Trying to finish off that open tub of yogurt in your fridge? Try my other easy recipes with yogurt, such as my Yogurt Mint Sauce, Yogurt Fruit Dip, Yogurt Ranch Dip, Yogurt Sauce for Pasta, and Yogurt Tahini Sauce!
Why Make This Recipe
This irresistible homemade dill sauce packs a flavorful punch, especially for how simple and easy it is to make. If you need more convincing, here are some other reasons why you have to give this recipe a try:
- You only need 5 ingredients: Few ingredients means less prep time and cleanup and more time enjoying this easy yogurt dill sauce. The best part? The ingredients in this recipe are probably already in your fridge!
- Healthy, light, and creamy: Not only is this creamy sauce incredibly delicious, but it’s a great addition to your collection of healthy recipes! Yogurt makes this an especially healthy sauce because of its high protein content and digestive support.
- It rivals store-bought brands: We all love the authentic sauces from our favorite Mediterranean restaurants (the cult-favorite Cava yogurt dill dressing is especially popular), but why buy when you can get the same results at home? You’ll also save money and avoid some of the added sugar and preservatives that are present in a lot of commercial sauces.
Ingredients
This easy dill sauce recipe requires only a handful of flavorful, simple ingredients. You’ll need whole milk (full fat) plain yogurt (I use Greek yogurt), freshly squeezed lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, fresh dill, and kosher salt.
Substitutions
- Yogurt: While I personally love the rich, creamy taste that full fat yogurt provides, it’s higher in total fat when compared to other yogurts. You can swap it for nonfat plain Greek yogurt or regular nonfat yogurt for a lower calorie version of this lemon dill yogurt sauce. Or, for an extra creamy yogurt dill dip, try it with Icelandic yogurt!
- Garlic: If you don’t have a fresh clove of garlic on hand, you can use garlic powder instead. Just keep in mind that garlic powder yields a milder flavor than a garlic clove.
- Dill: Fresh dill really takes this dill yogurt dip to the next level and yields a stronger flavor, so try to buy fresh dill if you can. If not, you can substitute with dried dill for a more mild dill flavor.
- Parsley: If you’re not a fan of dill, try adding in some fresh herbs, such as fresh parsley (Italian parsley), instead!
- Lemon: Fresh lemon juice gives this recipe a tangy, acidic kick. Red wine vinegar provides a similar flavor if you don’t have lemons on hand.
How to Make Greek Dill Sauce
This simple yogurt dill sauce literally comes together in the blink of an eye. Simply:
- Combine the ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients until smooth and fully combined.
- Season to taste: Give it a taste and add more fresh dill or another half teaspoon of salt or black pepper, if necessary.
How to Serve It
The sky’s the limit when it comes to serving this garlic dill yogurt sauce! Feel free to get creative, but here are some of my favorite serving suggestions:
- Drizzle over seafood: The bright, tangy flavor of this simple lemon dill sauce pairs beautifully with a variety of seafood dishes. I love to use Greek yogurt dill sauce for salmon, and it’s especially good drizzled over Slow Baked Salmon. You can also make this a lemon yogurt sauce for fish by serving it with my Breaded Fish or my Grilled Shrimp Skewers.
- Pair with chicken or beef: No Mediterranean-inspired meal is complete without this Greek yogurt lemon dill sauce! Try it as a dill sauce for gyros or a dill Greek yogurt dip paired with my Chicken Pita Wraps, Greek Yogurt Marinated Chicken, Chicken Shish Tawook, or Kofte (Turkish meatballs). It’s also a great way to make these Greek Turkey Burgers extra mouthwatering! Try making a Greek yogurt cucumber dill dip, otherwise known as Tzatziki sauce, if you want to go authentic Mediterranean.
- Make it a veggie dip: Looking for ways to make healthy foods a little bit more appealing? Serve this recipe as a Greek yogurt veggie dip dill sauce with roasted vegetables, such as my Baked Asparagus, Garlic Butter Green Beans, Air Fried Green Beans, or Baked Eggplant Slices. One of my favorite ways to serve Greek yogurt dill dip is with Falafel!
- Spoon it over mains and soups: Who says you can’t put sauce on soups? This dill and Greek yogurt sauce is the perfect topping for my Cream of Zucchini Soup or Chilled Cucumber Soup. Or, you can add a creamy, tangy flair to your favorite vegetarian main course, such as this Vegetarian Stuffed Eggplant.
How to Store, Freeze, and Thaw
If you can’t get enough of this Greek dill sauce and find yourself making it in large batches (I know I would), you can always store it to enjoy later! Here are some tips:
- Storage: You can store this dill and yogurt sauce refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The next time you’re ready to serve, give it a quick whisk to combine any ingredients that may have separated. If it’s too watery, add in a few tablespoons of yogurt to thicken it up. Taste for seasoning and add more dill or salt if necessary.
- Freeze: Freeze the yogurt dill lemon sauce for up to a month.
- Thaw: To serve the sauce from frozen, refrigerate it until thawed (preferably overnight). You’ll likely find that your thawed sauce has separated a bit, which tends to happen when you freeze dairy products, so give it a stir before serving. You can also revive your dill dip with yogurt if it’s too watery (add a few more tablespoons of yogurt). If it’s still not quite smooth, try blending it in a food processor before serving.
Variations
Since this dill sauce with Greek yogurt is so simple, there’s plenty of room to customize it to your liking. Here are some suggestions:
- Make it vegan: If you’re one of my vegan friends, I got you covered! To make a vegan yogurt dill sauce, simply use vegan yogurt. Plain coconut or almond milk yogurt make a great plant-based substitution.
- Amp up the flavor and richness: For an extra rich and creamy variation of this Greek dill dip, add in a tablespoon of mayo to turn it into a lemon dill mayonnaise sauce! This version actually tastes more like ranch dressing. If you’re looking for other yogurt-based dressings, try my Yogurt Salad Dressing or my Poppy Seed Greek Yogurt Dressing.
FAQs
The difference between a recipe for dill sauce and one for tzatziki sauce comes down to just one vegetable! Cucumber is a star ingredient in creamy Greek tzatziki sauce, but it’s absent in yogurt dill sauce. Traditional tzatziki sauce requires a little more work because you have to slice the cucumber and remove excess water, so yogurt dill sauce is a more simple recipe.
Yes, you can freeze dill yogurt sauce! Just make sure to thaw it in the refrigerator (preferably overnight). The sauce will likely separate while thawing, so give it a stir before serving or add in a few more tablespoons of yogurt.
Yogurt garlic dill dressing has several health benefits! Just one cup of yogurt provides about 50% of your daily value of calcium, and it’s also high in protein, B vitamins, and probiotics that support gut health. Yogurt also provides healthy fats that are known to benefit heart health.
Other Yogurt Recipes You Might Like
If you’re a fan of this Greek yogurt and dill dip, you’ll probably love my other yogurt recipes!
- Turkish Eggplant Dip with Yogurt
- Chicken Salad with Greek Yogurt
- Yogurt Coleslaw
- Tzatziki Cucumber Salad
- Blue Cheese Dip (Recipe made with yogurt instead of sour cream)
- Cucumber Avocado Soup
If you try this Yogurt Dill Sauce recipe or any other recipe on Foolproof Living, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It is a great help to others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
Yogurt Dill Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Whole Milk, full fat plain yogurt, I use Greek Yogurt
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, or more to taste
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until fully combined.
- Taste for seasoning and add more if you like.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The next time you’re ready to serve, give it a quick whisk to combine any ingredients that may have separated. If it’s too watery, add in a few tablespoons of yogurt to thicken it up. Taste for seasoning and add more dill or salt if necessary.
- Freeze: Freeze the yogurt dill lemon sauce for up to a month.
- Thaw: To serve the sauce from frozen, refrigerate it until thawed (preferably overnight). You’ll likely find that your thawed sauce has separated a bit, which tends to happen when you freeze dairy products, so give it a stir before serving. You can also revive your dill dip with yogurt if it’s too watery.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you add some cucumber in it, it will be “cacik” which is also a song from Baris Manco 😃
Ha ha! Agreed. 🙂