Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

This classic Tzatziki Sauce is easy to make and features fresh ingredients like cucumber, olive oil, Greek yogurt, garlic, herbs, lemon juice, more.
5 from 6 votes
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This classic Tzatziki Sauce recipe is an easy dip features fresh, natural ingredients like cucumber, olive oil, Greek yogurt, garlic, herbs, lemon juice, more. It will take you 15 minutes to make and takes a thousand times better than store-bought!

dipping into the tzatziki sauce with pita

5 stars

I made the chicken with the sauce and felt like I out did myself. The different layers of flavor in this recipe is amazing.”

What Is Tzatziki Sauce?

  • Tzatziki Sauce is a cool and refreshing sauce that has a signature Greek yogurt base and is made flavorful with cucumber, bold fresh herbs, lemon juice, and garlic.
  • While it is a very flavorful sauce, it’s also neutral enough to be paired with so many different dishes.
  • It’s delicious when served with roasted meats of all sorts, various fresh or grilled vegetables, and a huge list of sandwiches and wraps.
  • The biggest tip I can offer is that you get the best ingredients because this is a simple fresh sauce. Since we’re not cooking this sauce, all of the ingredients will pretty much taste exactly how they are stirred into the sauce, so it’s important to choose the best!
ingredients for tzatziki sauce on the board

How To Make Tzatziki Sauce

  • Prepare the cucumber: wash the cucumber and cut it in half, length-wise. Scoop out the seeds and discard them.
  • Grate cucumber: Grate the cucumber on a small side of the box grater (fine shred) and place it into a mesh strainer. Sprinkle salt over the cucumber strips and let the excess moisture drain off for about 10 minutes. After it’s drained the excess liquid, gently squeeze the cucumber.
  • Mix the sauce: Place all of the ingredients for Tzatziki sauce in a mixing bowl. Mix everything together until fully combined.
closeup of dipping into the tzatziki sauce with pita

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to serve it?

  • This classic Greek sauce goes well with so many different meats! Dip it or drizzle over kebabs, lamb, chicken souvlaki, fish, and so many other meats.
  • You can also use it as a topping for sandwiches, wraps, and salads.
  • It’s also pretty commonly used as a dip with sliced vegetables, pita or flatbread slices, toasted bread, and anything else you’d like to dip into it!
  • Serve it among other appetizers like Baba Ganoush, Hummus, and Roasted Red Peppers.

How to Store Tzatziki Sauce?

  • Since this isn’t a store bought bottle of sauce that contains a good amount of preservatives, it doesn’t have a long shelf life. However, when properly stored, it will last for about 3-4 days!
  • Simply keep it stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  • Every time you use a utensil to scoop some out, make sure it’s clean. If you use a spoon that is dirty, it has any bacteria on it, and it will cause the sauce to spoil much faster.
tzatziki sauce in a bowl with pita pieces around

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closeup of dipping into the tzatziki sauce with pita

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

This classic Tzatziki Sauce is easy to make and features fresh ingredients like cucumber, olive oil, Greek yogurt, garlic, herbs, lemon juice, more.
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: Greek
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 135kcal
Author: Lyuba Brooke

Ingredients

  • 1 lb whole milk Greek yogurt
  • 10-12 oz cucumber 1 medium cucumber
  • 1-2 garlic cloves
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh dill weed
  • 1 tbsp fresh minced mint
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Wash the cucumber and cut it in half, length-wise. Scoop out the seeds from the cucumber and discard.
  • Grate the cucumber on a fine grater and place it into a mesh strainer. Salt the cucumber with some salt, mix it, and let it sit and drain off the excess moisture for about 10 minutes.
  • Combine all of the ingredients in the mixing bowl, gently squeeze the cucumber, and add it to the bowl. Mix well.
  • Serve right away of transfer into an air-tight container and refrigerate.
  • Store the Tzatziki sauce in the refrigerator, in an air-tight container, for 3-4 days.

Notes

  • Greek Yogurt – For the best flavor and consistency, make sure you use a whole milk Greek yogurt that’s full fat and has no other flavors. Plain Greek yogurt allows all of the other ingredients to be bold without competition!
  • Storing: homemade tzatziki sauce doesn’t have a very long shelf life. However, when properly stored, this fresh condiment will stay good for about 3-4 days! Simply keep it stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Every time you use a utensil to scoop some out, make sure it’s clean. 

Nutrition

Calories: 135kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 187mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 84IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles or tag #willcookforsmiles!

Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles in July 2022.

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All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.

5 from 6 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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8 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made the chicken with the sauce and felt like I out did myself. The different layers of flavor in this recipe is amazing.

    1. I love hearing that! It sounds like you really nailed it. Tzatziki is one of those sauces that brings everything together, and I’m so glad you enjoyed the layers of flavor. It’s always a win when a dish makes you feel like you’ve outdone yourself! Thank you for sharing your experience!

  2. Alexa Woestmann says:

    5 stars
    So freakin tasty!!!! Made it exactly as described and this will become a much more consist dip I make!!

    1. I am so glad you liked it, Alexa!

  3. 5 stars
    This is a really great recipe! I added 1/2 of sour cream and used my dried mint from the garden and it was everything I could ever want tzatziki to be!

    1. That is great to hear, I am so glad you liked it so much! 🙂

  4. 5 stars
    I love this sauce with some cucumbers!

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