Homemade Authentic Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Easy Greek Dip! (2024)

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This Tzatziki Recipe is so fresh, creamy, and easy to make! You’ll only need a few ingredients to make this authentic Greek yogurt sauce with cucumbers.

Homemade tzatziki is perfect for serving with these Easy Chicken Gyros and this Greek Chicken Souvlaki recipe!

Homemade Authentic Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Easy Greek Dip! (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why This Tzatziki Recipe Works
  • What Is Tzatziki Sauce?
  • Recipe Ingredients
  • How to Make Tzatziki Sauce
  • Watch This Homemade Tzatziki Come Together
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • How to Use Tzatziki Sauce
  • How to Store
  • Can I Freeze This Tzatziki Recipe?
  • More Easy Homemade Sauces
  • Get the Recipe

    Why This Tzatziki Recipe Works

    Everyone loves tzatziki, but they don’t realize how easy it is to make at home! Here’s why I’m such a big fan of it:

    • Super creamy. Made with full-fat Greek yogurt, this tzatziki sauce is so creamy and refreshing!
    • Tangy and citrusy. Homemade tzatziki is full of tangy and zesty flavor due to the fresh lemon juice and dill.
    • Quick and easy. You can make this Greek yogurt dip in just 10 minutes! It’s so easy to mix together on short notice.
    • Perfect for parties. This tzatziki recipe is a huge crowd-pleaser! You can serve it with pita bread, veggies, crackers, and more.
    Homemade Authentic Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Easy Greek Dip! (2)

    What Is Tzatziki Sauce?

    Tzatziki sauce is a creamy yogurt sauce from Greece. Traditionally it’s made with goat’s milk or sheep’s milk, but in the US, Greek yogurt is the go-to substitute.

    For this recipe, Greek yogurt, cucumber, fresh lemon juice, dill, and garlic come together to make a thick sauce that pairs perfectly with just about anything. It’s served chilled, so it’s kept refrigerated until it is time to use it.

    Tzatziki Pronunciation:

    The best way for an English speaker to pronounce tzatziki is “tsah-see-key.” Emphasize the “tsah” part and pronounce it like the end of the word “pizza.” You can hear the pronunciation here.

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    Recipe Ingredients

    Here is a quick look at what you’ll need to make this tzatziki recipe. For specific amounts be sure to scroll down to the recipe card.

    • Cucumber – There’s no need to peel the cucumber since it will be grated before it is added to the sauce. Be sure to drain it well.
    • Full-Fat Greek Yogurt – You can also use low fat, but I find that full fat yogurt adds more body to the dip.
    • Garlic cloves – Mince them finely. If you’d like to use store-bought minced garlic that will also work, but the flavor is not as pronounced.
    • Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Or use another high-quality olive oil that will add bold flavor.
    • Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice is best in order to achieve the strongest, tangiest flavor.
    • Dill – Fresh dill and dried dill both work.
    • Salt – I recommend using Kosher salt.
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    How to Make Tzatziki Sauce

    Ready to make some creamy, tangy homemade tzatziki? Here’s how to do it (the full set of directions can be found in the recipe card below):

    Homemade Authentic Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Easy Greek Dip! (5)
    Homemade Authentic Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Easy Greek Dip! (6)
    • Grate and drain the cucumber. Use a box grater or food processor to finely grate the whole cucumber. Drain the shredded cucumber with a piece of cheesecloth, or a tea towel.
    • Add remaining ingredients. Combine the shredded and drained cucumber with Greek yogurt, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, dill, and salt in a large bowl and mix together.
    • Chill. Cover and refrigerate the sauce overnight, or for at least 2 hours.
    • Serve! This sauce is best served chilled.

    Watch This Homemade Tzatziki Come Together

    Tips & Recipe Variations

    It’s a pretty simple process, as you can see. That said, there are a few quick tips that will be helpful to keep in mind as you tackle this tzatziki recipe!

    • Drain your grated cucumbers. The most important part of making tzatziki is that your cucumber is well-drained. If it isn’t, your sauce will be too watery.
    • Substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream. Full-fat sour cream can be swapped for full-fat Greek yogurt for a richer tzatziki dip, if you like.
    • Make the sauce ahead. The more time the flavors have to mingle, the better the sauce tastes! Making this tzatziki recipe ahead and letting it sit overnight in the fridge is a great idea.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is tzatziki sauce healthy?

    Tzatziki sauce is relatively healthy. Though it uses full-fat Greek yogurt, it is full of protein and calcium, and it contains probiotics, too.

    Why is my tzatziki bland?

    If your tzatziki sauce tastes too bland, try adding a little more salt, a little more dill, or a touch of garlic. Or, add in a small mix of the three.

    Why is my tzatziki sauce watery?

    As mentioned above, the most common reason that this happens is because the cucumbers were not fully drained. Once grated, make sure you squeeze out as much water as possible. To save a watery dip, try adding some more drained, grated cucumber with a little extra salt.

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    How to Use Tzatziki Sauce

    Tzatziki is traditionally served as a spread with gyros, or as a dipping sauce for pita bread or kabobs. Here are some other ways that you can use tzatziki sauce:

    • As a vegetable dip. Serve it with toasted pita chips, raw veggies, cheese, and/or crackers.
    • In sandwiches. Instead of mayo (or in addition to it!), spread tzatziki sauce in your favorite sandwiches. Or, use it inside a falafel sandwich made with Homemade Pita Bread.
    • Drizzled over grilled veggies and cooked meats. I love using it with Baked Chicken, for example.
    • On baked potatoes. I have also been known to add tzatziki sauce to Baked Potatoes to give them a richer flavor!
    Homemade Authentic Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Easy Greek Dip! (8)

    How to Store

    Store your prepared tzatziki dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You may notice a little separation after a day or two in the refrigerator. If you do, give the sauce a good stir and it should even itself out.

    Can I Freeze This Tzatziki Recipe?

    I don’t recommend freezing cucumber sauce for later use. In my experience, the sauce does not freeze well because the cucumbers tend to get mushy from freezing and thawing.

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    More Easy Homemade Sauces

    Making your own sauces and condiments is so quick and easy! Here are a few more to try:

    • Easy Hummus Recipe
    • Best Chimichurri Sauce
    • Homemade Pico de Gallo
    • Basil Pesto Sauce
    • Homemade Steak Sauce

    Homemade Authentic Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Easy Greek Dip! (10)

    4.8 from 34 votes

    Print Pin Recipe

    Yield: 6 servings

    Tzatziki Sauce (Greek Cucumber Sauce)

    This authentic Greek Tzatziki Sauce is a delicious cucumber and yogurt sauce that tastes amazing on almost anything. It's so easy to make using just a few simple ingredients!

    Prep Time10 minutes minutes

    Total Time10 minutes minutes

    Ingredients

    • 1 large cucumber, unpeeled
    • 2 cups plain full-fat Greek yogurt
    • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon fresh dill, minced
    • ¾ teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • Using a box grater or food processor, grate the whole cucumber and use cheesecloth (or a tea towel) to squeeze out the extra liquid in the shredded cucumber.

    • Combine the shredded and drained cucumber, yogurt, garlic, olive ol, lemon juice and salt together in a large bowl.

    • Cover and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 2 hours.

    • Serve chilled with pita bread, vegetables, or gyros. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving, Calories: 122kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 10mg, Sodium: 292mg, Sugar: 4g

    © Jessica – The Novice Chef

    Cuisine: Greek

    Category: Condiments & Sauces

    Categories:

    • 30 Min or Less
    • Diet
    • Dips
    • Gluten Free
    • Greek
    • Recipes
    • Vegetarian

    Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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    Homemade Authentic Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Easy Greek Dip! (2024)

    FAQs

    What are the main ingredients in 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.

    Is homemade tzatziki better than store bought? ›

    If you're going for purely less calories, then tzatziki would be the best pick. But otherwise, they are just about equally healthy for you, and, even healthier when you make them for yourself rather than going for the store-bought brand.

    Which yoghurt is best for tzatziki? ›

    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.

    What is Greek dip made of? ›

    The Greek dip, Taramosalata consists primarily of mashed potatoes or bread, combined with lemon juice, olive oil, and fish roe. The dip can be best consumed when part of a meze dish or as an appetiser. It has a smooth and creamy texture which makes it the perfect accompany to pitta and breads.

    How long does homemade tzatziki last? ›

    Tzatziki will last about four days in the fridge before it starts to go bad. While you can freeze it, it will change a bit in regards to texture and consistency when it comes time to thawing it out.

    Does tzatziki have garlic in it? ›

    Tzatziki is made of strained yogurt (usually from sheep or goat milk) mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, and sometimes lemon juice, and dill or mint or parsley.

    How do you thicken homemade tzatziki? ›

    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.

    Can you eat tzatziki everyday? ›

    Eating tzatziki can help add a variety of healthy nutrients to your daily diet, maintain a robust microbial system, and maintain blood glucose levels. If you suffer from high blood pressure, use tzatziki often as it contains less sodium and carbs than hummus.

    Is tzatziki good for gut health? ›

    Improved Gut Health

    Yogurt in tzatziki offers probiotics. Those are helpful bacteria that balance gut bugs, promoting better digestion and overall health. Plus, Tzatziki is a fun, tasty dip for vegetables. It helps raise your daily vegetable intake.

    What if I put too much cucumber in my tzatziki sauce? ›

    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.

    Is tzatziki good for blood pressure? ›

    You can dip meatballs in tzatziki sauce or put it on top of grilled meats for a healthy, low-carb, and protein-packed meal. The tzatziki sauce is also high in calcium. It also has no cholesterol, so you won't have to worry about hurting your blood pressure and heart health.

    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 is the difference between tirokafteri and tzatziki? ›

    The tirokafteri is robustly spicy, whipped feta tinged red and flecked with chili. As with creaminess—I can't suss. And the tzatziki is richer and thicker than any I've ever had, with no obvious explanation. I dredge hunks of bread through them.

    What to dip in tzatziki sauce? ›

    Dipping your favorite roasted vegetables in tzatziki sauce is a healthy way to enjoy a side dish. Roasted broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, and eggplant are just some ideas to try.

    What gives Greek food its signature flavor? ›

    Each culture is known for its unique spices and herbs used to create signature dishes, and for the Greeks, those spices are primarily citruses, good quality oils, peppers, oregano, dill, and cheeses.

    How healthy is tzatziki dip? ›

    Tzatziki is a real powerhouse in terms of health benefits. Probiotics, which can aid promote gut health, vitamins A and C, calcium, and phosphorus are all included in this classic Greek meal. Together, these nutrients strengthen your immune system and maintain the health of your bones.

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

    Once you've got that covered, check out our favourite ways to use tzatziki, and bring a bit of The Med to your kitchen.
    • 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)
    Sep 8, 2023

    What is Greek yogurt made of? ›

    Greek yogurt is made from cow's milk that is strained to remove the whey, this results in a thicker consistency compared to natural yogurt. It also has a tangier flavour and can often be used as a healthier substitute to mayonnaise, sour cream or crème fraîche.

    What are the facts about tzatziki? ›

    Tzatziki started back in the Ottoman Empire. During this time, India loved their raita, a yogurt-based dip. They were also led by the Persian class, who loved the Indian rice dish called the biryani. However, since Indian people love herbs and spices, some Persians think that the dish was too spicy.

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