The Perfect Homemade Tzatziki Sauce + 10 Dishes To Serve It With (2024)

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ByGaby Dalkin

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Do you love Tzatziki Sauce? It's one of my favorite things! If you've never had it before, it's a delicious Greek sauce made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and lemon. It's perfect for topping grilled meats or vegetables, or just served as a dipping sauce alongside my epic Greek Lamb Meatballs. The best part? You can make it at home in just a few minutes! Here is the best homemade tzatziki sauce recipe ever - give it a try!

The Perfect Homemade Tzatziki Sauce + 10 Dishes To Serve It With (1)

Table of Contents

Why I Love This Recipe

Besides my major love affair with all things basil vinaigrette… I’m also majorly into Homemade Tzatziki Sauce this summer.

Tzatziki is one of those things you can whip up every few days and keep on hand for when lunch and dinner roll around. You'll see it pop up on WGC frequently as I call for it in so many recipes- chicken gyros and chicken stuffed pitas, to name just two! It also makes the best healthy snack. Whip up some tzatziki grab yourself some Persian cucumbers and there you have it.

What is Tzatziki Sauce?

Homemade Tzatziki is EVERYTHING! If you've never had it before, or heard of it, Tzatziki is a yogurt sauce with cucumbers, garlic, salt, lemon juice, and dill. It's incredible popular in Greece where it's slathered on top of just about everything. You can serve it up with crudités or pita as an appetizer / snack or serve it alongside some skewered chicken, veggies, fish or meat as a dip for a main course. It's bright and tangy and perfect for summer.

Ingredients & Substitutions

The Perfect Homemade Tzatziki Sauce + 10 Dishes To Serve It With (2)
  • Greek Yogurt
  • Persian Cucumber
  • Lemon Juice
  • Garlic
  • Fresh Dill
  • Salt & Pepper

*For a full list of ingredients and instructions please see recipe card below.

How to Make Tzatziki Sauce

The Perfect Homemade Tzatziki Sauce + 10 Dishes To Serve It With (3)

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, diced cucumber, lemon juice, garlic and dill. Stir to combine.

The Perfect Homemade Tzatziki Sauce + 10 Dishes To Serve It With (4)

Step 2: Season with salt and pepper and taste. Adjust salt, pepper or lemon juice depending on your preference. Serve immediately or store in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.

The Perfect Homemade Tzatziki Sauce + 10 Dishes To Serve It With (5)

How to Freeze Tzatziki Sauce

Because of the yogurt and cucumber, I would not recommend freezing tzatziki sauce. If you absolutely have to, store it in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Make sure you thaw it in the fridge gradually.

Tips & Tricks

This easy tzatziki sauce recipe is perfect for Mediterranean food lovers. It’s simple to make, and you can enjoy it as a quick snack, lunch, or dinner. All you need is yogurt, cucumber, garlic, dill and lemon. If you want to spice things up a bit, feel free to add in some chili flakes or fresh herbs like parsley or mint. Give this sauce a try next time you need a quick and delicious meal!

FAQs

How long can you store Tzatziki sauce?

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.

What else can you serve Tzatziki Sauce with?

Here is a list of some other amazing dishes that go perfect with Tzatziki.
Yogurt Marinated Chicken Skewers
Greek Loaded Oven Fries
Chicken Tawook Quinoa Bowls
Mezze Appetizer Platter
Homemade Naan
Chicken Shawarma Bowls
Chicken Shawarma Stuffed Pita
Greek Chicken Stuffed Pitas
The Best Hummus and Herbed Baked Pita Chips
Moroccan Chicken Skewers

Paris Well With

  • Easy Moroccan Chicken Skewers
  • The Best Hummus and Herbed Baked Pita Chips
  • Greek Chicken Stuffed Pitas
  • Chicken Shawarma Stuffed Pita

If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟star ratingand let me know how it goes in the 📝commentsbelow. Thanks for visiting today!

The Perfect Homemade Tzatziki Sauce + 10 Dishes To Serve It With (10)

Homemade Tzatziki Sauce

Author: Gaby Dalkin

5 from 10 votes

That creamy Greek yogurt sauce that you love with cucumbers, dill and lemon that you can slather all over some pita or on top of protein!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 0 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Snack

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 6 people

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 Persian cucumber small dice
  • Juice of 1 lemon plus more if needed
  • 3 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 2 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, diced cucumber, lemon juice garlic and dill. Stir to combine.

  • Season with salt and pepper and taste. Adjust salt, pepper or lemon juice depending on your preference. Serve immediately or store in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.

Notes

  • If you want to spice things up a bit, feel free to add in some chili flakes or fresh herbs like parsley or mint.
  • Serve this up with crudités or pita as an appetizer / snack or serve it alongside some skewered chicken, veggies, fish or meat as a dip for a main course. It’s bright and tangy and perfect for summer.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 34kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 19mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @WhatsGabyCookin or tag #whatsgabycooking!

Photo Credit:Matt Armendariz/Food Styling Credit:Adam Pearson/ Recipe: What's Gaby Cooking

  1. Made this last night & served with salmon. Delish! Two questions though: (1) if using English cucumber, why peel the skin? Just curious. (2) although delish, mine was a bit watery, not very thick. I used whole plain Greek yogurt. Any thoughts? Thank you!!

    Reply

    1. 1: I usually peel the skin of English cucumber because it's a bit thicker than that of a Persian cucumber! But honestly, you dont have to! Just a personal preference.

      2: DM me a picture of the sauce if you want! It shouldn't be THICK but it shouldn't be watery if that makes sense

  2. The Perfect Homemade Tzatziki Sauce + 10 Dishes To Serve It With (11)
    Excellent recipe!!!!

    Reply

  3. The Perfect Homemade Tzatziki Sauce + 10 Dishes To Serve It With (12)
    Very good! I served it to a chef who really loved the blend of flavors. Served with chicken kabobs which I marinated with my additional spices!, grilled Parmesan leeks, broccolini and marinated large olives! Served oaked Chardonnay! Light easy and setting for good conversation!,

    Reply

  4. Hi Gaby! I'd love to make this recipe but I cannot find dinosaur kale in my area. Also my hubby is not a kale fan. What would be a good substitute?
    Thanks

    Reply

    1. there's no kale in this recipe!! just dill.

  5. The Perfect Homemade Tzatziki Sauce + 10 Dishes To Serve It With (13)
    Soo good!

    Reply

  6. The Perfect Homemade Tzatziki Sauce + 10 Dishes To Serve It With (14)
    Yum. It’s great on top of grilled lamb feta burgers. My summertime favorites!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

The Perfect Homemade Tzatziki Sauce + 10 Dishes To Serve It With (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in tzatziki sauce? ›

What is 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.

How do you make tzatziki not runny? ›

The biggest contributor to watery tzatziki is the cucumber, which is why it's important to try to remove as much water out of the cucumber as possible. To release the water from the cucumber, de-seed the cucumber then grate it. I suggest using a metal spoon to scoop the seeds out of the cucumber.

How many days is homemade tzatziki good for? ›

Tzatziki sauce should be kept in a sealed container and stored in the refrigerator when you're not using it. As long as it's stored properly, you can expect homemade tzatziki to last about three to four days.

What goes well with tzatziki sauce? ›

At the very least, serve it with some carrots, bell peppers, and other fresh veggies of your choice, but you can use it in many more ways with everything from the obvious gyros to pan-seared salmon, lamb rack, all sorts of kebabs including vegetable skewers, or even to top your baked potato!

What is real tzatziki made of? ›

This is a classic Greek appetizer (or “meze”) made from thick strained Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, and fresh dill. It's super simple to make and a hit at any get-together! I love adding Tzatziki on top of my Greek Chicken Souvlaki.

What is a good substitute for tzatziki sauce? ›

I replace thick sauces like my tzatziki sauce with homemade mayonnaise and coconut milk. Substituting ingredients will take some getting used to, but eventually, it will become second nature.

How do you cut cucumbers for tzatziki? ›

Simply cut the cucumber in half lengthwise, and then use a small spoon to scrape the seeds out. Next, shred the cucumber on a box grater or in a food processor. Cucumbers are filled with water, which will dilute the tzatziki if you don't wring it all out.

Why is my tzatziki so sour? ›

Some Greek yogurt brands are very tangy so you may wish to use less lemon juice. Also, some lemons can be very tart. Start with 1/2 a lemon and add more if needed. If your sauce is too tart, you can fix this by adding a little sweetener.

Does tzatziki go bad after opening? ›

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.

Can you eat tzatziki everyday? ›

Although you can find variations online, the classic tzatziki contains yoghurt, garlic, fresh dill, lemon juice, olive oil, and cucumber. Eating tzatziki can help add a variety of healthy nutrients to your daily diet, maintain a robust microbial system, and maintain blood glucose levels.

Is store-bought tzatziki good for you? ›

It's got more protein and fewer calories than hummus or sour cream. You don't have to spend time perfecting homemade tzatziki to gain those health benefits, either, because the best store-bought tzatziki sauces won't compromise quality for taste. There's no reason to!

Why is my tzatziki lumpy? ›

First of all it is important to use the garlic minced or grated. If you chop the garlic in pieces with a knife – even if you finely chop it! -your Tzatziki sauce will be lumpy.

How do Greek people eat tzatziki? ›

Greeks usually eat tzatziki with bread, it is also used for the famous souvlaki wrapped in a pita and ofcourse in gyros. Almost all Greeks love dipping bread and Greek fries in tzatziki that is served at every traditional restaurant.

Is tzatziki healthier than hummus? ›

However, if you want to eat without worrying about your health, hummus is a great dip that goes with a lot of foods like fish, chicken and falafel. Tzatziki goes well with traditional Greek foods like gyros, and it also is healthier, with a lot less sodium.

Is tzatziki good for your gut? ›

Conclusion. Tzatziki is not only a tasty, multi-use sauce, it's also a smart food pick. Its blend of yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, garlic, lemon, and herbs delivers key nutrients, which are proposed to support heart health, gut health, and may even lower diabetes risk.

Is tzatziki made from yogurt or sour cream? ›

Tzatziki sauce is a creamy cucumber sauce that is most often made with simple ingredients including, Greek yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, fresh herbs, olive oil and lemon juice. We've created the most delicious Easy Tzatziki Sauce made with sour cream instead of full-fat Greek yogurt.

Is Tzatziki Sauce high in sugar? ›

Two tablespoons of tzatziki contain 1 gram of carbohydrates and 1 gram of sugar; this allows the condiment to be considered both low-carb and low-sugar.

Does tzatziki contain mayonnaise? ›

Mix together cucumber, yogurt, sour cream, mayonnaise, and garlic in a serving bowl; season with salt and pepper.

Is tzatziki anti inflammatory? ›

Tzatziki sauce is perfect healthy snack, especially thanks to protein-packed greek yogurt, shredded cucumber and anti-inflammatory garlic. It's as simple as it sounds: yogurt cucumber sauce!

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