Easy & Creamy Homemade Tartar Sauce (Better Than Store-Bought)
Make this quick, tangy condiment from scratch. This recipe delivers a creamy, zesty tartar sauce perfect for fried fish, crab cakes, or as a dipping sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: About 1 cup 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped dill pickles
- 1 tablespoon chopped capers, drained
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon sweet pickle relish (optional, for extra sweetness)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place the mayonnaise in a medium bowl.
- Add the chopped dill pickles, capers, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and sweet pickle relish, if using, to the bowl.
- Stir all ingredients together until they are fully combined and the sauce is smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover the bowl and chill the tartar sauce in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to blend.
Notes
- For a brighter flavor, substitute sweet pickle relish with finely chopped sweet onion.
- If you prefer a thinner sauce, add a teaspoon of pickle brine or water until you reach your desired consistency.
- This sauce tastes best when made ahead of time, allowing the capers and pickles to infuse the mayonnaise base.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 17
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 1
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 0
- Cholesterol: 10