Easy Homemade Cajun Tartar Sauce with Creole Mustard

Jump to Recipe

There's nothing ordinary about this Cajun tartar sauce recipe, and it is sure to turn your next seafood dish from boring to bravo. It's bold, a little spicy, and the perfect condiment to give some zing to crab cakes, fried shrimp, blackened fish, or even a pile of sweet potato fries. It's the kind of sauce that makes a meal feel like something special.

Wooden tray topped with a light blue bowl of Cajun tartar sauce with hot sauce on top, a bottle of hot sauce on the side, as well as lemon wedges, parsley leaves, and a kitchen towel.

I love keeping a jar of this in the fridge for making meal time easier. It's one of those secret weapon sauces that adds instant flavor to just about anything--whether you're layering it into a sandwich, serving it with crispy fried fish, or using it as a dipping sauce for grilled veggies or hush puppies.

It even takes frozen fish sticks to the next level! It's simple, versatile, and full of that bold flavor I always come back to.

For the ultimate summertime seafood dinner, I like to serve this Cajun tartar sauce with boiled shrimp, smoked street corn, tomato and basil pasta salad, and watermelon beet salad. Or for an all-in-one option, it's great with Low Country Boil. Add some peach crisp with blackberries for dessert and you've got yourself the perfect al fresco meal.

Jump to:

Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Tasty Tip
Frequently asked questions
Related
Pairing
🍽Get the recipe
RECIPE GUIDELINES AND TEST KITCHEN TIPS
FOOD SAFETY

Ingredients

Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this homemade tartar sauce recipe:

mayonnaise
sweet pickle relish
Creole mustard
fresh lemon juice
lemon zest
hot sauce
Cajun seasoning or Creole seasoning

(See recipe card for quantities.)

Instructions

Now that we've got our ingredients, it's time to get cooking!

A zested lemon on a wooden cutting board with zest to the side and a Microplane.

First, grate the zest from the lemon to equal 1 teaspoon and squeeze enough juice to equal 1 teaspoon.

Stirring together the ingredients for Cajun tartar sauce in a glass bowl.

Then, stir together the mayonnaise, relish, mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, hot sauce, and Cajun seasoning in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Hint: To make your life easier, grate the lemon zest first before squeezing the juice.

Substitutions

Here are some suggestions for ingredient substitutions if you need them:

Mayonnaise - If you're new here, you may not know that I'm a Duke's mayonnaise girl. Duke's doesn't have sugar in it, so if you use another kind of mayo (that likely contains sugar), then you may want to reduce the amount of sweet pickle relish.
Sweet pickle relish - Instead of sweet pickle relish, you can dice some bread and butter pickles. Or, use dill pickle relish or diced dill pickles and add a pinch of sugar to balance out the tanginess.
Creole mustard - I love the texture and tang Creole mustard gives to this sauce. Feel free to use Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, or spicy brown mustard instead.
Lemon juice - White vinegar or apple cider vinegar will work in place of the lemon juice.
Cajun seasoning - Cajun seasoning is a blend of black pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. You can use a combination of these ingredients or use Old Bay or blackening seasoning instead.

Variations

Looking for additional ways to change up this creamy sauce? I've got you covered!

Spicy - To give this tartar sauce a spicier kick, increase the amount of hot sauce or Cajun seasoning.
Extra creamy - Swap half of the mayonnaise for sour cream or plain Greek yogurt to make this a little creamier.
More umami - Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce to add some richness.
Herby - Add chopped fresh herbs like fresh dill, parsley, green onions, or chives for some added flavor.
Extra crunch - Add finely diced celery or capers for more crunch.
Vegan - Use vegan mayonnaise and make sure the Creole mustard you use is vegan as well.

Equipment

Here's the equipment you'll need for this Creole tartar sauce:

microplane zester
juicer
paring knife
small bowl
dry measuring cup
measuring spoons

Storage

Store leftover tartar sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Give it a stir before serving if separation occurs.

This recipe does not freeze well due to its creamy base, which can separate when thawed. It's best enjoyed fresh or stored in the fridge.

Tasty Tip

Allow the sauce to sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving so the flavors have a chance to meld together.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make Cajun tartar sauce ahead of time?

Yes! This is one of those recipes that gets better over time. Preparing the sauce a few hours or even a day in advance helps deepen the flavors. Just keep it refrigerated until you're ready to serve.

Is Cajun seasoning spicy?

Every brand differs, but Cajun seasoning typically has a medium heat level, combining spices like paprika, cayenne, and black pepper. You can adjust the amount used to suit your tolerance to spice.

Is this sauce good for non-seafood dishes?

For sure! It's great with grilled meat, roasted vegetables, and even French fries (and my oven-baked onion rings), making it a versatile condiment.

My tartar sauce turned out too thick. How do I fix it?

If the sauce feels too thick, mix in a small amount of water or more lemon juice to thin it out.

I'm really sensitive to spicy things. How do I make sure this sauce isn't too spicy?

If your sauce feels too hot, add more mayonnaise or some sour cream to mellow the heat without diluting the flavor.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with this zesty tartar sauce:

🍽Get the recipe