Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe

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Making some grilled fish or other delicious meals soon? Here’s how to make a super simple Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe!

Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe

Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe

One thing that I’ve always tried to do is stick with making my own specialty sauces and spices. Not only do they taste better and fresher but you can control what you put into them.

In the past I’ve posted recipes for a Homemade Steak Sauce Recipe, a Hot Sauce Recipe, an Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe, and many others on my Make Your Own recipe page.

Today I’m sharing a simple homemade Tartar Sauce recipe so that you can add a little extra kick of flavor the next time you serve fish. This recipe is incredibly easy but it is best if you make it at least an hour before serving it to allow the flavors to soak into the mayo.

How to Make Tartar Sauce

Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe

What You Need:

  • 1 cup Mayonnaise (can use Homemade Mayo if you like)
  • 4 teaspoons Sweet Pickle Relish (can use dill if your family doesn’t like sweet!)
  • 1 tablespoon minced onion (I used dried)
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients together in a small bowl. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving (overnight if you have the time!) to let the flavors combine. Serve with fish or try one of the suggestions below.

There are more ways to use this homemade Tartar Sauce recipe than just with fish, here are a couple of things that you can try!

  • Mix the sauce with hard boiled egg yolks when making Deviled Eggs.
  • Add in a bit of hot sauce to serve your tartar sauce on the spicy side.
  • Use as the sauce base for a homemade potato or macaroni salad.
  • Dip french fries in it.
  • Add in fresh chopped herbs from your garden for a little flavor variation.
  • Serve as the dipping sauce for Homemade Hush Puppies.

Tartar Dipping Sauce

What are some of your favorite ways to serve Tartar Sauce? Have you ever made it homemade?

This recipe for Homemade Tartar Sauce was originally posted on Little House Living in April 2017. It has been updated as of July 2022.

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17 Comments

  1. Just recently I made two different batches of tartar sauce, it’s funny that you have too. *smile* I used dill relish rather than sweet and the recipe I found had dried onions. The first time I put them in and had a negative reaction from my insides so the second time I didn’t and it wasn’t as tasty. *smile* I am the only one of the four of us who likes it with my fish sticks so I just made a small batch for myself not to keep on hand. *smile*

  2. Hi! Thanks for all the information you have in all your postings. I always find something interesting. There was one question that came to mind about the tartar sauce . . . How long will it last in the fridge? Do you know? It seems like since it’s mostly mayonnaise it’ll last a long time; just wanted to check!

  3. This is my first visit, but won’t be the last…thanks for sharing your recipe.
    Enjoy the weekend.

  4. We love tarter sauce… and making it ourselves works well, but this would be even better… thank you. 🙂

  5. We love tartar sauce here at home, but sometimes struggle to find one that’s got the right mix of tangy tartness. Yours version sounds like a winner. I’m going to have to try make some, thanks Merissa

  6. do you have a recipe for sweet and sour sauce with out ketchup. some how to me it does not need ketchup in it.

      1. am hunting for something with no tomatoes… just doesn’t seem right to have it in the sauce;

  7. I make my Tartar sauce with olive oil mayonnaise, sweet relish and dill weed. I also add garlic powder and Mrs. Dash seasonings

  8. Just found your site. I have been in the kitchen ever since I started checking your post. Six this morning was a long time ago wee! I got to on top of your wonderful post and ideas you have got it all covered. I am writing a new cookbook in my note pad. And I can really feel that you are what I call a real person. When you tell your stories or talk about something I miss my daughter. She was down to earth like you with a caring spirit.. Great site. Loving every bit of it ( well except cheese stuff yuk lol).God bless you and your loved ones.