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A perfect tasting and easy to make homemade tartar sauce. Serve with your favorite beer battered fish or baked fish.
Whip up a quick batch of this easy sauce in just 10 minutes.
Why make homemade tartar sauce
This homemade tartar sauce can be whipped together at the last minute and you'll have the perfect condiment to serve with any fish or shrimp dish.
It's perfect to serve alongside fish and chips, fried fish, fish sticks, fish cakes, or your favorite pan fried fish.
I never could seem to find a perfect jar of tartar sauce at the store. I kept trying different brands with the hopes of finding one that I loved. I finally gave up and made my own. This is what I'd been looking for the whole time!
This tartar sauce is made up of simple ingredients mayo, dill pickles, onion, fresh lemon juice and fresh parsley and it takes less than 10 minutes to whip up a batch.
No need to buy a jar of tartar sauce any longer, when you've got this tasty and easy recipe!
Key ingredients
This section reviews the best ingredients and substitutions for this recipe. For an exact list of ingredients and quantities, check the recipe card below.
- Mayonnaise - Use any type of mayo
- Dill pickles - Make certain you are using a dill pickle, not a sweet pickle
- Onion - I use a white onion. The key is making certain your onion is finely diced.
- Lemon - Use freshly squeezed juice
- Parsley - Adds great color and flavor
Step by step directions
In this section, I share step-by-step photos, cooking methods, techniques, and a general overview. For detailed instructions, temperatures, and timing, check the printable recipe card below.
- Finely dice pickles, onions and parsley
- Add chopped ingredients to mayonnaise
- Add fresh squeezed lemon juice, salt and pepper
- Stir everything until combined. Add additional salt and pepper if needed
Recipe tips
- Make certain everything is finely chopped, especially the onion. The onion adds flavor, but you don't want to bite into a big chunk.
- Use fresh parsley and lemon juice
- In a pinch, you can use dill pickle relish in place of the dill pickles
Recipe Faqs
When covered and refrigerated, homemade tartar sauce will last for up to one week.
I use a regular store-bought mayonnaise, like Best Foods Mayonnaise. You can use any type of mayonnaise you have in your fridge.
Serving suggestions
Serve as a dip for any fish or seafood or add as a spread to your favorite sandwich or burger.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Be certain to check out all my delicious condiment recipes!
Tartar Sauce
Equipment
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons dill pickle (finely chopped)
- 1 tablespoon onion (finely chopped)
- 1 tablespoon parsley (finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed, about ½ lemon)
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Combine mayonnaise, pickle, onion and parsley1 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons dill pickle, 1 tablespoon onion, 1 tablespoon parsley
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice and combine2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Add a pinch of salt and pepper⅛ teaspoon pepper, pinch salt
Notes
- Make certain everything is finely chopped, especially the onion. The onion adds flavor, but you don't want to know it's in there.
- Use fresh parsley and lemon juice
- In a pinch, you can use dill pickle relish in place of the dill pickles
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Ryan K says
Wow! This was the first time in my life I used tartar sauce instead of cocktail sauce and it was SO much better! It was delicious, can't have anything bad to say about it
Kathy says
Hi Ryan,
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
Kathy 🙂
David @ Spiced says
I switched to making my own tartar sauce a couple of years ago, and I'll never go back! Like you, the store brands were always a bit lacking. I'm totally going to give this one a shot, Kathy! In fact, I could go for some fried fish tonight - sounds delicious! 🙂
Kathy says
Thanks! I have the most amazing recipe for beer battered fish so I don't know why I was settling for a mediocre tartar sauce... Not any more! This tartar sauce is amazing!!! 🙂