This incredibly simple tartar sauce uses just five ingredients and comes together in minutes. You likely have everything on hand already. It’s tangy, classic, and ideal for pairing with fried fish, seafood, or fish and chips.
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Growing up on the New England coast shaped how I think about seafood and tartar sauce. Plenty of recipes online layer in herbs and extras, but the sauce I keep coming back to is simple, bright, and a little old-school—the kind you get at a favorite fish and chip truck.
This version captures that straight-forward, tangy flavor with only five basic pantry ingredients. It’s an easy, dependable tartar sauce that complements fried clams, fish sticks, pan-fried fillets, and other seafood favorites.
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise: Use a good-quality real mayonnaise for best texture and flavor (examples include Hellmann’s or Duke’s).
- Relish: Sweet relish balances the tart lemon. If you prefer less sugar, substitute dill pickle relish.
- Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice brightens the sauce; bottled lemon juice will work in a pinch.
- Onion powder: A small amount keeps the sauce smooth and easy to blend without chopping fresh onion.
- Black pepper: Just a light seasoning to finish the sauce.
How to Make a Simple Tartar Sauce
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir with a rubber spatula or spoon until fully combined and smooth.
Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, if possible, to let the flavors meld. The sauce tastes best after resting, but it’s ready to serve immediately if you’re short on time.
Serving and Storage
Taste and adjust seasonings before serving—add a touch more lemon if you want extra brightness or a pinch more pepper for bite. Serve in small bowls or spoon onto your plate beside fried or baked fish.
Store leftover tartar sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within one week for best quality.
Substitutions
Keto / Low Carb: Swap sweet relish for dill pickle relish and, if you want a touch of sweetness, add a keto-friendly sweetener to taste.
Miracle Whip option: Replace the mayonnaise with Miracle Whip and omit or reduce the lemon juice, since Miracle Whip is already sweet and tangy.
No pickles? Use sweet or dill relish instead of chopped pickles; both work well and keep the sauce smooth.
FAQ
Store-bought tartar sauce is safe through the date on its bottle as long as it stays refrigerated.
Keep homemade tartar sauce refrigerated in an airtight container and use within one week.
National Tartar Sauce Day
For the curious: National Tartar Sauce Day falls on the Friday after Lent begins. That said, this sauce is worth enjoying any time of year with your favorite fish dishes.
What to Serve With Tartar Sauce:
- Crispy pan-fried fish
- Air fryer salmon patties
- Traditional fish and chips
- Clam-shack style fried clams
Drinks that pair nicely:
- Homemade lemonade
- Iced tea
Simple Tartar Sauce
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Ingredients
- 1 cup real mayonnaise
- 1 ½ tablespoon sweet relish
- 2-3 teaspoons lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
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Add all ingredients to a small bowl and stir until smooth and uniform.
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Cover tightly or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
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Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
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Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Keep tartar sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within one week.
Serving:
Spoon individual portions onto serving plates or into small bowls to avoid contaminating the stored sauce.
Nutrition
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Carbohydrates: 1g
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Fat: 16g
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