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World’s Best Tzatziki

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By: 94 Comments

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This may just be the best tzatziki recipe ever! Refreshing cucumber, creamy Greek yogurt, and zingy lemon make it the perfect condiment for just about everything.

Best tzatziki recipe with pita bread and veggies on a marble table.

Greece is pretty far up there in my list of favorite countries, and this is probably largely due to it being the home of the best sauce known to man, TZATZIKI! And while I’d like to begin a business of importing Greek tzatziki to then redistribute across all of America so everyone might bask in its glory, I will instead just give you the secrets to the World’s Best Tzatziki recipe.

How to make tzatziki video

Best tzatziki recipe with pita bread and veggies on a marble table.

What yogurt do you use for tzatziki?

To make homemade tzatziki, you’ll need to get yourself some good, plain Greek yogurt. For best results, strain the moisture from the yogurt by spooning it into a cheesecloth (or a few layer of paper towels), setting it into a mesh sieve, and letting the excess moisture drip out.

Ingredients for best tzatziki recipe on marble table.

Do you peel cucumber to make tzatziki?

Short answer: you don’t have to! To make the World’s Best Tzatziki recipe you’ll need a cup of cucumber (1 big or 2 small, you can guestimate). If yours has seeds, get those outa there before anything. I like to leave the peel on for more nutrients and fiber (it doesn’t compromise the flavor)!

Sprinkle with a touch of salt then lay the cucumber out flat on a few layers of paper towels and let sit while you prepare the other ingredients. The salt helps to draw out moisture from the cucumber!

Ingredients for best tzatziki recipe on marble table.
Ingredients for best tzatziki recipe on marble table.

How do you make Greek tzatziki?

After you have your thick Greek yogurt and shredded cucumber, the rest is pretty simple. Finely chop 1 tablespoons of dill, mince 2 cloves of garlic, and measure out 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or white wine vinegar. You can let the yogurt sit for a few hours, or half an hour if you’re like me and want tzatziki NOW!  Mix it all together and voila!

Best tzatziki recipe in a bowl on a marble table.

More healthy dips you’ll love

Best tzatziki recipe in a bowl on a marble table.

Be sure to try this tzatziki on

Best tzatziki recipe with pita bread and veggies on a marble table.

World’s Best Tzatziki Recipe

4.24 from 110 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Author: Sarah Bond
Calories: 40kcal
Servings: 3 cups
This is the best tzatziki recipe! Refreshing cucumber, creamy Greek yogurt, and zingy lemon make it the perfect condiment for just about everything.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups plain Greek yogurt 480 g, can use dairy-free
  • 1 cup shredded or diced cucumber 200 g
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice or white wine vinegar 30 mL
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tbsp chopped dill
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Thicken yogurt: Strain yogurt using a cheesecloth or paper towel for 30 minutes to 3 hours to remove excess moisture (can skip this step if you're in a hurry).
  • Prep cucumber: Meanwhile, sprinkle a pinch of salt onto shredded or diced cucumber and spoon into cheesecloth or paper towels. Let sit for a few minutes then wring it out to draw out moisture.
  • Mix: Mix together yogurt, cucumber, dill, garlic, and lemon. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Tips & Tricks

  • Add a touch of extra-virgin olive oil for flavor and shine.
  • Serve with pita, veggies, on Roasted Chickpea Gyros, or really anything!
  • The flavors become less tangy as you let them sit, so your tzatziki might just be best the next day. The gift that keeps on giving.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.25cups Calories: 40kcal (2%) Carbohydrates: 3.2g (1%) Protein: 1.7g (3%) Fat: 2.4g (4%) Saturated Fat: 1.5g (9%) Cholesterol: 8mg (3%) Sodium: 50mg (2%) Potassium: 103mg (3%) Fiber: 0.1g Sugar: 2.7g (3%) Calcium: 50mg (5%) Iron: 0.2mg (1%)
Did You Make This?

Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!

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Some photos from when this recipe was originally published (fun fact: it was the very first recipe posted on Live Eat Learn!) Thanks so much for stopping by and for making easy recipes like the World’s Best Tzatziki possible.

This is the best tzatziki recipe! Refreshing cucumber, creamy Greek yogurt, and zingy lemon make it the perfect condiment for just about everything.
This is the best tzatziki recipe! Refreshing cucumber, creamy Greek yogurt, and zingy lemon make it the perfect condiment for just about everything.

Reader Interactions

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  2. Emily says

    Made this just now along with the roasted chickpea gyros! So delicious! You can enjoy this with just about anything, 🙂5 stars

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      I always make extra so I can put it on salads and use it as a dip for the whole week 🙂 Plus the flavors get better after a day or two. So happy to hear you liked it!

  3. Desiree Johnson says

    I made these over the weekend and they were fabulous! I used smoked spanish paprika, so the chickpeas had a nice smokey flavor. I will definitely make these again.5 stars

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Oh sounds delicious! I bet the smokey flavor paired well with the tzatziki. So happy you enjoyed it!

  4. laurie says

    NOT MY USUAL KIND OF MEAL, BUT HAVE BEEN WNATING TO TRY GYROS. EVEN HUBBY LIKED THEM! VERY GOOD AND INTERESTING FLAVOR5 stars

    Reply

  5. Casey says

    Making these tonight with the roasted chick pea Gyros and fresh pitas 🙂 the only thing that rubs me wrong is the suggestion to buy low-fat yogurt- noted that it’s good for you, as if the whole milk version is a less healthy choice. Not true! To each their own but from my own research I choose to buy the whole milk yogurt. This tzaziki will be delicious regardless and I look forward to the meal!

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Hi Casey, thanks so much for dropping by and I hope your gyros turned out tasty! Regarding the fat content of the yogurt, I tend to go for low fat yogurts as the whole milk yogurts are high in saturated fat, but the other macros aren’t actually all that affected. Let’s look at the nutrition for Fage’s Total yogurt:
      1 cup of full fat yogurt has 220 calories, 11 g fat, 9 g carbs, and 20 g protein.
      1 cup 0% fat yogurt has 130 calories, 0 g fat, 9 g carbs, and 23 g protein.
      While I’m not the type to go replacing everything with a low fat alternative (low fat mayonnaise should be against the law it’s so awful), looking at the macros and comparing the ingredients leads me to choose the low fat yogurts.
      But yes, to each their own! This recipe is great with whichever variety of Greek yogurt suits you! 🙂

    • Sarah says

      Hi Jessica, I try to eat mine within 5 to 7 or so days. (But the flavor is BEST on the second day, after all the flavors have really blended together)

  7. Joelle says

    I buy the giant tub of Fage 0% at Costco, and just recently got on a cottage cheese and fruit kick instead, so I had lots of yogurt on hand. Hubby LOVES tzatziki, and usually buys that at Costco as well. Long story short, I thought we had plenty, and after we came home from Costco, realized I was wrong. Whipped this up and it’s TITS! So delicious and much tastier than the one we thought we liked. Stupid easy too! Thanks so much:)5 stars

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Hahah so happy to hear, Joelle! If you’re like me you probably put it on EVERYTHING, so the batches never last long 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!

  8. Shaila says

    Made this for dinner, the whole family loved it. Since I have meat eaters I cooked a turkey tenderloin and sliced it up, just as delicious without.5 stars

    Reply

  9. Dani says

    Amaziiiing, and so easy to do once you find the cheesecloth! (used a triangular gauze I had hidden in my medikit and worked perfectly)5 stars

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Haha I love your outside the box thinking, Dani! I usually use a paper towel if I don’t have cheesecloth, but medical gauze works well too! 🙂

  10. Felicia says

    I had to substitute lemon for lime (note *it does not take quite as much) because that’s what I had on hand. My husband was skeptical about it, but he really liked it!!

    Reply

  11. Billie says

    Your recipes look delish. Can’t wait to try the gyro. Tzatziki looks good too. A little secret for our Tzatziki in Greece is to add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to it. Not only does it make it more tasty but adds all the benefits of olive oil too.5 stars

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Thanks so much, Billie! And you’re so right about the olive oil. I drizzle a little bit in sometimes and definitely adds a boost of flavor (and healthy fats!) 🙂

  12. bill Bradley says

    I noticed in your directions, you call for 2 tbs. chopped dill. The ingredients say 1 tbs. chopped dill. Just thought i’d mention it.

    Reply

  14. Noel says

    I made this with 4 cloves of garlic and instead of vinegar or lemon juice, used the liquid from Kosher dill pickles but also cut up dill sprigs and used a little lemon juice. It is fantastic. Got the recipe from a Greek restaurant that makes it’s own tatziki and pita bread and it was the best I’ve ever tasted. I do drain the yogurt and cucumbers and it stays thick and creamy.

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Oh that sounds great! I’m not particularly fond of pickles, but I bet the acidity would be great in this! And I LOVE homemade pita. Have you tried it?

    • Sarah says

      Hi Livia! Absolutely! Just substitute fresh dill with 1/3 dry (so 1 teaspoon of dry dill)

  16. Tina Sommer says

    Here’s another tip for a promising youthful cook – Never use artificial lemon juice!
    Especially if you’re going through the trouble to make your own Tzatsiki sauce. Always fresh!

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Hey James! I haven’t tried it with mint before but another reader did and said it was tasty! Perhaps mix the mint into half of it and taste. Otherwise, I make it without dill quite often and it’s still tasty 😀

  19. Juana de la Gaviota says

    Re leaving the cucumber unpeeled: Supermarket cucumbers have a coating as a preservative, and most people don’t realize it. I do–it’s wax., and it’s awful.

    If you don’t believe me, buy a cucumber at a supermarket and another at a farmer’s market and see how long each lasts in the fridge.

    Reply

  20. John Harlow says

    Sounds good. Mine is very similar but I add a touch of Olive Oil and a bit of sour cream to make it richer.5 stars

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Sounds nice, John! I also tend to add some good olive oil (when I remember to), but haven’t tried the sour cream before!

  21. Allie says

    Like John, always use our cream and olive oil. Both make a noticeable difference.

    Thanks for posting this recipe.5 stars

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Sounds like I’ll have to try it out next time! It’s hard to find sour cream here in the Netherlands, so perhaps I’ll try with crème freche.

  22. Melanie Witte says

    I grew up with this stuff in Germany. We make it half Greek yoghurt and half sour cream or even creme fraiche. Using low-fat or even fat-free versions is an absolute no-no.4 stars

    Reply

  23. Weedpicker565 says

    I had to buy the cuke’s cause they are not ready yet but the garden gave me dill and the tips of the garlic plants. Using vegan yogurt. Anyone know how to make vegan yogurt?

    I’ll let you know how it goes…big fireworks party tonight!!!

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Hi Dan, do you not like dill? You can easily omit it from this recipe (but it is an ingredient in traditional tzatziki, so I’ve included it). 😀

  25. Cate says

    I was thinking of making this but I can’t get past the bottled, fake lemon juice. I don’t understand why someone would use this when buying and prepping other fresh ingredients. Slicing and squeezing a fresh lemon is so simple and inexpensive. Bottled lemon tastes horrible, is more costly, not to mention entirely Eco-unfriendly.

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Hi Cate! I actually agree, but made this recipe long ago when I didn’t entirely know the difference (it’s actually the first recipe on the blog!) Will be remaking the post soon with updated ingredients and photos 😀 Thanks for pointing that out!

  26. William R Homberg says

    You can use cheap cotton dish towels to drain the liquids. Just set the towel on a sieve or colander and the juice should drain. The towels are also strong enough to squeeze out if you are in a hurry.

    Reply

  27. Natalie says

    Doubled the garlic 😃,and added a TOUCH of fresh mint….can’t WAIT to try it in a few hours….so far so FABULOUS!!

    Reply

  31. Jenny says

    This was seriously amazing! The best tzatziki I’ve ever eaten! Super easy too. I used mint and dill, and it was wonderful!5 stars

    Reply

  32. Ryan Andrew Berends says

    Very good right out of the mixing. We didn’t dry the yogurt or the cucumber because we were hungry and it was late. Put in the chick pea gyros and went to town. It was delicious as it was. Looking forward to having it tomorrow after it sits for a bit!4 stars

    Reply

  34. Wesley Bielinski says

    Except for the dill, this is Alton Brown’s recipe for Tzatziki with the same directions to remove moisture from both yogurt and cucumbers.5 stars

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      I believe he also uses mint and red wine vinegar, which I’m not a huge fan of in my tzatziki. But generally the principles are the same!

  36. Patti Goodman says

    Dang it!! I’m all set to make this, but I forgot the dill!!!!! Any way I could possibly use a dash of dill pickle juice instead?? I do have cilantro, but that’s not dilly lol

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Ah that’s always the worst missing just 1 ingredient! Fortunately in this case the recipe us fine without the dill 😀

  37. Patti Goodman says

    I actually did put about a tablespoon of dill pickle juice along with the lemon juice, cukes and some chopped cilantro. It was delish but next time I will make it per recipe lol

    Reply

  39. Vikki says

    I tried another tzatziki recipe and it was very disappointed by the bitter taste…! Your recipe was delicious and as close to others i have tasted…! Thank you for this recipe….! Now my keeper..!5 stars

    Reply

  40. Jill says

    Keep that cucumber juice for a delicious cocktail! I added club soda, a splash of gin and a bit of simple syrup.

    Reply

  41. James says

    Thank you for providing this tzatziki recipe. Local Sams Club has gyro meat for sandwiches but stopped carrying the sauce. My wife and adult stepdaughter have never had gyro sandwiches and I have been trying to get a healthier diet for us so this is one of the changes from hamburgers and other high fat foods they are used to eating.

    Reply

  43. Tracy L Crews says

    I always use this recipe and get rave reviews of my taziki! Thanks Sarah!
    I never strain my yogurt as i have a favorite brand that works great! Siggs!
    If i don’t have cheesecloth I just use a thin dish towel – but definitely you need to strain and squeeze those cucumbers!5 stars

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Yay! So happy you’re loving this recipe 😀 I’ll have to try that brand, it’d be nice not to have to strain the yogurt!

  45. Alisha says

    Love this! Was searching for easy dips for our dinner tonight and ran across Sarah’s website. I am excited to try this dip and will be back for more!

    Reply

  46. Sandra says

    This turned out delicious, but it makes a lot! I wish I had halved the amount of yogurt as it was just for the two of us but taste wise this was great!

    Reply