Cheese is one of the best flavors in the world. It can be used as a topping, melted onto bread, or eaten on its own and it’s so versatile that it can be paired with all types of dishes.
Feta cheese is a delicious, salty, and tangy type of cheese that has been around for centuries. It’s often used as an ingredient in salads or on pizza, among other dishes.
Feta cheese is typically made from cow’s milk and can be very high in fat, so it’s not for everyone.
Trying to find good Feta cheese substitutes, but not sure which one is right for you? You’re in luck!
If feta cheese is not available in your location, you can substitute it with Goat’s Cheese, Queso Fresco, Mozzarella cheese, Ricotta cheese, Cottage cheese, Tofu, and more.
I’ve compiled a list of 11 different options that will work well as a substitute.
Table of Contents
What is Feta Cheese?
Feta cheese is a white, crumbly, tangy variety of cheese that originated from Greece. It’s often used as an ingredient in salads or on pizza.
There are many different types of feta cheese, but the most common and affordable type can be made from cow’s milk or goat’s milk.
This can vary depending on what part of the world the cheese was produced or in store-bought packages.
It also doesn’t contain a lot of lactose, so it’s easier to digest for people who have a difficult time eating cheese due to high levels of lactose.
Feta can be a healthy choice in moderation because it is lower in fat and calories than many other types of cheeses.
11 Best Feta Cheese Substitutes
From mild to strong, you’ll be able to find an alternative below that suits your taste buds and dietary needs.
1. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is a great substitute for feta because it has an almost identical flavor and texture and also packs some protein in each serving.
It is a soft, mild variety of cheese. It’s best used as a topping for casseroles and other recipes, or in sandwiches and lasagna to provide a nice texture.
As compared to feta, cottage cheese contains lesser calories and fat.
If you’re looking for something that has no flavor but still provides texture, cottage cheese can be the perfect Feta cheese substitute.
2. Goat Cheese
Goat cheese is similar to feta in that it is made from cow’s milk, but you can also find goat cheese made from sheep’s or goat’s milk.
It has a smooth texture and small crystals throughout the whole piece of cheese. This cheese doesn’t have much flavor until it’s crumbled up and added to a dish.
It comes from the same family of dairy products and has a range of soft, semi-firm, and firm textures depending on how long it was aged.
Goat cheese also tastes better when it’s had a chance to mature, so make sure that you buy it and give yourself some time before eating.
Goat cheese is slightly sweeter than feta, but you will also be able to taste the tanginess of the milk used in production.
Like feta, goat’s cheese can be used on salads or as an alternative to ricotta in casseroles. If you want to enjoy the strong flavors of this cheese without all of the calories, use it as a substitute for feta on pizzas.
3. Queso Fresco
Queso fresco is a white, crumbly cheese that is often used in Mexican dishes. It’s very similar to feta cheese because it has the same texture and flavor when eaten alone but it won’t change the texture of other ingredients when mixed in.
When compared to feta, queso fresco contains fewer calories and fat. This is because it isn’t made from cow’s milk, but instead from fresh cow’s milk. It is also a great substitute for people who have allergies to lactose-containing products.
Queso fresco is similar to fresh mozzarella but much saltier than feta which makes it perfect for salads with vinaigrette dressing.
4. Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta cheese is another type of cheese that can be used as a feta cheese substitute.
It’s made from cow’s milk and often has the texture of cottage cheese, although it can also be dense like cream cheese or thick like yogurt.
Moreover, it has less fat than feta which makes it a healthier option. It is typically made from the whey leftover from producing other types of cheese, so it also makes for an economical alternative.
It works great on pizza as an alternative to mozzarella, but if you’re using ricotta for casseroles or other recipes try mixing in a little sour cream (or its substitutes) or beaten egg to add a flavor boost.
Ricotta is also known as Ricottone in some areas of the world, and it’s used on lasagna, salads, and sandwiches in place of white cheese dressing.
5. Halloumi
Halloumi is a salty type of cheese that originated from Cyprus. It is made from sheep’s or goat’s milk, often flavored with mint.
It has a rubbery texture that holds well to foods and it is ideal for grilling. It pairs really well with vegetables such as eggplant and peppers.
Halloumi can be used in salads and casseroles because of its strong flavors and is easy to crumble.
It is also known by the name Hallumi, Haloumi in Greece, and Cyprus or Galactosa in Turkey.
Halloumi is an excellent alternative to feta if you’re looking for something that has that salty flavor and firm texture. You can even grill it to get extra flavor!
6. Mozzarella Cheese
If you’re looking for something with a similar texture to feta, use fresh mozzarella.
Mozzarella can be used like feta cheese on pizzas because it melts into a stringy texture when cooked. The flavor of the cheese can be altered based on how it is prepared and seasoned.
If you’re using mozzarella on salads, try mixing finely chopped tomatoes and cucumbers with your favorite vinaigrette dressing to get an extra boost of flavor. It can also work well as a cold spread for toast and sandwiches.
It may seem like mozzarella is fairly easy to find cheese, but some grocery stores will only sell it in pre-sliced packages.
Instead of buying pre-packaged slices, buy the block of mozzarella and cut as much as you need at home. You’ll be able to get better deals if you buy in bulk.
7. Roquefort
Roquefort is a soft cheese (somewhat similar in texture to cottage cheese) is a type of blue cheese that has been allowed to age for several months. It’s often sold in small cheeses and it has a creamy texture with visible grains.
It has an intense flavor and aroma, which makes it suitable as a cheese spread on bread or crackers.
You can also use it as a pizza topping or mix it into a salad dressing for extra flavor. It has a blue hue that will add color to your salad as well.
Since blue cheese has such strong flavors there aren’t many dishes that require the use of this cheese as a substitute for feta, but Roquefort is one of the best options that you have available to you when shopping.
8. Gorgonzola
This cheese is aged in caves to give it an extra sharp flavor and a crumbly texture that can make for a delicious addition to salads.
Like blue cheese, gorgonzola can be crumbled or shredded and used as a pizza topping or salad dressing.
It is also known as Italian blue cheese and it has a very strong taste that makes it perfect for dishes like salads where you want your ingredients to have a distinct flavor. It’s typically made from cow’s milk and is aged for several months.
Gorgonzola can cost more than other cheeses, but you’re paying for the high-fat content in this cheese that makes it a strong flavor booster.
This blue cheese has a pungent, tart, and tangy taste, just like feta cheese. It’s easy to crumble so you can use it in any recipe that calls for crumbled feta cheese.
Some people may consider gorgonzola to be too strong of cheese for their palates and there are some mild versions available if you’re not interested in the strong flavor.
9. Mizithra
Mizithra is a highly popular and delicious cheese in Greece that is similar to feta.
The difference between mizithra and feta cheese is that mizithra has less salt content so you might want to adjust the amount of salt used when substituting it for feta, otherwise it will be too salty for some people.
It’s easy to crumble so you can use mizithra as a pizza topping or in salads, but it doesn’t melt into stringy strands like mozzarella which makes it better for salads. You may want to add more spices to flavor mizithra when using it in a dish.
The texture is similar to cream cheese, but it’s not as dense so it still retains some of the salty qualities that are required in dishes like pizza.
10. Cotija
Cotija is a popular cheese in Mexican cuisine that works well as a feta cheese substitute. It’s similar to Pecorino Romano and it has a salty flavor with a crumbly texture.
Cotija is a crumbly cheese that has a somewhat salty tangy flavor, so it’s perfect for sprinkling on salads. You can use it as a pizza topping for extra flavor. It makes for a delicious mozzarella substitute on sandwiches.
The flavor is slightly salty so you’ll want to make sure that you don’t use too much of this cheese or otherwise your dish might end up being too salty.
11. Tofu
Tofu is a vegetarian’s best friend. It’s made from soybeans and it has a subtle salty flavor that makes it perfect for use in dishes where you don’t want the dish to have any kind of hint of meat or fish because tofu is flavorless (at least when it comes to taste).
Depending on how much salt you put into the dish, you may not even notice that tofu was used for your dish.
The texture of tofu when cooked is similar to feta cheese so it crumbles easily and can be added to salads, pasta dishes, and pizza.
You’ll want to mix it with other ingredients like garlic or herbs because otherwise, it will have a bland flavor.
Tofu can be frozen and thawed before use or you can buy it in a softer, ready-to-use form called tofu cheese.
The “cheese” variety of tofu is crumbled so that it has the same texture as feta cheese. It’s pre-seasoned so you just have to add it to dishes as you use them.
Tofu does not melt, which is why it works well for dishes like salads where cheeses don’t melt well.
Tofu feta cheese is not going to taste exactly the same as feta so you’ll want to use it when you want a similar texture and idea of what your dish should be, rather than using tofu cheese for dishes that are traditionally made with feta.
What Does Feta Cheese Taste Like?
Feta is a firm cheese that has a crumbly texture to it and it’s made from sheep or goat’s milk. Different variations of feta can have different textures, tastes, and salt levels.
Some versions are softer than others which makes them easier to crumble and work with.
Feta cheese is a type of cheese that has a salty, tangy, and creamy flavor.
The salty flavor of feta cheese is what makes it so popular. Some people might not even use feta as cheese because they like the salty taste.
The tangy flavor of feta usually comes from being cured in brine or whey which mixes with the milk when making this type of cheese and vinegar is sometimes added to the mix for extra tanginess.
Will Feta Cheese Melt?
No, feta cheese will not melt. The cheese will soften and become gooey, but it will not melt into stringy strands the way that other types of cheese do. If you’re looking for a softer texture, feta is not the right choice.
It’s a hard cheese and it has a crumbly texture. If you put feta on something that will melt, such as pizza or grilled sandwiches, then it will not be able to mix with the melted part of the dish.
Instead, you’ll end up with bits and pieces of feta spread out throughout your meal.
It will sometimes melt into stringy strands that stretch when you use it in a dish.
What Is a Good Vegan Substitute for Feta Cheese?
It might be hard to find a vegan substitute for feta cheese that is similar in taste and texture.
A lot of vegan cheeses are made from cashews or almonds, so they don’t have the same flavor as feta cheese.
Tofu is a good vegan substitute for feta cheese. It is naturally salty so it will add flavor to dishes where you want a bit of saltiness, but it also has a plain texture that can be flavored by adding other ingredients or spices to the dish.
Can You Make Your Own Vegan Feta Cheese?
Yes, you can make your own vegan feta cheese! You’ll just need a few things that are easily found at the store. Homemade vegan feta cheese is easy to make and tastes even better than store-bought brands.
You can also control the taste, texture, and ingredients so you know exactly what goes into your cheese.
Final Words
The list above contains 11 great alternatives for feta cheese. With the list, you’ll have no trouble finding a perfect substitute for feta cheese when you need to.
The best part? Since they’re easy-to-find substitutes, they won’t cost you a lot of money so you can save your budget for things like wine and dessert!
With all of these great feta cheese substitutes, you’ll never have to worry about not having the perfect ingredient for your recipe again.
You can find Tofu and Queso Blanco in most grocery stores so they are easy to substitute with any time that is needed.
If you want a vegan alternative or even an option that tastes just like feta but doesn’t melt, try making your own homemade version!
Do you have a good substitute to add to the list? Leave a comment below and let us know what your favorite feta cheese substitute is!
