Greek Yogurt Is the Key to These 16 Nourishing Recipes

It's hard to imagine a fridge without Greek yogurt.

By
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara is a chef, culinary educator, and author of three cookbooks, The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, Tasting Ohio and The Fruit Forager's Companion. The latter won a 2019 IACP Cookbook Award.
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Updated July 26, 2023
Sara Bir
Overhead view of a Lemon Yogurt Bundt Cake.
Lori Rice

When I don't have yogurt around, I feel adrift. I eat Greek yogurt with fresh fruit and ground flax seeds nearly every morning, but that's barely scratching the surface of what this wonder food excels at. I use it whenever a recipe calls for sour cream. If I eat a piece of fruit pie or a helping of cobbler, a big plop of Greek yogurt goes on top. And, per the Annie's box variation, I sub out the milk and butter for Greek yogurt when making mac and cheese mix.

In recipes, yogurt can be the star or a supporting player. It adds tang without the higher levels of fat you find in sour cream or cream cheese. It makes cakes and muffins bake up tender. Its cooling power works as a foil when made into a sauce served with spicy or assertive dishes. It offers a probiotic boost. And it's just plain handy.

Plain full-fat is my Greek yogurt of choice, but the recipes below will work with any plain Greek yogurt you have in the fridge. Grab your carton and get cooking.

  • Swiss Chard Tzatziki

    Swiss Chard Tzatziki
    Elise Bauer

    Cucumbers are in theory what define tzatziki, but swapping them for blanched chard scoots this into something like a lighter spinach dip. As a bonus, the greens don't weep the way cukes do, making this hold up better than trad tzatziki.

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  • Whole Wheat Strawberry Shortcake

    Two plates with healthier strawberry shortcake set on a table with white linens. Shortcake is piled with sliced strawberries and whipped yogurt topping. A wire basket of strawberries is to the left of the plates.
    Alison Bickel

    A portion of whole wheat in the shortcake dough adds flavor and nutrition to the classic shortcake. The creamy topping is Greek yogurt lightened with whipped cream for a tang that's not overbearing.

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  • Whipped Feta With Figs, Pistachio, and Honey

    Whipped feta with figs, nuts, and honey in a bowl with bread dipped in the side.
    Karishma Pradhan

    This is what everyone dreams of seeing at a party. For a lighter and smoother version, the author suggests swapping the cream cheese for Greek yogurt. Now that's a feta dip you can sink your pita into.

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  • Spanakopita Twice-Baked Potatoes

    Spanakopita twice baked potatoe sliced open with a fork on a white plate with an arugula and tomato salad.

    Alison Bickel

    Who doesn't love a twice-baked potato? These get a lightening up with the spinach and feta flavors of spanakopita. Mix the scooped-out potato insides with Greek yogurt instead of the heavy butter. Frozen spinach makes these easy to put together.

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    Continue to 5 of 16 below.

  • Yogurt Cake

    Slices of A slice of Olive Oil Yogurt Cake on a wooden paddle and dusted with powdered sugar.
    Lori Rice

    This super-easy recipe is based on one that home cooks in France have been baking for years. Plain yogurt (Greek or regular works) is the key to its tender crumb. The batter uses your favorite oil (I love olive oil), so there's no need to cream; just a little whisking and folding and you're done!

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  • Pesto White Bean Veggie Burgers

    Veggie Burgers with White Beans
    Megan Gordon

    A homemade veggie burger runs circles around those ones in the box. The creamy pesto that tops these gets its spreadable consistency from a dose of Greek yogurt.

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  • How to Make Homemade Greek Yogurt

    Overhead view of a bowl of Greek yogurt

    Make your own? Yes, and it's easy. Start with regular yogurt (from the store is fine) and strain it through cheesecloth, or even a coffee filter. The result is seriously the best Greek yogurt you'll ever have. It's fun to try, even if you only do it once.

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  • 4-Ingredient Strawberry Yogurt Popsicles

    Strawberry Yogurt Pops
    Sally Vargas

    Marble lightly sweetened strawberry puree with Greek yogurt for these fruit-filled pops. Swap the simple syrup for agave nectar and you'll save yourself a step, plus cut out the refined sugar.

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    Continue to 9 of 16 below.

  • Lemon Yogurt Cake

    Overhead view of a Fresh Lemon Yogurt Cake with lemon slices on the side of the platter.
    Lori Rice

    A divine glaze sets this zingy Bundt cake apart. It's an easy stir-together batter that delivers impressive results.

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  • Chicken Souvlaki

    Greek Chicken Skewers with Flatbread and Yogurt Sauce (Chicken Souvlaki)
    Sally Vargas

    Grilled marinated chicken on a pita with fresh veggies and a cooling but zesty yogurt sauce is a surprisingly quick dinner. There's a little tahini whisked into the yogurt for extra richness.

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  • Whole Banana Bread

    Slice of banana bread with butter.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    A whole banana in banana bread―peel and all? Yes! Puree the bananas in a food processor before stirring together the batter and adding a little Greek yogurt for that certain something. No one will know there's a peel in there, promise.

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  • Shrimp Cobb Salad With Creamy Basil Dressing

    A dinner plate with shrimp cobb salad before it's dressed
    Sally Vargas

    The salad itself is glorious, yes, but the keeper here is the creamy basil dressing. It's a mix of Greek yogurt and olive oil and a little mayo with plenty of basil. You'll find yourself dreaming up new things to use it on (pasta salad! grain bowls!).

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    Continue to 13 of 16 below.

  • Blackberry Muffins

    Blackberry Muffins on a Cooling Rack with a Bowl of Blackberries Next to It

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    A longtime reader favorite, these blackberry muffins have a thick batter that bakes up irresistibly cakey. Readers in the comments often note how swapping the sour cream for Greek yogurt yields delicious results.

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  • Homemade Veggie Dip

    Platter of Vegetables and a Bowl of Veggie Dip

    Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

    Keep this veggie dip on hand and crunchy, nutritious snacking is ready on a whim. I always replace the sour cream here with Greek yogurt, and I actually prefer it that way.

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  • Chicken Tikka Masala

    Chicken Tikka Masala finished dish in a bowl with spoons and rice
    Lisa Lin

    A yogurt marinade tenderizes the chicken, while a good dose of yogurt in the sauce softens the spices. Making this Indian restaurant takeout favorite at home is easier than you thought.

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  • Instant Pot Yogurt

    Pressure Cooker Yogurt boil the milk
    Alison Conklin

    If you have an Instant Pot, you can make your own yogurt at home. Now that you've solidified your love of yogurt, go down the rabbit hole and make yogurt from scratch using the milk of your choice. I always strain mine to make the best Greek yogurt on earth. It's a process, but one that pays off.

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