If you’re looking for a thick, creamy vegan Greek yogurt without dairy, homemade soy yogurt is one of the easiest and most affordable options. Soy milk works especially well because its naturally high protein content helps create a thick, satisfying yogurt without needing dairy.
How to Make Vegan Greek Yogurt
In this guide, I’ll show you several ways to make vegan Greek yogurt at home, including using a yogurt starter culture, using homemade yogurt from a previous batch as your starter, and making yogurt in an Instant Pot.
Whether you call it vegan Greek yogurt, plant-based Greek yogurt, dairy-free Greek yogurt, non-dairy yogurt, or soy Greek yogurt, the basic process is very similar.
View my Plant Based Yogurt Making Essentials list for tools and vegan yogurt culture starters on Amazon >
What Is Vegan Greek Yogurt?
Vegan Greek yogurt is a thick, creamy yogurt made without dairy milk. Instead, plant-based milk such as soy milk is cultured with live yogurt cultures and then strained or thickened to create a Greek-yogurt consistency.
Soy milk is particularly well suited for homemade vegan yogurt because it contains more protein than many other plant milks.
For the thickest results, use unsweetened soy milk with a simple ingredient list.
Ingredients for Vegan Greek Yogurt
The exact ingredients depend on which method you use, but the basic ingredients are:
- Unsweetened soy milk
- A vegan yogurt starter culture, or
- Plain vegan yogurt from a previous batch
You can also experiment with thickeners such as inulin or cornstarch depending on the texture you want.
Using a Yogurt Starter Culture
A commercial yogurt starter culture is an easy way to begin making homemade vegan yogurt.
For example, I used Belle + Bella yogurt starter culture to make my first batch of soy yogurt.
Once you have a successful batch, you can potentially use some of that yogurt to culture your next batch.
Check price for Belle + Bella Non-Dairy Yogurt Starter Culture on Amazon >
How to Make Vegan Greek Yogurt
The general process is simple:
- Prepare your soy milk.
- Add your yogurt starter or starter yogurt.
- Incubate the mixture until it has cultured and thickened.
- Chill the yogurt.
- Strain it if you want a thicker Greek-yogurt consistency.
- Refrigerate and enjoy.
The exact temperature and incubation time will depend on the equipment and starter culture you’re using.
Method 1: Vegan Greek Yogurt in a Yogurt Maker With Starter Culture
Using a dedicated yogurt maker is one of the easiest ways to make homemade vegan Greek yogurt because the machine maintains a consistent incubation temperature.
For this method, I use the Ultimate Yogurt Maker with a vegan yogurt starter culture.
Basic Process
Prepare the soy milk according to the instructions for your starter culture. Once the milk is at the appropriate temperature, mix in the starter culture.
Transfer the mixture to the yogurt maker and allow it to incubate according to the starter manufacturer’s instructions.
Once the yogurt has cultured, refrigerate it until completely chilled.
For a Greek-yogurt consistency, strain the finished yogurt to remove some of the liquid.
Here’s the greek yogurt strain I recommend on Amazon >
Watch the Method
This method is especially convenient if you make yogurt regularly because the yogurt maker takes care of maintaining the incubation temperature.
See the Ultimate Yogurt Maker I use
Method 2: Vegan Greek Yogurt Using Homemade Yogurt as the Starter
Once you’ve successfully made a batch of vegan yogurt, you may be able to use some of that yogurt as the starter for your next batch.
This is one of my favorite parts of making homemade yogurt because you don’t necessarily need to open a new packet of starter culture every time.
For this method, use plain homemade soy yogurt containing live active cultures.
How It Works
Instead of adding a commercial yogurt starter culture to your new batch of soy milk, add some yogurt from your previous batch.
The live cultures in the existing yogurt can inoculate the new batch and turn the soy milk into yogurt.
Important Note
The yogurt used as a starter needs to contain live active cultures. Results can also vary depending on the yogurt, milk, temperature, incubation time, and equipment.
I recommend starting with a successful batch made with a reliable starter culture before trying to reuse your homemade yogurt.
Watch This Method
This method is a great option if you want to continue making homemade vegan yogurt without constantly purchasing new starter packets.
Method 3: How to Make Vegan Greek Yogurt in an Instant Pot
You can also make plant-based yogurt in an Instant Pot.
An Instant Pot can be useful for yogurt making because some models include a yogurt function that can be used for culturing yogurt.
The basic process is similar:
- Prepare the soy milk.
- Add your starter culture or starter yogurt.
- Use the yogurt function according to your specific Instant Pot model and starter instructions.
- Allow the yogurt to incubate.
- Refrigerate the finished yogurt.
- Strain it for a thicker Greek-yogurt texture.
Watch the Instant Pot Method
If you already own an Instant Pot, this can be a convenient way to experiment with homemade soy yogurt without purchasing a separate yogurt maker.
How to Make Thick Vegan Greek Yogurt
If your homemade vegan yogurt is thinner than traditional Greek yogurt, don’t worry. You have several options.
Strain the Yogurt
The simplest way to make thick vegan Greek yogurt is to strain the finished yogurt.
Straining removes some of the liquid, leaving behind a thicker yogurt.
The longer you strain it, the thicker it generally becomes.
A yogurt strainer works particularly well for this.
Use a Thickener
Some homemade yogurt makers use ingredients such as:
- Inulin
- Cornstarch
- Agar
- Other plant-based thickeners
These can change the texture of homemade yogurt, so I recommend experimenting with one variable at a time.
For the most natural Greek-yogurt-style texture, I prefer starting with a good soy milk and then adjusting the thickness by straining.
What Is the Best Milk for Vegan Greek Yogurt?
For homemade vegan Greek yogurt, I recommend experimenting with soy milk first.
Soy milk has a relatively high protein content compared with many other plant milks, which makes it particularly useful for yogurt making.
You can also make yogurt from other plant-based milks, but the results can vary considerably.
Some plant milks may need additional ingredients or thickeners to achieve a thick yogurt consistency.
Vegan Greek Yogurt vs. Regular Vegan Yogurt
The biggest difference is texture.
Regular homemade vegan yogurt can be relatively soft and spoonable, while Greek-style yogurt is thicker because more liquid has been removed.
If you already have a good vegan yogurt recipe, you may not need an entirely different recipe to make vegan Greek yogurt.
Simply straining your homemade yogurt can transform it into a much thicker Greek-style yogurt.
How Long Does Homemade Vegan Yogurt Last?
Keep homemade vegan yogurt refrigerated in a clean, covered container.
Because homemade yogurt doesn’t contain the same preservatives and processing controls as many commercial products, use good food-safety practices and follow the recommendations for your starter culture and equipment.
Always discard yogurt if it develops an unusual smell, color, mold, or other signs of spoilage.
Can You Use Homemade Vegan Yogurt as a Starter?
Yes, homemade yogurt containing live cultures can potentially be used as a starter for another batch of yogurt.
This is one reason I recommend saving some of a successful batch if you want to experiment with making subsequent batches.
I recommend making your first batch with a commercial vegan yogurt starter culture and then using some of that finished yogurt as the starter for your next batch.
That gives you a known starting point before experimenting with reusable yogurt cultures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is vegan Greek yogurt dairy-free?
Yes. Vegan Greek yogurt is made without dairy milk. Soy yogurt is one type of plant-based, dairy-free yogurt.
Is soy yogurt vegan?
Plain soy yogurt made with plant-based ingredients and vegan yogurt cultures can be vegan. Always check the ingredients of your starter culture and any commercial yogurt you use.
Can you make Greek yogurt from soy milk?
Yes. Soy milk is particularly well suited to homemade yogurt because of its protein content. You can make soy yogurt and then strain it to create a thick Greek-yogurt-style consistency.
Can you make vegan yogurt without a yogurt maker?
Yes. You can make homemade vegan yogurt using several methods, including an Instant Pot with a yogurt function or other methods that maintain the appropriate incubation temperature.
Can you make vegan Greek yogurt in an Instant Pot?
Yes. An Instant Pot with a yogurt function can be used to culture plant-based yogurt. After culturing, strain the yogurt to achieve a thicker Greek-yogurt consistency.
Can you use yogurt as a starter for another batch?
Yes, yogurt containing live active cultures can be used as the starter for another batch. Results can vary, so start with a successful batch and use plain yogurt with active cultures.
What is the best vegan milk for Greek yogurt?
Soy milk is one of the best options to try for homemade vegan Greek yogurt because its protein content helps produce a thicker yogurt.
My Favorite Way to Make Vegan Greek Yogurt
After experimenting with different methods, I like using a dedicated yogurt maker because it makes the incubation process simple and repeatable.
I can make a batch with a commercial starter culture, chill and strain it into thick vegan Greek yogurt, and then use some of that yogurt as the starter for a subsequent batch.
That means one package of starter culture can potentially become the beginning of multiple batches of homemade soy yogurt.
Watch the videos above to see each method in action.
More Homemade Yogurt & Plant-Based Recipes
If you’re interested in making your own plant-based foods at home, check out my other guides and videos for homemade soy yogurt, plant milk, and other dairy-free recipes.
Further reading:
- Best Plant-Based Yogurt Making Essentials
- CHEF TESTS: Ultimate Probiotic Yogurt Maker & Strainer Review | Unboxing + Easy Soy Yogurt Recipe
- How to Make Homemade Soy Yogurt (Instant Pot AND Yogurt Maker Methods)
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