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Easy Greek (and plain) yogurt swaps you can use every day in recipes to cut fat and calories with added health benefits!
How to Cook and Substitute Yogurt in Recipes
Cooking and substituting yogurt in recipes expands yogurt beyond the quick breakfast with added health benefits that Greek yogurt brings to every dish.
When I create new recipes it’s always a priority that they are healthy without skimping on flavor. One of my favorite tricks for maintaining this balance of health and flavor is subbing Greek yogurt. I use Greek yogurt in place of much heavier, higher fat or more calorie dense ingredients – like butter, sour cream, oil, or buttermilk. Using yogurt in your baked goods will make them incredibly moist, while adding yogurt to savory dips and soups gives them creaminess with a touch of tang.
I’ve teamed up with Stonyfield Organic to write this post. My favorite kind of yogurt to use in recipe swaps is Stonyfield Organic Greek Yogurt. If you look in my fridge, you’ll always find at least one container of this healthy, high quality Greek yogurt just waiting to be added to recipes like bagels, waffles or muffins. I also love adding it to smoothies or using it in yogurt bowls!
How to Sub Yogurt in your meals:
When it comes to Greek or Plain Yogurt, there are so many ways to add it to your favorite recipes. Some recipes you can completely swap out sour cream, mayonnaise or heavy cream for yogurt while others I may partially swap some of it out. Here’s a bunch of ways I’ve used yogurt as a swap or in recipes.
1. Use Greek Yogurt in Tacos and Wraps
Tacos are a fan favorite in my home – Taco Tuesday, anyone? Unfortunately, the cheese and sour cream can really start to pile on the calories and fat. I enjoy making healthy taco and wrap options and one way I do that is by swapping the sour cream topping with a yummy Greek yogurt based alternative. These three recipes each use a low cal, low fat, super flavorful Greek yogurt topping:
- Turkey Taco Stuffed Avocados
- Tzatziki Fish Tacos
- Tuna Lettuce Wraps
2. Use Greek Yogurt in Savory Dips
I’m a big time snacker and dips always make snacks better. You can use yogurt as your base for both sweet and savory snack dips.
These savory dips are great for parties. You can use veggies – raw or roasted – or pita chips:
- Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip
- Greek 7 Layer Dip
2. Yogurt in Dressings and Sauces
Using yogurt in dressing and sauces is such a tasty way to add a creamy texture with a slight tang.
- White Sauce
- Yogurt Mint Sauce
- Lime Dipping Sauce
3. Using Greek Yogurt in Fruit Dips
- Cheesecake Yogurt Dip
- Yogurt Fruit Dip
- Honey and Yogurt
4. Greek Yogurt in Baking
Muffins, Bagels, Garlic Knots, Pizza Crust, Quick Breads, the Greek yogurt swap makes for fewer calories, less fat, but no loss of flavor!
- Homemade Bagels
- Stuffed Bagel Balls
- Yogurt Waffles
- Yogurt Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Grilled Pizza
5. Greek Yogurt in Cheesecakes and Desserts
Cheesecake is the ultimate indulgent dessert. Swapping in some yogurt you can gobble these sweet treats up without the guilt.
- Maple Pecan Cheesecake Shooters
- Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Cupcakes
- Lemon Cheesecake Yogurt Cups
- Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Cupcakes
- Yogurt Panna Cotta
6. Swap out some mayo for yogurt to lighten
This recipe adds some yogurt in with mayo to lighten it up, but you can swap all of it for yogurt if you wish.
- Waldorf Chicken Salad
7. Making Soups with Greek Yogurt
There’s nothing better than a creamy, hearty, warm soup on a crisp fall night. But, the half-and-half used to make the soup creamy is high in fat and calories. Simply swap that for Greek yogurt and you get the same creamy texture you’re craving. Try it out in my Creamy Pumpkin Ginger Soup.
8. Top Your Chili or Sweet Potatoes with Yogurt
Greek yogurt makes the perfect creamy topping for sweet potatoes and chili!
- Loaded Vegetarian Baked Sweet Potatoes
- White Bean Turkey Chili
9. Use yogurt in your marinades
Yogurt marinades make meat perfectly tender! Try these delicious Greek Chicken kebabs.
- Chicken Tzatziki
General Cooking With Yogurt Tips
- How To Cook with Yogurt Without Curdling. To keep yogurt from separating in hot foods, such as soups, stir a few tablespoons of the hot food into the yogurt to warm it gradually. Then stir the warmed yogurt mixture back into the hot food. When adding yogurt, stir or fold it in gently to maintain a thick and creamy texture.
- Freezing Yogurt. Don’t worry—freezing yogurt has little effect on its beneficial cultures. While heating yogurt above 120° will destroy cultures, the yogurt will still provide valuable nutrients like calcium and protein.
- How to Thicken. To thicken up a yogurt-based salad dressing or dip, just chill it for an hour.
What are the health benefits to subbing in Greek yogurt?
Swapping out a high fat or high calorie ingredients like oil, butter, Mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream, and even cream cheese is an easy way to cut calories and fat out of your meals.
Swapping in Greek yogurt can actually boost the nutritional value of your meal, too. Greek yogurt is packed with protein, which builds bones and muscles, provides energy, and also boosts your immune system.
Greek yogurt is also great for gut health. Stonyfield organic Greek yogurt has 5 live and active cultures and 22 grams of protein per serving.
What makes Stonyfield yogurt the best option?
In addition to the superior flavor and encouraging overall health, one of my favorite things about Stonyfield is their commitment to a healthier planet. All Stonyfield products are organic, free from antibiotics and growth hormones, and non-GMO. Their animals are treated and cared for using the most humane practices. They also support small family farms and only source from farmers whom they know and trust.
Yogurt Will Save You More Than Just Calories
Simply by keeping an extra quart of Stonyfield Greek Yogurt in your fridge you’ll save space and money in addition to cutting down on calories.When you start swapping yogurt for other ingredients you can eliminate multiple products like sour cream, mayonnaise, buttermilk, and cream cheese entirely.
It’s Time to Give Greek Yogurt a Try!
If you haven’t yet tried swapping calorie dense ingredients for Greek yogurt, it’s definitely time to give it a try. I’d love to hear which recipes you’ve tried and where it works best for you. Let me know your favorite ways are to use Greek yogurt in recipes.
Sponsored by Stonyfield. Thank you for supporting brands I use and love that make Skinnytaste possible.
