The secret is in the tartar sauce, and seriously, makes the sandwich fabulous!
The BK food chain has a light and flaky 100% Alaskan Pollock fillet topped with a delicious creamy tartar sauce and shredded lettuce on the potato bun.
I used everything except for the same kind of fish.
Years ago when it's debut in 1975 the Big Fish sandwich has changed and evolved using different fish, buns however that delicious tartar sauce stayed the same taste.
I made my sandwich with fried haddock, also a delicious white flaky fish, using my fish fry recipe.
If you love the Whaler you're in for a homemade treat in less than 25 minutes!
I love copycat recipes like my Arby's Beef and Cheddar and I also have a roundup of Copycat Recipes to try!
I always order mine with a slice of cheese which is extra, but I really like the fish better with cheese, you can omit that part if you're not big on that.
So my copycat version is really one that I love to make and the tartar sauce if fantastic it totally compliments this sandwich.
You can use any frozen premade brand fish in the supermarket or make your own.
Don't forget to pick up some shoestrings french fries or make a seasoned style like my Italian fries to go with this delicious fish sandwich.
It's really super simple and quick if you're using all store-bought brands and not all homemade like I did.
The Best Fish Sandwich!
I actually love a great fish sandwich and my favorite fast food is either McDonald's or Burger King's.
The big difference between the two besides the tartar sauce flavors is putting cheese which McDonald's does.
So that's why I always order mine from Burger King with cheese and adapted this recipe with it!
Just in case you were wondering why I strayed from the original way it's made.
You can adapt this any way you want but for the wow factor in taste, make the tartar sauce homemade.
Ingredients You Will Need
For the tartar sauce:
- mayonnaise.
- finely chopped dill pickles.
- fresh dill chopped or dried
- lemon juice
- granulated garlic powder
- Worcestershire sauce
- freshly ground black pepper.
- Breaded and Fried Fish (fresh or frozen)
- Soft Hamburger style potato buns seeded or unseeded, (grilled or toasted is optional)
- cheese ( I use sharp American cheese or extra sharp cheddar
- lettuce of choice( I use Romaine leaves or shredded iceberg)
- Tartar sauce my recipe or use store-bought
Homemade Tartar Sauce
This tartar sauce is super simple to make, the ingredients may already even be in your pantry since they are easy staples to keep on hand.
I believe I made the tartar sauce that makes this sandwich so delicious in less than 10 minutes!
It's super delicious with this sandwich and perfect for any fish fry meal.
Fish to Use
(for best results)
- Frozen brands with bread coatings or beer battered
- Haddock
- Pollock
- Flounder
- Grouper
- Cod
Fresh Fish or Frozen
We are lucky enough to have a fresh catch here very often living in Florida.
Pick your favorite and make it homemade or frozen store-bought for your Whaler sandwich.
I use a nice piece of North Atlantic haddock, or mild-tasting codfish, or even another style mild-tasting white fish for making this recipe.
You will find more than one coating and way to make the best-tasting fish fry.
Whether you love it battered, cornmeal coated, Italian style, breaded or lightly floured, our fish recipes are all wonderful
Recipes To Try
Best Fish Fry Recipes
Fish Taco with Chili Lime Sauce
Beer Battered Fish Fry
Copycat Recipe Roundup
Tips
- Use homemade tartar sauce for best results
- Using shredded lettuce usually iceberg is on the original ( I like romaine)
- The Whaler used a sesame seeded bun use whatever you like
- The recipe is a copycat of the 1980s style Whaler
- The cheese is an option because everything tastes better with cheese, it's your call!
- Even if you don't remember the Whaler this is an excellent fish sandwich to try making
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So Many Names For This Whaler
The sandwich would go through many other name changes, including the Big Fish, then came along The Longfish Sandwich, finally the generic “Premium Alaskan Fish Sandwich”.
I think it's a good time to go retro with their fish sandwich and bring back the Whaler.
Through the 80s the Whaler was my favorite sandwich and then 1990, another change arrived and they called it “Ocean Catch Fish fillet, not as good and certainly not a fun marketing name at that!
This was the time for me to do a copycat on what I remember, so I hope you enjoy the recipe.
Burger King Copycat Whaler with Homemade Tartar Sauce
Yield: 1
Prep time: 5 MCook time: 15 MTotal time: 20 M
This is a copycat Burger King Whaler fish sandwich. The secret to making this taste like a dead ringer is in the tartar sauce that's homemade. The sandwich can be made in less than 25 minutes!
Ingredients:
- Fresh Homemade Tartar Sauce
- 1 cup real Mayonnaise.
- 1 cup finely chopped dill pickles.
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill chopped or dried
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
- Breaded and Fried Fish (fresh or frozen)
- Soft Hamburger style potato buns seeded or unseeded, (grilled or toasted is optional)
- Optional (not on the original Burger King Whaler): 1 slice of cheese ( I use sharp American cheese or extra sharp cheddar
- Lettuce of choice( I use Romaine leaves or shredded iceberg)
- Tartar sauce my recipe or use store-bought
Instructions:
- Mix all the ingredients for the tartar sauce and place it in a mason jar store until ready to use.
- Fry the fish you're using to package instructions or use one of my fish fry coating recipes.
- Note: For the original taste deep fry the fish in oil, however, if you're counting calories bake it or air fry your fish.
- For Fish Sandwich Assembly:
- Optional: Grill the bun, first.
- First place lettuce on one side, hot fish on the other half with cheese on top, if using.
- Add a dollop of tartar sauce.
- Place the top and bottom together.
- Serve with fries.
Calories
410
410
Fat (grams)
21
21
Sat. Fat (grams)
11
11
Carbs (grams)
22
22
Net carbs
9
9
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More Fish Recipes We Love
Baked Fish
Fish Stew Cioppino
Seafood Scampi