Homemade Tzatziki Sauce

Top gyros, salads, chicken and more with this homemade Tzatziki Sauce recipe. Studded with chunky cucumbers, this creamy sauce is tangy without being overpowering or bitter. Makes 8 servings.

Close up of a bowl of tzatziki sauce surrounded by carrot slivers and pita chips

2023 Update: This recipe was originally shared in Febraury 2013. I have simplified this recipe, as well as more specific measurements according to ingredient weight. The post has been updated to include new photos, as well as several more tips and tricks. I hope you love this sauce!

This should come as no surprise by now, but I didn’t get into yogurt — or really like any kind other than my beloved Gogurt from childhood — until I was living alone and responsible for eating breakfast before going into work and pretending to be a “grown up.”

I was always looking for something that was filling and relatively healthy… and after unsuccessfully trying to become a cereal person, I tried yogurt and fell in love.

What in the world does my love of yogurt have to do with Tzatziki sauce?

It’s the base ingredient, combined with sour cream, to make this tzatziki, y’all, and let me be the first to tell you that once you try this, you’ll want to put it on EVERYTHING.

join our party!

get our latest recipes delivered to your inbox every week — plus all my entertaining tips and tricks!


    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Why I love this recipe:

    We keep a jar of this sauce in our fridge at all times. We love it on a variety of different foods.

    Over the years, I’ve tweaked my recipe for this tzatziki, though. While I used to blend it in the food processor for a smoother sauce, I’ve been leaning into a chunkier sauce in recent years.

    The key to it? English cucumbers.

    Why? The skins are easy to eat and there are no chunky seeds to throw you off. If you’re making this recipe with regular cucumbers, you’ll need to peel them and remove the seeds before dicing.

    The beauty of this recipe is that it’s full of flavor and you can pair it with most anything.

    Please note that this might not be a traditional Greek tzatziki sauce (or one that’s authentic), but it tastes excellent, and I highly recommend giving it a try!

    Recipes to try this tzatziki sauce recipe with: Grilled Chicken Shawarma | Turkey Shawarma Wraps | Chicken Shawarma Salad

    Ingredients to make homemade tzatziki sauce in bowls on a purple countertop

    What you need to make this recipe:

    The Speckled Palate participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.

    Let’s talk ingredients!

    In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.

    Here’s what you need:

    • English cucumber — you’ll need a single large English cucumber to make this recipe. I like to use these because they do not have seeds and their skin is easier to eat.
    • Olive oil — or another neutral-flavored oil. Extra virgin olive oil also works.
    • White vinegar — this vinegar adds an acidic punch and some balance to other ingredients. There is no substitute. Some recipes might call for fresh lemon juice here.
    • Garlic — freshly minced garlic cloves are the way to go here because they’ll pack more garlic flavor into the sauce. Pre-chopped garlic is awesome, though you’ll need to use more than this recipe calls for to get the garlic flavor. You could also use roasted garlic if you’re feeling fancy.
    • Creamy elements — we’re using a combination of Greek yogurt (full-fat and nonfat are both OK) and sour cream to really up the creaminess of this sauce. Personally, I like to use nonfat yogurt paired with full-fat sour cream for the ultimate creaminess.
    • Spices — we’re using a combination of kosher salt and black pepper to season this tzatziki sauce with. We’re also adding dill. Fresh dill OR dried dill both work, though y’all know I love to use fresh herbs when I have them.

    What to serve with tzatziki dip:

    How to make Tzatziki Sauce with Sour Cream and Yogurt

    Prep your ingredients. This means chopping the English cucumber, as well as measuring everything out.

    Please note that some tzatziki recipes call for shredded cucumber or grated cucumbers. We’re dicing ours here because I appreciate the texture. I have not tried this recipe with those, though I know more liquid is released when you do that, so you’d need to pat them dry with a paper towel.

    Measure the yogurt and sour cream into a bowl. Stir together until combined.

    Add the seasonings. Pour in the olive oil, white vinegar and garlic. Season with salt, pepper and dill. Stir until combined.

    Add the cucumbers. Stir the sour cream, yogurt and cucumber gently together until the mixture is combined.

    Serve immediately… or store in an airtight food storage container until time to serve.

    Tzatziki sauce in a large bowl with a rubber spatula after stirring

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you freeze tzatziki sauce?

    No. If you freeze this sauce, the texture will go weird on you because the cucumbers are high in moisture content.

    How long does tzatziki last in fridge?

    This sauce will keep in airtight food storage container in the fridge for 4-5 days.

    How to thicken tzatziki sauce?

    We like our tzatziki sauce thick, which is why we use whole cucumbers instead of blended. If your sauce needs thickening, add equal parts yogurt and sour cream to the desired consistency, then season to taste.

    Close up of a bowl of tzatziki sauce surrounded by carrot slivers and pita chips with the text how to make tzatziki sauce

    What can I use this tzatziki sauce on?

    If you’re looking for inspiration of where to use this recipe, here are a few ideas.

    • Use this sauce as a creamy dressing for salad. It’s a little like ranch, but healthier!
    • Substitute these for ketchup to dip your fries in.
    • Slather it on pita bread… or sandwich bread… and add some creaminess to your sandwich.
    • Serve as a dip alongside pita chips, sliced veggies and more.

    More sauces to try:

    Close up of a bowl of tzatziki sauce surrounded by carrot slivers and pita chips
    Yield: 8 servings

    Tzatziki Sauce

    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes

    Top gyros, salads, chicken and more with this homemade Tzatziki Sauce recipe. Studded with chunky cucumbers, this creamy sauce is tangy without being overpowering or bitter.

    Ingredients

    • 1 large English cucumber, finely diced (1 lb., ~3 cups diced)
    • 1 cup Greek yogurt (260g)
    • 1 cup sour cream (240g)
    • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 2 teaspoons fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon dried dill)

    Instructions

    1. Finely dice the cucumber using a sharp knife. There should be about 3 cups when diced. Set aside.
    2. Measure the yogurt and sour cream into a large mixing bowl. Stir until combined.
    3. Measure in the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper and dill. Stir until combined.
    4. Add cucumbers to the base mixture, stirring until just mixed.
    5. Serve immediately, or chill in refrigerator before enjoying with various dishes!

    Notes

    If using regular cucumbers, you will need to peel them and remove the seeds before finely dicing them to add to the tzatziki sauce.

    How to store: Store in the refrigerator in an airtight food storage container for 4-5 days.

    Editor's note: Previously, this recipe suggested blending everything together in a food processor to make the sauce. While you can still do this, please note that the sauce will be significantly thinner than the sauce shown in these images.

    Recommended Products

    As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    8

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 124Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 152mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g

    Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.

    How much did you love this recipe?

    Follow me on Instagram for more content, and share a photo of your creation with the hashtag #speckledpalate!

    A woman with dark curly hair wearing a black tank top in front of a white wall

    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

    Similar Posts

    Before leaving a comment or rating, ask yourself:

    • Did you make the recipe as directed? If you didn’t or made an ingredient swap, please do not leave a rating. Recipe results are not guaranteed when changes have been made.
    • Is your comment helpful to others? Rude or hateful comments will not be approved. Please remember that this website is run by a real person.
    • Are you complaining about ads? I develop these recipes and provide them to you for free. Advertising allows me to continue to do so at not cost to you. It is also unavoidable on the internet and in everyday life. If you want recipes without ads, please purchase a cookbook or borrow one from your local library.

    19 Comments

    1. Haha! Go-gurt. I often reference this to people and they have no idea what I am talking about. Who are these people? I try to explain that it is yogurt for when you are on the go… most people are not impressed. Huzzah for Tzatziki! I am in love with this stuff. It makes everything better. Much better than Go-gurt… although… Tzatziki for when you are on the go? That could be something.

      1. Oh my goodness. I am SO GLAD that we both know what this whole Go-gurt thing is and was and how it’s, umm, a little gross to think about.

        Hooray for tzatziki and loving it and it basically making the world a better place! And tzatziki on the go could definitely be a thing. Want to go into business and sell the heck out of that? It could be awesome. 😉

    2. I really love yogurty sauces. So tangy and goes with ANYTHING! You think it’ll make a good marinade for chicken? Minus the cucumbers of course. Also Gina’s comment ^^^ made me giggle. 😀

      1. You and me both, Jayne. Yogurty sauces are the best! And this COULD be a good marinade for chicken. Never tried it like that before, but I’d definitely be interested in hearing how it turned out if you did!

    3. I love tzatziki, extra garlicky though 😛 I used to drink those weird YOP things as a kid which is basically liquid yogurt, it grosses me out when I think of it!! These days I just like regular yogurt with a normal consistency!

      Now I feel like Greek food!

      1. One of my favorite places in Baton Rouge had the MOST GARLICKY tzatziki ever. It was delicious… but it was definitely something you didn’t want to eat on a date. 😉 You’d love it, especially if you love this sauce extra garlicky.

        I used to drink those weird yogurt drinks as a kid, and I CRINGE whenever I think of it now. It’s really disgusting. So glad we’re both on the same page here!

      1. Thanks so much, Juliana. It’s delicious and perfect for so many things. And so glad you love the photography, too. Since I’m a photojournalist, I find photographing food challenging and fun… so it’s always nice to hear someone say I’m doing a decent job at it, especially since my job doesn’t allow me to tinker with my subjects. It’s kind of freeing to be able to set up the food the way I want… as opposed to the way it’s presented to me, if that makes any sense.

        Thanks for stopping by!

    4. IIIIIIIIIIII Love it! Tzatziki is such a delicious sauce and I’ve never made it at home. I never thought to use it as a dipper for french fries and love this idea! My french fries will never be the same again and I can’t wait to try the sauce!

      1. Thanks, Julia! It really is so delicious, and it is SO EASY. It’s just a matter of deciding if you’d rather the sauce be a little thicker and leave the cucumbers intact or if you want to puree it all. It works both ways, though I prefer it chunky. And putting it on French fries will CHANGE YOUR WORLD. Whew, girl. Sorry in advance. It’s awesome.

          1. What’d you choose? As someone who is not a fan of cilantro, I would have gone with the dill… but I’m interested to hear which one you did AND how it turned out!

      1. Give it a shot, and let me know what you think, Nilsa. It’s so darn good… and it’s so easy to make. The only thing you have to decide is whether you want the sauce to be chunky or smooth. Decisions, decisions… 😉

    5. The Greeks made many great contributions to the world, but Tzatziki might be the greatest. Or maybe feta… or spanikopita… Damn, I love Greek food!

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *