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Home » Recipes » Sauces, Dips & Topping Recipes

Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe

Published: Apr 24, 2021 · Modified: May 14, 2021 by Colleen 50 Comments

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a jar of Homemade Tartar Sauce on a wooden table.
a jar of Homemade Tartar Sauce on a wooden table.

This Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce recipe is so simple to make, and so delicious that you may never want the store-bought stuff again!

A jar filled with tarter sauce on a wooden board.
Jump to:
  • Why Make Your Own?
  • What Are The Ingredients?
  • How To Make It
  • FAQs
  • Recipe Tips
  • How To Enjoy It:
  • Recipe
  • Comments

Why Make Your Own?

The number one reason for making this easy tartar sauce recipe: it's just simply delicious. Nothing from the store can compare.

Secondly, it takes 5 minutes to make. It's great to whip up a small batch while your Air Fryer Salmon is cooking. You will also love tartar sauce with other seafood recipes, like Cajun Crab Cakes or Salmon Cakes .

Finally, this recipe contains only a few simple ingredients that you possibly already have in your kitchen.

What Are The Ingredients?

The ingredients to make easy tartar sauce.
  • Mayonnaise For best results use full-fat, real mayonnaise.
  • Capers Capers are actually the tiny flower buds of the caper bush, which is native to the Mediterranean. They have a salty/sour taste that works perfectly in tartar sauce. If you don't have capers, you can substitute a finely chopped dill pickle.
  • Lemon Juice Real lemon juice is essential.
  • Fresh Dill Fresh dill really shines here, but if you don't have it, go ahead and used dried dill.
  • Dried Onion Dried flaked onion, or onion powder is perfect because you won't need to cut a whole onion for the small quality required for the recipe.

How To Make It

Ingredients for tartar sauce being stirred together in a glass bowl.

Simply combine all the ingredients, then keep it in the fridge in a covered container until you're ready to use it. It's that easy!

FAQs

What if I don't have capers?

If you don't have capers, you can finely chop a dill pickle. Your tartar sauce won't be exactly the same, but it will still be delicious.

What if I don't have fresh dill?

Substitute 1 teaspoon of dried dill for the fresh dill. Tip: you can also add a teaspoon of dill pickle juice instead.

How long does homemade tartar sauce keep?

This sauce will keep in the fridge for up to a week.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes! This recipe makes a small batch, but if you can easily double the recipe if you want more.

Recipe Tips

  • Homemade tartar sauce is delicious enough to use right away but even better if you can store it in the fridge for an hour before using it.
  • Make sure your ingredients are cold. Tartar sauce is best when it's chilled.
  • Taste and add more capers and or dill, if you choose.
  • You can also add a dash of hot sauce, like tabasco if you want a bit more zing.
  • Store homemade tarter sauce in a glass jar with a lid. A half-pint jar is the perfect size.
A jar of homemade tartar sauce with a lemon and a sprig of dill on a wooden board.

How To Enjoy It:

Homemade tartar sauce is delicious for many things other than just fish! Use it for dipping vegetables, spreading on burgers, or any of these:

  • Oven Fried Green Tomatoes
  • Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
  • Baked Zucchini Fritters
  • Lemon Garlic Grilled Shrimp
  • Coconut Shrimp Tacos

Recipe

Homemade Tartar Sauce

Homemade Tartar Sauce is so simple to make, and so delicious that you may never want store-bought again.
5 from 29 votes
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Course: Sauces, Dips & Toppings
Cuisine: American, Canadian
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 16
Calories: 98kcal
Author: Colleen Milne

Ingredients

  • 1 cup real mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoon capers chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill chopped
  • 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes or onion powder
  • ½ lemon juice and zest

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Notes

  • Homemade tartar sauce is delicious enough to use right away, but even better if you can store it in the fridge for an hour before using it.
  • Make sure your ingredients are cold. Tartar sauce is best when it's chilled.
  • Taste your finished sauce and add more capers and or dill, if you would like.
  • You can also add a dash of hot sauce, like tabasco, if you want a bit more zing.
  • Store homemade tarter sauce in a glass jar with a lid. A half-pint jar is the perfect size.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 98kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 117mg | Potassium: 13mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheFoodBlog or tag #thefoodblog!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex

    May 12, 2021 at 7:01 am

    Lovely stuff - I really like tartare sauce and don't make it often enough. We also have fresh dill growing now in our little herb garden so I'll be trying this easy recipe soon!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 12, 2021 at 8:36 am

      Hi Alex! I think you will love this and would love to hear back how it went!

      Reply
  2. Sabrina

    May 03, 2021 at 3:09 pm

    Delicious, this is just the way I like it. Thanks for another great recipe!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 03, 2021 at 3:17 pm

      You're very welcome, Sabrina! I'm so happy that you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  3. Terri Gilson

    May 03, 2021 at 6:23 am

    OMG I LOVE homemade tartar sauce! I am caper crazy so I love that you have added capers to this - it completely elevates it! Going on my tuna burgers next 🙂

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 03, 2021 at 9:48 am

      Hi Terri, I know, I'm caper crazy, too. Tuna burgers sound like the perfect match!

      Reply
  4. Ramona

    May 03, 2021 at 3:40 am

    I love tartar sauce and this seems like a great recipe for it! I will definitely be trying this out for a recipe I'm going to be making, and this would go really well with it. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 03, 2021 at 9:48 am

      Hi Ramona, I would love to hear how it turns out for you. Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. Sharon

    May 02, 2021 at 11:11 am

    Great idea! Who doesn't love tartar sauce? And homemade is always so much better than storebought. I'm going to source out some capers and make this sauce ASAP. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 03, 2021 at 9:47 am

      Hi Sharon. You can find capers in the grocery store where the pickles are. Enjoy!

      Reply
  6. Jacqueline Debono

    May 02, 2021 at 12:30 am

    I've been wanting to make my own tartar sauce for ages. This was so easy and so delicious. I'll never buy ready made again!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 03, 2021 at 9:46 am

      I'm super happy that you loved it Jacqueline! Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  7. Lisa

    May 01, 2021 at 12:51 am

    This looks really good, Colleen! I love how easy it is to make and with such simple ingredients. Thanks for sharing this!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 03, 2021 at 9:46 am

      You're welcome, Lisa! Enjoy!

      Reply
  8. Tammy

    April 30, 2021 at 11:48 am

    Tartar sauce is one of my favorites and homemade is always better. Love how easy it is to make too!! 😀

    Reply
    • Colleen

      May 03, 2021 at 9:45 am

      Hi Tammy, yes homemade is always better, and this tartar sauce is so easy there's no reason not to make it!

      Reply
  9. Veronika

    April 30, 2021 at 11:41 am

    I love tartar sauce but never maid it myself. Going to use your recipe next time I need it, it looks so delicious!

    Reply
  10. Leslie

    April 30, 2021 at 9:22 am

    This is such a classic tarter sauce recipe. Homemade is always so much better than store bought!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      April 30, 2021 at 10:19 am

      Hi Leslie, yes, it really is a classic and so much better than store-bought!

      Reply
  11. Jen

    April 29, 2021 at 2:31 pm

    I always have shop-bought tartar sauce with fish and chips so I was delighted when I stumbled across this homemade recipe. It was super delicious and easy to follow!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      April 29, 2021 at 2:44 pm

      I'm so happy that you liked the recipe, Jen, and it's great to know that it was easy to follow, too. Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
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