This easy homemade tartar sauce recipe comes together in just 10 minutes with a handful of simple ingredients. It’s creamy, tangy, slightly sweet, and packed with pickle flavor—the perfect sauce for crispy fish, shrimp, crab cakes, fried seafood, sandwiches, and more.

Once you try homemade tartar sauce, you may never want to buy the bottled version again. The best part is that you can easily adjust the sweetness, tanginess, and pickle flavor to make it exactly how you like it.

For the best flavor, let the sauce chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. That short resting time allows the flavors to blend together beautifully.

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Tartar Sauce

Ready in just 10 minutes
Uses simple pantry and refrigerator staples
No cooking required
Creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet
Easy to customize
Perfect with fish and seafood
Can be prepared ahead of time
Makes about 1½ cups, enough for several meals

What Is Tartar Sauce?

Tartar sauce is a creamy condiment traditionally made with a mayonnaise-based mixture and ingredients such as pickles or pickle relish, lemon juice, herbs, and seasonings.

Its creamy texture and tangy, slightly sweet flavor make it especially popular with fried fish and other seafood.

While there are many variations, this easy version keeps things simple with mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper, with optional onion and parsley for extra flavor.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise forms the creamy base of this tartar sauce. Use your favorite regular mayonnaise for the best texture.

Sweet Pickle Relish

Sweet pickle relish adds both texture and a slightly sweet, tangy pickle flavor.

If you prefer a less sweet tartar sauce, you can reduce the amount of relish or substitute finely chopped dill pickles.

Lemon Juice

Fresh lemon juice adds acidity and brightness, balancing the richness of the mayonnaise.

Freshly squeezed lemon juice is especially good in this recipe.

Sugar

A small amount of sugar adds subtle sweetness and balances the acidity of the lemon juice and pickles.

You can adjust the amount depending on your taste.

Salt and Black Pepper

These simple seasonings bring all the flavors together.

Optional Onion

Finely chopped onion adds a little crunch and extra savory flavor.

Optional Fresh Parsley

Fresh parsley adds color and a fresh herbal note to the sauce.

Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: About 1½ cups
Course: Sauce / Condiment
Cuisine: American-inspired

Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion, optional
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh parsley, optional

How to Make Tartar Sauce

1. Combine the Mayonnaise and Sugar

Add the mayonnaise and sugar to a medium bowl.

Stir thoroughly until the sugar is well incorporated.

For the smoothest sauce, make sure there are no obvious granules of sugar remaining.

2. Add the Pickle Relish and Lemon Juice

Add the sweet pickle relish and lemon juice.

Stir everything together until the mixture is smooth and evenly combined.

The sauce should have a creamy consistency with small pieces of pickle distributed throughout.

3. Add Onion and Parsley

If using, stir in the finely chopped onion and fresh parsley.

The onion adds texture and savory flavor, while parsley gives the tartar sauce a fresh finish.

4. Season to Taste

Add salt and black pepper.

Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed.

If you prefer a sweeter tartar sauce, add a small amount of additional sugar. If you prefer more tang, add a little extra lemon juice.

5. Chill Before Serving

Cover the bowl and refrigerate the tartar sauce for at least 30 minutes before serving.

This step is worth doing because the flavors have time to blend together while the sauce chills.

Give it a quick stir before serving.

Tips for the Best Tartar Sauce

Use Fresh Lemon Juice

Fresh lemon juice gives the sauce a brighter flavor than bottled lemon juice.

Don’t Add Too Much Lemon Juice at Once

Start with the amount in the recipe, then taste and adjust. Too much lemon juice can make the sauce overly acidic and thin.

Let It Rest

Although you can technically eat the sauce immediately, chilling it for at least 30 minutes gives the flavors time to develop.

Adjust the Sweetness

Sweet pickle relish and sugar both contribute sweetness. If you prefer a more savory tartar sauce, reduce the sugar or use dill pickle relish instead.

Chop Optional Ingredients Finely

If adding onion or parsley, chop them very finely. This distributes their flavor throughout the sauce without creating large chunks.

Sweet vs. Dill Pickle Relish

The choice of pickle relish can significantly change the flavor of your tartar sauce.

Sweet pickle relish gives you a mildly sweet, classic-style sauce.

Dill pickle relish creates a more savory and tangy tartar sauce.

If you’re unsure which you prefer, make the recipe as written with sweet relish first. You can experiment with dill relish the next time.

How to Make Tartar Sauce Less Sweet

If your tartar sauce tastes too sweet, there are several easy ways to balance it.

Add a little more lemon juice.
Add finely chopped dill pickles.
Reduce the sugar next time.
Replace sweet relish with dill relish.
Add a little extra black pepper.

Make changes gradually and taste after each addition.

How to Make Tartar Sauce Thicker

This recipe naturally produces a thick, creamy sauce.

If yours seems too thin, make sure you haven’t added too much lemon juice or another liquid ingredient.

You can also add a little more mayonnaise and adjust the seasoning afterward.

What to Serve With Tartar Sauce

Homemade tartar sauce is incredibly versatile.

Fried Fish

This is the classic pairing. Serve it alongside crispy fried fish, fish fillets, fish sandwiches, or fish and chips.

Shrimp

Tartar sauce makes a creamy dipping sauce for crispy fried shrimp or breaded shrimp.

Crab Cakes

The tangy sauce pairs especially well with golden crab cakes.

Fish Sandwiches

Spread tartar sauce directly onto a toasted bun with crispy fish, lettuce, and sliced tomato.

Fried Seafood

Try it with:

Fried oysters
Calamari
Breaded scallops
Fried clams
Coconut shrimp
Fish sticks

Vegetables

It can also work as a dipping sauce for crispy roasted potatoes, fries, zucchini fries, or other vegetables.

Can You Make Tartar Sauce Ahead of Time?

Absolutely.

In fact, making tartar sauce ahead of time is recommended because the flavors become more developed as the sauce rests.

Prepare the sauce, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve.

For the best texture and flavor, give it a stir before serving.

How Long Does Homemade Tartar Sauce Last?

Store homemade tartar sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Because this recipe contains mayonnaise and fresh ingredients, keep it refrigerated and use clean utensils when serving.

For best quality, use it within several days and follow the storage guidance for the mayonnaise you’re using.

Don’t leave the sauce sitting at room temperature for extended periods.

Can You Freeze Tartar Sauce?

Freezing is generally not recommended.

Mayonnaise-based sauces can separate when frozen and thawed, resulting in a watery or broken texture.

Because this recipe takes only a few minutes to prepare, it’s better to make a fresh batch when needed.

Easy Tartar Sauce Variations

Once you’ve made the basic recipe, it’s easy to customize.

Dill Tartar Sauce

Replace the sweet pickle relish with finely chopped dill pickles or dill relish and reduce or omit the sugar.

Garlic Tartar Sauce

Add a small amount of finely minced fresh garlic or garlic powder for a more savory sauce.

Herb Tartar Sauce

Add fresh parsley, dill, chives, or a combination of your favorite herbs.

Spicy Tartar Sauce

Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or finely chopped jalapeño.

Extra Tangy Tartar Sauce

Add a little more fresh lemon juice or a small splash of pickle juice.

Creamy Lemon Tartar Sauce

Increase the lemon juice slightly and add a little fresh lemon zest for a bright citrus flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tartar sauce made of?

Tartar sauce is typically made from a mayonnaise-based mixture combined with pickles or pickle relish, lemon juice, herbs, and seasonings. This easy version uses mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper.

Is homemade tartar sauce better than store-bought?

Homemade tartar sauce allows you to control the sweetness, acidity, pickle flavor, and texture. It also takes only a few minutes to mix together.

Can I use Miracle Whip instead of mayonnaise?

Yes, but the flavor will be sweeter and slightly different because Miracle Whip has a different flavor profile than traditional mayonnaise. If using it, you may want to reduce or omit the added sugar.

Can I use dill pickles instead of sweet relish?

Yes. Finely chop dill pickles and use them in place of the sweet pickle relish. You may also want to adjust the sugar depending on how tangy you want the sauce.

Can I make tartar sauce without sugar?

Yes. Simply leave out the sugar. The finished sauce will be less sweet, and you can adjust the flavor with additional relish or lemon juice.

How long should tartar sauce chill?

For the best flavor, refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. You can also prepare it several hours ahead of serving.

Why does my tartar sauce taste too sour?

Too much lemon juice can make the sauce overly acidic. Add a little more mayonnaise and, if needed, a small amount of sugar to balance the flavor.

Why is my tartar sauce too sweet?

Sweet pickle relish and sugar both contribute sweetness. Add a little lemon juice or replace some of the sweet relish with finely chopped dill pickles to make the flavor more savory.

Recipe Notes

For a sweeter sauce: Add another ½ teaspoon of sugar at a time until it reaches your preferred flavor.

For a tangier sauce: Add fresh lemon juice gradually.

For more texture: Increase the amount of finely chopped pickles or add finely chopped onion.

For a fresher flavor: Add extra fresh parsley, dill, or chives.

For the best flavor: Don’t skip the 30-minute refrigeration period.

Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce

This easy tartar sauce recipe is creamy, tangy, slightly sweet, and incredibly simple to make. With just mayonnaise, pickle relish, lemon juice, sugar, and a few seasonings, you can have a homemade seafood sauce ready in minutes.

It’s perfect for fried fish, fish and chips, shrimp, crab cakes, seafood sandwiches, and crispy fried seafood.

Once you have this recipe in your refrigerator, you’ll always have a quick homemade condiment ready whenever seafood is on the menu.