Use Greek Yogurt as a Substitute in Recipes (2024)

Greek yogurt can come to the rescue to replace certain ingredients when you’re in a pinch, and it’s a great way to enhancefavorite dishes. Whether you’re baking muffins or making lasagna, Greek yogurt is versatile enough for both sweet and savory dishes. Substitute Greek yogurt as a replacement when you’re out of a key ingredient, or to add tangy depth of flavor.

Greek yogurt is made when regular yogurt is strained to remove the liquid whey, resulting in a thicker, creamier, tarter yogurt. Compared to regular yogurt, Greek yogurt has twice the amount of protein (one serving typically has 15 grams) and about 14% less lactose, while still delivering 13 essential nutrients like calcium.

How to Use Greek Yogurt in Your Recipes

Incorporating Greek yogurt into your meals adds protein to keep you full longer while delivering dairy’s nine essential nutrients. See how you can start using Greek yogurt in your favorite recipes. Here's a conversion guide:

Use Greek Yogurt to ReplaceReplace With
1 Cup Butter1/4 Cup Greek Yogurt + 1/2 Cup Butter
1 Cup Sour Cream1 Cup Greek Yogurt
1 Cup Heavy Cream1 Cup Greek Yogurt
1 Cup Mayo1 Cup Greek Yogurt
1 Cup Oil1/3 Cup Oil + 2/3 Cup Greek Yogurt
8 oz Cream Cheese4 oz Cream Cheese + 1/2 Cup Greek Yogurt
1 Cup Ricotta Cheese1/2 Cup Ricotta Cheese + 1/2 Cup Greek Yogurt
1 Cup Milk, Half and Half, or Light Cream3/4 Cup Milk, Half and Half, or Light Cream + 1/4 Cup Greek Yogurt

Substitute Greek Yogurt for Higher-Fat Ingredients

From traditional comfort foods to fresh baked goods, Greek yogurt can substitute oil and mayonnaise.

Oil: Replace oil with Greek yogurt when baking muffins, cakes and even waffles. Give these Greek Yogurt Banana Muffins or Double Blueberry Greek Yogurt Waffles a try.

Mayonnaise: Keep the creaminess by swapping Greek yogurt for mayonnaise at a 1:1 ratio in your favorite recipes– like in this Cajun Yogurt Remoulade.

Use Greek Yogurt When You’re Low on Your Favorite Dairy Ingredients

If you’re low on dairy ingredients, don’t fret. Greek yogurt can substitute milk, sour cream and heavy cream.

Milk: If you’re short on milk, half and half or light cream, Greek yogurt can be used to make up for the difference. If your recipe calls for one cup of milk, use three-quarter cup of milk and one-quarter cup of Greek yogurt instead. Check out this Pomegranate Smoothieor Cottage Cheesecake to see how it’s done.

Sour Cream: Out of sour cream? Don’t worry, Greek yogurt can be used as the base in dips, like this Harissa Yogurt Dip.

Butter: When you’re running low on butter, Greek yogurt can help. If your recipe calls for one cup of butter, use half a cup of butter and a quarter cup of Greek yogurt. Curious how to use Greek yogurt the next time you bake? Give these Gingerbread Breakfast Cookies a try.

Cream Cheese: When you substitute Greek yogurt for cream cheese, you’re keeping the creaminess without sacrificing any of the flavor. See for yourself by trying these Creamy Pumpkin Pie Bars!

Ricotta Cheese: Lasagna without ricotta cheese? It can be done! Having some Greek yogurt on hand can save you a trip to the store the next time you run out of ricotta cheese, just like in this Baked Spaghetti Lasagna.

Heavy Cream: Greek yogurt is perfect for creamy dishes. It keeps the creaminess while adding protein, like in this Slow Cooker Creamy Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Soup.

Use Greek Yogurt as a Marinade

Greek yogurt is so versatile it can even be used as a marinade. The lactic acid and calcium in Greek yogurt work together to break down the protein in meat, leaving it tender and moist. Check out these Yogurt Marinated Pork Kabobs or this Yogurt Marinated Chicken.

Enhance Recipes

Thicken Soups and Sauces: Greek yogurt is another way to thicken soups and sauces, like in this Russian Stroganoff. Just make sure you mix Greek yogurt into your soup or sauce at the end to prevent it from separating.

Add Protein into Your Favorite Meals: Try adding Greek yogurt to your favorite meals for a boost from essential nutrients. Garnish your soup with a swirl of Greek yogurt or even add some to your hummus.

Our Favorite Recipes That Use Greek Yogurt

Looking for more recipes that use Greek yogurt? Give these a try:

Greek Yogurt Recipes for Breakfast

Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Bagels

Milk & Cereal Breakfast Popsicles

Greek Yogurt Banana Muffins

Lunch and Dinner Greek Yogurt Recipes

Zucchini Noodles With Greek Yogurt Romesco Sauce

Creamy Southwest Vegetarian Pasta Salad

Sunny Curry Chicken Satay

Blender Black Bean Soup

Steak and Arugula Salad with Walnut Dressing

Greek Yogurt Dessert Recipes

Balsamic Berry Shortcakes with Greek Yogurt Whipped Cream

Orange Cream Chiller

Roasted Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

Sides and Dips Made With Greek Yogurt

Creamy Avocado Dip

Creamy Brown Rice and Vegetable Pilaf

Coconut-Lime Street Corn

Use Greek Yogurt as a Substitute in Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Use Greek Yogurt as a Substitute in Recipes? ›

Greek yogurt can substitute milk, sour cream and heavy cream. Milk: If you're short on milk, half and half or light cream, Greek yogurt can be used to make up for the difference. If your recipe calls for one cup of milk, use three-quarter cup of milk and one-quarter cup of Greek yogurt instead.

What does Greek yogurt do in baking? ›

Its creaminess helps keep baked goods moist. Its tanginess imparts a crave-worthy, old-fashioned flavor. Its acidity helps activate baking soda, which can make baked goods fluffy and light. It can step in for sour cream, mayonnaise or crème fraîche, bringin the same tangy with less guilt.

Can Greek yogurt be used in cooking? ›

Our creamy, tangy Greek Yogurt is a great substitution for sour cream or other high-fat cream in soups, sauces and stews. But heat can cause yogurt to separate, so whisk it in off the heat at the end, gently re-warming the dish over low heat if necessary, but not letting it simmer or boil.

Can you substitute Greek yoghurt for cream in recipes? ›

Blend together equal parts Greek yogurt and whole milk and use it in place of the same amount of heavy cream. Note that this substitute can add thickness to dishes like soups or sauces, but it shouldn't be used in recipes that require whipping.

How do you substitute Greek yogurt for vegetable oil in baking? ›

Greek Yogurt

Due to its thickness, you'll want to add a bit more yogurt to the recipe than the amount of oil called for. Start with a 1:1.25 ratio. For example, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of oil, use 1 ¼ cup of yogurt for baking. If your batter seems dry, slowly stir in a bit more yogurt.

Can you substitute Greek yogurt for regular in baking? ›

So to substitute Greek-style yogurt for American-style yogurt in baked goods, remember this rule: Use only two-thirds of the amount of Greek yogurt called for in the recipe and make up the difference with water.

Is sour cream or Greek yogurt better for baking? ›

These proteins contribute a fluffy structure to cake or quick breads. So when substituting, just keep in mind: Sour cream = more dense and rich; Greek yogurt = more airy and moist.

Does Greek yogurt curdle when cooked? ›

Yogurt in sauces and hot dishes

There is one hurdle to overcome: yogurt forms small, annoying lumps when it is cooked and this makes sauce look curdled. Proteins are already fragile due to the presence of lactic acid in the yogurt. They begin to clump together and form lumps when exposed to heat.

Can I use yogurt instead of heavy cream in pasta? ›

In this pasta recipe, Greek yogurt is used in place of cream to form the base of a rich and velvety sauce. While the pasta's cooking, you'll blitz the yogurt with lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic, plenty of black pepper, and salt in a blender.

What not to mix with yogurt? ›

Beans are the wrong combination with eggs, milk, fish, fruits, yogurt, and meat. Yogurt is to be avoided with cheese, hot drinks, sour fruits, milk, mangoes, nightshades, beans, eggs, fish. Fat and proteins are mismatched foods as they need different digestive juices.

Can Greek yogurt go in the oven? ›

While Greek yogurt's temperamental relationship with heat makes baking with it somewhat more complicated, it is still possible. You just have to thin it out a bit before incorporating it into a recipe like raspberry yogurt muffins. That way, it'll perform more like regular yogurt, which has a thinner consistency.

What can Greek yogurt be used for in baking? ›

From traditional comfort foods to fresh baked goods, Greek yogurt can substitute oil and mayonnaise. Oil: Replace oil with Greek yogurt when baking muffins, cakes and even waffles. Give these Greek Yogurt Banana Muffins or Double Blueberry Greek Yogurt Waffles a try.

Can you substitute Greek yogurt for butter in baking? ›

How to substitute it: for every 1 cup of butter, substitute ½ cup of plain Greek yogurt. In general, I recommend using a full-fat or at least 2% fat Greek yogurt as the fat will help keep the texture nice and tender. To start, I usually try replacing only half of the butter with Greek yogurt.

Can I replace oil with Greek yogurt in brownies? ›

One simple trick is to replace the oil called for in most boxed brownie mixes with either applesauce or plain yogurt (or even a Greek yogurt).

What is the effect of yogurt in baking? ›

Yogurt lends itself beautifully to breads, biscuits, muffins, and cakes, providing a slight tanginess and a light, fluffy texture. You can substitute yogurt for several dairy products like sour cream and kefir in many recipes, or bake up a recipe that specifically uses yogurt.

Will Greek yogurt curdle when baked? ›

Don't heat Greek yogurt quickly

If you heat it too quickly, it'll separate and curdle, potentially ruining your dish. To avoid making a mistake you can't take back, it is best to only add Greek yogurt at the end when your recipe is done cooking.

Can you replace butter with Greek yogurt in baking? ›

GREEK YOGURT

If you're using a cup of butter or less, replace the butter with 1 cup of full-fat Greek yogurt. If your recipe calls for more than a cup of butter, you'll need to tweak the flour in your recipe by adding about ¼ cup more to compensate for the yogurt's extra moisture.

Can Greek yogurt replace eggs in baking? ›

Yogurt. For this egg substitute, use 1/4 cup per egg. If you need to avoid dairy, you can use thick Greek-style plant-based yogurts. Most other non-dairy yogurts might be too thin to substitute for eggs in baking, so keep this in mind.

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