Homemade Tzatziki Recipe (2024)

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October 14, 2018
Updated July 8, 2019

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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!

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!

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!

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!

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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