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    Home » Recipes » Dips, Salsa, & Sauces

    Tzatziki Sauce

    Published: January 31, 2022 · Updated: January 31, 2022 · By: Krissy · 29 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Homemade Tzatziki sauce is flavorful and delicious. This recipe is so easy to make and tastes incredible!

    This is the best tzatziki recipe I've ever enjoyed. I've never found anything at the grocery store that even compares. This tasty dip can be used in so many ways. I love to serve it with falafel or on a gyro, but it is often our favorite dip to make for dipping veggies and crackers.

    bowl of homemade Tzatziki

    Why this recipe is so great:

    This is one of those super simple recipes that not only tastes great, but it's packed with protein and fresh ingredients.

    • Simple: Only five wholesome ingredients (well, six if you count salt) come together to create this creamy, satisfying, flavor packed sauce.
    • Versatile: Every time I make it, I find different recipes that are only complimented by the addition of tzatziki. Although this is an recipe which people typically think should only go with Greek food, it's a fantastic dip for vegetables or crackers, or spread on sandwiches.
    • Healthy: Fresh vegetables and herbs with protein packed Greek yogurt is not only delicious but it's quite satisfying.

    Ingredients needed:

    Exact quantities are listed in the recipe card below, but here is a summary.

    • Cucumber - I prefer to use a large English cucumber
    • Greek yogurt - I used to buy plain full fat yogurt but have switched to nonfat and it is unbelievably creamy and delicious
    • Lemon juice - one good sized lemon will due
    • Garlic - minced super fine
    • Fresh dill - there's simply nothing better
    • Salt - needed to balance out the tart from the lemon and yogurt
    ingredients to make homemade Tzatziki sauce

    How to make Tzatziki sauce:

    Full ingredient list and detailed step by step instructions are listed in the recipe card below, but here is a summary.

    1. Prepare the cucumber. Cut the ends off, slice it in half lengthwise, and scoop the seeds out. Grate the entire cucumber (I find the food processor is easy) and then toss it with the salt.
    2. Remove excess moisture. You'll set this mixture in a strainer for about 15 minutes to allow some of the moisture to escape. Before adding the cucumber to the remaining ingredients, you'll squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
    3. Mix! The final step is simply to mix all of the ingredients together and you're done! Of course, give it a taste and add more of anything that it needs.
    • removing seeds and pulp from cucumber
      remove seeds
    • grating cucumber for Tzatziki sauce recipe
      grate cucumber
    • adding salt to grated cucumber
      toss with salt
    • straining liquid out of cucumber
      allow to drain
    • combining ingredients to make Tzatziki
      combine ingredients
    • making homemade Greek yogurt Tzatziki sauce
      mix well

    What to serve it with:

    The recipe people generally think of when they see tzatziki is falafel or a gyro. I mean, when you dine at a Greek or Mediterranean restaurant, you're pretty much guaranteed to enjoy this sauce.

    But Tzatziki sauce is incredibly versatile. The consistency is more similar to a dip, in my opinion. I've used tzatziki sauce with:

    • All kinds of meat including beef, lamb, pork, chicken and seafood. It is seriously fantastic when served with any of these.
    • Chips, vegetable sticks, and warm pita bread. It makes a great dip that is much healthier than so many other options out there.
    • Baked potato topping. Skip the sour cream and replace it with tzatiki for extra protein.
    • On top of burgers and sandwiches. This is where that garlic punch really stands out.
    dipping falafel in Tzatziki sauce

    Storage recommendations:

    Because there is so much cucumber in this recipe, it shortens the shelf life when compared to plain Greek yogurt. Any kind of vegetable will naturally release moisture over time, so I think this dip is best when consumed immediately or within the first few days.

    Tzatziki will last longer than that, but you'll have to give it a good stir before enjoying and the consistency will likely change.

    Tzatziki sauce with lemon and dill

    If you’ve made this or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out. I love hearing from my readers!

    You can also follow along on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes to satisfy any foodie craving!

    Tzatziki sauce

    Tzatziki

    Tzatziki sauce can either be boring and bland or it can be flavorful and delicious. This recipe is so easy to make and tastes incredible! Just a few simple ingredients as well as tips and tricks to get the best consistency. You will love this delicious dip recipe.
    4.98 from 35 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Time to drain cucumber: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Scale: 6 servings
    Recipe Created By: Krissy Allori

    Ingredients

    • 1 large cucumber
    • 1 to 2 teaspoons kosher salt (start with one and add more to taste)
    • 2 cups Plain Greek yogurt
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
    • 1 tablespoon fresh dill (minced)

    Instructions

    • Prepare cucumber: Cut the ends off the cucumber. Slice the cucumber in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Grate remaining cucumber and toss with salt in bowl. Set salted grated cucumber in strainer over bowl or in sink and let stand for at least 15 minutes. Squeeze to remove as much liquid as possible and discard liquid. Ideally you want about 1 cup of grated cucumber for the Tzatziki.
      straining liquid out of cucumber
    • Mix sauce: Combine drained grated cucumber with remaining ingredients in large bowl. Mix to combine, taste, and add additional salt, lemon juice, or dill, if desired.
      combining ingredients to make Tzatziki

    Notes

    Too sour? Add more salt.
    Too salty? Add more lemon juice.
    Too bland? Add more garlic and/or dill.

    NUTRITION INFORMATION

    Calories: 47kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 7g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 800mg | Potassium: 157mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 3.7mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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    This recipe was originally published in September 2019 and has been updated with helpful information, ingredient and process photos, as well as recipe tips. Don't worry - the recipe hasn't changed!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. JE

      July 22, 2022 at 1:12 pm

      5 stars
      I nearly ate this straight out of the bowl, it is that delicious. I begrudgingly shared it with my family, a little, before I consumed the rest.

      Reply
    2. Mike

      July 16, 2022 at 12:59 pm

      Farrrr too much salt.

      Start with 1/2 tsp and work up from there if you prefer more.

      I may need to toss mine and start over unfortunately.

      The rest of the recipe is great.

      Reply
    3. Rachel Hubach

      May 27, 2022 at 5:13 am

      I have made this twice now and both times it has turned out amazing! It is definitely better if you have fresh dill, but still good even with dried.

      Thanks for the recipe! 🙂

      Reply
    4. Lily

      May 11, 2022 at 1:03 pm

      Hi! Just wondering how many cup this recipe makes? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        May 15, 2022 at 5:41 am

        2 1/2 - 3 cups depending on the size of your cucumber

        Reply
    5. Barb

      March 25, 2022 at 3:28 pm

      Help!!! I live in a cold climate state and I do not think I have ever but once saw fresh dill in any market. Does the dried change the taste?
      TIA

      Reply
      • Krissy

        April 03, 2022 at 6:43 am

        Dried does change the taste, but it still works. Just reduce the amount. For every 1 T fresh, use 1 tsp dried.

        Reply
    6. Bonnie

      July 19, 2021 at 5:42 pm

      5 stars
      OMG I don't have to buy this at the store anymore! I followed the recipe exactly and it came out perfectly. So easy!

      Reply
    7. Amy

      May 25, 2021 at 11:03 am

      4 stars
      Pretty good receipe but HIGHLY recommend only 1 tablespoon of lemon juice( & I love lemons) plus, double the amount of cucumber. Also, wringing shredded cucumbers out in cheese cloth after sprinking with salt will give the sauce a beautiful consistency. These small changes make it taste better than any restaurant can offer.

      Reply
      • Terri

        September 06, 2022 at 5:36 pm

        5 stars
        This recipe is simple and good. I’m not like the others, I like the amount of Kosher salt and the lemon. I had my own home grown cucumber and fresh dill and I added a little extra fresh minced garlic.
        We make a lot of fish here in Alaska and it will go well with that.
        I will make Gyros too!

        Reply
    8. Lynn Phares Smith

      March 24, 2021 at 2:36 pm

      5 stars
      Totally have become addicted to Tzatziki sauce and Hummus. Love this version. I added lime juice because my lime was needing to be used. Delicious.

      Reply
    9. Kelley

      January 05, 2021 at 9:41 am

      5 stars
      I did use kosher salt and found it still too salty for my taste but, delicious anyway and would make it again and just use less salt.

      Reply
    10. Cass Geiger

      September 27, 2020 at 11:01 am

      5 stars
      Those who complained about the amount of salt may be using table salt instead of Kosher Salt. Table salt is twice as salty as kosher salt because it is ground finer, so that more of it fits into a measuring unit. If using table salt, cut the amount in half.

      Reply
    11. Michelle

      August 07, 2020 at 3:44 pm

      5 stars
      I have made this every week since March, I love it! I make exactly as recipe states and it's beyond perfection!

      Reply
    12. Ei

      July 26, 2020 at 2:50 pm

      I saw the recipe included 2 tsp of salt but thought it was too much so only added about 1tsp. Even at half the recipe amount, it's way too salty. I then doubled the other ingredients after tasting it, but it's still salty.

      Reply
    13. Mike

      July 06, 2020 at 10:53 am

      Is the cucumber peeled?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        July 07, 2020 at 2:00 pm

        Totally a matter of preference. A lot of times I'll remove half the peel just to keep some on but not have it be overpowering.

        Reply
    14. Heidi

      June 25, 2020 at 8:07 am

      5 stars
      Amazing!!! And so easy, I whip it up at least once a week!!

      Reply
      • ASL

        September 27, 2020 at 9:16 am

        5 stars
        Delicious. And so easy. Thank you!,

        Reply
    15. Laila

      May 18, 2020 at 3:10 pm

      Way too much salt. Adding lemon did not help with the too saltiness of this sauce. I added twice the amount of greek yogurt and a tablespoon of sugar and it was still far too salty. I would recommend adding 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

      Reply
      • Krissy

        May 20, 2020 at 7:47 am

        Salt is definitely a matter of preference, for sure. This is definitely the kind of recipe where you can start by adding less salt than the recipe calls for if your taste buds are sensitive to salt and then gradually add more until it tastes perfect. Sorry you thought it was too salty!

        Reply
      • Ann

        September 19, 2021 at 5:21 am

        5 stars
        Easy and the best! Delicious! My dinner guests loved it!

        Reply
    16. Eden

      August 25, 2019 at 10:05 pm

      5 stars
      I always order this when we eat Greek food and decided to try and make it myself. It turned out SO good and taste fresh. Love how easy it was to make too.

      Reply
    17. Trang

      August 25, 2019 at 7:58 pm

      5 stars
      Love! Tzatziki sauce is seriously great with everything.

      Reply
      • Jean

        June 11, 2020 at 12:08 pm

        5 stars
        Simple, easy and delishous!

        Reply
    18. Jessica

      August 25, 2019 at 1:24 pm

      5 stars
      I could drink this stuff I love it so much!

      Reply
      • Kata

        March 19, 2020 at 9:36 am

        I loved the recipe however I would suggest putting less salt.

        Reply
    19. Ashley F

      August 25, 2019 at 10:16 am

      5 stars
      This is a staple in our house! So easy to make and so delicious!

      Reply
    20. Aimee Shugarman

      August 25, 2019 at 8:34 am

      5 stars
      I could eat this with a spoon. So good!

      Reply

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