This easy, creamy Tartar Sauce recipe will become your go-to dipping sauce for all your favorite fried seafood. It’s loaded with crunchy relish, fresh dill, and fragrant garlic. We especially love it with beer battered cod!
Homemade tartar sauce
Tartar sauce is a creamy and savory sauce frequently served with seafood. It’s one of those sauces you either love or hate. I happen to love tartar sauce, but always have a hard time finding a well-prepared sauce at the store. In my opinion, the store-bought ones have way too much mayonnaise in them. So, I created my own recipe using the combination of sour cream and mayonnaise so the mayo isn’t too overpowering. It’s also full of flavor from the garlic, relish, and fresh dill. Even if you don’t like store-bought tartar sauce, you may like this one. This dipping sauce goes especially well with fried seafood.Â
Ingredients for tartar sauce
This Tartar Sauce is made with a creamy combination as it’s base, along with tangy and flavorful add-ins. But there are many variations on traditional tartar sauce ingredients, including lemon juice, chives, mustard, capers, and Worcestershire sauce. Here’s what I used in this recipe:
- Mayonnaise – traditional creamy base
- Sour cream – cuts the mayo flavor and adds more creaminess
- Garlic clove – adds a great flavor
- Onion powder – just the right amount of onion flavor
- Dill relish – gives a little crunch and texture
- Fresh dill – fresh is best here and you’ll love the flavor notes it adds
How to make this easy tartar sauce recipe
One of the best things about this recipe is that it not only tastes great, but most of the ingredients are already on hand. With these basic ingredients and common household condiments, you can quickly and easily whip up a delicious dipping sauce for your seafood dinner. Here’s how to make it:
- Combine ingredients. In a bowl, add the mayonnaise, sour cream, grated garlic, onion powder, dill relish, and fresh chopped dill.Â
- Mix. Gently whisk the ingredients together until they are thoroughly combined.
- Chill. This dipping sauce should be served chilled, so refrigerate before serving with your favorite seafood, onion rings, or fries.Â
Storing tartar sauce
This sauce should last in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Just place it in a sealed container, such as a small glass dish or jar with a screw-top lid, and keep it refrigerated until you are ready to use it.
Can this dipping sauce be frozen?
Unfortunately, no. Tartar sauce cannot be frozen because the mayo will separate. So, only make as much as you can enjoy over two weeks while it’s fresh.
What to serve with this sauce?
- Fish and chips
- Onion rings
- French fries
- Steak
Full Recipe Instructions
Tartar Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 garlic clove grated
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 4 tbsp dill relish
- 1 tbsp fresh dill chopped
Instructions
- In a bowl combine mayonnaise, sour cream, grated garlic, onion powder, dill relish, and fresh chopped dill.
- Serve chilled with fried seafood.
Notes
How long does this tartar sauce keep
This Tartar Sauce should last in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Just place it in a sealed container, such as a small glass dish or jar with a screw-top lid, and keep it refrigerated until you are ready to use it.Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on March 8, 2017, but we have tweaked it a bit since then.
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Tina says
Yum! Great with fried fish & shrimp! 🩷
Will says
Picked up a bottle of tartar sauce in my local grocery store recently, was appalled at the number of ingredients. Decided I needed something healthier., and during my search I ran across this recipe. This is definitely a winner! It has only a few simple ingredients, all of which you can put together in your own kitchen and know exactly what’s in the final product. Excellent taste, can’t ask for a better tartar sauce. First time out I used it with some salmon patties, which turned out to be a great partnership. Highly recommend this if you’re looking for a healthier alternative to the story-bought stuff.
Dina says
Hi Will 🙂 I am so happy to hear that this recipe turned out so perfectly for you! Homemade is definitely the way to go. Thank you so much for your support by making my tartar sauce! I hope you find more recipes to try from my food blog! 🙂
Elisabeth Page says
We impromptu wanted to make some salmon patties for dinner and needed a tartar sauce recipe on the fly. I’ve had so much success with Dina’s recipes that I immediately searched for one here and voila! This tartar sauce is simple, creamy, and delicious. Absolutely delightful.
Dina says
You are too kind Elisabeth! So happy to hear you loved this tartar sauce so much! I am thrilled that you put your trust in my recipes! I am very grateful for your awesome support!! Thank you again for taking the time to leave your review! 🙂