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This is the best homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe — creamy and tangy and made with simple ingredients! An easy-to-make condiment that pairs perfectly with fish and seafood, this tartar sauce is ready in 30 minutes and beats store-bought versions every time.
🍔 While perfect with fish and chips, this tartar sauce also shines as a sandwich spread, vegetable dip, or burger topping. The creamy texture and tangy flavor complement everything from grilled salmon to fried pickles!
My 2 Best Tips For Making This Tartar Sauce Recipe
Texture Balance: Get the perfect consistency by mincing ingredients uniformly. Dill pickles should be finely chopped to distribute flavor evenly, while onions need thorough mincing to avoid overwhelming bites. Pat pickles dry before adding to prevent watery sauce.
Let Time Work Its Magic: The 30-minute chilling period isn’t optional—it’s crucial for flavor development. During this time, the buttermilk softens sharp edges, the caper juice distributes throughout, and it all settles into an amazingly flavorful sauce. (For even better results, chill overnight or make ahead!)
🩷 Melissa
Unlike store-bought versions loaded with preservatives, this homemade tartar sauce recipe lets you control every ingredient.
The combination of fresh lemon juice, good mayonnaise, and briny capers creates a perfect balance of creamy and tangy that’s impossible to achieve with processed alternatives.
This tartar sauce comes together in under 5 minutes of active preparation time. Simply whisk the wet ingredients, fold in the aromatics, and let it chill. The hardest part is waiting the 30 minutes for the flavors to develop!
Tartar Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons caper juice
- 2 tablespoons minced dill pickle or dill relish
- 2 tablespoons finely minced onion
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped capers
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, lemon juice, and caper juice until blended.
- Stir in pickle, onion, parsley, capers, salt, and pepper.
- Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- The buttermilk can be homemade buttermilk substitute (1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar and the rest of the 2 tablespoons of regular milk).
- Or the buttermilk can be substituted with sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.
- If you don’t have capers, use the same amount of lemon juice for the caper juice and the same amount of dill pickle relish (or cut up pickles) for the capers.
- Add extra capers for more brine or increase the lemon juice for brightness — this is for those of you who like the tangy, sharp flavors!
- I love to add fresh herbs like dill and chives.
- Hot dogs or burgers as a topping
- In fish tacos
- As a dip for a crudités tray
- Spread on sandwiches
- With air fried snacks like fried pickles or onion rings
- And of course with a homemade fish and trips dinner!
Nutrition
How To Make Homemade Tartar Sauce
Step 1: Whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, lemon juice, and caper juice until blended.
Step 2: Stir in pickle, onion, parsley, capers, white pepper, and salt.
Step 3: Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.
Recipe FAQs
High-quality mayonnaise makes a noticeable difference in this recipe. Brands like Hellmann’s, Duke’s, or homemade mayonnaise provide the richest flavor and creamiest texture. Avoid low-fat or miracle whip-style products, as they can make the sauce too thin or sweet.
If you don’t have buttermilk, substitute with regular milk mixed with a teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. You can also use sour cream thinned with a little water, or simply omit it and add an extra tablespoon of lemon juice for tanginess.
roperly stored in an airtight container, this tartar sauce recipe stays fresh for up to one week in the refrigerator. The mayonnaise base and acidic ingredients help preserve the sauce, but always check for any off odors or separation before using.
More Homemade Condiment Recipes To Try
Seasoning Mixes
Garlic Parmesan Seasoning – Perfect for Breadsticks
Dip Recipes
Lemon Garlic Hummus Recipe Without Tahini
Simple Gingerbread Recipes
Homemade Gingerbread Syrup: Cozy Holiday in a Bottle
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