar sauce on hand, you can easily double the recipe. Just make sure to use a larger bowl to mix the ingredients thoroughly.

This recipe was originally shared in 2014. It has been updated with instructions and photos but the recipe is the same.