3-Ingredient Tartar Sauce Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. 2 Comments

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Tartar sauce, a beloved accompaniment for seafood dishes, doesn't require you to be a gourmet chef to whip it up. With only three simple ingredients, you can easily create a homemade tartar sauce that rivals the flavors of your favorite restaurant. This easy recipe will save you time while still impressing your family and friends with its rich taste.

3-Ingredient Tartar Sauce Recipe (1)

Preparing this 3-ingredient tartar sauce is a breeze!! It comes together quickly allowing you to focus on the rest of the meal. The sauce's versatility makes it the perfect complement to fish, shrimp, and even non-seafood dishes. Best of all, this homemade sauce is made with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, so there's no need for an extra trip to the store.

With this easy tartar sauce recipe, you'll never want to purchase store-bought tartar again. Get ready to elevate your seafood dishes to a new level with this delicious sauce.

You're going to love serving it with this air fryer haddock recipe, salmon patties, and my pancake-battered fried fish.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • So Quick! This 3-ingredient tartar sauce takes just a couple of minutes to make.
  • Adjustable Recipe. You can easily add other ingredients to make it taste just the way you want or even make spicy tartar sauce!
  • Low-Cost Condiment. Since this recipe uses only a few basic ingredients, you won't have to spend a lot of money to make this delicious, budget-friendly sauce and it's cheaper than a bottle of prepared sauce.
  • Versatile Sauce for Meals. It isn't just for fish and seafood. You can use it on sandwiches, burgers, or even as a dipping sauce for fries, veggies and so much more.

Ingredients

This super easy recipe only takes 3 ingredients to make, and you probably have all of them in your kitchen right now. Be sure to check the recipe card for the quantities of each ingredient.

3-Ingredient Tartar Sauce Recipe (2)
  • Mayonnaise: The main component of this simple sauce recipe is mayonnaise. It provides a creamy base that binds the other ingredients together and creates a smooth texture.
  • Sweet Pickle Relish: It provides a crunchy and tangy element to the sauce. You can also simply add chopped sweet pickles instead.
  • Lemon Juice: Adds a tangy and refreshing flavor to the sauce. Although you can use bottled lemon juice, fresh lemon juice tastes better. Keep in mind you can adjust the amount of lemon juice to your preference, ensuring the perfect level of tanginess.

Substitutions and Variations

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this 3-ingredient tartar sauce.

  • Add Seasoning: To enhance flavors and balance the tang from the lemon juice and relish feel free to add a little salt, pepper, or sugar to taste.
  • Herbs and Spices: Herbs and spices are a quick and easy way to enhance your sauce. Consider adding some onion flakes, fresh dill, fresh chives, fresh tarragon, fresh parsley, sour cream, or minced garlic.
  • Other flavors. Capers, grated onion, and diced olives are other salty and savory flavors that work well to change up your tartar.
  • Less Sweet: Skip sweet pickle relish and use dill pickle relish instead for a sauce that isn't as sweet.
  • Spicy Tartar Sauce: Add a bit of chili pepper flakes, diced jalapeno pepper, homemade hot pepper sauce, hot sauce, ourjalapeno powder,smoked jalapeno powder, orchipotle powderto the mayo mixture for a bit of heat.

How to Make Tartar Sauce

Creating the perfect homemade tartar sauce is easier than you might think and you'll love being able to control the taste and texture. Here's a glimpse at how easy it is to make!

  1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
3-Ingredient Tartar Sauce Recipe (3)
  1. Place the sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least an hour. This will allow the flavors to meld together.
3-Ingredient Tartar Sauce Recipe (4)

⭐️ Hint: If your sauce is too thin and runny, try adding more mayonnaise or refrigerating the sauce for a few hours or overnight. The chilling process helps to thicken the sauce and allows the flavors to meld together better.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this Kraft Copycat Tartar Sauce.

Storage

Store the sauce for up to a week in an air-tight container. Remember to use a clean utensil every time you use it to ensure the sauce isn't contaminated.

What to Serve with Tartar Sauce

This creamy sauce is not only perfect with seafood dishes but also tastes great with so many other foods. Here are some of our favorites.

  • Different types of seafood. Serve it up with steak and crab legs, smoked crab cakes, Red Lobster crab cakes, crab cake sandwich, smoked salmon cakes, smoked clams, or smoked catfish.
  • Serve it as a dipping sauce for frozen chicken fries in air fryer, french fries, air fryer baby potatoes, air fryer frozen sweet potato fries, or fresh veggies.
  • It's great with shrimp! Enjoy it with instant pot shrimp, broiled lemon garlic shrimp, coconut shrimp, shrimp kebabs, or bacon wrapped shrimp.
  • More than for just fried fish! Consider it as a sauce for almond crusted walleye or smoked whitefish.
  • Great with air fryer chicken! Try it with air fryer tyson crispy chicken strips, air fryer tyson chicken nuggets, air fryer chicken tenders, air fryer bacon wrapped chicken tenderloins, air fryer frozen popcorn chicken, or air fryer fried chicken thighs.

Tips

Here are some tips to make your 3-ingredient sauce even more delicious and enjoyable:

  • Adjust the Consistency. If it's too thin, add more mayonnaise or refrigerate the sauce for some time. The chilling process often helps to thicken the sauce while also allowing the flavors to meld together better.
  • Chill Before Serving. For better consistency and flavor, allow your the sauce to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  • Experiment with Flavors. You can add different ingredients to see which combination works best for your taste buds.
  • Enjoy it with more than seafood. It's a versatile condiment. Not only for seafood but also on sandwiches, hamburgers or as a dipping sauce for fries and vegetables.
  • Nothing beats the flavor of homemade tartar sauce. You get to make it to your exact tastes!

FAQ

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about this better than Hellmann's tartar sauce.

Can I make this sauce using vegan mayonnaise?

Yes, you can easily make a vegan version by replacing traditional mayonnaise with a vegan mayo alternative. This substitution will still provide a creamy and tangy taste without any animal-derived ingredients.

Can I use light mayonnaise or yogurt instead?

Yes, you can use light mayonnaise or even plain yogurt as a substitute for regular mayonnaise in your tartar sauce. This will give you a lighter and lower-calorie option while still providing a creamy texture.

How can I make tartar sauce without relish?

If you don't have relish, you can easily make tartar sauce by chopping up dill or sweet pickles and combining them with mayonnaise and other ingredients.

3-Ingredient Tartar Sauce Recipe (5)

Video

3-Ingredient Tartar Sauce Recipe (6)

More Easy Recipes

Do you like fish and seafood? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.

  • Texas Roadhouse Steak Sauce
  • Vegan Buffalo Sauce Recipe
  • Spicy Harissa Aioli Sauce
  • Copycat Big Mac Sauce

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

3-Ingredient Tartar Sauce Recipe (11)

3-Ingredient Tartar Sauce

Tartar sauce, a beloved accompaniment for seafood dishes, doesn't require you to be a gourmet chef to whip it up. With only three simple ingredients, you can easily create a homemade tartar sauce that rivals the flavors of your favorite restaurant.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Chill Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 2 minutes mins

Course Condiment

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 140 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or air tight container.

  • Place sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This will allow the flavors to meld together.

  • Stir before using.

Notes

Be sure to check the full post above for serving suggestions, storage, and much more!

  • Recipe makes 1 ½ cups of tartar sauce and servings are based on 2 tablespoons each.
  • Adjust the Consistency. If your tartar sauce is too thin, add more mayonnaise or refrigerate the sauce for some time. The chilling process often helps to thicken the sauce while also allowing the flavors to meld together better.
  • Enjoy it with more than seafood. Tartar sauce is a versatile condiment. Not only for seafood but also on sandwiches, hamburgers or as a dipping sauce for fries and vegetables.
  • Nothing beats the flavor of homemade tartar sauce. You get to make it to your exact tastes!
  • Experiment with Flavors. You can add different ingredients to see which combination works best for your taste buds.
  • Chill Before Serving. For better consistency and flavor, allow your tartar sauce to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 140kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 0.2gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 201mgPotassium: 7mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 136IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 0.1mg

Keyword homemade tartar sauce

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mitch

    3-Ingredient Tartar Sauce Recipe (16)
    Thank you for this recipe. Tasted great with our fish and we are keeping the rest for sandwiches. I love all the choices. The next time I make this tartar sauce im going to try one or two. Thx again 💕

    Reply

    • Karin and Ken

      I love having choices too! For years it never occurred to me to use tartar sauce on anything but fish but we make it all the time now and use it on burgers and sandwiches too. Thank you for letting me know. All the best. Karin

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3-Ingredient Tartar Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional tartar sauce made of? ›

Wondering what's in tartar sauce? It's typically made with mayonnaise, chopped pickles or relish, lemon juice, and herbs (like tarragon and dill). There are also a handful of optional ingredients you can add that take the tartar sauce's flavor to the next level. For example, this recipe includes yellow mustard.

What is a good substitute for tartar sauce? ›

Instead of tartar sauce, use a garlicky aioli with or without a little dill or chopped pickle. Another good sauce option that goes well with seafood is a tomato-based co*cktail sauce. Hummus, which is also slightly acidic with lemon juice, can also make a nice dip for seafood.

What is McDonald's tartar sauce made of? ›

Tartar Sauce

Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Pickle Relish (diced Pickles, Vinegar, Salt, Capers, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate [preservative], Calcium Chloride, Spice Extractives, Polysorbate 80), Egg Yolks, Water, Onions, Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Spice, Salt, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Parsley.

Does tartar sauce contain mayo? ›

Tartar sauce (French: sauce tartare; spelled tartare sauce in the UK, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries) is a condiment made of mayonnaise, chopped pickles and relish, caper, and herbs such as tarragon and dill.

What are the ingredients in Dukes tartar sauce? ›

Soybean oil, dill pickles (pickles, distilled vinegar, salt, xanthan gum, sodium benzoate, alum, natural spice flavors), distilled and cider vinegar, eggs, sugar, water, salt, olives, capers, parsley, natural flavors, spice, xanthan gum, lactic acid, oleoresin paprika, lemon juice, calcium disodium EDTA added to ...

What is a substitute for 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar? ›

Lemon juice

Lemon juice provides acidity similar to cream of tartar, helping to form stiff peaks when you're whipping egg whites. If you're making syrups or frostings, lemon juice can also replace cream of tartar to help prevent crystallization.

What is a substitute for 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar? ›

Lemon Juice

If you need a cream of tartar substitute for meringue, lemon juice is your best choice. Recommendations vary on the exact ratio to use, but in general, you'll need 1 teaspoon of lemon juice for each ½ teaspoon of the cream of tartar.

How do you thicken tartar sauce? ›

Add Sour Cream For A Thicker, Tangier Tartar Sauce

By adjusting the amount of sour cream you can customize the sauce.

Is cream of tartar just tartar sauce? ›

In reality, the two have nothing to do with one another. Cream of tartar is a powdery baking ingredient that you'd find in sweets like cookies or meringues. Tartar sauce, on the other hand, is super savory, rich, and tangy. It's typically served with seafood, but trust me – this delicious condiment can do so much more.

Is tartar sauce good or bad for you? ›

Tartar sauce is relatively high in fat—especially when compared to other condiments served with fish, such as ketchup or vinegar. There are 4.7 grams of fat in a serving of tartar sauce. About 0.9 grams is saturated fat. About 1 gram is monounsaturated fat and 2.5 grams are polyunsaturated fat.

Why does tartar sauce taste so good? ›

Fresh lemon juice is essential for the best tartar sauce. It thins out the sauce making it the perfect consistency for dipping, and adds a fresh zesty flavor. Capers add texture and so much flavor to our tartar sauce.

Is Big Mac sauce the same as Thousand Island? ›

Is Big Mac Sauce the same as Thousand Island Dressing? The two are similar, but they have different ingredient ratios. Also, Thousand Island dressing is made with ketchup and diced onions. Big Mac sauce doesn't use either of these ingredients.

What kind of fish is Burger King fish sandwich? ›

Burger King's Big Fish Sandwich is 100% Wild Alaskan Pollock, breaded with crispy panko breading and topped with sweet tartar sauce, tangy pickles, all on top of a toasted brioche-style bun... just right for tonight!

Does tartar sauce have cream of tartar in it? ›

And a few people wanted to know if tartar sauce was the same as cream of tartar. And actually Tartar Sauce doesn't contain any cream of tartar. It's a mayonnaise based sauce named after the Tartar family.

Does tartar sauce contain vinegar? ›

Tartar sauce is a rich, creamy, tangy condiment typically served cold made of mayonnaise, chopped pickles (gherkins in the UK), capers, lemon juice and herbs such as dill, chives, tarragon and/or parsley. Some variations include olives, onions or shallots and apple cider vinegar.

What is the origin of tartar sauce? ›

Tartar sauce originated in France as sauce tartare, named after the Tatars who settled in Ukraine and parts of Russia. The French, in producing this mayonnaise or aioli sauce, may have based the "tartar" moniker upon their spelling of the Tatar name, which was Tartare.

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