Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

overhead view of Tzatziki Sauce in a bowl, garnished with herbs, and vegetables and crackers next to the bowl

Prep Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

15 mins

Servings:

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Did you know you can make restaurant-worthy tzatziki sauce in the comfort of your own home? Well, you can! You'll come back to this top-rated tzatziki sauce recipe again and again.

What Is Tzatziki Sauce?

Tzatziki is a refreshing cucumber-yogurt dip or sauce that comes together quickly with basic ingredients. The creamy sauce is a staple in Greek cuisine, where it is served in wraps like gyros and souvlaki, or simply on its own as a dip or side dish.

Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients

You'll need the following ingredients to make this top-rated tzatziki sauce recipe:

· Cucumbers: Start with two large cucumbers, grated and drained of excess moisture.
· Yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt is ideal for this tzatziki recipe.
· Olive oil: Choose a high-quality extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
· Fresh herbs: This tzatziki sauce is flavored with minced garlic and fresh dill.
· Lemon juice: Lemon juice enhances the flavors of the other ingredients and adds a subtle brightness. You can also use red wine vinegar.
· Seasonings: The tzatziki is simply seasoned with salt and pepper.

Tzatziki Pronunciation

Not sure how to say "tzatziki?" We've got you covered: Tzatziki is pronounced "tuh-zee-kee."

How to Make Tzatziki Sauce

Making homemade tzatziki sauce is actually quite easy. You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this classic tzatziki:

1. Prep the cucumbers: Peel and seed the cucumbers, then grate them with a box grater. Squeeze out the excess liquid.
2. Mix the ingredients: Mix the grated cucumber with the remaining ingredients. Stir until well-combined.
3. Chill the tzatziki: For the best flavor, chill the tzatziki in the fridge for at least one hour before serving.

Recipe Tip

To ensure extra-thick tzatziki, make sure your yogurt is thick to begin with. You can use any type of yogurt and strain it yourself in the fridge. Just set a fine sieve lined with cheesecloth over a bowl. Add yogurt, cover, and refrigerate until the liquid drains off, 8 hours to overnight.

How to Store Tzatziki Sauce

Store homemade tzatziki sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. However, it's important to note that the tzatziki is only as good as its yogurt. If the yogurt you're using expires tomorrow, so does the tzatziki.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"This was so good," raves Juliann. "I made it with Greek yogurt and let the cucumbers drain for about an hour. My sauce was nice and thick."

"I LOVED this," says amberkaye. "I've tried many, but this is THE ONE. I made Traditional Gyro Meat from this site and it was the best gyro ever. I'll use this for gyros and dip for pita chips and veggies."

"Simple. Easy. Delicious," according to La Gringa Gourmet. "I use this as a condiment on grilled lamb burgers, with some sliced tomato and red onion, and lettuce. Yum!"

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams and Diana Moutsopoulos

Ingredients

2 medium cucumbers
1 (16 ounce) container plain Greek yogurt
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
½ medium lemon, juiced
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Peel cucumbers; remove seeds with a spoon. Grate cucumber on the large holes of a box grater, then squeeze to drain excess liquid.

Recipe Tip

Squeeze out as much liquid as you can to keep the tzatziki thick. You can place the grated cucumber in the center of a clean tea towel, then gather into a ball and squeeze out the excess cucumber juice.
In a food processor combine the grated cucumber with Greek yogurt, garlic, olive oil, dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.
Serve immediately or for best flavor cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

75	Calories
4g	Fat
6g	Carbs
3g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 75
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4g	6%
Saturated Fat 1g	6%
Cholesterol 3mg	1%
Sodium 42mg	2%
Total Carbohydrate 6g	2%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 3g	7%
Vitamin C 8mg	9%
Calcium 118mg	9%
Iron 0mg	1%
Potassium 225mg	5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

Recipe Tip

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