Tzatziki

This fresh tzatziki recipe will liven up any summer meal! Rich, creamy & full of fresh herbs, it's delicious on pita, grilled veggies, sandwiches, and more!

Tzatziki Sauce

Break out the pita, it’s tzatziki time! On Monday, I posted my favorite Greek salad, and now I’m following it up with another Greek essential: this cool, refreshing cucumber tzatziki sauce.

One of the best parts of summer is that dinner suddenly becomes easy. My favorite ingredients – fresh fruits and veggies – are at their peak. Tomatoes are sweeter and juicier, berries are plumper, peppers are snappier, and our backyard herbs are at their most potent. 

Sometimes, when I want to put these peak-season veggies front and center, making dinner just means prepping a sauce to dress them up. This tzatziki sauce is a great recipe for showcasing summer produce – it’s rich & creamy, bright, and packed with fresh herbs. So mix it up, serve it with a big platter of pita and your favorite summer veggies, and call it dinner!

Tzatziki Recipe

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. It’s easier to find in the store, and it still has the creamy, thick consistency you want in tzatziki sauce. Along with the other traditional ingredients, I stir in fresh mint and dill for a bright, summery finish.

How to Make Tzatziki Sauce

I first started eating tzatziki sauce at Greek restaurants, but I’ve since learned that it’s incredibly easy to whip up at home. Now, along with pesto, it’s one of my must-make summer sauces. Here’s how you do it:

  1. Start by grating the cucumber. I use the largest holes on a box grater to give my final sauce texture and plenty of green flecks. 
  2. Next, squeeze the water out of the grated cucumber. This step is essential for making a creamy tzatziki – if you skip it, the water from the cucumber will cause your sauce to separate. Squeeze the cucumber directly over the sink, or press it lightly between kitchen or paper towels.
  3. Then, stir everything together! Mix the squeezed cucumber with the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, salt, and herbs, and chill until you’re ready to use.

That’s it!

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

How to Use Tzatziki Sauce

Once you’ve mixed your tzatziki sauce together, there are endless ways to use it. Most simply, I enjoy it as a snack with fresh veggies and pita or crackers. Try it this way, or add it to your next crudité platter. Your guests will love it!

You could also slather it onto sandwiches like these pita wraps, serve it alongside a Mediterranean salad like tabbouleh or couscous salad, or top it onto falafel, falafel burgers, or a flatbread

And last but not least, serve it with pita and lots of grilled veggies for a delicious, easy summer dinner.

Tzatziki Sauce

If you love this tzatziki recipe…

Try my hummus, tahini sauce, chipotle sauce, cilantro lime dressing, pico de gallo, tomatillo salsa, or guacamole next!

For more appetizer ideas, check out this post with 50 easy appetizers.

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Tzatziki Sauce

rate this recipe:
4.99 from 575 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Serves 4 to 6
This easy tzatziki sauce recipe is a delicious summer condiment. Use it to dress up grilled veggies, sandwiches, and more, or add it to a summer crudité platter!

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place the cucumber on a towel and gently squeeze out a bit of the excess water.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the cucumber, yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, dill, and mint, if using. Chill until ready to use.

 

361 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Ani
    03.18.2024

    For how long can I store it?

  2. Wayne H
    03.17.2024

    Delicious! Very good! Just needed more salt. Using the on my take out gyros.

  3. Jill Meyer
    03.06.2024

    Can I use dried dill?

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      03.08.2024

      Hi Jill, yep, you can! I’d start with 1 teaspoon and add more to taste. It won’t be exactly the same as fresh dill but should still taste great.

  4. Sean
    03.02.2024

    5 stars
    I made this Tzatziki sauce yesterday exactly by your recipe. Absolutely outstanding! I am making more today 😆 I’ve tried several different recipes but am now going to stick to this one. Great flavor with a little lemon zing and so easy to make. Thanks!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      03.08.2024

      Hi Sean, I’m so glad you loved the recipe!

  5. Lauren
    02.29.2024

    Yum! How far in advance can you make this?

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      03.01.2024

      Hi Lauren, it will keep for about 5 days in the fridge. I’d skip the mint if you’re making it ahead.

  6. Sarah
    02.28.2024

    5 stars
    Amazingly perfect! Thanks for the great recipe.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      03.01.2024

      Hi Sarah, I’m so glad you love it!

  7. Hanni
    02.19.2024

    5 stars
    Hi! Will buttermilk (soy + lemon) instead of whole milk g yogurt work on this as well? Thank you!

  8. Hanni
    02.19.2024

    Hi! Will buttermilk instead of whole milk g yogurt work on this as well? Thank you!

  9. Andrea
    02.17.2024

    5 stars
    Is this recipe in one of your cookbooks? My son likes to make it and I would like to buy him that book. Thanks!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      02.17.2024

      Hi Andrea, no the cookbook recipes are unique to the books and are different than the recipes on the blog.

  10. Cindy
    02.03.2024

    Could I use sour cream?

  11. Lisa A
    01.28.2024

    Would fat free yogurt work as well?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.30.2024

      Hi Lisa, it would work, it just won’t taste as rich and creamy.

  12. Beth
    01.27.2024

    So easy and yummy. Thanks

  13. Olivia
    01.27.2024

    Amazing! Love the cucumber in it!

  14. Sharene
    01.14.2024

    5 stars
    Absolutely scrumptious! This was my first time making this at home and I chose this recipe and I couldn’t have made a better choice. Thank you so so much for this recipe. Now I can have my favorite Mediterranean dip anytime I want it..

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.15.2024

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  15. Graciela Pacheco
    01.09.2024

    5 stars
    Delicious! Used m9re lemon for my taste.

  16. Ave
    01.06.2024

    5 stars
    Oh my lands, this is delicious. (I made it with homemade greek yogurt so I’m doubly proud haha.) Thank you for the recipe!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.09.2024

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.