Homemade Tartar Sauce

Ingredients

You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

Mayonnaise: I use avocado oil mayonnaise, usually by Chosen Foods.

Dijon mustard: This classic French mustard is creamier and less vinegary than yellow mustard. I highly recommend using it in this recipe.

Lemon juice: Just a teaspoon. It's best to use fresh-squeezed lemon juice.

To season: Salt, pepper, dried dill, and cayenne pepper. The cayenne adds a layer of flavor. It doesn't make the sauce spicy.

Diced dill pickles and capers: For the best texture, you want small dice, not a rough chop.

The ingredients needed to make a homemade tartar sauce.

Variations

You can replace the mayonnaise with sour cream. It's excellent, although I prefer the richness and flavor of mayonnaise.

Greek yogurt also works in this recipe, though again, mayonnaise is better, and so is sour cream. You can omit the lemon if you use yogurt since it's naturally tangy.

For an extra kick, you can replace the capers or dill pickles with finely diced pickled jalapenos. My husband is a fan of this version.

You can also make it spicy with a teaspoon of hot sauce or ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes.

Homemade Tartar Sauce Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

Simply mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl. I like to start with the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, and seasonings:

A five-photo collage showing how to mix mayo, mustard, lemon juice, and spices into a homemade tartar sauce.

Mix in the dill pickles and capers:

A four-photo collage showing how to mix pickles and capers into a homemade tartar sauce.

Cover the mixture and chill it for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Give the sauce one more stir before serving.

Recipe FAQs

What is tartar sauce?

This is a tangy and flavorful mayonnaise-based sauce, traditionally served with seafood. The classic ingredients include mayonnaise, pickles, capers, and herbs.

Can you make tartar sauce with Greek yogurt?

Yes, as long as you use whole-milk yogurt. This sauce should be rich and creamy. Low-fat yogurt will not work.

Another option is to use sour cream. I tried it and liked it a lot - it's creamy and tasty.

Should I serve tartar sauce warm or cold?

This sauce is typically served at room temperature or chilled. This is one of its advantages - you can make it ahead of time and refrigerate it until it's time to eat. Just remember to give it an extra stir before serving.

Do you prefer using dill pickles or sweet pickles in your tartar sauce?

I prefer dill pickles. I like this sauce to be tangy and spiced, not sweet. But this is purely a matter of taste, so you should try and see what you like best!

Serving Suggestions

This flavorful sauce is lovely with any seafood dish. I usually serve it with crab cakes, tuna cakes, or salmon patties.

It also pairs beautifully with boiled shrimp instead of cocktail sauce. It's perfect with keto-fried fish.

But you don't have to limit yourself to seafood! This creamy, flavorful sauce goes well with roasted vegetables, chicken nuggets, and even skirt steak or other grilled meats.

So as you can see, you have quite a few options for using this sauce! It never lasts long in our house.

Storing Leftovers

This sauce keeps quite well, though not as long as a commercial sauce. You can keep it in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 7 days. Stir it again before using it.

I don't recommend freezing this sauce. It will separate and become grainy when thawed.