4.9 from 313 votes
How to Make Greek Yogurt (No Special Equipment)
This recipe explains how to make Greek yogurt at home using just whole milk and plain yogurt with live cultures. The method involves gently heating the milk, cooling it to a suitable temperature, adding the starter yogurt, and allowing fermentation in a warm, controlled environment. Straining the resulting yogurt creates the thicker texture characteristic of Greek yogurt. The process takes several hours but requires no specialized equipment.
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
6 hrs
Total Time
6 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
2
cups
Calories:
335 kcal
Course:
Breakfast, Condiments
Cuisine:
Mediterranean, Greek
Ingredients
- 4 cups milk 960 mL, whole
- ¼ cup PLAIN yogurt ensure the container says “live” or “active” cultures, 60 g, store-bought
Instructions
- Heat Milk: Place 4 cups whole 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).
- Mix: Add ¼ cup plain store-bought yogurt to the cooled milk and whisk well to combine.
- Ferment: 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.
- Serve chilled with your favorite yogurt toppings, or use it in a recipe as you would store-bought yogurt!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Keep the fermentation temperature around 100°F by using your oven light or briefly warming the oven.
- Store your homemade yogurt in a clean, airtight container for up to one week.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1cup
Calories
335kcal
(17%)
Carbohydrates
8.4g
(3%)
Protein
19.7g
(39%)
Fat
24g
(37%)
Cholesterol
30mg
(10%)
Sodium
80mg
(3%)
Potassium
375mg
(8%)
Fiber
0g
(0%)
Sugar
11.1g
(22%)
Vitamin A
243IU
(5%)
Vitamin C
1.2mg
(1%)
Calcium
296mg
(30%)
Iron
0.1mg
(1%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2 cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories 335
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1cup | |
| Calories | 335kcal | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 8.4g | 3% |
| Protein | 19.7g | 39% |
| Fat | 24g | 37% |
| Cholesterol | 30mg | 10% |
| Sodium | 80mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 375mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Sugar | 11.1g | 22% |
| Vitamin A | 243IU | 5% |
| Vitamin C | 1.2mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 296mg | 30% |
| Iron | 0.1mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.