• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Travel Palate
  • All Recipes
  • About
    • Shop
  • Travel
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • About
    • Shop
  • Travel
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • About
      • Shop
    • Travel
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home ≫ Appetizers

    Easy Tzatziki Recipe

    Updated November 17, 2020. Originally Posted November 17, 2020 By Nikole This post may contain Amazon affiliate links.

    2.4K shares
    Jump to Recipe
    A bowl of tzatziki.
    A bow of tzatzik with pita bread.
    Easy tzatziki sauce.
    Tzatziki
    Tzatziki

    This easy tzatziki recipe is a healthy dip that works as a spread too. It's made with cucumbers and greek yogurt. Tastes great with chicken, lamb, beef, burgers, wraps, or as a vegetarian snack with pita chips. Ready in 15 minutes!

    A bowl of tzatziki.

    Why you should make it

    It's easy to make. Just follow a few steps and you'll have a versatile sauce, spread or dip to serve along side your favorite sandwich or chips.

    It's made with easy to find fresh and panty staples. This is one of the easiest recipes on the site and is made with simple ingredients like Greek yogurt, cucumbers, and lemon, olive oil, garlic, and dill.

    Mediterranean flavor with very little effort. I love Mediterranean inspired dishes for their simplicity and health benefits. Have you ever tried tzatziki? Once I did, I was hooked on this cool, cucumber sauce. It's cool and creamy with subtle heat from the garlic.

    Step by step instructions

    Gather your ingredients- full fat Greek yogurt, fresh dill, one lemon, an English cucumber, and some garlic.

    Shred the cucumber with a cheese greater. If using a box grater, use the side with large holes. Squeeze excess moisture from cucumber using your hands or press through a fine mesh strainer. Discard liquid. I like to place the cucumber in the strainer with a bowl underneath while I prep the other ingredients. Some liquid will continue to be released.

    Yogurt, dill, lemons, cucumber, garlic. Excess liquid draining from cucumbers.

    Add Greek yogurt, olive oil, chopped fresh dill, lemon juice, garlic, and cucumber to bowl. Stir until combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Drizzle with olive oil, if desired. Easy and simple!

    ingredients in a mixing bowl. tzatziki prepared in a mixing bowl.

    Recipe notes and tips

    What are the best cucumbers for tzatziki? English cucumbers are the easiest to use in this tzatziki recipe. They don't have to be peeled or seeded. If you choose to use garden cucumbers, peel them and remove seeds before preparing. Keep in mind that English cucumbers are more mild in flavor.

    Grate cucumbers with a cheese grater. If using a box grater, use the side with the large holes. You may choose to finely dice the cucumbers instead of shredding it. It's a matter of texture and personal preference.

    What is the best yogurt for tzatziki? Full fat, Greek yogurt is the best. Low fat and fat free will also work, because of the creaminess of those varieties. However, non strained yogurt is not recommended. They lack the thickness and creaminess needed for tzatziki.

    How long can you store homemade tzatziki? You should keep homemade tzatziki tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    What goes with tzatziki? This recipe is quite versatile and can be served in many ways. Try it as a spread on gyros, burgers and sandwiches. Delicious as a dip with roasted or raw veggies, or on a charcuterie board with cheeses, meats, olives, dried fruit, and pita crackers.

    A bow of tzatzik with pita bread.

    Try these other Mediterranean inspired dishes

    Greek Pasta Salad Recipe

    Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad

    Mediterranean Breakfast Egg Cups

    Panzanella

    Thank you for reading this recipe! If you make it, I’d love for you to give it a ★ rating  below. This lets me know what you like and want to see more of.

    And since you made it this far, let’s connect on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! I appreciate your support.

    A bowl of tzatziki.

    Easy Tzatziki Recipe

    Recipe by Nikole Berg
    Easy Tzatziki Recipe is a healthy dip that works as a spread too. Made with cucumbers and greek yogurt. Tastes great with chicken, lamb, beef, burgers, wraps, or as a vegetarian snack with pita chips. Ready in 15 minutes.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Appetizer, Dips/Spreads
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 16 Servings
    Calories 29 kcal

    Equipment

    Box grater

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cucumber English or garden; about 1 cup
    • 1 ½ cups plain Greek yogurt I use 5% fat, substitute with low fat if desired
    • 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil plus some to drizzle 
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or mint
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    • 1 garlic clove finely diced, pressed, or grated
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions
     

    • Grate cucumber with a cheese grater (large holes if using a box grater). Squeeze excess moisture from cucumber with your hands or press through a fine mesh strainer. Discard liquid.
    • Combine cucumber, yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, dill, garlic, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir until well mixed.
    • Refrigerate until ready to serve. Adjust herbs, lemon, garlic, and salt as desired. Drizzle with olive oil.
    • Store covered in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Drain excess water that may have accumulated on top and stir well before serving. 

    Notes

    • What are the best cucumbers for tzatziki? English cucumbers are the easiest to use in this tzatziki recipe. They don't have to be peeled or seeded. If you choose to use garden cucumbers, peel them and remove seeds before preparing. Keep in mind that English cucumbers are more mild in flavor.
    • Grate cucumbers with a cheese grater. If using a box grater, use the side with the large holes. You may choose to finely dice the cucumbers instead of shredding it. It's a matter of texture and personal preference.
    • What is the best yogurt for tzatziki? Full fat, Greek yogurt is the best. Low fat and fat free will also work, because of the creaminess of those varieties. However, non strained yogurt is not recommended. They lack the thickness and creaminess needed for tzatziki.
    • How long can you store homemade tzatziki? You should keep homemade tzatziki tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
    • What goes with tzatziki? This recipe is quite versatile and can be served in many ways. Try it as a spread on gyros, burgers and sandwiches. Delicious as a dip with roasted or raw veggies, or on a charcuterie board with cheeses, meats, olives, dried fruit, and pita crackers.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tbsCalories: 29kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 80mgPotassium: 52mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 14IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword dips, Greek recipes, gyros, spreads
    Tried this recipe?Click here to leave a helpful tip!
    « Crockpot Cream Cheese White Chicken Chili
    Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs »
    2.4K shares

    About Nikole

    Nikole is the creator and photographer behind The Travel Palate, a food and travel blog featuring quick and flavorful recipes and getaway guides. Nikole hopes to inspire your inner foodie whether you're in the kitchen or traveling on your next adventure.

    Reader Interactions

    Did you make the recipe? Share a tip here! Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Nikole sitting on a bench in Charleston SC
    Welcome! I'm Nikole and here at The Travel Palate, I focus on creating quick and easy meals that don't sacrifice flavor for convenience. Join me in the kitchen to celebrate easy American cooking that's globally inspired. About The Travel Palate

    As fetured in yummly, foodgawker, parade, kitchen tyme, dishfolio, yum google, fridgg.

    Most Popular!

    two bowls of broccoli soup; a bowl of cheese; a hand dipping bread

    Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup

    bowl of grits on a blue and white kitchen towel

    Grits Recipe

    instant pot brisket shredded on a plate

    Instant Pot Brisket

    close up view of pie on a white plate with a fork

    No Bake Chocolate Pie

    Let's Connect!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Subscribe

    • Sign Up! for the latest recipes delivered via email

    Connect

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook

    Copyright © 2022 The Travel Palate

    All Rights Reserved