If you’ve ever wanted to make your own yogurt at home, you’re in for a surprisingly simple and rewarding experience. Homemade yogurt is creamy, fresh, and completely customizable, whether you like it thick and tangy or smooth and mild. With just a few basic ingredients and a little patience, you can create a wholesome staple that’s perfect for breakfast, snacks, smoothies, or cooking. Once you try making yogurt from scratch, you might never want to go back to store-bought again. I know I haven’t!

Ingredients:

1 gallon (3.8 L) milk (whole milk gives the creamiest result)
¼ cup plain yogurt with live cultures (starter)
Good starter yogurts include brands like Fage, Chobani, or Stonyfield Organic.

Instructions:

1. Heat the milk
Pour the entire gallon of milk into the Instant Pot inner pot.
Press Yogurt → Adjust until it says “Boil.”
Let it heat to about 180°F (82°C).
 Usually takes 35–45 minutes with a full gallon.

2. Cool the milk
Let the milk cool to 110–115°F (43–46°C).
Speed it up by placing the inner pot in a sink with cold water and stirring occasionally.

3. Add the starter
In a small bowl mix:
¼ cup yogurt starter
about 1 cup of the warm milk
Whisk until smooth.
Stir this mixture back into the pot.

4. Incubate
Put the inner pot back in the Instant Pot.
Press Yogurt and set time to 8–10 hours.
8 hours: mild yogurt
10–12 hours: tangier yogurt (I did mine for 11 hours)
Do not move or stir while incubating.

5. Refrigerate
Chill for at least 4 hours to fully thicken.

Optional: Make Greek Yogurt
Strain the yogurt through cheesecloth or a yogurt strainer for 2–4 hours in the fridge. The longer you strain, the thicker it gets. I actually used a strainer lined with coffee filters and set that in a bowl.

I hope this recipe inspires you to try homemade Greek yogurt. It’s easier than you might think and much more rewarding than anything you’ll find at the store. Once you’ve mastered it, feel free to get creative with flavors and toppings. There’s no better way to enjoy something both wholesome and delicious, made right in your own kitchen. Happy cooking, and I’d love to hear how yours turns out!