My sour cream sauce recipe has been a fan favorite on the blog for years! Made with just a few simple ingredients, it’s so easy that I can hardly call it a recipe. It’s also versatile! We enjoy it with tacos, burritos, rice bowls, potato wedges, and even a quick chip dip. Make it a part of your weekly meal prep to enjoy all week!
Homemade condiments will level up your cooking! A killer sauce or dip can take a dish to the next level while adding acidity, freshness, and flavor. My chunky blue cheese dressing is another reader favorite, and if you love ranch dressing, having your own dry mix gives you more ways to use it! This honey mustard recipe requires a few extra ingredients, but it’s what makes it unique and the best (in my humble opinion).
We all need an arsenal of quick and easy sauces, and my sour cream sauce recipe is the most popular among my friends and family. It was a happy accident one day when I ran out of mayonnaise, and all I had was sour cream. Years later, using equal parts mayonnaise and sour cream as a base for many sauces, dips, and dressings is my go-to. If you’re like me and don’t love mayonnaise but can appreciate its richness, cutting it with sour cream lightens it up a bit while adding a subtle tang and creamy texture.
Sour Cream Sauce Recipe
The best part about this recipe, aside from how easy and delicious it is, is that it’s customizable. Adding salsa turns it into a quick southwest-style sauce, and playing around with different salsa flavors is fun. For example, when serving this with fish tacos, I like to use a lime-forward salsa like this one. Like spice? Add whatever seasonings and hot sauce you want. Adding fresh herbs like cilantro and parsley will add a fresh, herb-y flavor. Seasonings like smoked paprika or roasted cumin will add depth of flavor. A little lemon or lime juice will brighten the sauce, and the acid helps balance the richness. This is a very versatile recipe!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The recipe only requires three ingredients: equal parts salsa, sour cream, and mayonnaise. The seasonings are optional. Sometimes I add them, and sometimes I jazz it up!
- Mayonnaise adds richness and flavor. I use this avocado oil mayonnaise, but any will work.
- Sour cream adds tang and creaminess and mellows out the mayonnaise flavor.
- Salsa. I use fire-roasted salsa for extra flavor, but use what you like.
- Optional seasonings. Smoked paprika, roasted cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, Aleppo pepper.
Note. The calories in 1 cup of sauce are approximately 665, and most of those calories come from the mayonnaise. Mayonnaise is a fat, and it averages about 100 calories per tablespoon. Sour cream, however, is very low in calories, averaging about 15 calories per tablespoon. You can play around with the ratios of mayonnaise and sour cream to lower the calorie count.
How To Make Sour Cream Sauce
This is so easy that I can hardly even call it a recipe, but be sure to read the tips at the bottom of the post.
- Add the sour cream, mayonnaise, and salsa to a bowl.
- Stir well to ensure everything is well combined.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.
Note. Three ingredients are all you need, and I often make it with only those three. Add salt, pepper, herbs, hot sauce, and seasonings to taste.
These glass serving bowls. are perfect for serving and storing the sauce. They’re pretty and functional!
Serving Suggestions & Tips
This versatile sauce can be used as a sauce, dip, or dressing. Here are some of my favorites.
- Drizzle it over protein bowls like my high-protein southwest chicken bowls.
- Serve as a dip with corn chips, quesadillas, burritos, chicken strips, or taquitos.
- Stir into a southwest pasta salad with black beans, corn, tomatoes, and bell peppers.
- Use full-fat mayonnaise and sour cream for better flavor and a creamier consistency.
- A squeeze of fresh lime juice brightens it, as do fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley.
- I suggest letting this hang out in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving for better flavor.
- Add your favorite hot sauce, chipotle in adobo, or cayenne for some heat.
- The salsa you use can completely change the flavor. I’ve made this with salsa verde in white chicken enchiladas. It was amazing!
If you try my easy sour cream sauce, I’d love it if you would leave a comment below!
Sour Cream Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup fire-roasted salsa
Optional Seasonings
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon roasted cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Aleppo pepper
Instructions
- Add the sour cream, mayonnaise, and salsa to a bowl.
- Stir well to ensure everything is well combined.
- Taste and adjust the salt and pepper.
- If using the additional seasonings, add them now.
- Whisk well and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.
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