Tartar Sauce

Ditch the store bought stuff and learn how to make the best Tartar Sauce recipe on the internet! I mix up creamy mayo, zesty relish, fresh herbs, and bright citrus creating the perfect seafood dip or spread! Serve this homemade tartar sauce up with everything from fish and chips to crab cakes. It’s a hit every time!

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I’m a huge seafood lover for reals. Crab legs, lobster tails, or shrimp; you name it and I’m there big time! However, one thing I’m not a fan of is store bought tartar sauce. It just doesn’t pop like it needs to. And trust me, I’ve tried so many brands and bottles and they steady disappoint. That’s where this tartar sauce recipe comes in. I created my own that gives bomb flavor in every bite. It’s beautifully sour, smooth, sweet, savory and so dayum good.

What is Tartar Sauce?

Tartar Sauce is a mayonnaise-based condiment usually served with seafood dishes like fried clams, fish and chips, oysters, or fish. Although recipes can switch up their ingredients, the end result is always a creamy, zesty, and unique spread like horseradish sauce. 

The Lowdown on the Best Tartar Sauce Recipe

Cuisine Inspiration: Classic American with a remix. This isn’t your grandma’s tartar sauce, honey!
Primary Cooking Method: Just mixing
Dietary Info: Vegetarian with a whole lotta’ attitude.
Key Flavor: Savory, Sweet, Creamy and Full of Flavor
Skill Level: Easy (no sweat fam!)

• Tons of Flavor: – This is the type of sauce you can only dream of for serving up with your fish dishes. The flavors are beyond on point.
• Versatility: – Most definitely this is right at home with fish but the serving options are endless. Everything from sandwiches to burgers work for this tartar sauce recipe.
• Spice It Up: – With a dash of Worcestershire and hot sauce, this easy tartar brings the sass and the heat just how we like it.
• Easy and Breezy: – This homemade tartar sauce is whipped up in minutes with simple ingredients.

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Homemade Tartar Sauce

• Mayonnaise: This provides a smooth, creamy foundation for this sauce. Use your favorite mayo brand here.
• Relish or Sweet Pickles: Whichever is your jam is the one you should go with. It’s gonna add both texture and flavor to the sauce with its sweet, salty, and vinegary notes. Add a dash of the juice itself to the sauce for an extra flavorful kick! 
• Chives: We get gorgeous color and a light onion-ey, herby taste from chives.
• Onion: This is another great way to introduce more texture and flavor to this sauce. 
• Parsley: I love the freshness and color it provides.
• Lemon Juice: This will help thin out the sauce, making it perfect for dipping or spreading. It also gives us a fresh zesty flavor.  I recommend using freshly squeezed juice here.
• Worchestershire Sauce: This is my secret y’all. Just a dash adds a wonderful smoky, salty, and sour essence.  
• Hot Sauce: Y’all just know i can’t resist a dash of heat!
• Kosher Salt enhances flavor period. 

How To Make Tartar Sauce

Making the best tartar sauce recipe is as easy as gathering your ingredients, doing a little measuring, and whisking it together. It ain’t hard boos!

PRO TIP: Refrigerate the sauce for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will give all the ingredients a chance to mingle and create even better flavor.

How to Serve Traditional Tartar Sauce

• Southern Fish Fry: Let’s get down with it and serve this up with a classic fish fry spread y’all. Add this Southern tartar sauce to a bowl along with some fried catfish, fried shrimp, and hush puppies.
• Seafood Spread: Get sophisticated with crab cakes, salmon croquettes, fish sticks  and cajun salmon cakes.
• Veggies: This is great on a tray with fresh veggies like celery or carrots or you can serve it with steamed vegetables.
• Sandwiches: This is a bomb condiment to throw on a black bean burger, salmon burger, bacon cheddar burger or even a shrimp po’ boy.
• Dip It Up: I love this served up with fried onion rings and sweet potato fries boos.

Recipe Substitutions

• Mayonnaise: Toss in some sour cream or greek yogurt for a lighter twist.
• Relish: Diced dill pickles can be thrown in if you ain’t got relish or sweet pickles around.
• Chives: Dill is the traditional move here so feel free to use it if you want this sauce the classic way.
• Onion: Shallots can always be used instead for a milder flavor.
• Lemon Juice: Lime juice or even apple cider vinegar are great subs here.
• Parsley: I love some chopped cilantro as an alternative.
• Hot Sauce: We gotta keep the heat so whisk in some cayenne or chili powder for a kick if hot sauce isn’t available.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Tamari or soy sauce will give you a similar complex flavor profile.

Recipe Variations and Additions

• Zest: Brighten the flavor even more with some citrus zest like lemon or lime.
• Herbs: Adding in additional herbs like tarragon can give a delish earthy twist.
• Add Some Tang: A little apple cider vinegar mixed with some honey can give this some bomb remix.
• Smoke it Up: Just a touch of smoked paprika, chipotle or even liquid smoke can give some grill flavors.
• Garlic: Either mash in some roasted garlic or toss some garlic powder in the mix for an aromatic switch up.

How to Store this Easy Tartar Sauce

• Store Tight: Make sure you store it in a small airtight container with a super fitted lid to make sure no air gets in making it spoil faster.
• Fridge: Homemade tartar sauce should last for up to one week. Natural separation might occur so mix the sauce thoroughly before serving it up. 
• Freezer: Don’t do it boos. That texture won’t be smooth, and it will all separate and get watery. That ain’t it y’all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Sauce Recipes

• Remoulade Sauce
• Cranberry Sauce
• BBQ Sauce
• Hard Sauce
• Pizza Sauce