Just five minutes is all you need to make this Easy Tartar Sauce Recipe! Leaps and bounds better than anything you can buy from the store, and since it’s so easy to make, there’s no reason not to make it from scratch. We use this sauce on everything from fish dinners to our excellent crab cakes and even as a dip for french fries or veggies!
Why We Love This Easy Tartar Sauce Recipe
Have we mentioned that it’s easy? OK, we won’t say it again, but honestly, it’s ready to go in 5 minutes, so don’t waste your money buying store bought tartar sauce.
- Fresh, Tangy Flavor: This creamy sauce blends perfectly with fresh, lemony parsley, tangy pickle relish and briny capers. Even though these ingredients are in store bought sauce, you can’t replicate the fresh flavor of homemade.
- Versatile: Besides slathering on a fish sandwich or using as a dip for your crispy breaded shrimp, you can use tartar sauce as a dip for vegetables and so much more.
- Customizable: You can swap out the pickle relish for fresh pickles, sweet or dill. Leave out the capers if you don’t like them, or use fresh dill instead of parsley.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Just a few ingredients is all you need to make the best tartar sauce you’ve ever tasted! You can easily swap out or add ingredients that you prefer, but this is the way we like it best.
- Mayonnaise: Full fat, regular mayo will make the best tasting tartar sauce.
- Shallot: A couple of tablespoons of finely diced shallot adds an oniony flavor without being too harsh.
- Lemon Juice: Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor, 1/2 of a large lemon is all you need.
- Pickle Relish: We always have relish on hand so it’s an easy addition for us, but you can also use finely chopped pickles if you prefer.
- Capers: Capers have a tangy, briny flavor and they add the perfect flavor to tartar sauce, in our opinion. You can leave them out if you don’t like them or don’t have them on hand but we do think the punch of flavor is worth it.
- Fresh Parsley: Parsley adds a bright, lemony, fresh flavor that we absolutely love. Also try using fresh dill or tarragon.
- Salt & Black Pepper: Since the capers and pickles have a salty flavor to begin with, we recommend adding salt at the end so you can season the sauce to your liking. We also add lots of black pepper, which is optional.
How To Make
Once you gather and prep the ingredients, you’ll be enjoying this easy tartar sauce recipe in just minutes!
- Prep the ingredients: Add a cup of mayonnaise to a bowl along with finely diced shallot, chopped capers, chopped parsley, fresh lemon juice and pickle relish.
- Whisk to combine: Whisk the ingredients until combined. Taste and add salt and black pepper if desired. If time allows, cover and chill the tartar sauce for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors blend together.
What To Serve Tartar Sauce With
This flavorful homemade tartar sauce is the perfect match for so much more than just fish! Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Roasted Vegetables: Warm roasted vegetables combined with this cool, creamy sauce are a match made in heaven.
- Chicken Tenders: A super addicting combo that you probably haven’t thought of trying.
- French Fries: Any mayo based sauce is going to be a winning combo for french fries, and this tartar sauce is no exception.
- Deviled Eggs: A dollop of tartar sauce on a deviled egg adds a tangy kick.
- Any type of seafood: A dollop on these baked clams, use as a sauce for salmon or these air fryer scallops. Make a sandwich with our delicious tuna cakes on a soft roll.
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Easy Tartar Sauce Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: No Cook
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeThis easy homemade tartar sauce is creamy, tangy, and packed with fresh flavor. Delicious on fish, shrimp, fries, and so munch more! Ready with just a few ingredients in 5 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons finely diced shallots
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped capers
- 2 tablespoons pickle relish (or finely diced pickles)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the mayonnaise, shallots, parsley, capers, pickle relish (or diced pickles) and lemon juice to a bowl. Mix together to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes, if time allows, to let the flavors blend together.
Recipe Notes
Store: Cover tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to an air tight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stir
- Cuisine: American
