Delicious, flavorful and simple Tzatziki sauce that takes minutes to make and is great served as a dip, dressing or sauce for veggies, pita bread, meat or salads.
We love a good homemade sauce, and this Greek favorite is a perfect match with our chicken gyro salad, grilled chicken pita, and pork gyros. It’s also great served at any party or get together as a dip for veggies and bread!
What is Tzatziki?
Have you tried Tzatziki sauce before? It’s a staple for us when we are enjoying Greek food!
Tzatziki (tuh·zee·kee) sauce is typically found in Southeast Europe and Middle East cuisines. It’s made of strained yogurt mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, sometimes with vinegar or lemon juice, and herbs (like dill, mint or parsley).
Typically, this is served as a sauce ON foods, but is also great to use as a dressing or even as a dip for veggies or pita bread. We use it for everything, and although you can find store bought versions of this sauce, we always think homemade is better. 😉
How to make Tzatziki Sauce?
This sauce is so easy to make!!
There are a few notes to mention about the ingredients – especially the yogurt and cucumber. For this recipe, we used full-fat Greek yogurt. There usually isn’t a ton of liquid with this kind of yogurt but if you have excess, we recommend draining/straining the liquid first. And for the cucumber, we peel and finely dice it and squeeze out any juice by wrapping and squeezing it in a paper towel.
From there you will whisk together the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, dill, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours prior to using. So simple!
SUBSTITIONS + VARIATIONS:
- Some recipes do call for MINT, but we like it better without it. Having said that, if you want to add it (1 – 2 teaspoons.)
- YOGURT + SOUR CREAM – Other greek yogurts (no fat and light still work too). You can also use sour cream if that’s what you prefer. Higher content of fat just means more creamy and flavorful.
- GARLIC – If you don’t have minced garlic on hand, garlic powder works well.
- DILL – If you don’t have fresh dill, dried dill works for this recipe too. 😉
FAQ + Tips
How long does it last? If stored in an air-tight container, this sauce can last up to 3 days in the fridge. If you don’t think you can use it all within the 3 days, just halve the recipe. 😉
What to serve Tzatziki sauce with? There are so many things this sauce works well with. Here are some of our favorites:
- Vegetables – Grilled or non-grilled – we love it with peppers, asparagus, carrots and cucumber.
- Meats – lamb, salmon, chicken, and kebabs (we love it on our greek meatballs, grilled chicken pita, and pork gyros).
- Appetizers – Pita bread, cheese and crackers, raw veggies
- Salads – Great as a dressing for any salad but especially (try it on our chicken gyro salad).
Once you try this, you may realize you like it on everything. It’s just that good!
For more Greek recipes, check out:
Homemade Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup English cucumber - finely diced, peeled and juice squeezed out
- 2 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 1/2 tbsp fresh dill - minced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1/4 tsp kosher sea salt
- pinch ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, dill, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before using.
I love that this is a healthier dip. Making it for our super bowl party this Sunday!