Crockpot Yogurt is super easy to make and delicious. Let the slow cooker do all the work and save money too.
Making yogurt at home is really easy and very frugal friendly especially when you find milk on sale. You don’t need fancy equipment or yogurt maker to make this easy crock pot recipe.
It is a bit time consuming but still very easy and requires practically no work for you. It is mainly just a waiting game, but definitely worth the wait. I think you will agree. I tis so tasty.
You will be shocked with how easy it is to make crock pot yogurt. You may want to also try this Homemade Yogurt Dip Recipe or this Crock Pot Oatmeal.
Why This Recipe Works
Making your own yogurt is very frugal friendly and makes a ton. Store-bought yogurt is good and a convenient way to enjoy your favorite yogurt recipe. But making it at home means you can prepare it how you prefer.
Making this organic yogurt is a family favorite recipe. The ingredients are simple and with these simple steps you will have fresh yogurt to enjoy for any meal.
Ingredients
- Milk – whole or 2%
- Yogurt -it has to have live cultures in it. Just check the label. It will not work unless you have the live cultures.
- Unflavored Gelatin
- Bath Towel
- Crockpot – I used a 6 quart
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.
Variations Ideas
- Flavoring – You do need to flavor it because plain yogurt isn’t so tasty. We flavored it with blended fresh fruit, or sugar, or honey, or vanilla extract. The kids loved trying different types.
- Milk – Make this yogurt with the milk of your choice. We had the best luck with whole milk or 2 % milk. But you can also use organic milk.
How to Make Yogurt in the Crock Pot
- Step 1 – Place all of the milk into the crockpot. Let this cook on low for a couple of hours.
- Step 2 – Next, unplug your crockpot. This needs to sit for about 3 more hours with the cover on. Just let it sit. You don’t need to do anything.
- Step 3 – Finally, take 2 cups of the milk from the crock pot and place in a mixing bowl. Add the store bought yogurt making sure you are using a brand that has active cultures or it will not work. Whisk this together and pour back into the slow cooker.
- Step 4 – Stir everything really good and add the gelatin.
- Step 5 – Add the lid once again. Just remember to keep the crockpot turned off and unplugged. Get a heavy bath towel and wrap it all the way around the crockpot. This will act as insulation.
- Step 6 – Now let it all sit for another 8 hours. It is time consuming but not much work. Just a lot of waiting. Make sure the towel stays around it.
- Step 7 – Put in containers and add flavorings if you prefer. That is all you need to do is make Greek style yogurt. Now you have containers of homemade yogurt to enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Yogurt Consistency – The only problem is that it is thinner than store bought yogurt, so I recommend the non-flavored gelatin. That will really help with the consistency and to thicken the yogurt.
- Follow Steps – We recommend to follow the steps exactly as they indicate for best results.
Serving Suggestions
I like to use yogurt in my smoothies. Here are two recipes:
Add homemade granola for amazing texture and flavor. For a complete meal idea, make Starbucks Egg White Bites Recipe, French Toast Muffins, Baked Pancakes or Gluten Free Waffles.
Frequently Asked Questions
It will last about 14 days in the refrigerator. If you plan to make another batch, it is best to do so within 7 days from making it so that re-culturing will work when using this yogurt as a starter.
The gelatin will help thicken the crockpot yogurt. Homemade yogurt is not as thick as the store bought, so the gelatin will give it the store bought appearance.
Store the homemade crock pot yogurt in an airtight container in the fridge. We like to place in individual mason jars for a quick breakfast in the morning.
More Delicious Homemade Recipes
- How to Make a Roux so you can make other kinds of gravy!
- Homemade Egg Noodles
- How to Make Whipped Cream
- Strawberry Applesauce
- Homemade Chocolate Pudding Recipe
- The Best Flour Recipe
- Homemade Pancake Syrup
- Casear Salad Dressing Recipe
- Homemade Croutons
- The Best Homemade Pancake and Waffle Mix
- Easy Homemade English Muffins
We love to hear from you. If you make this slow cooker yogurt recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
Crockpot Yogurt
Ingredients
- ½ Gallon milk (or 8 cups – whole or 2%)
- ½ cup yogurt (It has to have live cultures in it. Just check the label. It will not work unless you have the live cultures.)
- 1 unflavored gelatin
- 1 bath towel
- a crockpot (I used a 6 quart)
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Pour the entire ½ gallon (8 cups) of milk into a 6-quart Crock Pot.
- Cover and cook on Low for 2½ hours.
- Unplug the Crock Pot, leaving the lid on, and let the milk rest undisturbed for 3 hours.
- After 3 hours, remove 2 cups of the warm milk from the Crock Pot and place it in a medium bowl.
- Whisk ½ cup plain yogurt with live active cultures into the warm milk until smooth.
- If using, whisk in 1 packet unflavored gelatin until dissolved.
- Pour the yogurt mixture back into the Crock Pot and stir gently to combine with the remaining milk.
- Place the lid back on the Crock Pot, keeping it unplugged. Wrap a clean bath towel completely around the Crock Pot to help insulate it.
- Let the yogurt culture for 8 hours without disturbing it.
- Transfer the yogurt to airtight containers and refrigerate until completely chilled.
- Serve plain or add your favorite flavorings before serving.
Wonderful. Very pleased with the yogurt.
Nancy – Yay! I’m so glad it turned out great for you! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
It works really well. Is there any way to make a half batch? Do the cooking times change?
Yes, you can make half a batch. The cooking time would stay the same.
No need at all for the gelatin. I have been doing this for years…when your yoghurt is done (the next morning for me as I let it sit overnight) simply strain the yogurt over a bowl with a cheese cloth or cloth napkin in the strainer. I put the whole thing in the fridge. In an hour or two you have lovely Greek yoghurt.
Thanks for sharing your tips!
Just wondering: does adding the gelatin do anything to prevent future batches of yogurt? I use an heirloom culture and I dont want to do anything to kill it off!
The gelatin can affect the starter culture, so I recommend saving some of the starter in case the gelatin interferes with re-culturing. Thanks.
How much gelatin? It just says one, but I have a container of unflavored gelatin.
Quick question: The recipe just says “one gelatin.” Does that mean one 1-oz PACKET? Or one BOX (4 1-oz packets)? (I have Knox gelatine.) Thx – looking forward to making this!
I wonder if this can be frozen. I usually just use in recipes
I haven’t tried to freeze it before, so I’m not sure. Let me know how it turns out if you try that!