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Home Recipes Condiments

5 Minute Tzatziki Sauce (Extra Easy)

4.41 from 147 votes
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By: Sarah BondUpdated: Aug 17, 2023 119 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.

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

Let’s make homemade tzatziki! With just a few simple ingredients like grated cucumber, creamy Greek yogurt, dill, and zingy lemon, this quick and easy tzatziki recipe is super versatile, and a refreshing sauce, dressing, dip or spread.

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!

But first, what is tzatziki? Tzatziki (pronounced tuh·ZEE·kee) is a yogurt- and cucumber-based sauce that originates in Southeast Europe and Middle Eastern cuisine.

And while I’d like to begin a business of importing 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. This is one of my favorite recipes in the realm of homemade dips and sauces (rivaled only by homemade hummus and this easy baba ganoush).

Tzatziki in a glass bowl on marble background.

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.

Best tzatziki recipe with pita bread and veggies on a 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!

Shredded cucumber and cucumber juice.

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 zero hours if you’re like me and want tzatziki NOW! Mix it all together and voila! You have a healthy, low carb tzatziki sauce with just 5 minutes of hands-on work.

Ingredients to make tzatziki in a bowl.

Is tzatziki healthy?

This sauce became a favorite of mine while I was studying nutrition, because not only is it packed with flavor, but it’s also healthy!

To really know if tzatziki is healthy, you’ve got to look at its main ingredient – Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is a healthy nutrition powerhouse, containing more protein than its traditional yogurt counterpart. Add in to that the fiber-packed cucumber and antioxidant-heavy lemon juice and you have yourself a healthy tzatziki sauce!

This recipe is suitable for either full-fat or nonfat Greek yogurt. But what does the fat percentage in Greek yogurt mean? Full-fat greek yogurt is usually 5%, meaning it is 5% of fat by weight. Nonfat Greek yogurt, on the other hand, has had all the fat removed. They both have their benefits, with full-fat providing a richer mouthfeel and more satiation, while nonfat has far less calories. The choice is yours!

Stirring together tzatziki.

Ingredient tip

Speaking of using different fat contents, you can also use sour cream to make tzatziki! It can be used 1:1 for the yogurt, or you can simply replace some of the yogurt with sour cream. The fat content of most sour creams is about 20%, making sour cream tzatziki ultra-creamy and rich.

Uses For Tzatziki Sauce

Tzatziki is great as a veggie or bread dip, but it can also be used in a number of Mediterranean inspired recipes!

  • Roasted Chickpea Gyros
  • Mediterranean Roasted Veggies
  • Portobello Mushroom Gyros
  • Mediterranean Kale Salad
Best tzatziki recipe with pita bread and veggies on a marble table.
Best tzatziki recipe with pita bread and veggies on a marble table.

5-Minute Tzatziki Sauce (Extra Easy)

4.41 from 147 votes
Prep: 5 minutes minutes
Total: 5 minutes minutes
Author: Sarah Bond
Calories: 40kcal
Servings: 12 servings
Print Rate
Let's make homemade tzatziki! With just a few simple ingredients like grated cucumber, creamy Greek yogurt, dill, and zingy lemon, this quick and easy tzatziki recipe is super versatile, and a refreshing sauce, dressing, dip or spread.

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).
    Yogurt thickening in a cloth.
  • 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.
    Shredded cucumber and cucumber juice.
  • Mix: Mix together yogurt, cucumber, dill, garlic, and lemon. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    Stirring together tzatziki.

Tips & Tricks

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.
Store tzatziki in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

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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Fun fact: This was the very first recipe posted on Live Eat Learn! Here’s a photo from way back when I first published it. Thanks so much for stopping by and for making easy recipes like this 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.

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  1. Sharon bailey says

    Posted on 2/1 at 9:42 am

    Hi, is it possible to use dried herbs in a cold dish like this, if fresh isn’t available? If so, how please.

    Love your recipes. Big thanks, Sharon5 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah Bond says

      Posted on 2/1 at 1:37 pm

      You can, but I find that the flavors are a little more musty when using dried. Just substitute fresh dill with 1/3 dry (so 1 teaspoon of dry dill).

  2. Deborah says

    Posted on 4/24 at 10:16 am

    I’ve made Tzatziki Sauce a few times and I find it too watery. I even strained the moisture out of the cucumber. What am I doing wrong? I ended up buying it already made….3 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah Bond says

      Posted on 4/25 at 11:59 am

      It helps to actually squeeze the water out of the cucumber (wrap it in a clean towel and squeeze the water out). You can also strain your yogurt by placing it in a clean towel and letting it strain over a bowl for a few hours.

  3. SKE says

    Posted on 7/3 at 8:53 am

    This is perfect Tzatziki!! I did squeeze the grated cucumbers to remove extra liquid and I added a little extra dill and lemon juice just for personal tastes.
    I’ve tried other recipes that were out no where close to the Tzatziki I love so much! Thank you for sharing this! It’s absolutely delicious!5 stars

    Reply
  4. Grant says

    Posted on 7/18 at 11:17 am

    it good5 stars

    Reply
    • Grant says

      Posted on 7/18 at 11:18 am

      yum yum dip5 stars

  5. Jane says

    Posted on 9/3 at 2:44 pm

    I did/do make this whenever I’m making kabobs (sry I do eat chicken on occasion) I prefer finely chopped cucumber because it’s easier to get the water out and then I go overboard with the garlic and lemon juice. Before serving I drizzle with a little evoo. Then I add it as a side to briam. It’s a wonderful Greek veggie dish that has sliced potatoes, zucchini, green pepper ,red onion, tomatoes and lots of garlic oregano and EVOO – add some eggplant too if u like. Then make a really crusty Greek bread stuffed with feta. Yum! All those flavours burst in your mouth.5 stars

    Reply
  6. Cheri says

    Posted on 9/21 at 9:30 am

    I hate Greek yogurt. Can you use regular yogurt?5 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah Bond says

      Posted on 9/21 at 3:14 pm

      Yes! I would just be sure to strain it before using to give this tzatziki the best possible texture 😀

    • Mel says

      Posted on 12/29 at 6:31 am

      😮😮 Regular yogurt does not give the same flavour . I know it’s your personal choice ,but it should be full fat yogurt and NOT trendy low fat yogurts .

    • Brenda Mowrey says

      Posted on 9/10 at 1:57 pm

      We use sour cream. It’s good too. Greek yogurt was a bit strong for us.5 stars

  7. Ben says

    Posted on 9/24 at 3:33 pm

    Saucin it up super yummy style.5 stars

    Reply
  8. Lea O says

    Posted on 9/25 at 9:46 am

    Made this for a dinner party, it was amazing. Followed your instructions for draining yogurt and the cucumber with the result being such a treat – way less loose and wet.

    Reply
  9. Dahlia Carrasquillo says

    Posted on 2/5 at 10:44 am

    First time making it,delicious with my falafel on pita bread,lettuce,tomatoes and thinly slice red onions.5 stars

    Reply
  10. Alexis says

    Posted on 2/19 at 1:18 pm

    These are truly tasty. They don’t sit too heavy in the stomach, and are packed with nutritious goodness! I served them with hot sauce, which might be controversial but they were great. Will definitely make these again!5 stars

    Reply
  11. Martin Tusler says

    Posted on 4/28 at 9:55 am

    I lived in Greece as a child and this is the closest recipe I have found to the tzatziki of my youth. I have the recipe in my recipe notebook. I came here today because I saw it had only 4.4 stars which is a travesty. My older version is labeled World’s Best Tzatziki Recipe. I agree5 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah Bond says

      Posted on 4/28 at 11:00 am

      I’m so happy to hear it, Martin! This means so much, thanks for dropping in to leave a review! 😀

  12. stephen mellini says

    Posted on 5/28 at 2:27 am

    THANKS My maternal grandparents were born in Greece and I lived there in my 20’s while playing pro basketball in luxembourg and my brother in athens. i had the best of both mediterranean worlds growing up in long island as my paternal grandparents were both born in italy where i also lived in my 20s as a traveller/esl teacher.. to this day i make my own yogurt at home and let it thicken up to almost labneh consistency. it is so good and make the best tsatziki thanks love your site.5 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah Bond says

      Posted on 5/29 at 3:53 pm

      It means so much that you like this recipe, Stephen! Thanks for your comment! 😀

  13. Carol Enright says

    Posted on 7/17 at 3:37 pm

    I made mine with sour cream, squeezed the water out of cucumbers and mine is really runny, how can I thicken it up? Or is it suppose to be runny? The taste is great.4 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah Bond says

      Posted on 7/17 at 4:24 pm

      Did you salt the cucumbers before squeezing the water out? That should help get as much water out as possible!

  14. Michaela DeBiase says

    Posted on 8/10 at 5:22 pm

    Looks delicious but needs way more fresh dill5 stars

    Reply
  15. Christina says

    Posted on 8/30 at 9:53 am

    Have you ever tried to make this with a vegan type yogurt? I’d like to keep the chickpea gyros vegan.

    Reply
    • Sarah Bond says

      Posted on 8/30 at 10:35 am

      Yes this tzatziki works well with vegan yogurt!

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