This is the lemon dill yogurt sauce you’ll want to spoon on everything! It’s an easy, straightforward mix of yogurt, herbs, and lemon juice, which means you can quickly whip it up anytime you need a little extra flavor.

Lemon dill yogurt sauce in a bowl.
Photo: Gayle McLeod

Why This Lemon Dill Yogurt Sauce Works

  • It’s light and creamy: I’m using yogurt instead of mayonnaise, so it has less fat and oiliness than mayo-based sauces.
  • It’s quick to make: A quick stir and 10 minutes of resting time is all it takes.
  • It instantly upgrades simple meals: I love it on my salmon burgers, but it’s also great with veggie sticks, dolloped on chicken protein bowls, and more.

This yogurt sauce started as something I made specifically for my salmon burgers. The burgers were delicious on their own, but I felt like they needed something creamy and bright to pull them together. And this sauce did just that!

Now, I find myself repeatedly making this sauce, just so I have a jar of in the fridge. It’s my favorite way to add freshness to roasted vegetables, grilled chicken, and so much more! Think of it as a simplified version of tzatziki, but without the grated cucumber. Or a creamy, yogurt-y version of aioli.

So you can use it anywhere you’d use either of those sauces. I think the balanced and fresh lemony zing is always welcome!

Just 6 Simple Ingredients

Ingredients for lemon dill yogurt sauce.
  • Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt creates the creamy base while adding a little extra protein. I prefer using whole milk Greek yogurt because it gives the sauce a richer texture, but low-fat versions work well too.
  • Lemon juice and olive oil: Fresh lemon juice is what gives this sauce its bright, zesty flavor. It helps balance the richness of the yogurt and keeps everything tasting fresh. Then, a small drizzle of olive oil rounds out the texture and makes the sauce feel a bit more luxurious.
  • Fresh herbs: Fresh dill and parsley are my favorite herb combinations for seafood and grilled proteins. I’ve tried other herb combinations, but I always come back to this one for simplicity and flavor.
  • Garlic, salt, and pepper: Once you let the sauce sit for a bit, it allows the garlic and seasoning to infuse throughout the yogurt. Making it even more yum!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below

How To Make A Lemon Dill Yogurt Sauce

Lemon dill yogurt sauce ingredients in a bowl.

This might be one of the easiest sauces I make! Simply stir together the yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth and evenly combined.

Then, let the sauce rest for 10 to 15 minutes, which makes a bigger difference than you’d think. The garlic softens slightly, the herbs infuse into the yogurt, and the bright lemon flavor becomes balanced throughout the sauce.

Storage Tip: This sauce keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. I often make it ahead for meal prep, and the flavor actually gets even better after a few hours as the herbs and garlic have time to meld together!

Mixing lemon dill yogurt sauce in a bowl.

Tips for the Perfect Consistency

  • If it’s too thick: Add a splash of water or more lemon juice
  • If it’s too thin: Add a spoonful more Greek yogurt

Lisa’s Testing Tip: I’m all about a simple and straightforward sauce, but if you’d like to elevate this recipe a smidge more, add in some lemon zest (for extra brightness) or ½ teaspoon of Dijon mustard (which gives great depth of flavor!).

How I Use This Yogurt Sauce

  • My favorite spread for salmon burgers: It’s seriously a match made in heaven! I’d also give these a try on my Greek chicken burgers, instead of using tzatziki.
  • Drizzled over protein bowls: Whenever I’m building a protein bowl, with chicken, salmon, or shrimp, this is usually the sauce I reach for.
  • Paired with grilled proteins: It adds a pop of freshness with grilled chicken, chicken kabobs, grilled steak, or my favorite—grilled lamb chops!
  • Spooned onto roasted vegetables: One of my favorite ways to use leftovers is drizzling this over roasted broccoli, roasted carrots, or crispy roasted potatoes.
  • A simple dip for fresh vegetables: I love serving this with cucumber slices, carrots, bell peppers, and radishes when I want a quick, healthy snack or appetizer!
A bowl of lemon dill yogurt sauce.

More Homemade Sauces

If you make this lemon herb yogurt sauce, let me know how it turns out in the comments below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’d like to see more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free email community here.

Lemon dill yogurt sauce recipe.

Lemon Dill Yogurt Sauce

Author: Lisa Bryan
5 from 7 votes
Read 14 Comments
Serves 4
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
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Description

This is the yogurt sauce you'll want to spoon on everything! It's so easy make and perfect for grilled protein, salmon burgers, and more!

Video

Ingredients 
 

  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon roughly chopped dill
  • 1 tablespoon roughly chopped parsley
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions 

  • Mix together. In a mixing bowl, stir together the yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper.
    Mixing lemon dill yogurt sauce.
  • Let it sit. For the best flavor, let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes, so that the flavors meld.
    How to make lemon dill yogurt sauce.

Lisa’s Tips

  • Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Give the sauce a quick stir before serving, as some natural separation may occur over time.

Nutrition

Calories: 49kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 93IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!
Dolloping the lemon dill yogurt sauce on a salmon burger.

Recipe Development In Action!

When I create new sauces I’m always thinking of what I’m going to serve them with and how I’m going to serve them. In the case of this lemon dill yogurt sauce, I created it specifically for my salmon burger, knowing it would get sandwiched between layers of toppings.

So it had to be thick enough to not slide off the burger, bright enough to balance the salmon, and herby enough to add fresh flavor. All three goals were achieved!

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

5 from 7 votes

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14 Comments

  1. I made this delicious sauce to put over chicken meatballs and it was delicious! Everyone loved it and it was super easy to make. Perfect for a light, weeknight summer dinner. Thank you for the recipe :)5 stars

  2. Absolutely delicious and takes only a few minutes to make. I feel like I just ordered an expensive dressing for my salmon patties (also your recipe). So good!5 stars

    1. It’s amazing how much a simple sauce can elevate a meal. So happy you loved both this sauce and my salmon burgers. Thanks, Sharon!

  3. Hi Lisa!

    I just Love your recipes. Just curious to what brand of Greek Yogurt do you use for the Yogurt Dill sauce? Some brands are way too tart… but I assume they are more healthy for you.

    Thank you in advance.5 stars

    1. Thanks so much, Dee! I’m happy to hear you love my recipes. :) As for the Greek yogurt, I typically buy what’s on sale at the market and I’m not super aligned to one brand for this item. But yes, definitely try to find one with a flavor profile you enjoy!

  4. I made the this ! Omg ! Was it ever good! I had made
    Chicken kabobs, and in the same week made beef kabobs! Was scrumptious! Thank you for sharing this recipe! It’s a keeper!!!5 stars