McDonald’s Tartar Sauce Recipe

✔ Updated October 19, 2026 · fixed card amounts + Filet-O-Fish-style tips

This McDonald's tartar sauce recipe is my creamy, tangy copycat-style sauce for fish sandwiches, ready in about 5 minutes. Spread it on our crunchy copycat Burger King Big Fish sandwich too.

Mayonnaise is mixed with dill pickle relish, very finely minced onion, a little sugar and a squeeze of lemon, then chilled for 30 minutes so the flavors blend. It's smooth enough to spread on a soft bun, tangy enough to cut through crispy fried fish, and it keeps in the fridge for days.

Why You'll Love This Tartar Sauce

• Six everyday ingredients, with mayo and dill pickle relish doing most of the work.
• Ready in 5 minutes, with no cooking, just a bowl and a spoon.
• Smooth and spreadable, made for fish sandwiches, fish sticks, shrimp and fries.

What Makes McDonald's-Style Tartar Sauce Different?

Fast-food tartar sauce is smoother and a touch sweeter than many homemade versions. There are no big pickle chunks or herbs, just creamy mayonnaise with fine flecks of relish and onion, so it spreads easily on a soft steamed bun and soaks into hot, crispy fish.

This copycat-style recipe gets that texture by mincing or grating the onion very finely, using relish instead of chopped pickles, and adding a little sugar to balance the tang. For more drive-thru sauces, see our McDonald's dipping sauces.

Step-by-Step Photos

Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.

Tips for Success

• Mince the onion very finely. Big pieces of raw onion overpower the sauce. Grating it on the small holes of a box grater gives the smoothest result. I grate mine straight over the bowl so none of the juice goes to waste.
• Drain the relish lightly. Press it in a small strainer for a few seconds so the sauce stays thick enough to spread on a bun instead of running off.
• Let it rest. Thirty minutes in the fridge gives the sugar time to dissolve and the onion time to mellow. It tastes even better the next day, so I make it the night before fish night.
• Want it completely smooth? Blitz everything in a mini food processor or with an immersion blender for a few seconds.
• No relish? Finely chop dill pickles or gherkins and add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar or extra lemon juice. Finely chopped capers also work for a briny bite.
• Use a mayo you like the taste of. It is almost the whole sauce, so a full-fat mayonnaise gives the creamiest result. Light mayo works but tastes a little thinner.

How to Use It: a Homemade Fish Sandwich

For a Filet-O-Fish-style sandwich at home, bake or fry a square breaded fish fillet until it is crispy and cooked through (145°F in the center). Warm a soft, plain hamburger bun by steaming it for 20 to 30 seconds, spread the bottom half with a tablespoon of tartar sauce, add the hot fish and half a slice of American cheese, and close it up.

• Fish sticks and fried fish: serve the sauce in a small bowl for dipping.
• Seafood: it goes with fried shrimp, tempura prawns, crab cakes and fried clams.
• Fries and sides: try it with Popeyes-style french fries or jalapeño poppers.

Variations

• Spicy: stir in a little finely chopped jalapeño or a few dashes of hot sauce.
• Herby: add 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh dill, chives or parsley for color and a fresher taste.
• Extra tangy: add 1 teaspoon of finely chopped capers and an extra squeeze of lemon.
• Homemade mayo: use homemade mayonnaise made with pasteurized eggs, and eat the sauce within 2 to 3 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in McDonald's-style tartar sauce?

Copycat versions like this one are built on mayonnaise, dill pickle relish and finely minced onion, with a little sugar for balance and lemon juice or vinegar for tang. The result is creamy, mildly sweet and tangy, with small flecks of pickle.

How long does homemade tartar sauce last?

Kept covered in the fridge, it lasts up to 5 days, or until the date on your mayonnaise if that is sooner. Always use a clean spoon, and don't leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Can I use sweet relish instead of dill relish?

Yes, but the sauce will be noticeably sweeter. If you use sweet relish, leave out the sugar and add a little extra lemon juice so it stays tangy.

Can I freeze tartar sauce?

I don’t recommend it. Mayonnaise-based sauces separate and turn grainy when thawed. The recipe is quick enough to make a fresh batch, or halve it for smaller amounts.

What can I serve with tartar sauce besides fish?

It is great with fried shrimp, crab cakes, fish sticks, chicken tenders, onion rings and french fries, and it makes a tangy spread for burgers and wraps.