This might be the best homemade lemon dill sauce ever! It's creamy, easy to make, versatile, lemony dilly delicious, and has only 5 simple ingredients. Greek yogurt, dill (fresh or dried), minced garlic, lemon juice, and a dash of salt.
The flavor is similar to a tzatziki sauce, minus the cucumber. It has a fresh, zesty flavor that goes particularly well with salmon! Also, I LOVE the contrast of having warm salmon with the cold sauce!! It's tangy flavor pairs fantastically well with these Old Fashioned Salmon Patties and Baked Lemon Dill Salmon
Homemade lemon dill sauce has an irresistible balance of bright and creamy flavors that's hard not to love! The lemon adds a fresh, tangy zing, while the dill brings a lightly herbal, almost grassy undertone. Try it with these Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings.
In under 5 minutes prep time, it becomes lusciously smooth-perfect for drizzling on fish, veggies, chicken, or even roasted potatoes. Plus, it's super customizable. Add a dash of honey to play with the flavors, making it uniquely yours every time!
Ingredients and Notes
Greek yogurt - tends to be thicker than regular yogurt so it holds its texture even when the lemon juice is added. It also adds a slight tanginess which is perfect with the lemon and dill.
Fresh dill - one of my favorite herbs to use for its delicate grassy citrus flavor. It adds a wonderful freshness to the sauce.
Lemon juice - I love lemon everything so this sauce is one of my favs. You can use bottled or fresh lemon juice.
Garlic - use the minced garlic in a jar; it gives the sauce zesty flavor.
Salt - just a pinch is used, not even enough to measure but enough to enhance the flavor of the sauce.
Now that you have some fresh dill, how you store it determines how long it will stay fresh. According to Master Class, there are 3 ways to store fresh dill.
Ingredient Swaps
- Substitute sour cream, mayonnaise, or plain yogurt for Greek yogurt.
- Swap ¼ teaspoon dried dillweed for the fresh!
- Use ¼ teaspoon dried garlic powder instead of the fresh.
- Lemon zest (¼ tsp) can be added for more intense flavor.
How to Make Lemon Dill Sauce
In just two easy steps, it's so easy to make this homemade sauce.
Step 1 - Place all the ingredients in bowl.
Step 2 - Stir until nice and creamy!
How to Use Lemon Dill Sauce
The possibilites are endless! Here my suggestions, and if you have other ways you like to use lemon dill sauce, let me know!
- Topping - serve with seafood (especially salmon, boiled shrimp, cod, tilapia), and chicken (wings, tenders, nuggets). This sauce is outstanding served with salmon patties or croquettes). Use lemon dill sauce as you would tarter sauce.
- Dipping sauce - it's a great appetizer served as a dip for fresh vegetables (carrot sticks, celery sticks, cauliflower and broccoli florets ), or with pan fried potatoes and onions.
- Salad dressing - drizzle on top of your favorite green garden salad.
- Spread for sandwiches - spread it on sliced bread for cucumber sandwiches!
Tips for Success
Whisk Until Smooth: Make sure you whisk or stir the sauce really good to eliminate any clumps of herbs or yogurt. A smooth consistency is the goal.
Garnish for Presentation: A sprig of dill and a lemon wedge makes it look fancy and adds a fresh hint of flavor as people dig in.
How to Store Lemon Dill Sauce
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Lemon Recipes
If you're a lemon lover, I have several lemony recipes you may enjoy:
Recipe FAQs
You can add just a bit more mayo, yogurt, or sour cream.
Definitely! The acid in the lemon helps tenderize proteins like chicken or fish, however, it's best for a quick marinade. Marinate for 30-60 minutes to avoid over-tenderizing.
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, some horseradish, or a bit of chopped fresh jalapeño for a little heat and crunch.
More Ways to Use Lemons
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Recipe
Lemon Dill Sauce
Equipment
- small bowl
- whisk
Ingredients
- ½ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, fresh dill, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. A small whisk works well for blending the sauce.½ cup Greek yogurt , 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped , 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, pinch of salt
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for later (store in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 3 days).
Notes
-
- Substitute sour cream, mayonnaise, or plain yogurt for Greek yogurt.
-
- Swap ¼ teaspoon dried dillweed for the fresh!
-
- Use ¼ teaspoon dried garlic powder instead of the fresh.
-
- Lemon zest (¼ tsp) can be added for more intense flavor.
-
- Topping - serve with seafood (especially salmon, boiled shrimp, cod, tilapia), and chicken (wings, tenders, nuggets). This sauce is outstanding served with salmon patties or croquettes). Use lemon dill sauce as you would tarter sauce.
-
- Dipping sauce - it's a great appetizer served as a dip for fresh vegetables (carrot sticks, celery sticks, cauliflower and broccoli florets ), or with fries.
-
- Salad dressing - drizzle on top of your favorite green garden salad.
-
- Spread for sandwiches - spread it on sliced bread for cucumber sandwiches!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
Leigh Ann says
Hi, this lemon dill sauce was so good I wanted to put it on everything. I made it exactly like the recipe and could not stop dipping things in it. It would be delicious with so many foods.