39 Creative Ways to Use Yogurt

June 24, 2016
Credit: Photo: Romulo Yanes
Whether it's lending rich depth to a pan sauce or turning a boring piece of chicken into a moist pan-fried main, yogurt should be a staple in your healthy refrigerator. Most of these recipes feature plain yogurt. Use your favorite brand, or look for a new one. We like yogurts that do not have added sugars, thickeners, or colorings. 
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Cooking with Yogurt

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Greek Yogurt with Warm Black and Blueberry Sauce

Yogurt isn't just for serving à la carte anymore. Make dressing creamier, baked goods more moist, and smoothies—well—smoother. We've already given you all the facts you need to know about yogurt. This time, we're bringing you the best recipes to utilize this creamy, cultured milk.

We'll start you off with a Greek Yogurt with Warm Black and Blueberry Sauce. Sweet, frozen berries make this a year-round treat to be enjoyed on tangy Greek yogurt. A fan of dessert for breakfast? This recipe packs the protein, so don't feel bad if you decide to start your day with an indulgence.

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Chicken Dinner Salad

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Chicken Dinner Salad

When it was Linda Stoneking's turn to host her supper club, she decided to incorporate in-season corn as a theme to challenge her guests. Her salad creation was the favorite that night. Yogurt in the chicken's marinade tempers the heat from the Sriracha and keeps this dish family-friendly.

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Banana Snacking Cake

Credit: Photo: John Autry 
View Recipe: Banana Snacking Cake

Loaf cakes hold up well in a lunch box, and a slice can stand in for breakfast on a busy morning. This healthy version is made with potassium-packed bananas, canola oil, low-fat yogurt, and just 1/3 cup of sugar.

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Creamy Potato Salad

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Creamy Potato Salad

Our basic recipe for Creamy Potato Salad is scrumptious as is. If you're looking to spice things up, try one of our three variations: Sour Cream-Dill, German-Style, and Lemon-Herb. If you've never used yogurt in your potato salad dressing before, you will soon become a convert.

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Bourbon-Glazed Peaches With Yogurt

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Bourbon-Glazed Peaches with Yogurt

If you have the willpower, keep this recipe in the files until July and August roll around and peaches are at their most delicious. Then, as the fruit hangs on the trees soaking up sunshine during summer's hottest days, all the magic happens. Crisp flesh softens, and sugar levels rise to balance the tart acidity. No question: Peak peach time is worth the wait. Creamy yogurt is brought to another level when scooped over these peaches.

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Tuscan Cake with Citrus Compote

Credit: Photo: Romulo Yanes, Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Tuscan Cake with Citrus Compote

Plain low-fat yogurt is added into the batter to keep the cake moist. Serve the citrus compote over the cake and enjoy.

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Crab Cakes on Mixed Greens with Peanut Vinaigrette

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Crab Cakes on Mixed Greens with Peanut Vinaigrette

Yogurt really is an unexpected ingredient in this crab cake recipe. Be sure to allow the full 12 hours specified in the recipe for the water to drain out of the yogurt. This will help your crab cakes bind together without being too moist.

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Feta-Stuffed Turkey Burgers

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Feta-Stuffed Turkey Burgers

A simple yogurt-based sauce and a rich feta-and-spice stuffing makes these turkey burgers stand out above the rest. Pair with sautéed zucchini.

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Toast with Greek Yogurt and Blood Orange

Credit: Rachel Johnson
View Recipe: Toast with Greek Yogurt and Blood Orange

This one might require a fork and knife, but you have an excellent balance of savory, sweet, and creamy in this plating. Any citrus will do, but blood oranges give you a gorgeous pop of color. Feel free to top with any other fruit you'd pair with Greek yogurt—pears, apples, berries, bananas.

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Arctic Char with Cilantro-Yogurt Sauce

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Arctic Char with Cilantro-Yogurt Sauce

Cool, cilantro-yogurt sauce brings a refreshing note to the table. Pair with Red Pepper Coconut Rice for a healthy and light meal.

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Chickpea Curry with Yogurt

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Chickpea Curry with Yogurt

Whole milk yogurt contributes a silky, creamy texture to this mild Indian vegetarian stew. Serve with steamed or sautéed spinach and Indian bread. Replicate naan, the Indian flatbread, by cooking flour tortillas in a grill pan or cast-iron skillet until blackened in spots.

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Granola with Honey-Scented Yogurt and Baked Figs

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Granola with Honey-Scented Yogurt and Baked Figs

Warm, sweet, and a little bit tangy—a bowlful of these flavors will leave your hunger (and your taste buds) satisfied. 

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Greek Lamb Chops and Mint Yogurt Sauce

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Greek Lamb Chops and Mint Yogurt Sauce

Give lamb chops a Greek twist with the addition of fresh oregano and a minty yogurt sauce. If you have trouble finding the right size lamb loin chops, ask the butcher to cut them to the size you need. For a thicker sauce, use Greek-style yogurt.

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Spicy Chicken Shawarma

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Spicy Chicken Shawarma

Tangy, yet cool Greek-style yogurt is the perfect counterpoint to spicy chicken tossed in a blend of Middle Eastern spices and sautéed to perfection. Your mouth will by watering from the moment the chicken hits the skillet.

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Indian-Spiced Lentils and Lamb

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Indian-Spiced Lentils and Lamb

Hearty, healthy lentils get a spicy and saucy Indian treatment thanks to curry powder, coconut milk, and chopped jalapeño pepper. A dollop of Greek yogurt and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro tame the heat.

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Fruit and Yogurt Shake

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Fruit and Yogurt Shake

Perfect for a midmorning snack, this fruit and yogurt shake packs the bright flavors of pomegranate cherry juice and crushed pineapple with filling plain yogurt.

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Breakfast Parfait Pops

Credit: Photo: Rebecca Longshore
View Recipe: Breakfast Parfait Pops

These kid-friendly parfait pops are a great option for breakfast on-the-run or a sweet protein-rich afternoon snack. Easily customize it with different fruits and flavors of granola. 

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Frozen Yogurt Dots

Credit: Photo: Rebecca Longshore
View Recipe: Frozen Yogurt Dots

These naturally flavored frozen yogurt dots are an easy and fast creamy treat. Make a batch on the weekends to keep handy when a sweet tooth craving hits.

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Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites

Credit: Photo: Rebecca Longshore
View Recipe: Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites

Frozen blueberries are absolutely delicious, and when dipped in creamy Greek yogurt and frozen again, they make for a delightful snack or slightly sweet dessert.

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Spiralized Cinnamon Apples with Greek Yogurt

Credit: Photo: Rachel Johnson
View Recipe: Spiralized Cinnamon Apples with Greek Yogurt

We’re kind of obsessed with spiralizing, so naturally we had to give it a try with apples. The result? A perfectly twirlable treat. Top with Greek yogurt and homemade granola, and you have a sweet little snack for less than 150 calories per serving.

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Crispy Broccoli-Carrot Fritters With Yogurt-Dill Sauce

Credit: Photo: Jason Wallis
View Recipe: Crispy Broccoli-Carrot Fritters With Yogurt-Dill Sauce

These quick, crispy fritters are packed with vegetables and get supercrisp in the pan. Pair them with creamy yogurt-dill sauce for a satisfying snack or side.

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Granola Cups with Yogurt and Berries

Credit: Photo: Teresa Sabga
View Recipe: Granola Cups with Yogurt and Berries

Try these for your morning meal, or as a cute addition to your next brunch. We fill simple whole-grain granola cups with protein-packed yogurt, then top with fresh fruit—a fun and tasty solution to sugar-loaded granola bars.

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Chicken Parmesan Over Zucchini Noodles

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Over Zucchini Noodles

Enjoy a lighter pasta for your favorite weeknight meal with zucchini noodles. They add a punch of fiber, and a boost of nutrients to this classic dish in just two additional minutes.

Make this cheesy chicken dish part of your Cooking Light DIET meal plan. Sign up today.

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Slow-Cooked BBQ Fennel, Onion, and Pork Sandwiches

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Slow-Cooked BBQ Fennel, Onion, and Pork Sandwiches

These sandwiches are a nod to low-and-slow Southern barbecue—using just a little bit of pork shoulder. And just like traditional pulled pork, the meltingly tender vegetables and pork are piled high on toasted buns, slathered with a Greek yogurt mixture, and topped with shredded cabbage.

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No-Cook Fro-Yo

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: No-Cook Fro-Yo

This super easy recipe for frozen yogurt only uses 4 ingredients and doesn't require any cooking!

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Yogurt-Marinated Chicken and Zucchini Kebabs

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Yogurt-Marinated Chicken and Zucchini Kebabs

Chicken tossed in lemon juice and Greek yogurt gives these kebabs a creamy, dreamy, zesty flavor the whole family will love.

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Beef Flatbread Tacos with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Beef Flatbread Tacos with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

Ground lamb would be equally delicious in these fun gyro-inspired tacos. If you can't find the flatbreads we call for, you can use corn tortillas instead.

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Greek Yogurt Raspberry Fool with Cookie Crumble

Credit: Photo: Rachel Johnson
View Recipe: Greek Yogurt Raspberry Fool with Cookie Crumble

This version of a classic English fool is made lighter and brighter thanks to Greek yogurt and fresh raspberries. Instead of stewing fruit, just let raspberries, sugar, and gin macerate. In place of a calorie-dense custard, opt for a whipped cream-Greek yogurt delight (which also sneaks in a bit of filling protein, too). The cookie crumble is a fun way to top this off.

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Blueberry-Yogurt Coffee Cake

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Blueberry-Yogurt Coffee Cake

The tangy-sweet combination of blueberries and yogurt is incorporated into this scrumptious coffee cake, perfect for the break room at work or a laid-back Sunday brunch.

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Sheep's-Milk Yogurt Cheesecakes with Grilled Figs and Pistachios

Credit: Photo: William Meppem
View Recipe: Sheep's-Milk Yogurt Cheesecakes with Grilled Figs and Pistachios

This delicate dessert blends sheep's-milk yogurt and a whiff of rose water into creamy cheesecakes served with grilled figs.

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Yogurt-Covered Pretzels

Credit: Photo: Cheryl Slocum
View Recipe: Yogurt-Covered Pretzels

A DIY cousin to the thick-coated pretzel snacks, these glazed pretzels have just the right touch of sweetness and a tiny pop of springtime color, but they don’t have any additives or unhealthy fats like many store-bought varieties. Plus, they’re easy to make, and it’s a great activity to do with kids.

You'll only need 3 simple ingredients to make the glaze: low-fat yogurt, powdered sugar, and preserves or jam.

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Creamy 7-Grain with Goat Cheese, Yogurt, and Fig

Credit: Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Cindy Barr
View Recipe: Creamy 7-Grain with Goat Cheese, Yogurt, and Fig

Whole-grain wheat, rye, oats, triticale, barley, brown rice, oat bran, and flaxseed pack a punch of texture and 37g whole grains per serving. Add fresh figs if you have them on hand.

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Honeyed Yogurt and Mixed Berries with Whole-Grain Waffles

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Honeyed Yogurt and Mixed Berries with Whole-Grain Waffles

As you enjoy this meal on the go, you also enjoy antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C from the berries; protein and calcium from the yogurt; and protein, fiber, and B vitamins from the waffles. Prepare this sweet and satisfying breakfast before you leave the house and give a delicious start to your day—no matter where it will take you.

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Yogurt-Marinated Chicken With Beet Salad

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Yogurt-Marinated Chicken with Beet Salad

Tamarind lends the marinade a pleasant sweet-sour note. However, you can substitute 2 tablespoons lemon juice if tamarind paste isn't available.

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Carrot Soup with Yogurt

Credit: Photo: Sang An
View Recipe: Carrot Soup with Yogurt

Nutritious, delicious, and comforting, soups are a clean eating mainstay when prepared from fresh ingredients. Vegetable purees in particular are a great way to enjoy fresh-tasting creamy soups without relying on heavy cream and butter for flavor. In this recipe, the addition of a dollop of tart yogurt at the end makes a good contrast to the sweetness of the carrots and gives a smooth velvety richness to the soup. While we suggest serving this soup warm, as written in the recipe, readers suggested enjoying the leftovers chilled. Pair with a green salad for a filling dinner.

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Yogurt Rice with Cumin and Chile

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Yogurt Rice with Cumin and Chile

Using whole packages of rice and yogurt saves the time of measuring. Be sure to use standard yogurt here; Greek is a bit too thick. Serve with grilled lamb chops, roasted chicken, or grilled salmon.