Fresh and flavorful Homemade Tzatziki Sauce is a creamy yogurt-based sauce perfect for the summer served with kabobs, grilled veggies, pita bread and more! This recipe is easily made in just 5 minutes with a few simple ingredients!
Creamy, cool, fresh, and packed with bright Mediterranean flavor, this Homemade Tzatziki Sauce is one of those recipes you’ll find yourself making on repeat! Made with thick Greek yogurt, crisp cucumber, fresh dill, garlic, lemon, and olive oil, this authentic-inspired tzatziki comes together in just minutes using simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. Serve as a dip with warm pita, spoon it over grilled chicken, or add to wraps, bowls, burgers, or roasted vegetables. The best tzatziki recipe for meal prep, cookouts, and easy weeknight dinners!
Why You’ll Love This
- Quick and easy – this tzatziki sauce recipe easily comes together in about 10 minutes with simple pantry ingredients and zero cooking required.
- Healthy and protein-packed – Greek yogurt gives this sauce its rich, creamy texture while adding protein and probiotics.
- Fresh flavors – crisp cucumber, bright lemon, fragrant dill, and garlic create the perfect balance of fresh Mediterranean flavors.
- Versatile – you can use this tzatziki sauce as a dip, sauce for grilled meats, spread for sandwiches or wraps, or a dressing for countless meals.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Greek yogurt – the base of the sauce! Plain Greek yogurt is thick, creamy, tangy, and packed with protein. I recommend using whole milk or 2% Greek yogurt for the creamiest texture, but nonfat works well too if you’re looking to lighten it up.
- cucumbers – I like to use an English cucumber as they are crisp and seedless, but you could also use mini cucumbers or Persian cucumbers. I also like to leave the skin on the cucumbers when grating them to get those extra nutrients and fiber. If you are using regular cucumbers, just make sure to scoop the seeds out before grating them.
- olive oil – adds richness while helping bring the flavors together. I like to use a good extra virgin olive oil that doesn’t have to be expensive, just make sure it’s cold-pressed and organic for the most flavor.
- lemons + zest – fresh lemon juice brightens the entire sauce and balances the richness of the yogurt while the lemon zest adds citrus flavor without extra acidity.
- garlic – adds that classic bold flavor to the sauce. You can use fresh chopped garlic or minced garlic cloves from the jar.
- fresh herbs – I used a combination of fresh dill and fresh parsley for added freshness. You could also add some fresh mint for even more flavor.
- salt + pepper – a little salt enhances every ingredient while freshly cracked black pepper adds just enough subtle warmth.
How to Make Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
- Grate the cucumber. No need to peel your cucumber, just start grating it on a large box grater. If using a regular cucumber, make sure to scoop the seeds out before grating.
- Squeeze out the water. Using a kitchen towel, paper towels or a fine-mesh sieve, squeeze out as much excess liquid from the grated cucumber as you can to get all that excess moisture out and prevent the tzatziki sauce from becoming too watery.
- Mix everything together. In a medium bowl, stir together the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, fresh herbs and season with salt and pepper. Chill the Greek tzatziki sauce in the fridge for at least 30 minutes until ready to serve!
Tips for the Best Tzatziki Sauce
- Always squeeze out the cucumber – this is the most important step for thick, creamy tzatziki.
- Use full-fat Greek yogurt – this gives the tzatziki sauce the richest flavor and texture.
- Fresh herbs make all the difference – while dried herbs can work in a pinch, fresh dill and parsley give this sauce its signature taste.
- Let it chill before serving – letting the creamy Greek yogurt sauce chill for at least 30 minutes before serving really helps the flavors to develop, but a few hours is even better!
- Taste before serving – depending on your yogurt and lemon, you may want an extra pinch of salt or another squeeze of lemon juice.
- Finely mince the garlic – this ensures that the garlic is distributed evenly throughout the sauce.
Ways to Serve Tzatziki Sauce
- Use as a dipping sauce for fresh veggies, pita bread, pita chips, crackers and more!
- Drizzle over grilled vegetables, Mediterranean bowls or these Greek chicken kabobs.
- Spread on sandwiches, gyros, falafel and wraps.
- Spoon on top of salads like this Mediterranean chopped salad or this healthy Greek salad.
- Serve with protein such as chicken, fish, shrimp or steak.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. English cucumbers have thin, tender skin that works perfectly without peeling. If using a regular cucumber with thicker skin, peeling is recommended.
The cucumber likely wasn’t squeezed dry enough. Removing as much moisture as possible is essential for a thick, creamy sauce.
Absolutely! In fact, it’s even better after several hours in the refrigerator because the flavors have time to develop.
Plain Greek yogurt is the best choice because it’s naturally thick and creamy. Regular yogurt contains too much liquid and won’t give you the same consistency.
Fresh dill is highly recommended, but if needed, substitute about 2 teaspoons dried dill for the 2 tablespoons fresh dill.
Yes! Greek yogurt is rich in protein and probiotics, while cucumber, garlic, herbs, and lemon add fresh flavor with very few calories. It’s a nutritious alternative to heavier creamy dips and spreads.
I don’t recommend freezing tzatziki. Greek yogurt tends to separate after thawing, resulting in a grainy texture and watery consistency.
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Prepping and Storage Tips
- To Prep Ahead – you can grate and squeeze the cucumber a day in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also prepare the entire sauce up to 2 days ahead, allowing the flavors to develop even more before serving.
- To Store – you can store leftover tzatziki in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, but I definitely suggest using it within the first day or two for the freshest taste. Give it a good stir before serving, as a little liquid may naturally separate during storage.
More Mediterranean Recipes
- Greek Chicken Kabobs
- Mediterranean Chopped Salad
- Mediterranean Mason Jar Salads
- Healthy Greek Salad
- Greek Salad Dressing
More Dips and Sauces
- Creamy Avocado Ranch
- Lemon Dijon Herb Dressing
- Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
- Easy Healthy Teriyaki Sauce
- Chimichurri Sauce
Hope you all enjoy this Homemade Tzatziki Recipe! If you love this as much as we do, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny!
Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup grated cucumber, water squeezed out
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt + pinch of pepper
Instructions
- Using a large cheese grater, shred the cucumber (no need to peel it). If using a regular cucumber, make sure to scoop the seeds out before grating.
- Using a kitchen towel, paper towels or a fine mesh sieve, squeeze out as much water from the grated cucumber as you can to prevent the tzatziki sauce from becoming too watery.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, fresh herbs and season with salt and pepper. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Looks delicious and easy to make! I can’t wait to try it!