You can whip up this authentic Greek Tzatziki sauce in just 10 minutes! It’s a simple recipe from Greece, using only a few ingredients like cucumber, yogurt, and garlic. Once it's ready, you can spread it on gyros, serve it with kebabs, or use it as a dip for veggies, fries, or pita chips. It's a fresh, flavorful addition to almost any dish!
Tzatziki Recipe
Greek Tzatziki sauce has quickly become my favorite, and I make it all the time. If you haven’t tried this creamy, tangy yogurt sauce, you’re in for a treat!
A few years ago, my Greek friend shared her grandmother’s recipe, and it’s so easy! In just 10 minutes, you grate some cucumber, drain it, and mix it with Greek yogurt, garlic, and fresh herbs like dill. It’s cool, garlicky, and goes with just about anything.
Now, I use tzatziki sauce on everything, pita, grilled veggies, or as a dip. It’s a staple in our house; even my friends have started making it!
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⭐Why You'll Love This Greek Tzatziki Sauce
- Easy to Make: This Greek tzatziki sauce comes together quickly with just a few simple ingredients.
- Adjust to Your Taste: You can tweak the garlic, dill, or seasonings to match your preference, making it as mild or bold as you like.
- Versatile: Use tzatziki as a dip, a sauce for grilled meats, a sandwich spread, or even a salad topping. It’s a go-to for so many dishes.
- Great for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a party, family dinner, or a quick snack, tzatziki always adds a fresh, creamy touch.
🧾Tzatziki Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this Tzatziki Sauce:
- Cucumber: I love English cucumbers for their crisp, refreshing taste and coolness. They add a nice crunch and texture. If you’re using regular cucumbers, just peel them and remove the seeds to avoid a watery dip.
- Salt (for cucumber): Salt helps draw out excess moisture from the cucumber, keeping the tzatziki from getting too watery and enhancing the cucumber’s flavor.
- White Vinegar (for cucumber): A splash of white vinegar adds a subtle tanginess, balancing the yogurt's richness and boosting the cucumber's flavor.
- Greek Yogurt: Greek-style yogurt is key for that thick, creamy texture and rich flavor in the Greek tzatziki sauce. Avoid regular yogurt as it’ll make the dip too runny.
- Salt & Pepper: These seasonings bring out the flavors of the yogurt, garlic, and dill, adding depth and a hint of spiciness.
- White Vinegar (for yogurt mix): Adds a bit of acidity to brighten up the sauce and keep it fresh longer.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Adds a silky texture and a rich, fruity flavor that enhances the yogurt’s creaminess.
- Garlic: Gives tzatziki its signature bite and savory depth, balancing the cool cucumber and creamy yogurt.
- Fresh Dill: Fresh dill brings a bright, herbal flavor that complements the cucumber and yogurt perfectly. It also adds a lovely green color. You can use dried dill in a pinch, but fresh is best.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Greek Tzatziki Sauce
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Peel and grate the cucumber with a box grater or food processor, sprinkle salt and vinegar, and mix, let it sit for 10 minutes.
2. In a bowl, combine Greek-style yogurt, salt, pepper, white vinegar, minced garlic, and olive oil.
3. Use a clean towel or cheesecloth to wring out as much liquid as possible from the cucumber.
4. Mix the drained cucumber into the Greek yogurt and add finely chopped fresh dill until combined. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
🍽 What to Serve with Tzatziki Sauce
The creamy Greek tzatziki sauce is incredibly versatile and pairs with so many dishes!
I love it as a snack with fresh veggies, pita, or crackers—your guests will too! It’s a must with gyros, chicken sandwiches, and chicken skewers.
I also use it for dipping bubble potato pillows, smashed potatoes, and potato wedges, and sometimes drizzle it over potato salad.
For a refreshing combo, try it with a glass of lemonade!
💭Tips for Recipe Success
Grate and Drain: Grate the cucumber and squeeze out as much liquid as you can using a clean towel or cheesecloth. This keeps your tzatziki from getting watery.
Choose the Right Yogurt: Go for full-fat Greek yogurt for a rich, creamy texture that makes the Greek tzatziki sauce extra luxurious.
Adjust Seasonings: Taste your tzatziki and tweak the salt, pepper, and vinegar to get the perfect balance. You want it tangy but not too sour.
Let Flavors Meld: Chill the tzatziki in the fridge for 1-2 hours before serving. This lets the flavors blend together beautifully.
Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Stir Before Serving: If the tzatziki separates, just give it a quick stir to mix everything back together.
❓Commonly Asked Questions
Greek Tzatziki Sauce is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip made from simple ingredients like strained or Greek-style yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs like dill or mint. Traditionally made with sheep or goat’s milk yogurt, full-fat Greek yogurt is also a great option.
🍛More Sauce Recipes to Make
If you love this tzatziki sauce, you'll also adore these tasty sauces:
🍛More Appetizer Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite appetizer recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 Cucumber
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoon White Vinegar
- 300 g Greek Yogurt
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- 2 tablespoon White Vinegar
- 1 Clove Garlic
- 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Bunch of Dill
Instructions
- Peel the cucumber and grate it using a box grater or food processor.
- Sprinkle salt and add vinegar over the grated cucumber, mix well to combine, and let it sit for about 10 minutes to draw out excess moisture.
- In a separate bowl, combine Greek yogurt, salt, pepper, white vinegar, minced garlic, and extra virgin olive oil and mix well.
- Using a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth, squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the cucumber.
- Add the drained cucumber to the Greek yogurt mixture and stir thoroughly until well combined.
- Chop fresh dill, add to the cucumber-yogurt mixture, and stir until everything is evenly distributed.
- Refrigerate the Tzatziki sauce for at least 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Serve chilled as a dip, sauce, or spread.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
John says
This tzatziki sauce is amazing! So creamy, fresh, and full of flavor. It's the perfect dip for veggies or pita, and it adds a cool, tangy kick to grilled meats. Definitely my new go-to recipe!