Tzatziki Sauce from Scratch: The Best Greek Tzatziki Recipe

Use a few easy ingredients to make your own Tzatziki Sauce from scratch and add some homemade flavor to your next Mediterranean meal.

Jump to Recipe

If you love Greek food and the fresh, vibrant tastes of the Middle East, then making homemade tzatziki sauce is a must. This authentic Greek tzatziki recipe is a great recipe for creating a creamy cucumber yogurt dip that’s fresh, tangy, and perfect as a gyro sauce, salad dressing, or simple cucumber sauce. Whether you’re enjoying it at your favorite Greek restaurant or making it for the entire family at home, this easy tzatziki sauce recipe brings the true fresh flavors of Greek cuisine to your table.

Why Tzatziki Sauce?

So, I’m going to be up-front with you on this recipe post. This one is all Justin. He found out quickly when he was making Tzatziki sauce just how much I can not stand cucumbers! I don’t like the smell. I don’t like the taste. And our whole house smelled of cucumbers for a while after he made this. He has used cucumbers before to make homemade pickles, but the smell didn’t permeate the entire house with that recipe. Maybe you remember, in the late 90s and early 2000s, when the scent Cucumber Melon was so popular from Bath and Body Works? I had to be the only girl who didn’t like it.

Last year, we had Harry Potter Club once a month. Our friends would come over, we would make yummy food, and watch a Harry Potter movie. Well, at the end of the year, once we watched all of the movies, we decided to rename it to Movie Club and we pick a different movie each month. Really, it’s an excuse and reason to get together, but we base it around a movie. Last month, when we were trying to think of what food to make, Justin decided he wanted to “go Greek,” even though it had nothing to do with the movie we were watching (Princess Bride).

I don’t care for much Greek food since I don’t like olives, feta cheese, and especially cucumbers. Therefore, I left last month’s movie night cooking completely up to him. I helped out with a few things, but he decided on the menu, found recipes, did the grocery shopping, and prepped most of the food.

One of the things he wanted to do was make homemade Tzatziki sauce to go with everything else. He found a recipe online (here) but then we made some changes to it, as we always do.

Simple Ingredients for the Best Tzatziki Sauce

This recipe uses simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store, focusing on fresh produce and quality dairy products for the best flavor:

• Full-fat plain Greek yogurt (or whole milk Greek yogurt): The creamy base that makes tzatziki so delicious. You can also use plain yogurt or add a touch of sour cream for a richer texture.
• Fresh cucumber: Preferably English cucumbers for their thin skin and fewer seeds, but regular cucumbers work as well.
• Fresh garlic cloves: Essential for that punch of authentic flavor.
• Fresh dill and fresh mint: These fresh herbs add a fragrant, herbal note that’s signature to tzatziki.
• Fresh lemon juice and lemon zest: Brightens the sauce and adds a touch of acidity.
• Olive oil: A drizzle adds smoothness and richness.
• A pinch of salt and black pepper to season.
• Optional: A splash of red wine vinegar for an extra tang.

To prepare, you’ll need a box grater, fine-mesh sieve, or fine mesh sieve, large bowl, medium bowl, and paper towels or a kitchen towel to help remove excess moisture.

Preparing the Cucumber: Handling Excess Water for the Creamiest Sauce

One of the most important steps in making the best tzatziki is dealing with the high water content of cucumbers. Cucumbers, especially English cucumbers and regular cucumbers, contain much water that can make watery tzatziki instead of thick and creamy.

Here’s how to handle it:

1. Grate the cucumber using a box grater or a food processor.
2. Place the grated cucumber into a fine-mesh sieve or wrap it in a kitchen towel or paper towels.
3. Press or squeeze gently to remove the excess water or excess moisture. This step is crucial for avoiding watery tzatziki.
4. Save the cucumber water if you want to add it sparingly back later, but generally, aim to keep as little liquid as possible for the best results.

Tips for Achieving the Creamiest Tzatziki Sauce

• Always use full-fat Greek yogurt for a creamy sauce that holds together well.
• Remove as much excess moisture as possible from the cucumber.
• Use fresh garlic rather than garlic powder for authentic flavor.
• Opt for fresh herbs like fresh dill and fresh mint; if unavailable, dried dill can be a substitute but won’t provide the same vibrancy.
• Store tzatziki in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep those fresh flavors intact for up to three days.
• Stir before serving, as the sauce may separate slightly after chilling.

Serving Suggestions: From Pita Bread to Pita Chips

Tzatziki is traditionally served alongside pita bread or stuffed into gyros. For a crunchy twist, try dipping pita chips into this creamy tzatziki sauce. It’s also a delicious salad dressing or a dip for fresh veggies during the summer months.

This Greek tzatziki sauce recipe pairs beautifully with grilled meats, seafood, or roasted vegetables and can be a fresh addition to any Mediterranean-inspired meal.

Variations and Different Ways to Enjoy Tzatziki

• Use sour cream or goat yogurt for a tangier or creamier texture.
• Add a touch of red wine vinegar for extra acidity.
• Try different herbs or spices to create your own unique twist on this classic Greek tzatziki recipe.
• Blend in extra fresh mint or dried dill based on your preference.

FAQ: Common Questions About Tzatziki Sauce

Why is my tzatziki watery?
Make sure to drain your grated cucumber thoroughly using a fine-mesh sieve or paper towels to remove excess moisture. This is key to avoiding watery tzatziki.

Can I use regular yogurt instead of Greek yogurt?
Yes, but Greek yogurt is thicker and creamier, so your tzatziki will have better texture and consistency.

How do I grate a cucumber efficiently?
Using a box grater is simple and effective. You can also use a food processor fitted with a grating attachment for an efficient way.

How should I store tzatziki?
Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 3 days for the best flavor.

Tzatziki Sauce Step by Step

Ingredients

• 1 English cucumber
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 16 oz greek yogurt
• 1 tsp dill

Preparation

Start by partially peeling the cucumber. Basically, you want to give it stripes. Use a peeler to make lines on the cucumber. This allows you to get a good amount of the peel in the sauce, but not too much to make it bitter.

Slice the cucumber into pieces about 1/4″ thick. The size doesn’t need to be precise because you are going to shred it, but enough that it will shred easily.

Place the cucumber in a food processor and pulse until the cucumber is well-grated. If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a box grater (such as one used for cheese) to grate the cucumber as well.

Sprinkle the salt on the cucumber and give it a quick stir. Drain the moisture from the cucumber in one of two ways:

• Place the cucumber in a mesh sieve over a bowl to let the moisture drain (pictured below)
• Use a clean dish towel or cheesecloth to squeeze the moisture out of the cucumber

Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, combine the garlic, vinegar, and olive oil.

Add the grated cucumber to the garlic and stir to combine. Cover and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve the sauce.

About 10 minutes before serving, remove the cucumber mixture from the refrigerator and stir in the yogurt.

Sprinkle with fresh dill to garnish and serve immediately.

Tzatziki Sauce Leftovers

Storage: Leftover tzatziki should always be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain its fresh flavors and creamy texture. It’s best consumed within 2 to 3 days, as the quality starts to decline after that.

Freezing: While tzatziki can be frozen, doing so may change its texture slightly, causing the yogurt to separate and become grainy upon thawing. If you choose to freeze it, place the sauce in a freezer-safe container and thaw it slowly in the fridge before gently stirring it back together.

Recipe

Tzatziki Sauce from Scratch

Use a few easy ingredients to make your own Tzatziki Sauce from scratch and add some homemade flavor to your next Mediterranean meal. 

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Chilling Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Course:

Homemade Staple

Cuisine:

American

|

Greek

Keyword:

cucumber

|

dill

|

sauce

|

yogurt

Servings: 3 cups

5 from 6 votes

Ingredients

• 1 English cucumber
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 16 oz greek yogurt
• 1 tsp dill

Recommended Equipment

• Vegetable Peeler
• Chef Knife
• Food Processor
• Mesh Strainer
• Mixing Bowls – Stainless Steel

Instructions

• Start by partially peeling the cucumber making stripes on it
• Slice the cucumber into pieces about 1/4″ thick
• Place the cucumber in a food processor and pulse until the cucumber is well-grated
• Sprinkle the salt on the cucumber and give it a quick stir
• Drain the moisture from the cucumber in one of two ways: Either place the cucumber in a mesh sieve over a bowl to let the moisture drain OR use a clean dish towel or cheesecloth to squeeze the moisture out of the cucumber
• Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, combine the garlic, vinegar, and olive oil
• Add the grated cucumber to the garlic and stir to combine
• Cover and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve the sauce
• About 10 minutes before serving, remove the cucumber mixture from the refrigerator and stir in the yogurt
• Sprinkle with fresh dill to garnish and serve immediately

Click the buttons below to share and print this recipe

Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Nutrition Facts

Tzatziki Sauce from Scratch

Amount Per Serving

Calories 151 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Cholesterol 7mg2%

Sodium 832mg35%

Potassium 376mg11%

Carbohydrates 10g3%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 16g32%

Vitamin A 105IU2%

Vitamin C 4mg5%

Calcium 190mg19%

Iron 0.5mg3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Greek Recipes

• Open-Faced Greek Pita
• Pita Bread Pockets From Scratch
• Salad with Warm Potatoes and Hummus
• Lemon-Tahini Chicken with Green Beans
• Greek Chicken Salad
• Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• How to Make Easy Layered Homemade Greek Baklava
• Vegetable Pastitsio in a 9×13 Pan
• Feta-Topped Chicken
• Greek Omelet
• How to Make Dill Pickles at Home
• Tzatziki Sauce from Scratch
• Cucumber Summer Salad
• Rosemary Steaks with Red Pepper Feta Relish

Savory Homemade Staples

• Crispy French Fried Onions Copycat Recipe
• Pan Gravy with only 5 Ingredients
• Turkey Gravy from Scratch
• Homemade French Fries in 20 Minutes
• Thai Basil Pesto
• Sourdough Starter
• Bacon on the Grill
• Homemade Ketchup
• Bread Dipping Oil with Essential Oils
• How to Brine a Corned Beef
• Green Chimichurri Sauce
• Pasta Sauce: Homemade in under 30 minutes
• How to Make Homemade Brown Gravy with No Drippings
• Onion Soup Mix from Scratch
• Cream of Chicken Soup (Homemade Alternative for Condensed Soup)
• Fajita Seasoning Made from Scratch
• Tzatziki Sauce from Scratch
• Meaty Marinara Sauce in the Slow Cooker
• Homemade Vegetable Broth from Kitchen Scraps

Yogurt Recipes

• Simple Strawberry Yogurt Parfait
• Everything Yogurt Parfait
• Tropical Yogurt Parfait
• Mixed Berry Yogurt Parfait
• Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits 4 Ways
• Dairy-Free Sour Cream Substitute with Only 2 Ingredients
• Super Easy Chia Pudding
• Strawberry Banana Smoothie: McDonald’s Copycat
• Green Goddess Dressing
• Pumpkin Pie Healthy Smoothie
• Tzatziki Sauce from Scratch
• White Chocolate Strawberry Dessert Bars