Creamy Tzatziki Sauce
On August 25, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Creamy Tzatziki Sauce with Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and lemon makes the perfect addition to your favorite grilled Greek meats, like lamb and chicken. This fresh sauce comes together in just 10 minutes and doubles as a creamy dip.
Creamy Tzatziki Sauce
Your grilled Greek meats hit different when served with a side (or slather) of fresh Tzatziki Sauce. This traditional Greek yogurt-based sauce has been the go-to condiment for grilled lamb, chicken, and gyros for generations. And once you taste a batch you made all on your own, you’ll understand why.
This homemade version brings tangy Greek yogurt, crisp cucumber, fresh garlic, and bright lemon juice together in just a few minutes. Give it a quick chill for a cooling contrast to your rich, tender meats. Slather it on grilled lamb burgers, spoon it over smoky chicken souvlaki, or spread it on your favorite gyros. If you’re ready to bring genuine Greek flavors to your backyard, let me teach you how to make this Creamy Tzatziki Sauce.
Store-Bought vs Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
Homemade tzatziki beats the pants off anything you’ll find in the grocery store. Store-bought versions are typically watery and loaded with preservatives that dull the bright, garlicky flavors. When you make it yourself, you control every element from how much garlic goes in to nailing the thick, creamy texture that clings to your grilled meats. With just a little prep, you’ll have fresh flavors and awesome consistency that no premade bottle can match.
Ingredients for Tzatziki Sauce
This tzatziki recipe keeps things simple with just a handful of fresh ingredients. Here’s what you need in order to make this Greek-style sauce:
- Greek yogurt. I mean, come on, you gotta go Greek. Plus, Greek yogurt gives you that signature thickness.
- English cucumber. You can use regular cucumber, but I like English cucumbers because they’re less watery and have fewer seeds to worry about.
- Fresh lemon juice. This brightens everything up while giving you a tangy punch against the creamy yogurt.
- Garlic. For that sharp, savory bite that makes tzatziki so addictive, I always use fresh garlic. You can also use the jarred stuff, if that’s what you’ve got.
- Salt. To bring out the flavors of the rest of the ingredients, salt is your best friend.
- Onion powder. Subtle savory depth rounds out the flavor.
- Black pepper. I like using fresh cracked black pepper, but you can use what you have. Just remember it won’t be cooking down, so you don’t want it too coarse.
- White pepper. This pepper adds a different heat than black pepper for an extra depth of flavor.
How to Make Tzatziki Sauce
Making this Creamy Tzatziki Sauce is super easy and takes just a few simple steps. Here’s how to pull it off like a total pro:
- Prepare the cucumber. This is the most important step, and it’s where most people mess up. Using a microplane or grater, grate your cucumber, then dump it all into a paper towel. Press firmly to remove as much moisture as possible. You want your cucumbers nice and dry before you mix your sauce.
- Make the tzatziki sauce. In a medium bowl, combine your grated and dried cucumber, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, salt, grated garlic, onion powder, and black and white pepper. Stir it all together with a rubber spatula until it’s well combined. The mixture should be thick and creamy, not runny.
- Chill and serve. You can technically use your tzatziki right away, but I recommend covering it and popping it in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes. This gives all the flavors time to meld together and the sauce time to thicken up even more. A chilled sauce also contrasts the warm meats from the grill in an amazing way.
Serving Suggestions
This creamy tzatziki sauce is basically the perfect sidekick for any grilled meat, but it really shines with Greek and Mediterranean flavors. Check out some of my favorite ways to use this incredible sauce:
- Gyros: Try it with my traditional Smoked Gyros served with warm pita and sliced onions, or make some Greek Chicken Gyros for a lighter twist.
- Curried Lamb Burger: The cooling sauce balances out the warm curry spices.
- Chicken Souvlaki: Spoon it over the grilled skewers for authentic flavor.
- Marinated Greek Chicken: Brush it on before the chicken comes off the grill.
- Easy dinner bowl: Grill chicken thighs with some of my Greek Seasoning, serve over rice with tzatziki and diced cucumbers and tomatoes.
Susie’s Tzatziki Sauce Pro Tips
Here are a few things I’ve learned that’ll take your tzatziki from good to something your family will rave over:
- Make it ahead. Tzatziki actually gets better overnight because the garlic mellows out slightly and all the flavors come together. Just give it a quick stir before serving since it might separate a little.
- Really dry the cucumber. I can’t stress this enough: most watery tzatziki comes from lazy cucumber prep. After you grate it, wrap it in a paper towel and give it a firm pressing. You’ll be surprised how much water comes out, and you’ll be disappointed if you don’t do it.
- Grate your garlic fresh. Pre-minced garlic from a jar works in a pinch, but freshly grated garlic has way more punch. Use a microplane grater if you have one.
More Awesome Condiment Recipes
If you love creating your own condiments from scratch, then you’re in luck. I’ve got dozens of easy condiment recipes for BBQ and beyond here on the site, as well as in the Hey Grill Hey App. For now, check out these popular recipes:
Easy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
Greek out on this Tzatziki Sauce recipe, then use it on all your favorite gyros and kabobs. Make sure to come back when you’re done enjoying it and give this recipe a 5-star rating with a comment about how yours turned out.
For more sides, mains, and all-around grilled good, be sure to follow @heygrillhey on Facebook, Instagram, and my YouTube channel.
Creamy Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup English cucumber grated
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic grated
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the cucumber. Grate the cucumber and place it in a paper towel. Press firmly to remove as much moisture as possible.⅓ cup English cucumber
- Make the tzatziki sauce. In a mixing bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, fresh lemon juice, salt, grated garlic, onion powder, white pepper, and black pepper. Add the dried cucumber and stir everything together until well combined.1 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 4 cloves garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- Chill and serve. Refrigerate until ready to serve, ideally for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
