Have you ever wondered what the substitutes for Greek yogurt are if you’ve run out of yogurt or can’t find any?
Greek yogurt is exceptionally high in protein, calcium, and probiotics and is rich and creamy.
Greek yogurt is used in many dishes, from pizza crusts and baked items to sauces and dressings.
However, Greek yogurt can be pricey, and some varieties have strong, sour flavors, making it a divisive dish.
Furthermore, if you’re vegan or following a non-dairy diet, managing its widespread usage in baking and cooking might be challenging.
A few substitutes for Greek yogurt are less expensive, less tart, and more likely to be in your refrigerator if you run out of Greek yogurt at home, are looking for a non-dairy option, are vegan, or don’t like it.
Traditional Greek yogurt is thicker than other yogurts and has a distinctive tang since you can squeeze water out of it during preparation.
According to Healthline, Greek yogurt offers more protein than regular yogurt and is packed with beneficial probiotic bacteria for a healthy gut.
Additionally, many Greek yogurt businesses give customers options with less sugar and calories.
There are times and places when you only sometimes have an extra container in your fridge, regardless of the ingredient.
Here are some of our favorite Greek yogurt substitutes, typically purchased at your local grocery store or in your refrigerator.
1. Buttermilk
One of the substitutes for Greek yogurt is Buttermilk. Due to the excellent moistness it adds to cakes, this product has been used for decades.
It also has a flavor comparable to Greek yogurt, which is slightly sour.
You can substitute Greek yogurt with Buttermilk for baking and creating dressings because you can use Greek yogurt to moisten cakes and create creamy, rich, and slightly sour dressings.
You can substitute Greek yogurt for Buttermilk when marinating chicken because Buttermilk is also known to tenderize meat. Also, you can use Buttermilk to prepare a sauce for your meal.
You can replace Greek yogurt with Buttermilk. However, it would be best to use a little less buttermilk than is called for in the recipe because Buttermilk has more liquid than Greek yogurt.
2. Sour Cream
Greek yogurt and sour cream are comparable in thickness, making sour cream the perfect swap in recipes that call for tang and thickness.
Greek yogurt with sour cream in baked products like pound cake because the dairy product’s moisture seeps into the batter, giving it flavor and a substantial texture.
If a recipe calls for either Greek yogurt or sour cream, combine them before adding the dry ingredients.
With this technique, you may avoid flour clumping and flour pockets in your baked items.
Sour cream works best in dressings and sauces, but you can use it in nearly any recipe for Greek yogurt.
The same quantity of sour cream and yogurt is used (1:1 ratio). Any meal will gain a more decadent bite from sour cream, but the texture will stay the same.
3. Cream Cheese
Cream Cheese is next on the list of substitutes for Greek yogurt. You can substitute Greek yogurt for cream cheese because of its comparable flavor and consistency.
Cream cheese is a widely available commodity.
As it can be challenging to combine cream cheese that is still cold from the refrigerator, let it come to room temperature first.
Cream cheese lends richness, moisture, and a pleasant tanginess to various savory foods, sauces, and baked items like cakes.
It also functions in salad dressings and spaghetti sauce. Additionally, as long as the cream cheese is brought to room temperature first, you can use the same amount as Greek yogurt.
4. Cottage Cheese
Stick to smoothies if you want to replace Greek yogurt with cottage cheese.
Along with your preferred fruit mixture and milk, the cottage cheese blends seamlessly with Greek yogurt, and you’ll enjoy the satiating effects of giving your smoothie an extra protein boost.
Greek yogurt offers 6 fewer grams of protein per serving than cottage cheese, making cottage cheese the ideal breakfast food to keep you full until lunch.
Because of its consistency, cottage cheese frequently receives a bad rap. Nevertheless, it is a calcium- and protein-rich nutritional powerhouse low in sugar.
You may use the same quantity as Greek yogurt. The options are unlimited. Try it in pancakes, cheesecakes, salads, and lasagna.
5. Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is a great substitute for Greek yogurt in recipes like potato salad, coleslaw, and macaroni salad. It adds moisture and flavor to these dishes without overpowering them.
In baking recipes, you can also use Mayonnaise as a substitute for Greek yogurt. It adds richness and moisture to cakes, muffins, and other baked goods.
When substituting Mayonnaise for Greek yogurt, use the same quantity as the recipe calls for.
In sweet and savory recipes, Mayonnaise is one of the perfect substitutes for Greek yogurt. It thickens, adds fantastic taste to many dressings, and has a similar consistency and flavor profile.
It also works wonders in cakes since it gives them a ton of moisture, and you can’t tell there’s Mayonnaise inside.
Mayonnaise can be used instead of Greek yogurt in different recipes to produce excellent results.
6. Mashed Bananas
In some meals, especially baked products, mashed bananas might be an excellent substitute for Greek yogurt if you’re searching for a dairy-free, vegan option to add some sweetness.
One approach to reducing the amount of butter and oil in a recipe without sacrificing moisture is to replace mashed bananas; the same goes for using them instead of Greek yogurt.
When using this alternative, add a little acidity (like a teaspoon or two of lemon juice) because bananas lack the sour flavor of Greek yogurt.
Additionally, Greek yogurt lacks some of the natural sweetness that bananas do, so you should modify the other added sugars in your recipe to make up for it.
7. Apple Sauce
Next on our of substitutes for Greek yogurt is Apple sauce. Applesauce has long been accepted as a healthy alternative to oil-in-boxed cake mixes.
You can replace Greek yogurt with applesauce in a 1:1 ratio.
Greek yogurt is much more sour and thick than applesauce, so this substitute works best for recipes that call for a small amount.
If you add more than a few applesauce to your recipe, you might need to alter the extra sugar because applesauce is significantly sweeter than Greek yogurt.
Similarly, if you are sensitive to apples, you can purée other fruits like pears. Using applesauce in place of yogurt in baking has several advantages.
According to Souper Sage, applesauce has fewer calories and less fat than Greek yogurt. Applesauce is much thinner than Greek yogurt.
8. Plain Yogurt
Plain yogurt is always accessible and will work if you don’t have Greek yogurt.
It has the same creamy, tangy flavor as Greek yogurt, even though it might not be as thick, and you can use the two interchangeably.
You can use yogurt simply in sauces, marinades, and dressings. To make your cakes moist, you may also apply it when baking.
Just remember to use a little less because plain yogurt has more liquid than is specified.
As you continue, you may always add more. You can also experiment with flavored yogurts to add more taste to baked items.
9. Milk
Yes, you can substitute milk for Greek yogurt in baking. Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice or white distilled vinegar with each cup to make sour milk. This will deliver a flavor profile resembling Greek yogurt.
If you don’t have any other options, milk is one of the great substitutes for Greek yogurt. You can use milk instead of Greek yogurt in sauces, marinades, and dressings.
It’s important to remember that milk is much thinner than Greek yogurt so that it will give your recipes a different thick consistency.
To make up for this, you may need to add more ingredients
10. Silken Tofu
This one is for all of your soy and vegan lovers. You can use finished tofu to make sauces, mousses, and other dishes with different identities and regional cuisines.
Silken tofu is your best option for a Greek yogurt substitute with no flavor. You can substitute Greek yogurt and silken tofu 1:1 in baking and cooking.
Consider adding acid (lemon juice or distilled white vinegar) to your tofu if you also need the flavor of Greek yogurt.
You may make silken tofu by placing the box (located in the grocery store’s natural or refrigerated foods section) in a food processor or blender and blending until smooth.
Scoop some leftover silken tofu into your smoothies for richness and an additional protein boost.
11. Coconut Cream
Next on our list of substitutes for Greek yogurt is Coconut Cream. This is a fantastic dairy-free alternative to Greek yogurt that can be found at most shops.
When chilled and then whipped, coconut cream is also rich and creamy. It performs marvelously in a variety of baked items and sauces.
Given the strong coconut flavor, dressings might not be a good use for it. However, it is excellent for adding creaminess to sauces and baked products.
You can use Coconut cream in the same amount as Greek yogurt. When looking for a dairy-free alternative to Greek yogurt, coconut cream can be a creamy, luscious option, similar to the mashed banana.
But be careful not to confuse coconut milk in a carton with coconut cream, as the latter is much thinner, more watery, and won’t have the same effects as Greek yogurt.
12. Avocado
Greek yogurt can be substituted with mashed avocado, a delicious dairy-free alternative that hits all the desired fatty notes.
You can utilize Avocados to add moisture and fat to a tray of avocado brownies, even though they are most often linked with the ideal guacamole recipe.
Choose a 1-to-1 substitution for the Greek yogurt and avocados (per Treat Dreams).
Instead of comparing a full avocado to a cup of Greek yogurt, pureeing your avocados in a food processor or blender before measuring will provide the greatest substitute results.
Try adding a little lemon or lime juice to your mashed avocado before combining it with other ingredients if you want a distinct, yogurt-like taste.
13. Almond Butter
Last on our list of substitutes for Greek yogurt is Almond Butter. You can replace anything creamy dairy-free with almond butter.
Additionally, it naturally contains sugar, a wonderful complement to any baked dish.
You can use Almond butter for sour cream in vegan baking to add moisture and bind the ingredients.
Almond butter, however, cannot be used in savory dishes like dressings because it will radically change the dish’s flavor.
In baked items, reduce the amount of almond butter by half. To make it simpler to combine with the other ingredients, you may also microwave it for 20 seconds before adding.
In conclusion, there are many substitutes for Greek yogurt, including silken tofu, coconut cream, avocado, and almond butter.
You can use each option in baking and cooking to add moisture and fat without dairy.
For a box of Greek yogurt, you don’t have to exhaust your bank account or purge your refrigerator.
You don’t have to deprive yourself of tangy and creamy foods. Use your existing stock of Greek yogurt replacements, and enjoy experimenting in the kitchen.
