Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (2024)

There’s a reason why Greek Tzatziki is so popular. This creamy Tzatziki Sauce is great with chicken, grilled vegetables, in gyros with Pita Bread, or as a fresh veggie dip. It’s also great as a salad dressing.

In the summer months when our garden cucumbers are booming, we are all about our favorite cucumber recipes. Fresh dishes like Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad and Creamy Cucumber Salad are on our regular rotation. Tzatziki is definitely on our ‘favorites’ list.

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (1)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Years ago we took a trip to Seattle Washington where my cousin Alla served us a Mediterranean menu that rocked my Ukrainian taste buds and we felled in love with this tzatziki sauce.

This sauce tied everything together. I pretty much drowned my chicken and smothered everything on my plate with it. I then proceeded to down everything way too fast because it all tasted so good! Did I also acquire the Moroccan Chicken and Grilled Veggie Skewers recipes? Do you even have to ask?

Tzatziki Sauce Video Tutorial

I hope this Tzatziki Sauce recipe becomes a new favorite sauce for you. If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe to our Youtube Channel, and don’t forget to click the bell icon so you get a notification when we post a new video.

What is Tzatziki Sauce?

Tzaziki is a Greek cucumber yogurt dip. It’s a healthy sauce you can serve with chicken, grilled veggies, pita chips, gyros, and as a raw veggie dip. My cousin Alla is a fabulous cook and I’m blessed to be able to glean from her kitchen wisdom.

Homemade Tzatziki is also a healthy sauce with just 57 calories in a generous 1/4 cup serving. Try this once and you will love the fresh flavors.

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (2)

Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients

  • Cucumber – we used half of an English cucumber, but 3-4 small Persian cucumbers will also work.
  • Greek Yogurt – should be cold right out of the refrigerator and you can use full fat or fat-free.
  • Garlic – add this to taste as it can get stronger as the flavors meld in the refrigerator. We love garlic so we use 4 cloves and you can either grate garlic or use a garlic press.
  • Dill – we have used fresh chopped dill or frozen dill for making tzatziki.
  • Lemon juice – fresh squeezed is best. Do not use lemon juice from concentrate. 1 1/2 Tbsp is the juice of 1/2 lemon.
  • Salt and Pepper – add this to taste as a little goes a long way.
Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (3)

How to Make Tzatziki Sauce

  1. Cucumber Prep – peel and finely dice the cucumbers. You can also grate on the large holes of a box grater but we prefer the texture of diced cucumber. Set cucumber over a bowl lined with a cheesecloth, or over a fine-mesh sieve. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp salt, stir and set aside to soften and release juice.
  2. Make the Sauce – in a large mixing bowl combine the remaining ingredients: yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, dill, olive oil, salt and pepper.
  3. Strain Cucumbers – Use the cheesecloth to squeeze out as much juice as you can from your chopped cucumber. Discard the liquid and add cucumber to the bowl mixing bowl.
  4. Stir and Refrigerate – stir all of the ingredients together then cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. It stores well for 3-5 days in the fridge.
Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (4)

Pro Tip: Getting rid of excess cucumber juice is important so that your tzatziki sauce isn’t watery the next day. You’ll be amazed how much liquid you can strain off. Cheesecloth is the most effective way, but you can also squeeze by the fistful over a strainer.

Serve With

Tzatziki is one of the most versatile sauces. It’s great with:

  • Roast Chicken
  • Moroccan Chicken
  • Grilled Vegetables
  • Pita Chips
  • Gyros wrapped in Pita Bread
  • Fresh Vegetables (as a dip)
Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (5)

Common Questions

How is Tzatziki Pronounced?

Tzatziki is pronounced “tuh·zee·kee”

Can I substitute the lemon juice?

Use either fresh lemon juice or substitute with white vinegar, adding it to taste (start with 1 tsp and go up from there). Do not use lemon juice from concentrate.

Can I add mint?

Mint is a traditional flavoring sometimes added to tzatziki. Add fresh or dried mint to taste.

Can I add less garlic?

Add the garlic to taste, keeping in mind that fresh homegrown garlic can taste much stronger and spicier than store-bought garlic. I love adding the full 4 cloves of garlic to give the sauce extra flavor.

Can I skip the dill?

Traditional tzatziki does not include dill so you can omit it, but it does add more flavor to use dill.

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (6)

This is one of those recipes you’ll want to print and keep to make over and over. We’ve perfected this Tzatziki Sauce over the years and I hope it becomes a new favorite for you.

More Greek Recipes

  • Greek Salad
  • Cucumber Feta Salad
  • Baked Feta Pasta
  • Traditional Baklava
  • Whipped Feta Dip
  • Hummus

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

4.82 from 109 votes

Author: Natasha Kravchuk

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (8)

Tzatziki is a healthy sauce you can serve with chicken, grilled veggies, pita chips, gyros and as a raw veggie dip.

SavePinReviewPrint

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 12 people (makes 3 cups)

  • 1/2 English cucumber
  • 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
  • 16 oz Cold plain Greek yogurt , (2 cups, either full fat or fat-free will work)
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, Juice of 1/2 lemon; please squeeze a real lemon
  • 3 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled and grated
  • 1/3 cup chopped dill
  • 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste

Instructions

Prep the Cucumber:

  • Peel and finely dice the cucumber, or you can grate on the large holes of a box grater if preferred. Transfer to a bowl lined with a cheesecloth* and sprinkle cucumbers with 1/2 tsp salt and give them a light stir. Set aside for the cucumbers to release their juice while you prep the remaining ingredients.

How to Make Tzatziki Sauce:

Notes

*If you don’t have a cheesecloth, you can also set cucumbers over a fine mesh strainer then squeeze out as much liquid as you can with your hands.

**Nutrition label is based on using fat-free Greek yogurt.

Nutrition Per Serving

57kcal Calories2g Carbs4g Protein4g Fat1g Saturated Fat1g Polyunsaturated Fat3g Monounsaturated Fat1g Trans Fat2mg Cholesterol160mg Sodium85mg Potassium1g Fiber1g Sugar116IU Vitamin A2mg Vitamin C47mg Calcium1mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

57

% Daily Value*

Fat

4

g

6

%

Saturated Fat

1

g

6

%

Trans Fat

1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

3

g

Cholesterol

1

%

Sodium

160

mg

7

%

Potassium

85

mg

2

%

Carbohydrates

2

g

1

%

Fiber

1

g

4

%

Sugar

1

g

1

%

Protein

4

g

8

%

Vitamin A

116

IU

2

%

Vitamin C

2

mg

2

%

Calcium

47

mg

5

%

Iron

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Condiments

Cuisine: Greek

Keyword: Tzatziki recipe, Tzatziki Sauce

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Calories: 57

The original Tzatziki recipe was first posted in 2013. We updated the photos, added a video, and found a better way to strain the cucumbers to get as much juice out as possible. Also adding the extra virgin olive oil made this such a luxurious sauce. It’s our best version yet!

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (9)

Natasha Kravchuk

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (10)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in tzatziki sauce? ›

Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Traditionally, it is made from strained sheep or goat's milk yogurt, but a full-fat Greek yogurt works just fine in this dip.

How to make tzatziki sauce thicker? ›

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 is a good substitute for tzatziki sauce? ›

A great alternative would be this Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing. You can also try to up the flavor profile by making a Yogurt Tahini Sauce or Yogurt Dill Sauce to enhance those Mediterranean flavors.

Why does my tzatziki taste bitter? ›

How do you get the bitter taste out of tzatziki sauce? Your main ingredient – the cucumber – is often the culprit. To avoid this, make sure that you choose the right variety: English and Persian cucumbers have very little, or no, bitterness.

What is real tzatziki made of? ›

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.

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

How long does homemade tzatziki keep? ›

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. This will depend on how fresh the yogurt was when you made the sauce.

Why is my tzatziki sauce watery? ›

The watery sauce is due to the cucumbers, which hold lots of water. 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.

How do you shred cucumbers for tzatziki? ›

Grate the cucumbers coarsely using a box grater. Set the cucumbers in a sieve to drain. Meanwhile, chop up some herbs and a clove of garlic. Combine Greek yogurt with the drained cucumbers, herbs, garlic, fresh lemon and salt.

What do Greeks eat with tzatziki? ›

A platter of salted raw tomatoes and cucumbers becomes an instant salad when topped with tzatziki as a dressing. Bread is smeared with tzatziki and topped with grilled meats or vegetables for a crostini or bruschetta style snack that pairs well with Greek wines, like these Artichoke and Eggplant skewers.

What do Americans call tzatziki? ›

Tsaht-ZEE-kee! Otherwise known as that yogurt and cucumber sauce you love at Greek restaurants but worry about mispronouncing (hear the correct pronunciation here). Tzatziki is made simply with yogurt, drained cucumber, olive oil, fresh herbs (usually mint or dill), garlic, lemon juice and salt.

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.

Is tzatziki made from yogurt or sour cream? ›

Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients
  1. Cucumber – about 1 is needed.
  2. Plain Greek yogurt – full-fat Greek yogurt works best, but I've used sour cream as a substitute as well and it works amazing.
  3. Lemon juice.
  4. Olive oil — extra virgin olive oil works great too.

How to offset tartness of Greek yogurt? ›

Add Cereal. Take a break from your usual bowl of cereal and milk and combine your cereal with plain Greek yogurt instead. Your cereal likely has some sweet or nutty flavor to offset the tanginess in Greek yogurt.

What spice takes away bitterness? ›

Spices mask bitter flavors, so don't be shy. Add some spicy peppers or powders to your cooking, or sprinkle some onto your dishes for a little bit of extra heat. Black pepper in particular has compounds that counteract bitterness. Some other great spices include cayenne, red pepper, paprika, and chili powder.

Is Tzatziki Sauce healthy? ›

It is typically served as a condiment or dip with grilled meats, vegetables, or bread. Its refreshing and tangy flavor comes from the combination of yogurt and lemon juice. It is also a healthy, high protein and low-fat alternative to many other dips and sauces.

Does tzatziki contain mayonnaise? ›

Mix together cucumber, yogurt, sour cream, mayonnaise, and garlic in a serving bowl; season with salt and pepper.

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!

What is the primary flavoring agent of a Greek Tzatziki Sauce? ›

Garlic is the primary flavoring agent of a Greek Tzatziki sauce.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Stevie Stamm

Last Updated:

Views: 6476

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Stevie Stamm

Birthday: 1996-06-22

Address: Apt. 419 4200 Sipes Estate, East Delmerview, WY 05617

Phone: +342332224300

Job: Future Advertising Analyst

Hobby: Leather crafting, Puzzles, Leather crafting, scrapbook, Urban exploration, Cabaret, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.