Name: Easiest Homemade Tartar Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup mayonnaise (Use your favorite kind! A good quality mayo is the base for creamy perfection.); 3 tablespoons finely minced onion; 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish (This is where a lot of that classic tartar sauce sweetness comes from.); 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (A little acidity brightens everything up beautifully. Fresh is best here!); 2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley (For that lovely fresh, herbaceous flavor and pretty green flecks.); 2 teaspoons minced fresh dill (Dill and seafood are a match made in heaven, don't skip this!); 0 to taste salt (The final touch to make all the flavors sing.); 0 to taste pepper (The final touch to make all the flavors sing.)

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Introduction

Oh, hello there, kitchen friend! Do you ever have those days where you’re craving something delicious but just don’t have the energy for a complicated culinary adventure? I know I do! That’s why I’m so excited to share this recipe for the most ridiculously easy and incredibly flavorful homemade tartar sauce. It’s the kind of recipe that brings back memories of summer cookouts and perfectly flaky fish, all without breaking a sweat. You’re going to love how quickly this comes together!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Fast: Seriously, you can whip this up in under 5 minutes!
Easy: No fancy techniques, just simple mixing.
Giftable: Portion it into cute jars for a thoughtful homemade gift.
Crowd-pleasing: It’s the perfect accompaniment to seafood, chicken tenders, or even French fries!

Ingredients

Gathering your ingredients is the most “work” you’ll do for this recipe, and even that’s a breeze. Here’s what you’ll need:

1 cup mayonnaise: Use your favorite kind! A good quality mayo is the base for creamy perfection.
3 tablespoons finely minced onion: I like to use red onion for a little pop of color, but sweet or yellow works great too. Make sure it’s really minced up fine so you don’t get big onion chunks.
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish: This is where a lot of that classic tartar sauce sweetness comes from.
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice: A little acidity brightens everything up beautifully. Fresh is best here!
2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley: For that lovely fresh, herbaceous flavor and pretty green flecks.
2 teaspoons minced fresh dill: Dill and seafood are a match made in heaven, don’t skip this!
Salt and pepper to taste: The final touch to make all the flavors sing.

How to Make It

Alright, apron on? Let’s get this tartar sauce party started! It’s almost embarrassingly simple.

Combine everything: Grab a medium-sized bowl. Add the mayonnaise, the finely minced onion, the sweet pickle relish, the fresh lemon juice, the minced parsley, and the minced dill.
Stir it up: Grab a spoon or a whisk and stir everything together until it’s all beautifully combined and has that lovely creamy texture. Make sure there are no pockets of plain mayo or clumps of relish.
Season to perfection: Now for the crucial step – tasting! Add a pinch of salt and a grind of fresh black pepper. Stir again, taste, and add more if you think it needs it. You’re the boss of your tartar sauce!

And that’s it! Seriously. You’ve just made homemade tartar sauce. High five!

Substitutions & Additions

While this recipe is amazing just as it is, feel free to get creative and make it your own! Here are a few ideas:

For a tangier sauce: Swap half of the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.
For a bit of a kick: Add a teaspoon of finely minced capers or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
For extra texture: Mix in a tablespoon of finely chopped celery or a tiny bit of finely grated horseradish.
Don’t have fresh herbs? You can use dried herbs in a pinch, but you’ll need less. Start with about 1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley and 1/2 teaspoon of dried dill.

Tips for Success

Even the simplest recipes can benefit from a few little secrets to make them even better. Here are my go-to tips:

Mince finely: The key to a smooth, delicious tartar sauce where all the flavors meld together is to really mince your onion and herbs as finely as possible.
Let it chill: While it’s delicious right away, letting the tartar sauce chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes allows the flavors to meld together even more. This is especially helpful if you’re not a fan of raw onion flavor.
Prep ahead: This sauce can easily be made a day or two in advance, making it perfect for busy weeknights or parties.

How to Store It

Keep your glorious homemade tartar sauce stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh and delicious for about 5-7 days. I love keeping a jar in the fridge for easy dipping!

FAQs

Got some lingering questions? I’ve got you covered!

Can I make this without onion? Absolutely! If you’re not an onion fan or need a milder flavor, you can omit the onion or substitute it with a pinch of onion powder.
What’s the best way to use homemade tartar sauce? It’s fantastic with fish tacos, fried shrimp, crab cakes, chicken tenders, onion rings, or even as a dip for roasted vegetables!
How long does it last? Properly stored in the refrigerator, it should last for about 5-7 days. Always trust your senses – if it looks or smells off, it’s best to toss it.

Easiest Homemade Tartar Sauce

A ridiculously easy and incredibly flavorful homemade tartar sauce that comes together in under 5 minutes, perfect for seafood, chicken tenders, or French fries.

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Prep Time 5

Equipment

Medium-sized bowl
spoon or whisk

Ingredients

Main ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise Use your favorite kind! A good quality mayo is the base for creamy perfection.
3 tablespoons finely minced onion I like to use red onion for a little pop of color, but sweet or yellow works great too. Make sure it's really minced up fine so you don't get big onion chunks.
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish This is where a lot of that classic tartar sauce sweetness comes from.
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice A little acidity brightens everything up beautifully. Fresh is best here!
2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley For that lovely fresh, herbaceous flavor and pretty green flecks.
2 teaspoons minced fresh dill Dill and seafood are a match made in heaven, don't skip this!
to taste salt The final touch to make all the flavors sing.
to taste pepper The final touch to make all the flavors sing.

Instructions

Grab a medium-sized bowl. Add the mayonnaise, the finely minced onion, the sweet pickle relish, the fresh lemon juice, the minced parsley, and the minced dill.
Grab a spoon or a whisk and stir everything together until it's all beautifully combined and has that lovely creamy texture. Make sure there are no pockets of plain mayo or clumps of relish.
Now for the crucial step – tasting! Add a pinch of salt and a grind of fresh black pepper. Stir again, taste, and add more if you think it needs it. You're the boss of your tartar sauce!

Notes

While it's delicious right away, letting the tartar sauce chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes allows the flavors to meld together even more. This is especially helpful if you're not a fan of raw onion flavor. This sauce can easily be made a day or two in advance, making it perfect for busy weeknights or parties. Keep your glorious homemade tartar sauce stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh and delicious for about 5-7 days.