The short answer: for thick tzatziki sauce, grate 1 cucumber, salt it and squeeze out the water, then stir it into 2 cups of Greek yogurt with 2 grated garlic cloves, lemon juice, olive oil and dill. Chill it 30 minutes so the garlic mellows.
- Key numbers: 10 minutes hands-on · 30-minute chill · makes about 2½ cups · keeps about 4 days · about $0.32 a ¼-cup serving
- Top moves: squeeze the cucumber dry, use thick Greek yogurt, and grate the garlic fine
- Free and paid next step: get the free recipe book starter pages (we email it to you), or plan Greek night with the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99).
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Ingredients, storage times and prices in this tzatziki sauce recipe were checked November 4, 2026. The sections below cover ingredients, the method, 6 flavor twists, what to serve it with, cost and storage.
Tzatziki sauce ingredients (makes about 2½ cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Greek yogurt | 2 cups (16 ounces) | Whole milk or 2% is creamiest. Nonfat works. |
| Cucumber | 1 medium, or 1 small English cucumber | Persian cucumbers need 2 or 3 |
| Garlic | 2 cloves, finely grated | Use 1 for a milder sauce |
| Lemon juice | 1 tablespoon (about ½ lemon) | Or 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar |
| Extra virgin olive oil | 1 tablespoon | Plus a drizzle on top |
| Fresh dill | 2 tablespoons, chopped | Or 1 tablespoon fresh mint |
| Salt | ½ teaspoon, plus a pinch for the cucumber | |
| Black pepper | A pinch |
How to make tzatziki sauce
- Grate the cucumber. Use the large holes of a box grater. Leave thin skins on.
- Salt and wait. Toss it with a pinch of salt in a strainer and let it sit 10 minutes.
- Squeeze hard. Wrap the cucumber in a clean towel or paper towels and wring out the liquid. You'll get 2 to 4 tablespoons. This is the step that keeps the sauce thick.
- Mix. Stir the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, salt and pepper together in a bowl.
- Taste. Add more lemon for tang, more salt to brighten it, or more garlic if you like it sharp.
- Chill. Cover it and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. The garlic softens and the flavors blend.
- Serve. Spread it in a shallow bowl, drizzle with olive oil and top with a little dill.
Tzatziki ratios at a glance
| Batch | Greek yogurt | Cucumber | Garlic | Lemon juice | Serves (¼ cup each) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 1 cup | ½ medium | 1 clove | 1½ teaspoons | 5 |
| Standard | 2 cups | 1 medium | 2 cloves | 1 tablespoon | 10 |
| Party | 4 cups (32-ounce tub) | 2 medium | 3 or 4 cloves | 2 tablespoons | 20 |
6 tzatziki twists
- Mint tzatziki: swap the dill for fresh mint. It's great with lamb.
- Lemon herb: add 1 teaspoon lemon zest and a mix of dill, parsley and chives.
- Spicy: stir in ½ teaspoon of Aleppo pepper or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Extra thick dip: strain the finished sauce for 1 hour, then serve it with pita chips.
- Dairy-free: use thick plain coconut or almond yogurt. It's thinner, so squeeze the cucumber extra dry.
- Sauce for bowls: thin it with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water so it drizzles.
What to serve with tzatziki sauce
- Chicken: our chicken shawarma is made for it. Cook chicken to 165°F per the FoodSafety.gov temperature chart.
- Lamb or beef: gyros, kofta and burgers. Ground meat should reach 160°F.
- Salads and sides: spoon it next to a Greek salad or a cucumber salad.
- Snacks: pita, carrots, peppers and cucumber spears. More ideas: easy appetizers.
- Meal prep: add a small cup of it to healthy meal prep boxes of chicken, rice and vegetables.
What tzatziki sauce costs
On November 4, 2026, a 32-ounce tub of Great Value plain nonfat Greek yogurt was $3.28 at Walmart, so the 2 cups in this recipe cost $1.64. In USDA's weekly grocery ad report for ads ending October 24 to November 5, 2026, cucumbers averaged $0.75 each, lemons $0.79 each and garlic $2.46 a sleeve. With olive oil, salt and pepper, a standard batch costs about $3.16, or $0.32 for each ¼ cup. The fresh dill isn't included.
Store-bought tzatziki usually comes in small tubs, so homemade gives you more for the money. Track yogurt prices in a grocery price book and build the week around it with meal planning on a budget. If you buy a big tub, the leftover yogurt can go into our Greek chicken marinade with lemon and garlic.
Storing tzatziki
Keep tzatziki covered in the fridge and use it within about 4 days. Stir it before serving, since a little liquid rises. Like other dairy dishes, don't leave it out more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F. Bacteria grow fast in USDA's danger zone of 40°F to 140°F. For a party, set the bowl over ice. Tzatziki doesn't freeze well because the cucumber goes limp.
Plan Greek night and save the recipe
- Meal Planner & Grocery List, $3.99. A weekly menu grid and an aisle-sorted grocery list.
- Family Recipe Binder, $6.99. Fillable recipe pages and cards for your sauces and dips.
- Family Life Admin Bundle, $15.99 (
$23.95bought separately). Includes both printables above plus three more family organizers.
Frequently asked questions
What is tzatziki sauce made of? Classic tzatziki sauce is strained Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, lemon juice or vinegar, olive oil, salt and fresh dill or mint. That's the whole list.
How do you keep tzatziki from getting watery? Grate the cucumber, salt it, wait 10 minutes and squeeze it hard in a towel. Use full-fat or 2% Greek yogurt, not regular yogurt, which is thinner.
Do you peel the cucumber for tzatziki? You don't have to. English and Persian cucumbers have thin skins that add color. Peel thick, waxy slicing cucumbers and scoop out big seeds.
Can I make tzatziki with regular yogurt? You can make tzatziki with regular yogurt if you strain it first. Set 3 cups of plain yogurt in a lined strainer over a bowl in the fridge for 2 to 4 hours, until it's thick like Greek yogurt.
How long does homemade tzatziki last? Keep it covered in the fridge and use it within about 4 days. Stir it before serving, because a little liquid rises as it sits. Don't leave it out more than 2 hours.
Can you freeze tzatziki? It isn't worth it. The cucumber turns limp and the yogurt separates when it thaws. Make a half batch instead. It takes 10 minutes.
What do you eat tzatziki sauce with? Tzatziki sauce goes with gyros, chicken or lamb skewers, falafel, grain bowls, roasted potatoes, burgers and raw vegetables. It also works as a light salad dressing thinned with water.
How do I plan Greek night for the week? The Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. has a weekly menu grid and an aisle-sorted grocery list, so one tub of yogurt covers two or three planned meals.
Where can I save my tzatziki recipe? The Family Recipe Binder ($6.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. has fillable recipe pages, dividers and recipe cards, so your garlic and lemon ratios are easy to find.
Does HomeBase Paper Co. sell the meal planner and recipe binder together? The Family Life Admin Bundle ($15.99, $23.95 bought separately) from HomeBase Paper Co. sells the meal planner and the recipe binder as a set, plus three more household printables.
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Sources
- USDA FSIS: Danger zone, 40°F to 140°F fsis.usda.gov
- USDA AMS: Weekly retail specialty crops report (FVWRETAIL) ams.usda.gov
- FoodSafety.gov: Safe minimum internal temperatures foodsafety.gov