Homemade Tzatziki Recipe (2024)

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Homemade Tzatziki is one of my favorite dips! Greek yogurt is mixed with freshly grated cucumber, dill, oregano, garlic, and lemon zest. Top it with a quick glug of olive oil for an easy tzatziki sauce like no other!

When I was in Greece, pita bread and tzatziki were my breakfast lunch and dinner (also, Greek salad). I couldn’t stop myself. I worked for that summer bod’ leading up to my vacation, so it was time to treat myself!

Homemade Tzatziki Recipe (1)

I swear, I could sit down with tzatziki dip and a spoon and go to town. It is one of my favorite things ever! I use it as a gyro sauce, pita dip, on grilled meat… basically in any way I can.

Let’s be real for a second. If you’re like me, you’re looking for a tzatziki recipe for one of two reasons. One, you are making an appetizer or Greek food for a party or dinner. Two (the category I usually fall into), you bought Greek yogurt during your last “I’m going to eat healthier” grocery store run and you just realized it was about to expire, so you’re looking for a way to use it. Well my friend, you found the answer.

This is the ultimate party appetizer. Serve it alongside your favorite dippers like pita bread, veggies, and crackers for a delicious appetizer. I love serving this homemade tzatziki recipe along with bacon wrapped brussel sproutsand meatballs when I am entertaining!

Homemade Tzatziki Recipe (2)

Fun fact: tzatziki is usually associated with Greek cuisine, but it is actually used in a lot of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking too!

Like with Greek salad, using fresh ingredients makes all the difference in this homemade tzatziki recipe. Using fresh dill, lemon, and cucumber really make this dip better than anything you can buy at the store!

If you’re looking for a healthy tzatziki recipe, this one can be easily adapted by using low fat Greek yogurt. Serve it with your favorite veggies like carrots, cucumbers or celery!

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What Is Tzatziki?

Other than delicious? Tzatziki is a classic Greek staple, made from Greek yogurt, cucumber, dill, garlic, and olive oil.

Other herbs are sometimes added to Tzatziki sauce, such as mint, thyme, or parsley. I find that the classic combo of lemon and dill goes absolutely perfect with the freshness of the cucumber in this tzatziki recipe!

Tzatziki is traditionally used as a dip, and a sauce for things like gyros and grilled meat. If you’re ever making grilled chicken, try marinating it in tzatziki sauce. You can thank me later!

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How To Make Tzatziki Sauce

Begin by grating the cucumber. I like to slice my cucumber in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a spoon first, because most of the water is found there.

Use the large side of a standard block grater to grate the seeded cucumber. Place the grated cucumber into a bowl lined with paper towels. Using additional paper towels, press the cucumber as much a you can to remove all of the juices.

You don’t want any liquid left in the cucumber or the tzatziki will come out runny. Keep pressing until you have gotten all of it!

Once you have drained the cucumber well, place it into a bowl. Add the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, fresh chopped dill, oregano, and minced garlic.

Serve it topped with a sprinkle of dill and a quick glug of olive oil. I almost always enjoy homemade tzatziki with pita bread, but tortilla chips, bread, veggies, or crackers all make great tzatziki dippers!

I find that tzatziki sauce tastes the best the next day once all of the flavors have a chance to sit overnight.

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4.11 from 19 votes

Homemade Tzatziki

Prep Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 10 mins

Servings: 6 servings

Author: Bailey

Greek yogurt mixed with freshly grated cucumber, dill, garlic, and lemon zest. Add a quick glug of olive oil for an easy tzatziki sauce like no other!

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Tried this recipe?I'd love to hear what you think. Leave a comment and rating below!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 English cucumber
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  • Slice cucumber in half lengthwise. Scoop seeds out with a spoon and grate into a bowl lined with paper towels. Press cucumber to release as much liquid as possible, set aside.

  • In a medium bowl, combine Greek yogurt, lemon juice, chopped dill, oregano, minced garlic, and shredded cucumber.

  • Drizzle with olive oil and garnish with additional dill.

Calories: 91kcal

Tried this recipe? Let me know how you liked it below!

I would love it if you pinned this for later!

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Homemade Tzatziki Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the main ingredients in tzatziki? ›

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.

What is the difference between store bought and home made tzatziki? ›

The difference between store bought and home made tzatziki dip is its much thicker, creamier and chunkier. Its packed with fresh herbs and grated cucumber. Then it has the hit of garlic and the zest of fresh lemon juice.

How do you make tzatziki not runny? ›

Strain the water from the Greek yogurt & Sour Cream

Both Greek yogurt and sour cream have a natural liquid content that could lead to watery tzatziki. That's why (when you have time) I suggest straining the water from the Greek yogurt & sour cream.

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. This will depend on how fresh the yogurt was when you made the sauce.

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 homemade tzatziki good for you? ›

Yes, tzatziki is considered a healthier dip than hummus and sour cream. It contains several vitamins, a good amount of protein, and fewer carbohydrates and calories. The fat content of tzatziki is low too, which is not the case with other dips. Thus, you can opt for tzatziki dips over other dips.

Is tzatziki healthier than hummus? ›

Tzatziki is a terrific lower-calorie alternative to higher-calorie dips, such as hummus and sour cream. It's readily available in grocery stores, but also straightforward enough to make at home.

Why does my tzatziki taste bitter? ›

This is because tzatziki sauce is not meant to be bitter. However, if your tastes bitter, there are chances that you used too much lemon juice, or the quality of other ingredients wasn't good enough. For this reason, it is suggested that you always use high-quality and fresh ingredients to enjoy the right flavor.

Is tzatziki healthier than ranch? ›

Tzatziki is a much healthier choice than ranch dressing. It's lower in calories and fats but still offers key nutrients and vitamins.

How to make tzatziki more thick? ›

You can thicken it by placing a piece of cheesecloth over the top of a wide mouthed jar and holding it in place with some rubber bands. Fill the cheesecloth with your sauce, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The excess water will drain out and the sauce will be thicker.

How do you thicken yogurt for tzatziki? ›

** If you can't find the thicker Greek Yogurt Cheese, you can use regular, plain yogurt that is either full fat or low fat. To thicken, spoon yogurt into cheese cloth that has been quadrupled. Draw the corners of the cloth up and tie together. Suspend above a bowl for 2 hours so that water can drip out.

Can you freeze homemade tzatziki? ›

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 pairs well with tzatziki sauce? ›

Tzatziki is good friends with grilled and roasted meats, especially juicy lamb chops. Serve it up with a crunchy fattoush salad – a combination of torn pitta, cooling cucumber, ripe tomatoes, sweet lettuce and refreshing mint – for a bonus hit of fresh, summer flavour.

How to tell if tzatziki has gone bad? ›

Consumers can identify the expiration of tzatziki sauce through:
  1. Odor: An off-smell is indicative of spoilage.
  2. Texture: Separation or a slimy consistency suggests deterioration.
  3. Taste: A sour or unusual flavor is a sign that tzatziki should not be consumed.
May 1, 2024

Does tzatziki contain mayonnaise? ›

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

What is Greek yogurt made of? ›

Greek yogurt is made from cow's milk that is strained to remove the whey, this results in a thicker consistency compared to natural yogurt. It also has a tangier flavour and can often be used as a healthier substitute to mayonnaise, sour cream or crème fraîche.

What are the facts about tzatziki? ›

Greek-style tzatziki sauce is commonly served as a meze, to be eaten with bread, fried eggplant, or zucchini. Tzatziki is made of strained yogurt (usually from sheep or goat milk) mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and dill or mint or parsley.

What's the difference between tzatziki and hummus? ›

I grew up eating Greek tzatziki, and I ended up loving and eating hummus (Middle Eastern dip made of chickpeas) and baba ganoush (Middle Eastern dip made of eggplant) too. Tzatziki is usually not vegan due of it consisting of greek yoghurt, I however have made it vegan.

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