What are the ingredients of tartar sauce?

Traditional tartar sauce is made with mayonnaise, chopped cornichons or pickles, capers, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and fresh herbs like dill or parsley. This 3 ingredient tartar sauce skips the capers and lemon and uses pickle juice instead: fewer steps, very close result. The pickle juice carries the acidity and seasoning that lemon and capers would normally provide, which is why the shortcut works so well.

How do you make a cheat tartar sauce?

The fastest version is a spoonful of mayo and a teaspoon of any pickle product, relish, chopped pickles, or even just brine. Stir and go. That's genuinely all you need for a workable tartar sauce in under two minutes. This 3 ingredient tartar sauce is already the cheat version, and it's the one I use most often.

What does Gordon Ramsay put in his tartar sauce?

Gordon Ramsay's version includes full-fat mayonnaise, finely minced cornichons, capers, minced shallot, fresh chives, tarragon, Dijon mustard, and fresh lemon juice. Some versions swap part of the mayo for crème fraîche, which adds a more complex tang. It's richer and more refined than this 3 ingredient tartar sauce and takes considerably longer to prepare. Both are worth knowing, depending on what you're making and how much time you have.

What's a substitute for tartar sauce?

Remoulade is the closest cousin: same mayo base, similar pickle and herb profile. A simple mix of mayo and lemon juice gets you halfway there. Ranch dressing works in casual settings. Tzatziki is a lighter option that pairs surprisingly well with grilled fish, especially if you add a pinch of dill. That said, the real answer is to just make this 3 ingredient tartar sauce . You almost certainly have everything already.

Is there a 2 ingredient tartar sauce?

Yes. Mayo plus pickle relish or chopped pickles is a legitimate two-ingredient version. It works. The difference when you add pickle juice as the third ingredient is noticeable: the sauce goes from decent to actually good. That tablespoon of brine adds the seasoning and acidity that makes it taste complete rather than just functional. That's the core argument for this 3 ingredient tartar sauce over any two-ingredient shortcut.

How long does homemade tartar sauce last?

A properly stored 3 ingredient tartar sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator keeps well for up to seven days. The acidity from the pickle juice helps preserve it. After a week, the mayo starts breaking down and the flavor becomes less fresh. Always use a clean spoon when serving to avoid introducing bacteria that shorten its shelf life.

Can I make tartar sauce without relish?

Absolutely. This entire recipe is a 3 ingredient tartar sauce no relish version. Finely chopped dill pickles do everything relish would do, but with better texture and a cleaner savory flavor. Relish is sweeter and finer-textured, which changes the character of the sauce. The chopped pickle approach gives you more control over the final result.

Best 3 Ingredient Tartar Sauce (Ready in 5 Minutes!)

Name: 3 Ingredient Tartar Sauce The Only Recipe You'll Ever Need
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 7 min
Cuisine: American

Description

This 3 ingredient tartar sauce is the easiest homemade condiment you will ever make. Just mayo, chopped dill pickles, and pickle juice stirred together in one bowl. Creamy, tangy, and ready in 5 minutes — no capers, no lemon, no fuss.

Ingredients

½ cup full-fat mayonnaise

2 tablespoons finely chopped dill pickles

1 tablespoon pickle juice (straight from the jar)

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Add the mayonnaise, chopped dill pickles, and pickle juice to a small bowl.

2. Stir well until fully combined.

3. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

4. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together (optional but recommended).

5. Serve cold alongside your favorite seafood dishes and enjoy.

Notes

Use full-fat mayo for the best texture — light mayo turns watery when mixed with brine.

For a lighter version, replace half the mayo with plain Greek yogurt.

Add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard or fresh chopped dill to customize the flavor.

Stores in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.

Do not freeze — mayo-based sauces separate when thawed.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Category: Condiments, Sauces
Method: Mix
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
Calories: 223
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 230mg
Fat: 21g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 17g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 9g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 0g
Cholesterol: 12mg

Keywords: 3 ingredient tartar sauce, tartar sauce recipe, homemade tartar sauce, sauce tartare, easy tartar sauce with pickles, tartar sauce no relish, sauce tartar