You can make easy crock pot yogurt with only 2 ingredients and your crock pot. Once you’ve made your homemade batch of crock pot yogurt you’ll never need store-bought again! You’re going to keep a bit of your homemade yogurt as a starter for your next batch. This way you can continue making crock pot yogurt over and over again.
In this demonstration I’m using store-bought organic milk and yogurt. If you have access to raw milk then I’d use that!
I make my crock pot yogurt similar to a thick Greek yogurt but it can be thinner if you prefer. I like to stir in homemade jam after it is prepared. Or try it with a little local honey. Any way you stir it, you’re going to love this easy crock pot yogurt.
Simple Crock Pot Yogurt Recipe
Crock Pot Yogurt – Ingredients
- 1/2 gallon of full fat organic or raw milk
- 1/2 cup of full fat plain Greek yogurt or the plain yogurt of your choice (live cultures are key)
- 1 crock pot that can hold the amount of yogurt you want to make
- Container/s for your yogurt
Now let’s get to cooking up that delicious yogurt!
Crock Pot Yogurt – Directions
You’re going to need several hours for the full process; but it really doesn’t need a babysitter. You might want to plan so it will be ready when you wake up in the morning.
Step 1: Turn your crock pot on the low setting (not warm, low).
Step 2: Add your milk to the crock pot and put on the lid.
Step 3: Set your timer for 2.5 hours – DO NOT REMOVE THE LID!
Step 4: Turn your crock pot off – again don’t remove the lid and set the time for 3 hours.
Step 5: After 3 hours remove the lid and quickly stir in a 1/2 cup of your plain Greek yogurt with live cultures.
Step 6: Replace the lid and wrap your crock pot completely in a large towel or two. We want dark and warm for those live cultures to do their work!
Step 7: Allow your crock pot yogurt to sit, wrapped and untouched, for 8 – 12 hours.
Programmable Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker 
Are you ready for your fresh and delicious crock pot yogurt?
It is time to remove the lid……(a gasp from the audience was heard all around)
Ok back to serious yogurt making.
After allowing the mixture to sit in the covered crock pot for 8 – 12 hours you can remove the lid and marvel your work. Now here is the question – how do you like your yogurt? Right now the consistency is probably smoothie like. This is something you’d sip through a straw. If that’s what you like – enjoy.
If you’re like me and want a thicker consistency you’ve got two options. Either way, remember to reserve a 1/2 cup of yogurt to activate your next batch.
- You can strain out the liquid with a cheese cloth for 15 – 60 minutes. The longer you strain, the thicker your yogurt should be.
- OR you can put it in a container and wait for it to set. The liquid will naturally rise to the top and you can simply drain it off. This will take a few hours.
Now you only have to decide how you want to enjoy it. Your crock pot yogurt awaits your personal flavoring! Flavoring individual servings is best. Think jams, honey, fruits, granola, pure maple syrup… Well you get the idea. Tell me what your favorite mix-in is in the comments!
Your crock pot yogurt should keep in the fridge for 1 – 2 weeks.
Like this recipe? Check out a few of my others!
Could you use vanilla yogurt as your starter? Also does this come out tangy? I made a batch (not this recipe or the crockpot version) awhile back and it was really tangy. We didn’t care for it. Sounds pretty easy will most definitely try.
No, I don’t recommend using any flavored yogurt as a starter. Add your flavors after the processing.
If you cut the recipe in half, how would you change the timing? Would you do half the time for each step?
Can I use non fat Milk?
I wouldn’t recommend it.
I made this but it literally took days for it to thicken. I ended up adding more yogurt to the recipe. Once it was done it was delicious but still not as thick as I’d prefer.
I used non fat dry milk powder, and it worked great…Bobs Red Mill was the best