The simple guide on how to make healthy homemade Greek yogurt (with just two simple ingredients)! Learn how to make delicious and creamy Greek yogurt with this easy recipe. With just a few simple ingredients and some basic equipment, you can enjoy homemade Greek yogurt that is healthier and more flavorful than store-bought versions.
What is Yogurt?
Well milk is made up of casein and whey. Casein is what curdles and is used to make cheese and yogurt, while whey is the watery substance left when the milk curdles.
So what is Greek yogurt? Greek yogurt is essentially the same as regular yogurt with the addition of one critical step – straining! At the very end, the yogurt is strained to remove the excess watery whey, creating a thicker, more protein-dense product. So while we call this variation of yogurt “Greek yogurt” in the U.S., you may see it called “strained yogurt” in other areas of the world.
Homemade Yogurt Ingredients
Yogurt is a fermentation (just like kefir, kombucha, and kimchi), meaning it’s created by adding some bacteria (yogurt) to a sugar-containing substance (milk) and letting the bacteria eat up the sugar. So to make yogurt at home, you’ll just need 2 ingredients:
- Yogurt: Make sure to use a good quality yogurt that has “live” or “active” cultures.
- Milk: Whole fat milk produces the best texture for homemade yogurt.
The result of fermentation is always acid, gas, or alcohol. Fermentation of milk gives us acid, making for the distinctively tart flavor of yogurt!
How to make Greek Yogurt
Step 1: Heat Milk
Heat milk to 185 degrees F (85 degrees C). This is important for creating a thick, nicely textured yogurt.
Step 2: Cool Milk
Cool milk back down to lukewarm (about 110 degrees F, 43 degrees C), then add 1/2 cup of the warm milk into the yogurt. (Ensuring the milk is cooled down will prevent you from killing the live cultures in the yogurt.) Whisk the yogurt and milk together, then add the rest of the milk and mix well.
Step 3: Let Sit
Place your mixture somewhere warm and let sit for 4 to 8 hours, or until yogurt is thick and tangy. My favorite method for making yogurt is to wrap the jar in a warm, moist towel, then setting it in the oven with the oven light on. The light will provide enough heat to ferment the yogurt!
After sitting in a warm environment for a few hours, your yogurt is ready to eat! If you want to turn this plain yogurt into Greek yogurt, we’ll take it one step further and strain it.
Step 4: Strain
Set a mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth (or strong paper towels) over a large bowl. Pour in yogurt and place in the fridge. Check every few hours until yogurt reaches your desired thickness.
The liquid that is drained out of the yogurt is whey! This is a great protein and works well in smoothies and soups.
Transfer your freshly made Greek yogurt to an airtight container when it has reached your desired thickness level!
Greek Yogurt FAQs
Is Greek yogurt healthy? Yes! Greek yogurt is more protein-packed than regular yogurt because we skim out excess moisture.
Can you make Greek yogurt with skim milk? It’s best to use milk with some fat in it to give your homemade yogurt a nice texture. I’d recommend doing a blend of skim and 2% if you are going to try for a low fat homemade yogurt.
How do you make non-dairy Greek yogurt? Making non-dairy yogurt at home is another ball game and requires a different way to introduce live bacteria (in the form of probiotic supplements!) This recipe from Minimalist Baker is great for the non-dairy yogurt seekers.
Is it cheaper to make your own Greek yogurt? Yes! According to Project Meal Plan, homemade Greek yogurt is almost 15 cents cheaper per ounce than store bought.
How did yogurt originate? Yogurt came to be right around the time when humans started drinking animal milk, which was just about the time when we learned to domesticate animals, so 8000 years ago. Back then, milk was stored in (brace yourself) animal stomachs. The natural enzymes and bacteria in the stomach would cause the milk to curdle and ferment, producing yogurt and cheese! Yogurt has made it’s way into most nooks and crannies of the world, but it didn’t become popular in the U.S. until the 1950s and 60s, when health foods began to gain some traction.
Best Sauce…Ever?
Use your freshly made Greek yogurt to make this easy Spinach Artichoke Dip, Healthy French Onion Dip, or Fruit & Yogurt Popsicles!
But my FAVORITE way to use Greek yogurt? In this quick and easy tzatziki sauce! Tzatziki is refreshing and creamy, and the perfect way to use your homemade Greek yogurt.
Be sure to try our other fermentation projects, like kimchi, kefir, tepache, sauerkraut, and kombucha!
Ingredients
- 4 cups whole milk 960 mL
- ¼ cup plain store bought yogurt ensure the container says “live” or “active” cultures, 60 g
Instructions
- Heat Milk: Place milk in a medium pot and heat to 185-200°F (85-93°C), stirring frequently to preventing a skin from forming.
- Cool Bath: Transfer the pot with milk to an ice bath (I filled my sink with ice and water), to cool milk to 100-110°F (37-43°C).
- Temper: Pour ½ cup of the warm milk into a separate clean jar or bowl. Mix in plain yogurt, stirring until yogurt is well blended. Add remaining milk and mix well.
- Let Sit: Cover jar or bowl with a lid, wrap in a moist, warm towel to keep in heat, and place in oven. Turn on oven light to keep warm, and let the bacteria do its yogurt making magic for 4 to 8 hours (or overnight).*
- Strain: You can eat the yogurt like this, or strain it to make Greek yogurt. To strain, line a mesh sieve with cheesecloth (or paper towels, coffee filters etc), and pour yogurt in. Place over a large bowl and let strain in the fridge for a few hours (or overnight), until it’s reach a consistency you like.
Christine | Vermilion Roots says
Thank you for the step-by-step photos. I want to make my own yogurt but I’m dairy-free. Can I apply the same method to plant-based milk?
Sarah says
Hey Christine! I haven’t tried to make plant-based yogurt yet but my hunch would be no. I don’t think it would work the same due to the huge differences in milk composition (no casein, different bacteria). I did a little digging and it looks like you could make one similar by simply thickening plant-based milk with agar-agar, which is a flavorless, vegan substitute for gelatin and is made from seaweed or algae (I forget which!). I always love cooking tutorials form The Kitchn and they have one for coconut milk yogurt here if you’d like to check it out. It looks like you could Greek yogurt-ify it by straining it the same as I did with this milk-based yogurt. Happy experimenting! 🙂
Christine | Vermilion Roots says
Thank you so much for the link. I’m familiar with agar-agar. I make desserts with it. 🙂
Ali says
Hi Christine! I’ve been using this recipe for months now- it’s the best one for making greek yogurt without a machine! I was wondering though for the nutritional info, how many grams would 1 cup be? Thanks!
Sarah says
About 225 grams!
Jane says
Home made yogurt is the best! I’ve been doing it since lockdown and won’t go back. I haven’t bothered to strain mine but I will try next time. I just do mine practically your method and never failed. It’s so forgiving and easy. I don’t mind the watery whey as isn’t it good as gut bacteria? X Jane
Sarah says
Yep, the whey is also very healthy! 😀
Maja @ Mumma Hack says
This is a really great tutorial. I’ve been making my own Greek yoghurt for a few years now and would never go back to the store bought version. More people need to know how easy this is! 🙂
Sarah says
Right?! So many things are just so simple to make at home! Have you experimented with using lower fat milks?
Shadi says
I love yogurt and in Iran we mostly have it savory and it’s been difficult for me to find a good yogurt here, so i guess this is going to be my new favorite!
Sarah says
All the more reason to just make it at home! With a touch of honey and some strawberries…yum!
Bonnie Kaull says
I have to start making yogurt again! It is always better than the store bought when made at home!
You’ve inspired me. 🙂
Sarah says
Aw I’m glad!! Is this about how you used to make yogurt? I’m a yogurt newbie and was quite happy with how I got it to turn out, but I’m curious what other method there may be out there!
Bonnie Kaull says
I have to start making yogurt again! It is always better than the store bought when made at home!
You’ve inspired me. 🙂
The recipe I used used a lower fat milk plus a teensy bit of powdered milk. It was so good every time!
Sarah says
Yea I saw a few recipes with powdered milk! I figured I’d start simple, but I’ll probably try out a lower fat milk + powdered milk next time. More protein, less fat, I’m in!
Lyndsay says
I need this in my life. I’ve always wanted to make my own yogurt but never have. Looks like now is the perfect time. Thanks for sharing ?
Sarah says
Don’t we ALL need fresh made yogurt in our lives? 🙂 Happy yogurt making. Lyndsay!
Sophia @Veggies Don't Bite says
Bahahaha!!! I’m dying at your title. I’m Greek, like my parents are straight off the boat, and that movie was a fave. That’s totally my extended family. Can’t wait until the next one! It’s been on my list to make a plant-based yogurt!
Sarah says
There’s a sequel coming out?! I may be going to Greece in the near future for a friend’s wedding and I hope it is everything like the movie! But yea, I’m going to aim for a lower fat yogurt next, and then eventually a plant-based version. Let me know how your plant-based one turns out!
Christina says
Thanks sarah for this post! Just wondering, I used to just strain balkan yogurt to get that greek yogurt texture. would this method bring better results?
Sarah says
Hey Christina! How did you used to strain it? It sounds like you would have done something similar to what I did. It’s all really up to what you think tastes best and how thick you like your yogurt 🙂
Shiho says
I love yoghurt and did not know that you can make your own! Thank you very much for sharing. This post is very informative. Thank you.
Teresa says
Wow it’s so easy! Once I had a special yogurt maker but I got tired of bringing it from my basement before use… I guess it’s logical that you can make some yogurt with no special equipment but I never thought of it. I have to try it some day 🙂
Sarah says
I didn’t even know there was such a thing as yogurt makers until I started researching how to make it! I panicked a bit because I started to think you needed to have one to make yogurt, but the oven light ended up being perfect 🙂 You should try it out!
Razena | Tantalisemytastebuds.com says
I keep buying Greek yogurt (good quality but frightfully expensive) it would be good to try making it myself. Thanks for sharing.
Sarah says
Definitely! And making it at home is often the best quality, you know exactly what is going into it 🙂
Abigail Raines says
Thanks to your very awesome tutorial I am now totally inspired to make my own Greek yogurt. Pinned for future reference.
khadija says
wait what? they stored milk in animal stomachs? am off to learn more about this, then maybe i will make some yogurt. but you need a thermometer right? you can’t just set the temperature in the oven and keep it in there?
Sarah says
Apparently! The stomach was used as a bag (fashionable, right?), so they stored milk in it. And I’m just imaging one day they looked inside and discovered the best thing on Earth, cheese! But yes, it’s best to use a thermometer to ensure you hit the 2 major temperature points in this process, 185ish for heating the milk and 100ish for incubating. If your oven goes as low as 100 F, by all means set it at that. Most ovens won’t go below 140 F though, which is too hot for the bacteria to make their magic happen.
You could, if you don’t have a thermometer, still try. Heat the milk until it is frothy, like milk for a latte, but not boiling. Cool until it is warm enough to touch. And use the oven light method for the rest. More chance that it may be a flop but worth a shot!
Jeffrey Wong says
I’m nuts about Greek yogurt. It is an essential part of my daily diet. Wallaby Organic Aussie Greek is my favorite, and it costs me plenty. I also worry about all those plastic tubs that the local recycling entity might collect but not actually recycle.
I’m going to do this. I hope I can start with a quarter cup of Wallaby Organic and go from there.
thanks.
Sarah says
Have fun!! And let me know if you have any questions 🙂
Jeffrey Wong says
I did this, and it worked out so well. The whey will keep on dripping as long as I have the yogurt suspended. I just add some back and stir until it gets to the consistency desired.
Sarah says
So happy to hear, Jeffrey! 😀
Eva says
Will this work using Kage instead of yogurt. Also, what’s the estimate of Probotics?
Sarah says
Hi Eva! Sorry, but I’m actually not sure what Kage is? And the amount of probiotics will really depend on the yogurt you use.
Jeffrey Wong says
Eva, do you mean Kefir, or do you mean the brand Fage?
Sarah says
Oh good point, could have been Fage (I was down a rabbit hole of Danish foods called kage and I’m not sure that’s what she meant, lol). Fage would work!
Renae says
I love this post and excited to try but hope much does one recipe make? Should I assume it makes a quart or just over being that 32oz of milk is used plus a 1/4 cup of starter yogurt. This will be my first attempt at home made yogurt.
Sarah says
Hi Renae! A lot of the water will be drained out, so you can expect about 2 cups of yogurt in the end 😀
Joseph says
Thank you for the tutorial. I will definitely try this in the near future. I just have one question… Once I use the store bought yogurt to make my own yogurt, can I use my freshly made yogurt make my next batch or should I continue buying the store bought yogurt?
Cheers,
Sarah says
Great question, Joseph! You can use the yogurt you made to start your next batch! 😀
Adom says
U are amazing, going to try it out.
Sarah says
Enjoy! 🙂
Gina says
It is delicious! Thanks for the clear directions for my first attempt at yogurt. I whisked after straining, but I’ve been told to whisk after adding culture for a smoother texture. I’m researching what to do with the whey now. Having fun experimenting!
Sarah says
Enjoy, Gina! 😀
Royce Faina (Ροίς Φαίνα) says
I followed the directions, easy, and the yogurt is amazing. I strained it to make Greek yogurt. My surname is of Greek origin, Koine Greek actually. It’s allot of fun! It’s delicious, give it a try!
Sarah says
So happy you liked making it! Now you’ve got to take it even further back to your Greek roots and make some yogurt tzatziki 😉
Karen Janssen says
When I make Greek Yogurt I add an equivalent amount of good quality dry milk powder before pasturizing the liquid. (before heating it to 185). That removes the need to strain it and I end up with twice the amount of yogurt. If I have two gallons of whole milk, I add enough powdered milk to make 2 gallons of skim milk but without the water.
Sarah says
Thanks for the tip, Karen!
Camille says
Thanks for this easy-to-follow tutorial & recipe! I have never made yogurt before, but I’m excited to try it. One of my motivations for doing this is to reduce the amount of plastic I’m buying/using and we eat yogurt all the time so this will make a big difference if it works out.
I just have 1 concern that I’m hoping you can help me with. I see you calculated this at 281 calories per cup. How did you calculate this, is just the calories in the ingredients divided by the number of servings or does something change during the fermentation process? Also, what about if we do the straining step and take out the whey, if that is protein then it has calories, right?
I usually buy the Fage 2% Greek yogurt which is 160 calories per cup, so I’m hoping to be able to make something pretty close to this consistency and calorie content.
Thanks!
Sarah says
Hi Camille! SO AWESOME that you’re being intentional about reducing your plastic. The world needs more people like you!
After you pointed out the nutrition info, I started digging and it seems that Greek yogurt can range a LOT in nutritional value, primarily based on how much liquid is drained from it. I based my calculations loosely on the store bought Greek yogurts available to me here (because indeed, the nutritional profile changes as it ferments). But after digging into it more now, I’ve slightly revised what is probably more true for this whole milk yogurt. You can get the calories per cup a bit lower by using 2% milk 🙂
Enjoy!
Anonymous says
Um… Excuse me for out speaking, but you said this is homemade yogurt when one of the ingredients is STORE BOUGHT YOGURT! That defeats the purpose of calling this homemade.
Sarah says
Hi there! You need a “starter” for any fermentation, yogurt included. After the first batch, you can just use the yogurt you made previously as starter 😀
Pamila says
Perfect super food
Jamie says
I put a big cast iron dutch oven in the oven and turn the light on an hour in advance. The iron will provide a stable thermal mass and keep the warmth better 🙂
Sarah says
This. Is. BRILLIANT! SO trying it next time, thanks for the tip! 😀
Farah says
You have a knack for explaining food and processes.
Thank you girlie
Sarah says
Aw, thanks so much Farah! 😀
Lisa says
My life will truly never be the same! I go through 1 750g tub of Greek yogurt myself every 3 days max! It gets pretty expensive so when my husband suggested looking up how to make it myself I was hesitant at first because obviously I love yogurt a lot and if it wasn’t going to be as good as store bought I didn’t want to try. But so glad I did!! So easy and absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing!
Sarah says
YAY! This is so awesome to hear, Lisa! 😀 I didn’t really dive into it in this recipe, but you might also experiment with adding evaporated milk powder. It can boost the nutrition and make for a greater output (i.e. MORE YOGURT!)
Julie says
This is fabulous yogurt and so easy! I’m enjoying it with fresh raspberries as I type. I left it to drain overnight. It’s rich and creamy, even using 1% milk. I find it is not as tangy as store bought yogurt and love it! Thank you for the recipe and tips. Never buying yogurt again. Think about all the plastic containers I will no longer be getting!
Sarah says
So happy to hear it, Julie! Sooo much plastic saved!!
Tiffany says
This is FANTASTIC!! Thank you for sharing this no-fuss recipe. My whole family enjoys this greek yogurt. One question….how long can I store the whey in the fridge? I have put some in the freezer & use fresh as much as I can, but I hate to throw it away. Thanks (in advance) for your advice. 😊
Sarah says
So happy to hear it, Tiffany! 😀 This generally stores well for about a week. Thanks so much for dropping in to let us know how it went!
Lynn says
This was my first time making homemade yogurt. I used 2% a2 Milk & Fage 5% Greek Yogurt. I found it to be quite slimy so I sprinkled a little sea salt and strained it for several days turning it into Greek yogurt cream cheese. It’s absolutely delicious, thank you for sharing your recipe!
Sarah says
Great to hear you got it working, Lynn! 😀
June says
and just to say – I’ll never buy yogurt again and also to say there’s no reason you can’t use the some of the whey as a starter for your next batch. I’ve done both and it’s exactly the same result.
Sarah says
Brilliant! Thanks so much for the tip, June! 😀
Dawn says
I made the yogurt and it came out beautifully. However, I didn’t put it in the fridge immediately as I wanted to strain it to make the Greek yogurt, and left it on the counter while the cheese cloth dried. Did I just ruin the yogurt(I put both in the fridge just in case they’d be fine… With dead bacteria)
Sarah says
I don’t think that would have ruined it! With that said I do usually strain to make Greek yogurt (or even cheese) in the fridge to prevent food borne illness.
Ellen says
I have a question about your recipe for making Greek Yogurt. Can you save 1/4 c of the yogurt made to make another batch? I’d also like to know, if you only make 2 cups of yogurt at a time, would you use 1/8 c yogurt or still the 14/?
Sarah says
Yep, you can use the yogurt you made to start the next batch! And as long as you keep the ratios the same, you can scale the recipe up or down.
Nisha says
Hi, how long would this greek yogurt be good for when stored in an airtight container in the fridge?
Sarah says
About 2 weeks!
Ansie Proudfoot says
Hi Sarah
What a joy it is to read your posts! I’m curios though to know if you can make dubble cream greek yogurt? How?
Have a blessed day
Ansie
Sarah says
Now that’s a good question! I’m really not sure and have never tried it, sorry about that!
Theresa says
If I wanted to flavor the yogurt say with vanilla or almond extract when would that be added and how much would I add?
Sarah says
Add it after straining the Greek yogurt 🙂 And I’d probably do about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 4 cups of yogurt!
Theresa says
Thank you for responding. I have my jar in the oven now. We shall see what happens in 4-8 hrs!! 😉
Sarah says
YAY! Enjoy! 😀
Jim Ferguson says
A sous vide machine makes precision yogurt-making very easy. I set the machine at 190 F and let the machine pasteurize the milk, with zero possibility of scalding. When the milk reached 190 F, I dumped the hot water and set the machine to 100 F and refilled the bath and placed the milk container in the bath. As soon as the milk is at 100 F, I’ mix it with 1/4 cup of yogurt and hold it at 100 F for the next 6 hours. The whole process takes about 10 minutes of attention.
Sarah says
SO AWESOME! Thanks for dropping in to let us know how it went. I’m sure other people will be excited to try this method! 😀
Kalpana Sharma says
Can we make kefir with non dairy milk? e.g. Coconut milk
Sarah says
Hi Kalpana! Unfortunately you will need cow’s milk for this one. You might like this recipe for coconut yogurt from Minimalist Baker though!
funmmie says
Thank you so much for this. The steps making it more easier for me to get my plain and greek yogurt.
Sarah says
So happy to hear it! Enjoy! 😀
chidi james says
How do i get a low fat milk
Sarah says
You may need to use some milk powder to help with the texture when using low fat milk. Here’s a guide you might like.
Riick says
I’ve been making Greek yogurt, on the stove, for about 2 years. For fun value I weighed the gallon of 1% milk I used, less the plastic bottle, it was 8.8 pounds. I also weighed the Whey that dripped out, it was about 3.1 pounds. So I get over 5 pounds of yogurt from a gallon of milk; I’m guessing that’s about 3 quarts of strained yougurt. Around here, a quart of strained yogurt costs between $4 – $7 depending on brand, 3 quarts x $5 each = $15, vs. under $4 for a gallon of milk.
BTW – I found no need for ice when cooling it down, a sink half-full of cold water does the job in about 10 minutes.
Sarah says
This is awesome! Thanks so much for dropping in to let us know, this will be extra useful for other people considering making their own yogurt! 😀
A says
So excited to try make this on the weekend! I was wondering though, should the starter yogurt be cold or room temp when we mix it with the milk? Thanks for the great recipe!
Sarah says
Either should be fine! 😀
Emilie says
Fantastic recipe, it worked first time too! Question : If I keep some of the yogurt I made, can I use it to make the next batch? Thank you!
Sarah says
Yep, the yogurt you made can be used as starter for the next batch 😀 Enjoy!
Andrew says
Thank you so much for the step-by-step photos and instructions.
It is so easy to follow and I successfully made my own yogurt for the first time.
Really appreciated it !!
Sarah says
So happy to hear it! Enjoy! 😀
Jatin says
How beautifully explained! Loved how you broke down the process into its basic principles that can be applied elsewhere too.
Sarah says
Happy to hear it, Jatin! Happy yogurt making! 😀
Suzy says
Such an easy recipe to follow, and made yogurt even better than the store!
Alice says
Hi ! LOVE LOVE LOVE how simple is that recipe. i am a big greek yogurt eater and after making this recipe I am left with one question: why didn’t I think to make it myself earlier ???!!!
Ok, a real question for you: I am following quite precisely my calorie intake. How did you figure out the nutrition part ? Because I am just wondering what type of nutrients gets out through the whey…
Thank you for coming back to me !!
And huge thank you to share that recipe !!
Sarah says
I typically use the nutrition info from a similar store bought yogurt (2%, full fat etc). Enjoy! 😀
Saadatu Bg Muhammad says
Thank you so much for the explanation I ll try it at home too