Tzatziki sauce is creamy, fresh, and savory, and the absolute perfect accompaniment to any Greek or Mediterranean dish! Serve chilled with any appetizer, side, or main dish, and enjoy the light yet rich flavor! Not to mention, it's incredibly easy to make at home!
Easy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
Making a Mediterranean dish but need that extra zing to go with it? This traditional condiment functions as a sauce or a dip that pairs with anything, from celery and carrots to chips or pita bread!
It all combines to make this condiment the best pairing for any dish! Serve it with some pita chips for an easy appetizer or alongside any main course!
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🥘 Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients, Notes, & Substitutions
Tzatziki sauce requires a handful of pretty common ingredients. Grab a jar with a lid or Tupperware to keep your sauce in once it's ready!
- Cucumber - 3 ½ tablespoons of cucumber. Make sure to peel the cucumber. I grate my cucumber for a smoother consistency, but if you prefer chunks, you may finely mince it.
- Greek Yogurt - 5.3 ounces of plain Greek Yogurt. Greek yogurt is ideal, but if that is not an option, you may try sour cream. The taste and texture will vary slightly.
- Lemon Juice - 1 ½ teaspoons of lemon juice. You can use freshly squeezed or out of a bottle, but if you are unable to use lemon juice, lime juice or even white vinegar are good substitutes.
- Olive Oil - 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil. EVOO is an important ingredient in this recipe because of the flavor it adds. However, if you are unable to use olive oil, you can substitute grapeseed oil or omit oil altogether.
- Salt - ¼ teaspoon of salt. I like to use kosher salt, but table or sea salt works just fine. Add more to taste.
- Garlic Powder - ½ teaspoon of garlic powder or a teaspoon of finely minced garlic, though powder is preferred for a smooth texture.
- Dill - ¼ teaspoon of dried dill. If you cannot find dried dill, fresh dill works perfectly fine. You'll want to use twice the amount of fresh dill than dry.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Tzatziki Sauce
There are just 2 simple steps to making this sauce. You will need a vegetable peeler, a bowl, and a rubber spatula for mixing.
This recipe makes about 1 cup of sauce but can easily be doubled or even tripled for more!
Step 1: Prep the cucumber. Completely peel, then mince 1 cucumber until you have 3 ½ tablespoons (33.25 grams) worth. Place the cucumber in a paper towel or cheesecloth and gently squeeze out any excess water.
Step 2: Mix and Chill. Add the cucumber and all remaining ingredients, 5.3 ounces (133.33 grams) of plain Greek yogurt, 1 ½ teaspoons (7.39 milliliters) of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon (4.93 milliliters) of olive oil, ¼ teaspoon (1.5 grams) of salt, ½ teaspoon (0.75 grams) of garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon (0.25 grams) of dried dill, to a small bowl and mix thoroughly until combined. Chill until you are ready to use.
🍽️ What To Serve With Tzatziki Sauce
Your tasty tzatziki sauce will go well with many things due to its creamy, light flavor. Try it as a dip for naan bread, a sauce for leftover lamb gyros, or on some chicken with a Greek marinade! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Use any kind of cucumber. I personally like to use an English cucumber because it has very small seeds, but any will do.
- If you prefer to use fresh garlic, typically, 2 minced cloves provide a good balance of flavor. You can adjust the amount of garlic to your taste.
- Tzatziki sauce is extremely versatile. It can be used as a dip for veggies or bread, as a sauce on gyros, and it's even delicious on salmon.
🥡 Storing
Place your tzatziki sauce in an air-tight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2-4 days. I would not recommend freezing this sauce, as it will become icy and mushy.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use regular yogurt, but Greek yogurt is thicker and creamier, which is preferred for tzatziki. Just make sure that it is plain-flavored!
Make sure you squeeze the grated cucumber with a clean kitchen towel to remove excess moisture before adding it to the yogurt. Also, make sure that you stir your yogurt before measuring it for your sauce so you don't get the excess liquid on top!
Yes, tzatziki can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator for a few days. Stir it well before serving because the cucumber can release more liquid over time.
🍶 More Tasty DIY Sauces
- Hawaiian BBQ Sauce - Sweet, sticky, and tropical BBQ sauce that is delicious on chicken!
- Cheese Sauce - The perfect way to elevate steamed or roasted vegetables.
- Arrabbiata Sauce - A zesty marinara sauce with a spicy kick!
- Teriyaki Sauce - Homemade teriyaki sauce so you can recreate all your favorite takeout recipes!
- Yum Yum Sauce - This popular Japanese condiment is creamy, sweet, and perfectly spiced!
- Alfredo Sauce - Homemade alfredo sauce blows jarred alfredo sauce out of the water!
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📖 Recipe Card
Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cucumber (grated)
- ⅔ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried dill
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Peel and mince cucumber until you have 3 ½ tablespoons worth. Place grated or minced cucumber in a paper towel and gently squeeze out any excess water.
- Add cucumber and remaining ingredients to a small bowl and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Chill until ready to use.
Notes
- Tzatziki sauce is extremely versatile. It can be used as a dip for veggies or naan, as a sauce on gyros, it's even delicious on salmon.
- Store in an airtight container, refrigerated, for 2-4 days max.
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