This Keto Tartar Sauce is what I make because store-bought tartar sauce is, honestly, not very good. Most bottled versions are gloopy and sugary and do nothing to actually bring out the flavor of the fish they’re supposed to accompany.
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Homemade tartar sauce takes about fifteen minutes, and the flavor is worlds apart from anything in a squeeze bottle. Fresh dill, parsley, pickle juice, and a splash of Worcestershire build real depth that a jarred version just can’t match.
The flavor actually improves the longer it sits, so making it ahead of time works in your favor here.
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Chef Jenn’s Take on Keto Tartar Sauce
Most bottled tartar sauces lean hard on sugar to fake balance, and the result tastes flat and one-note instead of bright and tangy. A good tartar sauce should taste like something, not just coat the fish in gloopy sweetness.
Saving the pickle juice instead of pouring it down the drain is what gives this sauce real depth. It carries a surprising amount of flavor on its own, tangy and a little sharp, and it does more for the finished sauce than people expect from something that usually gets tossed. For more homemade keto sauces like this one, check out my Sauces / Spices / Dressings collection.
What You’ll Love About Keto Tartar Sauce
- It tastes noticeably better than anything from a bottle, tangy and herby instead of flat and overly sweet.
- The flavor actually gets better the longer it sits, so making it a day ahead works in your favor instead of just being convenient.
- It’s genuinely versatile beyond fish, good on a burger, alongside crispy chicken, or as a spread on a sandwich.
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise – Homemade or a good keto-friendly store-bought version.
- Dill pickles – Finely chopped.
- White sugar substitute – Or skip the sweetner entirely.
- Pickle juice – Straight from the jar. Don’t skip this, it carries real flavor.
- Lemon juice – Fresh squeezed.
- Dijon mustard – Just a small amount.
- Worcestershire sauce – Check the label, some brands include added sugar or molasses.
- Parsley – Fresh, finely chopped.
- Dill – Fresh, finely chopped.
- Salt and white pepper – White pepper keeps the sauce free of dark flecks.
How To Make Keto Tartar Sauce
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
Finely chop the dill pickles, parsley, and fresh dill.
Combine the mayonnaise, chopped pickles, pickle juice, sweetener if using, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, and dill in a bowl.
Stir until fully combined. Season with salt and white pepper to taste.
Chill until ready to serve. The flavor develops more the longer it sits, so making this ahead of time is worth it.
Make It A Meal
I serve this alongside Zucchini Fries for a full fried-food spread, or spread it on a French Dip Chaffwich in place of the usual condiment for something different. If you’re making the sauce from scratch, my homemade mayonnaise recipe is the base I’d start with.
Storage
Store tightly covered in the fridge for up to 1 week. This sauce does not freeze well.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, it’s listed as optional in this recipe and isn’t needed for the sauce to taste balanced. Skip it if you don’t want the added sweetness.
It works well on a burger, alongside crispy chicken, or as a spread on a sandwich, not just as a dip for fried fish.
Pickle juice carries a surprising amount of tangy, briny flavor on its own, and it adds depth to the sauce beyond what the chopped pickles alone can bring.
Yes, this recipe holds up well to substitutions. Capers, fresh or dried tarragon, lemon zest, finely diced shallots, or chopped olives all work well mixed in.
Add Preferred SourceKeto Tartar Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup dill pickles finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon parsley finely chopped
- 1 tablespon fresh dill finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons pickle juice from the jar of pickles
- 1 teaspoon white sugar substitute optional
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- salt
- white pepper
Instructions
- Finely chop the dill pickles and herbs.
- Mix everything together in a bowl.
- Chill until ready to serve.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Recipe Card Tips
- Don’t skip the pickle juice. It carries real, tangy flavor on its own that a chopped pickle alone doesn’t fully deliver.
- Make it ahead if you can. The flavor develops and rounds out the longer it sits in the fridge.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed. Erythritol carbs (sugar substitutes) are not included in the carbohydrate counts as they have been shown not to impact blood sugar, and they have zero calories and zero carbs. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
WANT EVEN MORE EASY KETO DIET RECIPES?
I’m always in the kitchen creating new recipes, and while some of them are big hits, I get some misses, too. But these are some of my favorite all-time recipes:
- Thick and luscious Salmon Chowder
- Grilled veggies – I love how versatile this recipe is!
- This amazing cauliflower dish
- Meaty sausage Parmigiana
So glad to have this homemade tartar sauce recipe! This is just perfect to go with my favorite crab cakes. Great combination of ingredients in this sauce–so yummy!
Ohh this tartar sauce comes out potent! We used it with sweet potato fries and it was such a great add-on. It would also be wicked on a burger!
I’m a huge pickle fan and love that you added pickle juice here – so delicious! Thank you!
This beats store-bought any day! We used vegan Worcestershire sauce and it came out fab. Thank you for another keeper!
I had this for dinner tonight with my fish, and it was a perfect compliment! Loved the creamy texture and the touch of zest from the pickle
Homemade sauces are totally the way to go. Love it!