Best Greek Yogurt Substitute

There are several options if you’re all out of Greek yogurt! Here’s the best Greek yogurt substitute to use in recipes and baking.

All out of Greek yogurt, or working around a dietary restriction? Greek yogurt is a creamy, rich type of yogurt that has lots of nutrients and protein. It’s gotten massively popular in recent years, but the health claims really do stand up. The creamy texture of Greek yogurt makes it a healthy substitute for sour cream when dolloping soups and tacos. It’s also used in baking recipes as a substitute for oil or buttermilk, like in Greek yogurt pancakes.

Don’t have time to shop for Greek yogurt? Or trying to make a recipe dairy-free or plant-based? Here’s the our best Greek yogurt substitute to use in recipes and as a topping.

But first…how can you use Greek yogurt as a substitute?

Before we start…are you looking for the opposite? Do you have Greek yogurt and want to know what it can replace in your food? Here are a few foods Greek yogurt can substitute. See this Yogurt Substitution Guide for more details!

• Sour cream
• Oil
• Butter
• Mayonnaise
• Buttermilk
• Heavy cream

Best Greek yogurt substitute

Note that how these options work depend on the type of recipe and how the Greek yogurt is used.

1. Plain yogurt.

The best Greek yogurt substitute? Plain yogurt. Plain yogurt has a looser texture than the Greek variety. If you’re using the replacement in baking or pancakes, you can use plain yogurt as a 1:1 substitute for Greek yogurt. For dips or other recipes where you want at thicker consistency, here’s a trick: make your own Greek yogurt.

You can actually make Greek yogurt out of plain yogurt! Straining plain yogurt gives it a similar thick texture. Here’s what to do: place the plain yogurt in a fine mesh strainer and place it over a bowl. Let it sit in the refrigerator for 1 to 3 hours until it drains its liquid and becomes thicker.

2. Sour cream.

The next best Greek yogurt substitute? Sour cream! Like Greek yogurt, sour cream is a cultured dairy product. It has a creamy texture similar to Greek yogurt and a tangy flavor, though the texture is slightly looser. Use this as a 1:1 substitute for Greek yogurt baking recipes and for dolloping chili and tacos.

3. Vegan sour cream (dairy-free option).

A substitute for Greek yogurt that’s dairy free? Try this Vegan Sour Cream! It’s oddly similar to the flavor and texture of yogurt, but it’s made with cashews, tofu and lemon juice. Do not use this as a substitute for sour cream in baking recipes. But it’s perfect for dolloping chili and tacos!

4. Other (case by case).

There are a few other Greek yogurt substitutes, but you’ll have to assess them on a case by case basis. Making something creamy like tuna salad or egg salad and there’s Greek yogurt in it? You can use mayonnaise instead, because the standard recipe was adapted to use Greek yogurt.

Are you baking something? You can use butter as a substitute for the Greek yogurt in baked goods, but beware. It makes sense as a 1:1 swap for small quantities, but don’t add 1 cup butter in a recipe where it’s standing in for Greek yogurt! You may need to add a combination of butter and another food that adds moisture to baked goods, like applesauce or mashed banana.

There are so many types of uses for Greek yogurt that we can’t give you a hard and fast rule. Not sure what to do? Add a comment below.

Related recipes

Here are a few of our favorite recipes with Greek yogurt:

• Greek Yogurt Mac and Cheese
• Ranch Dip
• Yogurt Whipped Cream
• Greek Yogurt Pancakes
• Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip
• Frozen Yogurt Bites
• Authentic Tzatziki Recipe
• Greek Yogurt Chocolate Pudding
• Creamy Marinara Sauce Pasta
• Dill Sauce
• Easy Yogurt Smoothie
• Easy Spinach Dip or Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Peanut Butter Dip
• Cinnamon Yogurt Fruit Dip
• Easy Zucchini Bread or Best Zucchini Muffins
• 10 Smoothie Recipes with Yogurt