This Greek Yogurt Dill Sauce is a creamy, tangy sauce made with lemon, garlic, and fresh dill, ready in just 5 minutes with no cooking required.
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This is the sauce I make when I want something to dress up a plain piece of chicken or a wrap without reaching for a bottled dressing.
Yogurt dill sauce, sometimes called lemon dill sauce, has that familiar tangy, herby flavor you’ll recognize from Mediterranean and Greek-inspired restaurants and fast-casual spots — Cava’s yogurt dill dressing is one of the more well-known examples. This version isn’t an exact copy, but it hits that same tangy, garlicky, herb-forward flavor with ingredients you likely already have.
A little Dijon mustard is what sets this one apart from a lot of yogurt dill recipes, adding some sharpness alongside the lemon and garlic. The grated cucumber folded in gives it body and a little extra freshness, without turning it into a full tzatziki.
This sauce is what I spoon over my Instant Pot Chicken Shawarma Wraps most often, and it’s just as good as a dip or drizzle for roasted vegetables. If you like keeping a few homemade sauces on hand, my Herby Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing is another one worth having in the fridge.
Jump to:
- What Does Greek Yogurt Dill Sauce Taste Like?
- Why You Will Love Homemade Yogurt Dill Sauce
- Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions & Variations
- How to Make Greek Yogurt Dill Sauce
- Recipe Success Tips
- Ways to Use Yogurt Dill Sauce
- How to Store Greek Yogurt Dill Sauce
- Is Yogurt Dill Sauce Healthy?
- Pricing Info
- FAQs
- Other Homemade Ingredients
- Recipe
What Does Greek Yogurt Dill Sauce Taste Like?
Tangy and garlicky, with fresh dill running through every bite and a little sharpness from the Dijon mustard. The lemon juice brightens it up, and the grated cucumber adds a light, refreshing note without watering down the flavor.
Why You Will Love Homemade Yogurt Dill Sauce
- Ready in 5 minutes: no cooking, just stir and serve.
- Just one bowl: minimal cleanup.
- Versatile: works as a sauce, a dip, or thinned into a dressing.
- Cheaper than a restaurant version: a fraction of the cost of ordering it on the side.
- Naturally high protein: thanks to the Greek yogurt base.
- Low in calories: just 44 calories per serving, far lighter than most creamy sauces.
Ingredients Needed
- Plain Greek yogurt: the creamy, protein-packed base.
- Grated cucumber: adds body and freshness without tipping this into full tzatziki territory.
- Lemon juice: brightens up the whole sauce.
- Fresh dill: the star herb.
- Dijon mustard: adds sharpness most yogurt dill sauces don’t have.
- Garlic powder: savory background flavor.
- Salt: to season.
Substitutions & Variations
- Leave out the cucumber: skip it entirely for a purer, more concentrated yogurt dill flavor.
- Lean into tzatziki: double or triple the grated cucumber (squeezing out the excess moisture first) to turn this into something much closer to a traditional tzatziki.
- Dried dill: use 1 teaspoon dried dill in place of the fresh if that’s what you have on hand.
- Dairy-free: a plain dairy-free yogurt can stand in for the Greek yogurt.
- Turn it into a dressing: thin it out with a tablespoon or two of water or olive oil until it’s pourable.
How to Make Greek Yogurt Dill Sauce
- Step 1: Combine the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, lemon juice, dill, Dijon, garlic powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Step 2: Mix everything together until fully combined, then serve right away or refrigerate until ready to use.
Recipe Success Tips
- Squeeze the cucumber first: pressing out excess moisture keeps the sauce from turning watery over time. No need to do this if you’re serving it right away, though!
- Let it sit for 10 minutes: the flavors meld and deepen a bit once everything has time to combine.
- Taste before adding extra salt: both the Dijon and yogurt already bring some, so season gradually.
- Thin it gradually if using as a dressing: add liquid a little at a time so you don’t end up too runny.
Ways to Use Yogurt Dill Sauce
This sauce is what I spoon over my Instant Pot Chicken Shawarma Wraps, and it’s just as good with Homemade Greek Turkey Meatballs.
It also works well drizzled over roasted vegetables, as a yogurt dill sauce for salmon or grilled chicken, or served as a simple dip alongside pita, cottage cheese flatbread, and fresh veggies.
How to Store Greek Yogurt Dill Sauce
Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Give it a quick stir before serving, since it may separate slightly as it sits.
Is Yogurt Dill Sauce Healthy?
Yes — this is a much lighter option than a mayo-based sauce or dressing, coming in at just 44 calories per serving. The Greek yogurt base also means you’re getting a bit of protein along with the flavor, which most creamy sauces don’t offer.
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 44 calories
- Carbohydrates: 4 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Total Fat: 3 grams
- Sodium: 234 mg
- Fiber: 0 grams
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Pricing Info
This is what I personally paid to make this recipe:
- ⅔ cup plain Greek yogurt: $0.60
- ¼ cup grated cucumber: $0.09
- 1 tbsp lemon juice: $0.19
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill: $0.49
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard: $0.04
- ½ tsp garlic powder: $0.01
- ¼ tsp salt: $0.01
This recipe costs about $1.34 total, or $0.36 per serving. That’s considerably cheaper than ordering a side of yogurt dill sauce at a restaurant, where a small container can easily run $2-4 on its own.
FAQs
They’re closely related, but not quite the same. Tzatziki typically has a higher ratio of cucumber to yogurt, while a yogurt dill sauce like this one uses just a small amount of cucumber for body, letting the dill and lemon lead instead. Leave the cucumber out entirely and it’s a straightforward yogurt dill sauce; add more and it starts to become tzatziki.
Beyond this sauce, Greek yogurt and dill come together well in dips, salad dressings, potato salads, and as a topping for baked potatoes or roasted vegetables. It’s a flexible flavor combination that works in a lot of savory dishes.
Cava’s version is generally made with a yogurt base, dill, garlic, and lemon. This homemade recipe follows that same general flavor profile, with the addition of Dijon mustard and grated cucumber for extra depth.
Other Homemade Ingredients
Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comments below! I would really appreciate your feedback!
Recipe
Greek Yogurt Dill Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup grated cucumber
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium bowl and stir until well combined.
- Serve or store in the fridge for up to 3 days!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
If you end up making this and loving it, take a photo and tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see your versions of my recipes! And feel free to rate it down below in the comment section. I would really appreciate it!
xoxo Megan
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