Dill Tartar Sauce
On March 12, 2025
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My Dill Tartar Sauce is tangy, sweet, and makes the perfect creamy dip for fried fish and grilled seafood. Plus, you need just 5 ingredients.
Homemade Dill Tartar Sauce
A creamy, tangy tartar sauce can bring out the best in your favorite seafood dishes, and my dill version adds a new depth of flavor. This easy homemade tartar sauce packs a flavor punch with fresh dill, capers, and dill pickles. It’s smooth yet textured, with tang and sweetness. This easy tartar sauce recipe comes together in minutes and is perfect for dipping crispy fried shrimp, topping grilled fish, or slathering onto sandwiches. Once you try this Dill Tartar Sauce you made all on your own, you’ll never go back to that store-bought stuff.
What is tartar sauce?
Tartar sauce is a classic condiment with a creamy base (usually mayo) perfect for seafood, so it’s no surprise it’s been popular for centuries. Originally inspired by French cuisine, this sauce is now a staple in seafood dishes worldwide. Traditional tartar sauce recipes feature pickle, and lemon juice. Some recipes even use onion. My homemade tartar sauce recipe takes things up a notch with fresh dill, capers, and a touch of pickle brine for extra depth and a bright, zesty kick.
Dill Tartar Sauce Ingredients
With just five simple ingredients, this homemade tartar sauce is easy to whip up and made mostly with pantry staples. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup dill pickles (diced, you can also use a dill relish)
- 1 Tablespoon fresh dill (chopped)
- 1 Tablespoon capers (chopped)
- 1 Tablespoon dill pickle brine
If you want a lighter option, you can substitute the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. You can also switch up the herbs or add your own favorites. Some recipes use shallots, fresh parsley, and even sweet pickles. Once you get the basics down, experiment and find what you love.
How to Make Tartar Sauce
You’re just a few steps away from a tartar sauce that will make your grilled seafood the talk of the neighborhood. Follow these simple instructions so you can bring this creamy condiment to life:
- Prepare the ingredients. There’s not a lot of prep work, but I recommend chopping your fresh dill and capers just before mixing your sauce. Both these ingredients add a citrusy tang so you want them freshly chopped.
- Make tartar sauce. Grab a small bowl, add the mayo, then add the rest of your ingredients and give everything a good stir. The fresh dill add a bright herbaceous touch, while the capers and pickles give it that signature tangy kick. If your sauce is too thick, you can add a little more brine. You can also add 1-2 Tablespoons of mayo if you need to thicken up your sauce.
- Use or store. Your tartar sauce is ready to go! Serve immediately for the freshest taste, or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Serving Suggestions
This easy homemade tartar sauce is a must-have for seafood lovers. It pairs perfectly with some grilled shrimp or salmon, and this stuff was made for my beer-battered fish and chips. Try spreading it onto sandwiches, adding a dollop to your crispy fish tacos, or even using it as a dip for crispy French fries. No matter how you serve it, this flavorful condiment will steal the show.
Storage
For the best taste and texture, store your tartar sauce in the fridge. Odds are it won’t last long but your tartar sauce will stay fresh for 3-4 days when kept sealed and chilled. I love these lidded mason jars, but any airtight container will work.
Pull this sauce out whenever you fry some fish and chips, or just want to elevate some frozen fish sticks. If it thickens over time, stir in a dash of fresh lemon juice or a little pickle brine to revive its zing.
More Condiment Recipes
Once you try this creamy Dill Tartar Sauce, you’ll be hooked on making your own condiments. Luckily for you, I’ve got dozens more awesome dips, sauces, and toppings you can make right at home. You can find them all (plus over 700 BBQ recipes) in the Hey Grill Hey App. For now, check out some of my most popular condiments:
Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe
Make this quick and easy recipe in your own backyard, then tartar-k to me. After you give it a try, let me know what you think by leaving a comment and 5-star rating below. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Facebook so you can show off your favorite seafood dishes topped with a little tartar.
And if you want to become a Backyard BBQ Hero, check out The Grill Squad for expert tips, or subscribe to my YouTube channel for more easy, mouthwatering, BBQ recipes.
Dill Tartar Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup dill pickles diced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh dill chopped
- 1 Tablespoon capers chopped
- 1 Tablespoon dill pickle brine
Instructions
- Combine and mix. Combine all your ingredients into a large bowl, then stir with a rubber spatula until your sauce reaches your desired consistency. For a more textured sauce, roughly chop your fresh dill.1 cup mayonnaise, ½ cup dill pickles, 1 Tablespoon fresh dill, 1 Tablespoon capers, 1 Tablespoon dill pickle brine
- Serve and store. Your sauce is ready to enjoy immediately. You can also store any remaining sauce in an airtight container in your refrigerator, and enjoy for up to a week.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
