14 Feta Cheese Substitutes

Goat cheese is similar to feta in their texture and mouthfeel. Goat cheese, of course, is made from goat’s milk, and feta is made from the milk of a sheep (sometimes a goat, too), but both are creamy with a strong flavour.

Goat cheese has a crumbly texture and is great on salads and in pasta, and it’s easy to mix into recipes. Goat cheese is a great feta cheese substitute. 

Cottage cheese is another creamy cheese, but it’s got a more mild taste and has a different texture than feta cheese. It’s not crumbly, but rather milky, and because of this can only be substituted for feta in certain recipes. 

Made from cow's milk, cottage cheese is processed in a completely different way than most other cheeses, giving it its texture. Cottage cheese is not aged, and many people enjoy eating it on its own. 

It’s also used in salads and even as a replacement for mayonnaise. It’s a good feta cheese substitute in pasta recipes, or anything that mixes up.

Queso fresco is a Mexican cheese. It literally translates to fresh cheese, and is a super versatile cheese that can be used in place of feta. 

It’s common in Mexican recipes, but translates well to other types of cuisine. Queso fresco has a mild flavor and is a little sour. 

Queso fresco is crumbly like feta cheese, and it’s great to put on top of salads, enchiladas, quesadillas, or even tacos or burritos. But don’t restrict it to only Mexican foods – Queso fresco can also be put on omelettes, or, as noted, used as a feta substitute for other recipes.

Blue cheese is a very sharp, pungent cheese that is named for its colour. It comes with spots of blue thanks to penicillin, as it is made with this edible mould. 

Blue cheese is a very popular cheese choice that is enjoyed in a variety of recipes. It is popular in salads and on top of burgers, in sauces, and is even used to make a dressing. 

Blue cheese is a good substitute for feta because they have that same crumbly texture, and both have a distinct flavour. However, because blue cheese is so strong, there are a lot of people who don’t like it. 

If you are cooking for a lot of people, it is best to consider everybody’s taste preferences before swapping for a cheese as strong as blue.

It can be incredibly difficult to find a cheese substitute if you are vegan or dairy free. Most dairy-free cheeses are difficult to melt and don’t have a very good texture. That’s why I love to use cashew cheese. 

Cashew cheese is, of course, made from cashews, and is super easy to make at home, just as long as you have the right ingredients and equipment. It’s a good substitute for feta cheese because it’s creamy, and without the addition of nutritional yeast, it has a tangy taste. 

It’s not exactly the same as feta cheese, though. It’s not going to crumble the same or have the exact same mouthfeel as feta cheese, but you can control its consistency a little bit so it’s not so buttery. For hot dishes, cashew cheese is a great feta cheese substitute. It’s the perfect vegan feta cheese. 

If you’re looking to use another nut, almond cheese is a great option, as well.

You can also use cream cheese as a substitute for feta cheese. Of course, this cheese does not crumble like feta, but it does have a tangy flavor and is great in hot dishes. 

You can put cream cheese on top of just about anything and still enjoy it, and it’ll likely be liked by nearly everyone you serve.

Cotija cheese is a Mexican cheese that is made from cow milk. It is soft and white and has a tangy flavour similar to feta cheese. 

Cotija cheese does change in flavour as it ages, though, and if you want to use it in place of feta, make sure you are using a young cotija cheese, as it becomes more similar to parmesan as it ages. 

Cotija is used in Mexican cuisine the way feta is used in Greek cuisine. It is sprinkled on top of dishes like tacos and enchiladas, and is even put in omelettes. Cotija is one of the best substitutes for feta cheese.

Cheddar cheese is a very popular cheese that people enjoy all over the world. It is made from cow milk and has lots of different varieties from sharp, to aged, to mild, to white. 

Cheddar is a good substitute for feta cheese because it has such a variety. If you are swapping for feta, you are potentially doing it because you are making food for someone who doesn’t like feta. And if they don’t like feta for the taste, it is a pretty safe bet that they will like the taste of cheddar. 

And because cheddar has so many options, you can find a nice middle ground between something that is universally liked while still having a distinct flavour. Do note that cheddar cheese has a very different texture from feta, so you want to be choosy about the recipes you use it in.

Ricotta cheese is an Italian cheese that can be made from a variety of different milks including that of sheep, cows, goats, or even water buffalo. Ricotta has a sweet flavour and a creamy texture, and you can even make it at home. 

Ricotta is great in pasta and is one of the cheeses in a classic lasagna recipe. It can be melted or spread onto bread. It can also be used to top different dishes. 

Ricotta  is a good substitute for feta cheese because they originate in the same general region of the world, and there is overlap between the recipes they are used in. If you want a sweet cheese instead of tangy, ricotta is one of the best substitutes for feta cheese.

Halloumi cheese is another Greek cheese that can be used in place of feta. Halloumi is a little different, though. It is a little bit harder and has a salty flavor. 

Like feta, though, halloumi can be pan fried or even grilled and will keep its shape. Halloumi isn’t supposed to crumble the way feta does, so it isn’t the greatest feta cheese substitute when you want it on salads or on top of hot dishes. 

But if you just want to slice it up or grill it, it is a wonderful substitute for feta cheese.

Panela cheese is another Mexican cheese that is sometimes referred to as queso panela. It is white and made from cow's milk and has a texture similar to halloumi. 

Panela cheese can be sliced up or grilled, and it holds its shape really well. Like halloumi, panela cheese is a good feta substitute if you want it grilled. It has a fresh flavour and takes on other flavours really well, making it easy to cook with no matter what the recipe is. 

On its own, it is a little sour, but because of its absorbent properties, it is really easy to eat and makes for a good feta cheese substitute.

There are multiple types of gorgonzola cheese, one of the most popular being gorgonzola dolce. This type of cheese is made from cow's milk and looks quite similar to a standard blue cheese because of its blue veins. 

Its taste is not nearly as strong as a typical blue, though, and it is a bit tangy, making it a good substitute for feta cheese. 

This type is a little crumbly but it can also melt. It goes well with pasta and makes for a great cheese sauce. It's also delicious on top of steaks.

Another type of gorgonzola is gorgonzola piccante. Just like the aforementioned type, piccante is made from cow's milk, has blue veins, and originates from Italy. However, unlike the other gorgonzola, this type is very pungent and has a very strong flavour. 

Piccante does have a crumbly texture and is good in place of feta when you want those crumbles. It is not the best substitute for feta because not everybody likes such a strong flavor, but for those who do, it makes for a very tasty dish.

Roquefort cheese is a French cheese that is of the blue variety. It has those blue veins that we see in standard blue cheeses, and has a tangy flavor. 

Roquefort cheese is one of the distinct cheeses that has a strict AOC, meaning that it can only bear that name if it is made in a certain area of the world. 

Roquefort cheese can be used the same way you would use any other blue cheese. It’s delicious on a cheeseboard with crackers, nuts, and other toppings like honey and jam. It’s also divine in salads and on steaks. It crumbles well and because of its tangy flavour is one of the best substitutes for feta cheese.