Easy Greek Yogurt and Granola Parfait

Greek yogurt and granola come together to make a quick and delicious breakfast, lunch, or snack for kids. No wonder why Starbucks' yogurt parfaits are so popular!

I still cannot get over how many options you will find in the yogurt aisle of a grocery store! I mean, no wonder why parents are confused what to feed their kids.

With all of the options out there, at least you know that by buying Greek yogurt, you are getting more protein per serving.

Greek yogurt with granola and fruit (optional) - it's as easy as that! In fact, if you have left over fresh fruit salad, use it to make this parfait!

Make it fun for your kids by setting out various toppings and letting them create their own parfait. My youngest enjoyed doing that just this morning!

If they want to add fruit, great! If not, that's okay, too. If nothing else, you are increasing their exposure to a variety of foods.

Oh, and 'Aesthetic' food or 'Instagram worthy' food is a hit with tweens and teens right now. This recipe would be an easy one to do a 'competition' with.

Let your kids assemble their own parfait and you assemble your own and see who's is more visually appealing... then, eat up!

Jump to:

• Why This Recipe is so Great
• Ingredient Notes
• Dietitian Tip
• How to Make a Greek Yogurt and Granola Parfait
• Expert Tips
• Recipe FAQs
• More Recipes Made with Yogurt
• Easy Greek Yogurt and Granola Parfait

Why This Recipe is so Great

• Easy to make It's so easy that kids can assemble yogurt parfaits themselves.
• Well balanced Fruit and yogurt parfaits contain carbohydrate, protein, fat, and many other nutrients that are not listed on a nutrition facts label (like phytonutrients).
• Great for meal prepping Parfaits can be made the night before and stored in the refrigerator for an easy breakfast on the go.
• Contains protein and fiber, so kids feel full longer

Ingredient Notes

• Greek yogurt Good source of protein and calcium. Chobani makes a Madagascar Vanilla and Cinnamon flavored less sugar Greek yogurt that have a nice flavor.
• Fruit Berries are the most common fruit to use in parfaits. Not only are full of nutrients, but they are pretty and easy to serve. My kids have made these with all different variations of fruit, including peaches and nectarines.
• Granola Adds a wonderful texture to yogurt parfaits. I like to make my own granola, but store-bought granola will work just as well. Granola is made with rolled oats. Oats are a whole grain and are an excellent source of soluble fiber, insoluble fiber, phosphorus, thiamine, magnesium, and zinc.

Dietitian Tip

Greek yogurt is great because it's higher in protein than traditional yogurt, which means it will keep kids feeling full longer. It is thicker, though, which takes some getting used to.

If your kids are used to sweetened traditional yogurt, they will likely not be thrilled if you all of a sudden serve them plain Greek yogurt. For this reason, I suggest mixing plain Greek yogurt in with a sweetened yogurt to increase their acceptance of it.

This way, they will still get the flavor they love but with less sugar and more protein. Try it and let me know what you think!

How to Make a Greek Yogurt and Granola Parfait

It's hard to call this a recipe because it's so easy! Please keep in mind that there is really no 'wrong' way to assemble yogurt parfaits. Let your kids get creative! And, for specific instructions, scroll down for the recipe.

Option 1 For same day eating, I layer the ingredients in the following order: Greek yogurt, granola, fruit (optional).

Option 2 If you are making these ahead of time, try layering them the same as a Starbucks yogurt parfait: fruit first (optional), then yogurt, and then top with granola. Store refrigerated in a sealed air-tight container for up to three days (up to one day if using pineapple or banana).

Expert Tips

• If assembling this ahead of time, the granola will soften. So, if your kids like granola to be crunchy, have them add the granola just before they eat it. 
• Use fruit that you know your kids will like when making yogurt parfaits.
• If there is a fruit that you aren't sure your kids will like, you can mix it in with a fruit that you know they like. This will help improve their acceptance.
• If using pineapple or banana as an ingredient, assembled parfaits should be eaten within twenty-four hours for optimal flavor.
• The only fruits that I really try to avoid are melons, but it's only because of their water content. If your kids insist on topping their parfaits with melon, I'd say give it a try!
• If using frozen fruit, let it defrost before adding it to the parfait.
• Slice or dice fruit into smaller pieces for this recipe. Kitchen scissors work well for small fruits like berries.

Recipe FAQs

More Recipes Made with Yogurt