A good sauce pairing for seafood can help you explore an exciting variety of tastes and culinary traditions. Used in balanced proportions, sauces add layers of flavor and complexity that accentuate seafood’s natural taste without overpowering it.
Whether you're preparing white fish, shrimp, or a shellfish platter, we have a great sauce to bring out the best in your meal. Ready to explore ten of our best seafood sauces? These options are sure to please, no matter what dish you’re preparing.
Classic Sauces for Seafood
Tartar Sauce
Tartar sauce is a go-to classic for seafood lovers that is known for its creamy and tangy flavor. Made with a base of mayonnaise, it’s often mixed with chopped pickles, capers, fresh lemon juice, and a touch of mustard or fresh herbs for extra zest. This sauce enhances fried and breaded seafood dishes.
As you can probably guess, tartar sauce pairs perfectly with crunchy, golden-brown fish and chips, fish sticks, and even crab cakes. Store-bought tartar sauce is always an option, but it’s even more delicious (and easy to make) when you make it yourself. It’s great spooned onto a blackened rockfish sandwich, shown in this recipe.
Lemon Butter
Lemon butter sauce is as simple as it is tasty. The simplest versions are made by whisking butter together in a skillet with fresh lemon juice, which balances the rich fat content of the butter with a bit of acidity. For added flavor and complexity, you can include minced garlic, fresh parsley, or a splash of white wine. The result is a silky, citrusy sauce that perfectly complements the delicate flavors of various white fish and shellfish species.
Lemon butter is a delicious pairing for Pacific halibut, any variety of Alaskan crab, or even with grilled shrimp. Lemon butter is a versatile option that also enhances seared scallops and other rich species of seafood.
Spicy and Bold Sauces
Remoulade Sauce
Craving a little taste of New Orleans? Remoulade brings bold, spicy flavors to the table, making it a favorite for those who like a bit of heat. This sauce usually includes mayonnaise, mustard, paprika, and a dash of hot sauce or cayenne for a kick. Some versions add chopped pickles, capers, or horseradish to create a robust, tangy taste. It’s a bit like tartar sauce, but with more complex flavors that can take a seafood dish to the next level.
Remoulade pairs perfectly with shrimp, adding just the right amount of zest to a shrimp po' boy or a simple shrimp cocktail. It’s also excellent with Alaskan crab, providing a rich contrast to their briny flavor.
Hot Honey Butter Sauce
This hot honey butter sauce is so good that you’ll be saucing your fish twice! Brush it onto the fillet before it cooks to supercharge it with flavor, then drizzle on more for serving. Hot honey butter sauce combines sweet, spicy, and buttery flavors that bring a little heat to seafood dishes.
A favorite for its versatility and the way it balances heat and sweetness. Made with several ingredients — honey, butter, sriracha, cilantro, and garlic — it’s quick to whip up for an easy boost of flavor.
Smoky Cocktail Sauce
A smoky cocktail sauce adds a spicy, smoky depth to any dippable variety of seafood. Together, they create a savory explosion that’s as vibrant as it is satisfying.
Perfect for entertaining, this dish is versatile enough to impress guests or make a casual dinner feel special. Pair it with crusty bread or a side salad to round out the meal, and let the bold flavors do the rest.
Asian-Inspired Sauces
Katsu Sauce
Katsu sauce is a classic dipping sauce for a crispy, breaded cut of protein. It’s inspired by a Japanese-style sauce that’s served with golden cutlets of protein, which works well for breaded fillets of fish as a pop of bold flavor. Try katsu sauce with grilled cuts of protein,
Teriyaki Sauce
Here’s a sauce for our air fryer lovers. This teriyaki fish recipe includes a homemade teriyaki sauce that pairs well with any seafood. When cooked in an air fryer, it becomes a caramelized glaze on fish.
Creamy and Rich Sauces
Easy Sesame Mayo
Do you like to sauce as you go? The easy sesame mayo sauce included in this recipe is sweet, savory, and nutty — perfect for dipping everything from fish sticks to fish cakes. Made with toasted sesame oil and pure maple syrup, this mayo is a next-level condiment for any seafood dish. Its smooth texture and complex flavor make it ideal for dipping, spreading, or drizzling.
Use it as a dipping sauce for crab cakes, a spread for fish burgers, or a drizzle over grilled white fish. Seafood lovers won’t be able to resist the unexpected twist of sweet maple and rich sesame.
Dill Cream Sauce
Dill cream sauce is a fresh, creamy option with a subtle herb flavor that complements seafood beautifully. In fact, it’s a popular sauce for salmon and smoked fish that is made with sour cream or Greek yogurt, fresh dill, and a touch of lemon.
Dill cream sauce is ideal for salmon, whether grilled, baked, or smoked. It’s also a great addition to smoked fish platters, providing a refreshing contrast to the richness of the fish.
Mediterranean-Inspired Sauces
Tzatziki for Grilled Fish
This grilled halibut and veggie skewer recipe pairs with a creamy, tangy tzatziki sauce for a fresh take on seafood night. Tzatziki is a cucumber and yogurt-based sauce that is popular in Greece that goes with practically any protein or vegetable — but it is an especially good match for grilled seafood. Typically, tzatziki includes a mix of herbs like dill or mint, which add freshness and flavor.
Store-Bought vs. Homemade: Which is Better?
When choosing between store-bought and homemade sauces, both have their pros and cons.
Making sauces at home allows you to control ingredients and adjust flavors to your liking. Homemade options are often fresher and can be healthier, with fewer preservatives and less sugar or salt. However, they do take a little extra time and planning.
For convenience, store-bought sauces are hard to beat. Many brands offer high-quality options that taste great and can save you time in the kitchen. Look for sauces with minimal additives and natural ingredients for the best quality.
If you’re short on time, look for store-bought classics like tartar sauce, sweet chili sauce, and even lemon-herb options. They’re easy to find and pair well with a variety of seafood dishes.
Pairing seafood with the right sauce can transform any meal, enhancing flavors and adding depth. Fortunately, there’s a sauce for every seafood lover's taste. We encourage you to try different recipes to find the perfect match for your favorite fish or shellfish. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Sometimes, the best sauce is the one you create yourself!
