5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Sweetphi (2024)

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This 5 ingredient Tzatziki sauce recipe is one of my all-time favorite recipes ever. Tzatziki is a super easy and quick cucumber-yogurt-garlic-dill sauce!

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I’ve been making tzatziki for years, and when someone asked me for the recipe, I was taken back that I hadn’t shared it yet, so this week I’m sharing the recipe for Five Ingredient Fridays.

5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Sweetphi (2)

It’s a sauce, but also a dip. I serve it alongside grilled meats (particularly chicken or lamb- it goes perfect with these lamb chop pitas) or any Mediterranean or Greek food (it goes perfectly on these chickpea and zucchini veggie burgers), and I make it for parties as a dip and serve it with pita, it’s just one of those universally loved things!

5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Sweetphi (3)

I’m such a huge fan of Mediterranean and Greek food. Seriously, it’s probably my most favorite cuisine. The only problem? Where I live (Milwaukee) is sadly lacking in that type of food. It’s really a bummer. I’m from Chicago which has an awesome Greek Town, so sometimes my hubby and I will hop in the car and drive down to Chicago to get Greek food (I’ve been known to share these trips on my Instagram, @sweetphiblog). And of course I always order a side of tzatzikisauce, lol.

5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Sweetphi (4)

The trick to making good tzatziki is to shred the cucumber and then pour off the excess water. It always amazes me how much water cucumbers retain. After you pour off the water you mix the cucumbers with some garlic, yogurt (I actually like using plain yogurt but if you want it thicker you could use Greek yogurt), dill and optional you could add a dash of lemon juice.

5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Sweetphi (5)

For a quick dinner, what I like to do is make a tzatziki chicken salad on a pita. All I do is mix some rotisserie chicken and some of this tzatziki sauce and put it on a warm pita and viola, dinner done, and it takes like 5 minutes!

5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Sweetphi (6)

Other recipes you might enjoy:

  • The Best Easy Baked Brie Appetizer
  • Chicken salad
  • Prosciutto Fig and Arugula Flatbread

5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Sweetphi (7)

5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

This 5 ingredient Tzatziki sauce recipe is one of my all-time favorite recipes ever. Tzatziki is a super easy and quick cucumber-yogurt-garlic-dill sauce!

4.49 from 31 votes

Print Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 1/2 cups sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 medium-large cucumber grated (peeling the cucumber is optional)
  • 1 cup 8 oz plain yogurt (for thicker sauce use plain Green yogurt)
  • 2 garlic cloves crushed
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
  • pinch of salt optional

Instructions

  • Grate the cucumber into a bowl. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then drain off the excess liquid.

  • To the bowl add the yogurt, garlic, dill and lemon juice and add a pinch of salt if using.

    5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Sweetphi (8)

  • Stir until well combined, then refrigerate for an hour and serve.

    5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Sweetphi (9)

Notes

Your comments and feedback are helpful and appreciated!! If you’ve tried this recipe or any other recipe on SweetPhi.com, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below! If you took some photos, we'd love to see them - you can share on Instagram or email them to phi@sweetphi.com and we'll add it to our reader recreations!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 259mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g

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Reader Recreations

5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Sweetphi (13)

Reader Recreation – 5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Sweetphi (14)

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Comments

  1. Stephen says

    This too is my absolute favorite Tzatziki recipe! I discovered it last year when I was looking for something to replace the heavy sour cream, ranch dressing flavored veggie dips that one might find folks using around the holidays. This is a wonderfully light, flavorful, and healthy alternative to the typical holiday fare. We use good Greek yogurt so that it is nice and thick. We also use locally sourced garlic (this year we used Spanish Roja) and let it sit in the fridge for about a day. Our experiment in alternative holiday dips has paid off. It is now requested by everyone in our family for any family function throughout the year (not just around the holidays). Thank you so much for not only giving my wife and I a great dip alternative, but possibly helping change the way my whole family thinks about eating just a little bit healthier.

    Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      So happy to hear that you love this tzatziki recipe, thank you so much for sharing your feedback!

      Reply

  2. Christy says

    This is my new favorite tzatziki recipe! I used my food processor with the fine shred blade to grate the cucumbers and it worked perfectly! Next time I will be making a double batch! Thank you! 🙂

    Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      Oh my goodness, thank you so much for the lovely comment, so happy to hear you like this tzatziki recipe (it’s my favorite too!) I love that you used your food processor to grate the cucumbers, that’s genius!

      Reply

  3. Little Cooking Tips says

    Wonderful tzatziki Phi! As you imagine, we really wanted to read the way you make this at home:) And you’re right: the key to making a proper tzatziki is squeezing off any excess water. The more you leave out, the better the result.
    We use red wine vinegar here, but we know that in the States most people use lemon instead. Isn’t it amazing with fried veggies? Have you tried it with tempura-style zucchini or fried eggplant slices(two of our favorite combos)?:)
    Sending you lots of love,
    Panos and Mirella

    Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      That is so fascinating that you use red wine vinegar, I will definitely have to try that! Thank you for commenting, I know you are the Greek food experts 🙂 And oh man, I now absolutely have to try it with tempura style zucchini or fried eggplant slices, both sound absolutely amazing!!!!

      Reply

  4. Jessica says

    I love Greek food and you know I love your five ingredient Friday! I think this would be a great, festive addition to a holiday party! Thank you for sharing

    Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      Thank you so much! So glad you like my Five Ingredient Fridays, means a lot to me to hear that 🙂 This would definitely be the perfect addition to holiday parties 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

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5 Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Sweetphi (2024)

FAQs

What are the main ingredients in tzatziki? ›

Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Traditionally, it is made from strained sheep or goat's milk yogurt, but a full-fat Greek yogurt works just fine in this dip.

What can I put on gyro instead of tzatziki? ›

A thick Greek yogurt is the most traditional option – bonus points if you strain it through a cheesecloth!

How long does homemade tzatziki last? ›

Tzatziki will last about four days in the fridge before it starts to go bad. While you can freeze it, it will change a bit in regards to texture and consistency when it comes time to thawing it out.

What can I use to thicken tzatziki sauce? ›

You can thicken it by placing a piece of cheesecloth over the top of a wide mouthed jar and holding it in place with some rubber bands. Fill the cheesecloth with your sauce, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The excess water will drain out and the sauce will be thicker.

What are 5 dishes that you could put tzatziki on? ›

Once you've got that covered, check out our favourite ways to use tzatziki, and bring a bit of The Med to your kitchen.
  • Lemon-tzatziki chicken.
  • Gorgeous greek chicken with herby vegetable couscous & tzatziki.
  • Grilled lamb chops with fattoush.
  • Crispy barbecued side of salmon with cucumber yoghurt.
  • Souvlaki (Wicked kebabs)
Sep 8, 2023

Why is my tzatziki so sour? ›

Some Greek yogurt brands are very tangy so you may wish to use less lemon juice. Also, some lemons can be very tart. Start with 1/2 a lemon and add more if needed. If your sauce is too tart, you can fix this by adding a little sweetener.

What do Greeks eat with tzatziki? ›

While the recipe can vary from region to region in Greece, it is served with the mezes, or small plates appetizer portion of the meal, and can remain on the table as a condiment with roasted meats and vegetables. Street foods like gyros or kabobs are always garnished with tzatziki.

What does gyros mean in English? ›

plural gyros. : a sandwich especially of lamb and beef, tomato, onion, and yogurt sauce on pita bread. Etymology. Noun. from Greek gyros "turn," so called from the rotation of the meat on a spit.

What is a traditional Greek gyro made of? ›

In Greece, gyros is normally made with pork, though other meats are used in other countries. Chicken is common, and lamb or beef may be found more rarely. Typical American mass-produced gyros are made with finely ground beef mixed with lamb.

Can I freeze homemade tzatziki? ›

How do you make Tzatziki Sauce. You're in luck! I've made this one myself and it is delicious. Enjoy it fresh or you can freeze it as well.

Can you eat tzatziki everyday? ›

Its blend of yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, garlic, lemon, and herbs delivers key nutrients, which are proposed to support heart health, gut health, and may even lower diabetes risk. If you add tzatziki to your meals, you can boost everyday dishes while savouring the many potential health benefits tzatziki brings.

Why does my tzatziki taste bland? ›

Salt – Without this, your tzatziki will taste very bland! I like sea salt but table would work just as well. Dill – You could also use mint but I prefer dill's pickle like flavour. It works so well in creamy dips and sauces!

How do you get the water out of cucumbers for tzatziki? ›

Shred unpeeled cucumber with large holes of grater (I use this Microplane box grater) or food processor. Using a clean towel or paper towels, scoop a handful of shredded cucumber into towel and squeeze over sink. Allow the cucumber juice to drain out.

Why is my tzatziki watery? ›

The biggest contributor to watery tzatziki is the cucumber, which is why it's important to try to remove as much water out of the cucumber as possible. To release the water from the cucumber, de-seed the cucumber then grate it. I suggest using a metal spoon to scoop the seeds out of the cucumber.

Why is my tzatziki sauce watery? ›

You must Greek yogurt in tzatziki sauce. Greek yogurt is strained yogurt which makes it much thicker and higher in protein than regular yogurt. If you use traditional plain yogurt, your tzatziki sauce will be too runny.

How healthy is tzatziki dip? ›

Key ingredients in Tzatziki include yogurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh dill or mint. Tzatziki provides essential macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals to support overall health. This versatile sauce may boost heart health, improve gut health, and potentially lower the risk of diabetes.

Is tzatziki healthier than hummus? ›

Yes, tzatziki is considered a healthier dip than hummus and sour cream. It contains several vitamins, a good amount of protein, and fewer carbohydrates and calories. The fat content of tzatziki is low too, which is not the case with other dips.

Does tzatziki contain mayonnaise? ›

Mix together cucumber, yogurt, sour cream, mayonnaise, and garlic in a serving bowl; season with salt and pepper.

What is Greek yogurt made of? ›

In fact, both regular and Greek yogurt are made with the same main ingredients — fresh milk, plus Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus as starter cultures (2). Yet, their taste and nutrients differ due to how they're made.

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