Easy Tzatziki Recipe (2024)

This tzatziki sauce recipe is a delicious addition to every meal!

It’s bright, creamy, and filled with the tangy flavors of yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, and dill!

Is tzatziki a sauce, a dip, or a condiment? The answer is yes, to all of it!

Easy Tzatziki Recipe (1)

What is Tzatziki Sauce?

Popular in Mediterranean cuisine, tzatziki sauce is multi-purpose and can be enjoyed as a sauce or dip. It’s fresh and healthy made with yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, and fresh dill or mint.

  • It’s refreshing, and cool with a creamy texture. This tzatziki sauce balances out spicy or savory foods.
  • Two-step tzatziki is so quick & easy to make!
  • It’s a low-carb lover’s go-to, protein-packed, dip and dressing, with a million applications!
  • Beyond just salads: try it on pizzas, burgers, and even grilled meats.ut it.

Ingredients for Tzatziki Sauce

Yogurt – Plain Greek yogurt is thicker and creamier than regular yogurt, but plain can be used in a pinch. I prefer full-fat Greek yogurt in this sauce, and while some drain the yogurt in a cheesecloth-lined strainer, I usually make this recipe without draining.

Cucumber – I prefer English cucumber in this recipe, but any will work. If using English cucumber, there is no need to peel. Draining the liquid from the cucumber ensure that the dip stays nice and thick.

Dill – Dill has a fresh bright flavor that complements the other ingredients in tzatziki, but finely chopped fresh mint can be used as well.

Lemon Juice – Fresh is best, and a little bit of lemon zest makes for a colorful garnish!

Easy Tzatziki Recipe (2)

How to Make Homemade Tzatziki Sauce

  1. Shred cucumber using a box grater, toss with a pinch of salt and drain in a fine-mesh sieve. Squeeze out as much liquid as you can.
  2. Stir the remaining ingredients together and fold in the grated cucumber.
  3. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  4. Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprig of dill, if desired.

PRO TIP: Store in a squirt bottle and use as a condiment for burgers or as a sauce for fish and chips.

Easy Tzatziki Recipe (3)

Serving & Storing Tzatziki Sauce

  • Serve tzatziki as a condiment to drizzle over chicken souvlaki, falafel, grilled veggies, in homemade gyros or lamb kabobs.
  • Serve it with Greek meatballs as a dip, and even as a dressing in cucumber salad.
  • Add it to a platter with warmed pita bread, pita chips, olivea, hummus, tapenade, and fresh veggies like cucumbers and tomatoes.

Store leftover homemade tzatziki in a tightly covered container, bottle, or jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Yogurt doesn’t freeze or thaw well, but this recipe is so easy to make, simply start from fresh!

Easy Tzatziki Recipe (4)

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How did you enjoy this Tzatziki Sauce? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!

Easy Tzatziki Recipe (9)

4.94 from 46 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Easy Tzatziki Sauce

Greek Tzatziki is a bright & tangy cucumber yogurt sauce. It’s deliciously fresh and easy to make!

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Easy Tzatziki Recipe (11)

Servings 8

Easy Tzatziki Recipe (12)

Author Holly Nilsson

Ingredients

  • 1 English cucumber
  • 1 ½ cups Greek yogurt or plain yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice more to taste
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon dill fresh, finely chopped
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Grate the cucumber with the large holes on a box grater. Place in a fine mesh strainer and toss with ¼ teaspoon of salt. Let rest 5 minutes while preparing the other ingredients.

  • In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and dill.

  • Gently squeeze out the liquid from the cucumber and fold it into the yogurt mixture. Season with additional salt & black pepper to taste.

  • Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Drizzle with additoinal additional olive oil to serve.

Notes

  • If using an English cucumber, peeling (and seeding) the cucumber is optional.
  • Fresh is best but you can use 1 teaspoon dried dill in place of fresh or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder in place of a fresh garlic clove if it’s what you have on hand.
  • Fresh lemon juice is best as store-bought can have a bit of a bitter flavor. To quickly juice a lemon, cut it in half and place a fork in the center. Squeeze the lemon around the fork while moving the fork to extract the juice.
  • Tzatziki will last 2 days in the refrigerator. To avoid the risk of botulism, do not consume past 2 days.

4.94 from 46 votes

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 65 | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 22mg | Potassium: 126mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Vitamin C: 2.1mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Easy Tzatziki Recipe (16) Course Appetizer, Dip, Sauce

Easy Tzatziki Recipe (17) Cuisine American, Greek

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

Easy Tzatziki Recipe (18)
Easy Tzatziki Recipe (19)
Easy Tzatziki Recipe (20)
Easy Tzatziki Recipe (21)

More Dips We Love

  • Spicy Dill Dip – Great for veggies and crackers.
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  • Avocado Dip – Creamy and healthy.
  • 7 Layer Dip – Party favorite!
  • Buttermilk Ranch Dip – Great to dip appetizers.
  • Easy Spinach Dip – Reader favorite dip recipe!
  • Whipped Feta with Roasted Tomatoes – Rich & Creamy!

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About the author

Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Easy Tzatziki Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a good substitute for tzatziki sauce? ›

I replace thick sauces like my tzatziki sauce with homemade mayonnaise and coconut milk. Substituting ingredients will take some getting used to, but eventually, it will become second nature.

What are 5 dishes that you could put tzatziki on? ›

Ways to use tzatziki from Jamie's 5 Ingredients Mediterranean
  • Lemon-tzatziki chicken.
  • Gorgeous greek chicken with herby vegetable couscous & tzatziki.
  • Grilled lamb chops with fattoush.
  • Crispy barbecued side of salmon with cucumber yoghurt.
  • Souvlaki (Wicked kebabs)
  • My special vegan kofte.
  • Sizzling lamb lollipops.
Sep 8, 2023

What are the main ingredients in tzatziki? ›

What is tzatziki? Tzatziki is a salted yogurt and cucumber dip that's made of strained yogurt, shredded cucumber, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and herbs. Authentic Greek tzatziki is most often made with sheep or goat yogurt, but my tzatziki recipe calls for regular full-fat Greek yogurt.

How to make tzatziki more thick? ›

You can thicken it by placing a piece of cheesecloth over the top of a wide mouthed jar and holding it in place with some rubber bands. Fill the cheesecloth with your sauce, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The excess water will drain out and the sauce will be thicker.

What do Greeks eat with tzatziki? ›

At the very least, serve it with some carrots, bell peppers, and other fresh veggies of your choice, but you can use it in many more ways with everything from the obvious gyros to pan-seared salmon, lamb rack, all sorts of kebabs including vegetable skewers, or even to top your baked potato!

Is tzatziki healthier than sour cream? ›

Yes, tzatziki is healthier than sour cream because it is made with Greek yogurt, which is higher in protein and lower in fat compared to sour cream. Greek yogurt contains beneficial nutrients like calcium and probiotics. Additionally, cucumbers and herbs add additional nutritional value.

Is tzatziki healthier than hummus? ›

Yes, tzatziki is considered a healthier dip than hummus and sour cream. It contains several vitamins, a good amount of protein, and fewer carbohydrates and calories. The fat content of tzatziki is low too, which is not the case with other dips.

What meat goes well with tzatziki? ›

Tzatziki together with any kind of simple grilled, marinated, roasted or air fried meat or fish are a match made in heaven. Lamb chops or simply cooked salmon would be my top picks! Either spoon the sauce over the meat or fish or serve it on the side.

Is tzatziki anti inflammatory? ›

Tzatziki sauce is perfect healthy snack, especially thanks to protein-packed greek yogurt, shredded cucumber and anti-inflammatory garlic. It's as simple as it sounds: yogurt cucumber sauce!

Why is my tzatziki so sour? ›

Some Greek yogurt brands are very tangy so you may wish to use less lemon juice. Also, some lemons can be very tart. Start with 1/2 a lemon and add more if needed. If your sauce is too tart, you can fix this by adding a little sweetener.

How long does tzatziki last in the fridge? ›

Tzatziki sauce should be kept in a sealed container and stored in the refrigerator when you're not using it. As long as it's stored properly, you can expect homemade tzatziki to last about three to four days.

Why is my tzatziki sauce watery? ›

The best way to avoid a watery tzatziki sauce is to get the excess moisture out of the grated cucumber before it's added to the sauce mixture. To remove excess water from the cucumber, squeeze it over the sink once it's been grated.

How do you cut cucumbers for tzatziki? ›

How To Make Tzatziki. Begin by seeding the cucumber. Simply cut the cucumber in half lengthwise, and then use a small spoon to scrape the seeds out. Next, shred the cucumber on a box grater or in a food processor.

How do you get the water out of cucumbers for tzatziki? ›

Shred unpeeled cucumber with large holes of grater (I use this Microplane box grater) or food processor. Using a clean towel or paper towels, scoop a handful of shredded cucumber into towel and squeeze over sink. Allow the cucumber juice to drain out.

What makes tzatziki bitter? ›

This is because tzatziki sauce is not meant to be bitter. However, if your tastes bitter, there are chances that you used too much lemon juice, or the quality of other ingredients wasn't good enough. For this reason, it is suggested that you always use high-quality and fresh ingredients to enjoy the right flavor.

What can I use instead of Greek yogurt sauce? ›

5 Amazing Greek Yogurt Substitutes
  • Plain Yogurt. It depends on the recipe, but plain, unsweetened yogurt will work as a substitute for Greek yogurt. ...
  • Sour Cream. Sour cream has the consistency of Greek Yogurt, and it maintains the same sharp tang in recipes. ...
  • Buttermilk. ...
  • Cottage Cheese. ...
  • Silken Tofu.

Is applesauce a substitute for Greek yogurt? ›

Applesauce is a great substitute for yogurt. Although it may slightly alter the taste and texture of the final product, applesauce adds moisture and helps bind the ingredients together. For substitution, use an equal amount of applesauce for yogurt.

What's the difference between tzatziki and dill dip? ›

The only difference is that a Tzatziki Sauce has a tablespoon of lemon juice and a couple of cloves of minced garlic added to these same ingredients I used below. The ingredients need for this Cucumber Dill Sauce for so simple. It's just cucumber, Greek yogurt, milk and chopped fresh dill.

What is another name for tzatziki sauce? ›

Tzatziki
Alternative namesCacık, tarator
CourseAppetiser, side dish, meze
Serving temperatureCold
Main ingredientsStrained yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, sometimes lemon juice, dill, mint, parsley, thyme
VariationsWith strained or diluted yogurt and other herbs and vegetables
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