Tangy and creamy tartar sauce can completely revolutionize your seafood game with this keto tartar sauce recipe that slashes carbs without sacrificing flavor.
Every crispy fish bite deserves a perfect companion that won’t derail your low-carb lifestyle.
Traditional tartar sauce often hides sneaky sugars and unnecessary carbohydrates.
This homemade version delivers all the zesty goodness you love with clean, simple ingredients.
Whip it up in just minutes using mayo, pickles, and herbs you likely already have in your kitchen.
The secret is balancing fresh herbs with a rich, creamy base that makes every dollop irresistible.
You’ll want to drizzle this sauce on everything from grilled fish to roasted vegetables.
Dive into this easy recipe and elevate your keto meal with a condiment that’s both delicious and diet-friendly.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Calories: 180 kcal
Servings: 4
Keto Tartar Sauce Must-Haves
For Creamy Base:
Mayonnaise: Provides the rich, smooth foundation for the tartar sauce, selecting a high-quality, full-fat version ensures a luxurious texture.
Sweetener: Balances the tangy flavors, opt for a keto-friendly option like erythritol or stevia for a subtle sweetness.
For Fresh Zesty Touches:
Dill Pickles: Adds crisp, briny crunch and authentic tartar sauce character, choose well-drained, finely chopped pickles for even distribution.
Lemon Juice: Brightens the entire sauce with a citrusy punch, fresh-squeezed works best for maximum flavor impact.
For Herbal and Seasoning Boost:
Dill, Parsley: Infuse the sauce with fresh, green herbaceous notes, using freshly chopped herbs elevates the overall taste profile.
Salt, Black Pepper: Enhance and round out the flavor complexity, freshly ground black pepper provides more intense aromatics.
Tools for Whipping Up Keto Tartar Sauce
Medium bowl: Essential for mixing all ingredients smoothly and combining flavors.
Measuring spoons: Precise for adding salt, sweetener, and seasonings accurately.
Cutting board: Needed for chopping dill pickles finely and fresh herbs.
Sharp knife: Perfect for dicing pickles and chopping herbs into small pieces.
Spatula or spoon: Helps mix ingredients thoroughly and scrape sides of the bowl.
Airtight container: Great for storing sauce and keeping it fresh in the refrigerator.
Make Low Carb Tartar Sauce in a Few Steps
Pickle Harmony Gathering the base ingredients in a cozy mixing bowl, combine rich mayonnaise with finely chopped tangy dill pickles, creating a smooth foundation for the classic sauce.
Flavor Symphony Sprinkle in bright lemon juice, delicate fresh herbs like dill and parsley, then enhance with a gentle touch of sweetener to balance the zesty profile. Gently stir until the mixture transforms into a creamy, vibrant condiment.
Flavor Awakening Allow the sauce to rest in the cool refrigerator for about half an hour, letting the ingredients mingle and develop deeper, more complex taste notes. This resting period helps the flavors bloom and integrate seamlessly.
Flavor Tips for Keto-Friendly Tartar Sauce
Swap dill pickles with bread and butter pickles or cornichons for a sweeter or more tangy twist on the classic sauce.
Experiment with fresh chopped herbs like chives, tarragon, or basil to add extra depth and brightness to the tartar sauce.
Prepare the sauce up to 3 days in advance and store in an airtight container to let flavors intensify and save time during meal prep.
Add a dash of hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or finely chopped jalapeños for those who love a kick of heat in their condiment.
Finely mince pickles for a smoother sauce or leave them slightly chunkier for more texture and bite.
Best Uses for Keto Tartar Sauce
Pair with Seafood Delights: This zesty keto tartar sauce perfectly complements grilled fish, crispy baked salmon, or low-carb breaded shrimp. Its tangy flavor elevates every bite of your favorite seafood dishes.
Dip and Spread Adventure: Use this creamy sauce as a delicious dipping companion for roasted vegetables, keto-friendly zucchini fries, or grilled chicken tenders. Its fresh herbs and pickle crunch make snacking exciting.
Transform Burger Experience: Dollop this homemade tartar sauce on bunless burgers, lettuce-wrapped sandwiches, or as a rich spread for your low-carb protein wraps. The sauce adds a burst of flavor that takes your meal from ordinary to extraordinary.
Storing Sugar-Free Keto Tartar Sauce
Refrigerate Quickly: Store the tartar sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for optimal freshness and flavor retention.
Keep Fresh for a Week: Enjoy your homemade sauce within 5-7 days, ensuring maximum taste and quality when properly sealed.
Avoid Room Temperature: Never leave the tartar sauce out for more than 2 hours to prevent bacterial growth and maintain food safety.
Mix Before Serving: Give the sauce a gentle stir before each use to redistribute ingredients and restore its creamy consistency.
Keto tartar sauce delivers a creamy, zesty condiment perfect for seafood dishes. Low-carb ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a guilt-free accompaniment you’ll crave with fish, shrimp, or crispy keto-friendly appetizers.
Ingredients
Scale
240 g (1 cup) mayonnaise
90 g (6 tbsps) dill pickles, finely diced
2 tsps fresh dill, chopped
2 tsps fresh parsley, chopped
10 ml (2 tsps) lemon juice
12 g (1 tbsp) powdered monk fruit allulose blend (or to taste)
¼ tsp sea salt (or to taste)
¼ tsp black pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
Preparation: Gather a spacious mixing bowl and combine mayonnaise, dill pickles, sweetener, lemon juice, dill, parsley, kosher salt, and black pepper into a smooth, uniform mixture, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly integrated.
Flavor Calibration: Conduct a taste test and fine-tune the seasoning by incrementally adding salt, pepper, or sweetener to achieve the desired flavor balance, stirring gently to maintain the sauce’s consistent texture.
Flavor Infusion: Seal the prepared tartar sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate for 30 minutes, allowing the ingredients to meld and develop a more complex, harmonious taste profile before serving.
Notes
Pickle Precision: Dice pickles uniformly and finely to ensure consistent texture and flavor distribution throughout the sauce.
Flavor Melding: Refrigerate the sauce for at least 30 minutes to allow ingredients to blend and develop a more complex, harmonious taste.
Sweetener Flexibility: Experiment with different low-carb sweeteners like stevia or erythritol to find your perfect balance without adding carbs.
Customization Tip: Adjust seasonings gradually, tasting after each addition to create a personalized tartar sauce that matches your exact flavor preferences.
Founder, Head Recipe Developer & Cuisine Specialist
Expertise
Recipe Development and Testing, Modern American and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education and Workshops
Education
Johnson & Wales University
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts
Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and global cuisines.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Program: Diploma in Pastry Arts
Focus: Specialized education in baking and pastry, emphasizing artisanal bread, confections, and plated desserts.
Michael Reynolds is the founder and head recipe creator at wd-50.com. With over 15 years of experience in the kitchen, he’s spent time working in top restaurants and now focuses on making great food easy for everyone at home.
Michael studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University and later trained in pastry at the Auguste Escoffier School. He knows his way around both savory meals and sweet treats.
At wd-50.com, his goal is to help you feel confident in the kitchen, whether you’re trying something new or cooking a favorite dish. He loves using fresh ingredients and simple steps that still bring out big flavors.
Michael Reynolds
Founder, Head Recipe Developer & Cuisine Specialist
Expertise
Recipe Development and Testing, Modern American and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education and Workshops
Education
Johnson & Wales University
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Michael Reynolds is the founder and head recipe creator at wd-50.com. With over 15 years of experience in the kitchen, he’s spent time working in top restaurants and now focuses on making great food easy for everyone at home.
Michael studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University and later trained in pastry at the Auguste Escoffier School. He knows his way around both savory meals and sweet treats.
At wd-50.com, his goal is to help you feel confident in the kitchen, whether you’re trying something new or cooking a favorite dish. He loves using fresh ingredients and simple steps that still bring out big flavors.