Sour cream adds tanginess and creaminess to so many recipes. Here are our favorite Sour Cream Recipes, including dips, desserts, appetizers, baked goods, entrees, and soups starring this versatile dairy product.
50+ Sour Cream Recipes You Can Make at Home
How Long Can Sour Cream Sit Out?
While it’s typical for sour cream to sit out at a party or during a meal, it is a perishable dairy product that should be refrigerated immediately after use.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recommends that soft or liquid dairy products, including sour cream, be discarded if stored above 40°F for over two hours.
Can You Put Sour Cream in the Microwave?
In general, sour cream shouldn’t be microwaved unless incorporated into a recipe. However, this dairy-based topping can be heated as long as a few basic rules are followed.
Firstly, sour cream should never be microwaved in its original plastic container, as heating plastic may cause unsafe chemicals to leech into the product.
Set aside the amount of sour cream you plan to use, then transfer it to a microwave-safe container, such as a ramekin, before heating.
Sour cream doesn’t handle temperature changes well, and overheating may cause curdling. Heat sour cream in increments of 15 to 20 seconds per tablespoon. Any sour cream that has previously been heated shouldn’t be reused again.
How to Store Sour Cream
For safety and quality reasons, sour cream keeps best when refrigerated at a consistent temperature of 40°F or below. Do not keep any fresh sour cream at room temperature for more than two hours.
How to Freeze Sour Cream
Although it is safe to freeze sour cream, doing so isn’t recommended due to adverse changes to its texture. As sour cream is frozen, the fat and liquid naturally separate, resulting in lumpiness when defrosted to room temperature.
If your recipe featuring sour cream hinges more on its tangy taste than its silky texture, consider portioning it into a freezer-safe container. For example, freezing sour cream in silicone ice cube trays makes it easy to melt individual cubes into soups and stews.
The USDA doesn’t offer any guidelines about freezing sour cream since it also recommends against keeping the dairy-based topping frozen. However, the USDA states that yogurt, a similar product to sour cream, is safe to freeze at 0°F for one to two months.
Due to the risk of bacterial growth, refreezing frozen sour cream after thawing isn’t recommended.
Sour Cream Substitute
The shorter lifespan of sour cream means that it is one of the first items in your fridge to spoil. It’s also possible that your entire container went toward your last recipe that required sour cream. Regardless of why you’ve run out, consider these sour cream substitutes when you’re in a pinch.
Yogurt
Plain yogurt - in particular, plain Greek yogurt - is our go-to sour cream alternative. It has the thickness and tang of sour cream and can be swapped at a 1:1 ratio.
Mayonnaise
While mayo lacks the tang of sour cream, this fridge staple has a similar texture and adds moisture to baked goods. Use mayonnaise at a 1:1 ratio.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk is a baker’s staple that can take the place of sour cream in baked goods. Due to its thinner texture, swap using ¾ cup per cup of sour cream.
Cream Cheese
The same cream cheese spread onto your morning bagel makes for a great sour cream alternative. Substitute cream cheese at a 1:1 ratio for any skillet recipes. Otherwise, whisk cream cheese with a few tablespoons of milk or buttermilk to thin it out for dips.
How to Tell If Sour Cream Is Bad
Sour cream past its peak is distinguishable by an off odor, mold growth, or discoloration.
Fresh sour cream only lasts in the refrigerator for one to two weeks after opening, so it’s crucial to stay ahead of any signs that your sour cream has spoiled.
Is Sour Cream Vegetarian?
Sour cream is suitable for vegetarians who still consume dairy products. Otherwise, many vegan sour cream options are available at your local supermarket or health food store.
Sour cream is such a versatile ingredient. You can use it in dip recipes, soups, breads, entrees and more!
Leftover Sour Cream can be used to make creamy sauces, decadent dips, and baking desserts everyone will love.
Sour Cream Dips
3 Ingredient Creamy Hidden Valley Ranch Dip
We love adding this easy-to-make ranch dip to grilled cheese sandwiches. The creamy texture is amazing!
Knorr Spinach Dip
With this spinach dip made easily by Knorr vegetable mix, you’re only ten minutes of prep time away from the perfect party dip.
7 Layer Taco Dip
This seven-layer Mexican-inspired dip is a tailgating or home-gating must-have.
3 Ingredient Potato Chip Dip
We made this copycat Lawson’s chip dip in honor of National Chip and Dip Day, which you can celebrate each March 23rd.
Crock Pot Spinach Artichoke Dip With Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Serve this elevated slow cooker dip Italian-style with bruschetta chips.
BLT Dip Recipe
This deconstructed BLT dip oozes creativity and serves well with sturdy chips.
Fiesta Ranch Dip Recipe
Rotel turns four ordinary ingredients into a Southwest-inspired veggie and tortilla chip dip. To meet continued snacking needs, leftovers refrigerate very well.
Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip Recipe
Cheesy, meaty, and tangy from the ranch, this flavor-filled dip turns into a quick dinner or appetizer when served with chips.
Crock Pot Bacon Blue Cheese Dip
Blue cheese makes this cheesy dip rich and adds a hint of color next to the bacon bits. Serve this yummy dip with toasted baguettes or crackers.
Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip
This Labor Day-ready dip is made extra tangy and bold with Miracle Whip.
Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip
Since we first made this dip for a barbecue, we served it islander-style in a Hawaiian Sweet Bread bowl with a side of cubed sweet rolls for dipping.
Crock Pot Mexican Spinach Dip Recipe
Add a south-of-the-border twist to your tailgate dip rotation with our Crock Pot Mexican Spinach Dip.
Sour Cream Desserts
There are so many epic sour cream desserts from sour cream pound cake to coffee cake and everything in between.
Creme Brûlée Cheesecake Bars Recipe
We love delightful recipes that come together in a breeze, like this crème Brulé-inspired blend of cheesecake and cookie bar.
Mint Lemonade Cupcake Recipe
Mint and lemonade are so refreshing on a summer day, so why not turn them into the perfect seasonal cupcake?
Guinness Chocolate Cake Recipe
The Irish beer stout Guinness gives this St. Patrick’s Day chocolate Bundt cake a richer, more complex chocolate flavor.
Guinness Chocolate Cake Pop Recipe
Guinness and chocolate are a natural pairing in this recipe for fun-to-make and extra chocolatey cake pops.
Sour Cream Side Dishes
Some of our favorite side dishes include potato salad, pasta salad, sheet pan nachos, and so many more!
Delicious Easy Fruit Salad Recipe
This fruit salad is sweet, satisfying, and pleasantly nostalgic.
Hasselback Potatoes
Impress your dinner guests with these first-class slotted baked potatoes filled with cheese and bacon.
Creamed Corn Casserole Recipe
Only five pantry staples are needed to put together this creamed corn casserole.
Easy and Delicious Broccoli Casserole Recipe
Add this creamy and comforting broccoli casserole to your menu for the holidays.
Grape Salad Recipe
This Southern Grape Salad recipe is so easy to make and tastes amazing.
Cheesy Bacon Potato Skins Recipe
You won’t miss restaurant-made potato skins once you learn how easily the homemade version comes together.
Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes Crock Pot Recipe
These herby and garlicky slow cooker mashed potatoes are great for the holidays.
Crock Pot Mashed Cauliflower
This health-conscious alternative has all the flavor of loaded mashed potatoes.
7 Layer Salad Recipe (With Homemade Dressing)
Each layer pops with color in this classic seven-layer salad served in a trifle dish.
Funeral Potatoes
This cheesy make-ahead potato casserole serves a large group when you have little time to spare.
Cheesy Green Beans Recipe
Cornflakes and a heaping layer of cheese give this classic holiday side a makeover.
How to Make a Scotch Egg Recipe
We tried our hand at these homemade scotch eggs after seeing them appear on many restaurant menus on our travels.
Bread Recipes with Sour Cream
Jiffy Cornbread With Sour Cream
Sour cream adds the perfect amount of moisture to this cornbread, which also takes just over half an hour to make.
Banana Bread With Sour Cream
Feel free to experiment with your favorite spices in this simple recipe for moist banana bread.
Crazy Easy 7-Up Biscuits Recipe
This four-ingredient biscuit recipe gets its airy and fluffy texture from the popular lemon-lime soda.
Crock Pot Cornbread Recipe
This fluffy cornbread is proof that anything can be slow-cooked to perfection.
Snickerdoodle Muffin Recipe
This muffin recipe draws inspiration from our favorite cinnamon sugar cookie.
Main Dishes That use Sour Cream
Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff Recipe
This Crock Pot beef stroganoff is hearty enough to please even the most staunch meat-and-potatoes guest at the table. The combination of egg noodles, sour cream sauce, and meat makes this the perfect comfort food.
Chicken Casserole With Ritz Crackers Recipe
Pair this comfort food casserole with our Creamed Corn Casserole and Bisquick Peach Cobbler.
Swedish Meatballs Crockpot Recipe
Swedish meatball leftovers double as an excellent meatball sandwich filling.
Crockpot Mushroom Pasta Casserole
Mushroom lovers will delight in this pantry-staple-made pasta casserole.
John Wayne Casserole Recipe
The John Wayne Casserole is named after none other than the iconic actor. Bisquick Biscuit Mix gives this comforting casserole a biscuity base, and Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies, topped with cheddar cheese add some fresh heat to the dinnertime table.
Slow Cooker Crock Pot Ham and Swiss Casserole Recipe
Although this recipe didn’t come together until the third try, we’re confident that it will soon become one of your favorite ways to use leftover ham.
Loaded Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Sour cream turns up the creaminess of these slow-cooked loaded mashed potatoes.
Crock Pot Bacon Ranch Chicken Recipe
This recipe makes tender, versatile, and flavorful chicken that goes great on pasta or in sandwiches and sliders.
Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole Recipe
We love this cheesy hash brown casserole and other Cracker Barrel favorites, like pecan pancakes and fried apples
Crock Pot Taco Casserole Recipe
Choose your favorite Ro-Tel flavor to control the spice level in this Mexican-inspired taco casserole. Pair with rice and you have an epic meal
Crock Pot Taco Pasta Recipe
We like to add diced jalapeños to this slow-cooker taco pasta recipe for added heat. Your favorite tacos in pasta casserole form
Crock Pot Porter Stroganoff Recipe
In this take on the classic stroganoff, beef sirloin is simmered with porter beer, cream of mushroom soup, and tangy sour cream.
Crock Pot Steak Stroganoff Recipe
This steak stroganoff is satisfying and warm on a cold Spokane winter day.
Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Tostadas Recipe
Zesty and full of texture, tostadas are the perfect warm-weather meal to have with your favorite margarita.
Crock Pot Spicy Chicken Chili Recipe
We love how the spicy aromas of this slow-cooker chicken chili linger as it cooks.
Bacon Pot Pie Recipe
This savory bacon pot pie was a welcome change after cooking eight pounds of chicken over a month.
Crock Pot Buffalo Sloppy Joes Recipe
Scoop these buffalo sauce sloppy joes onto the bottom of toasted buns for restaurant-quality sliders.
Soups with Sour Cream
Crock Pot White Chicken Chili Recipe
Rotisserie chicken and Bush’s White Chili Beans make this Crock Pot chili flavorful and filling.
Crockpot Ham and Potato Soup Recipe
This soothing soup uses up leftover holiday ham and requires ingredients likely already in your kitchen.
Crockpot Creamy Potato Soup With Bacon Recipe
Using an immersion blender makes this potato and bacon soup extra creamy and indulgent.
Spicy Taco Soup Crockpot Recipe
Our spicy taco soup works wonderfully when you need a kick of spice served hot.
Favorite Kitchen Tools
Heat resistant potholders - A couple of years ago, we had a fire scare when we didn't realize we had turned a burner on, and a cloth potholder caught fire. Thankfully we walked by the kitchen and saw the smoke and were able to get it out ourselves. Since then, we have only used these heat-resistant potholders.
Microwave Silicone cover - I swear by these lid covers to help prevent butter splatters when melting butter in the microwave. I have had way too many butter explosions while baking. These lid covers help keep the butter in the bowl and not on the roof of your microwave.
Crockpot - We suggest using a crockpot that has a digital timer that automatically switches the slow cooker to warm after a set amount of time. This helps make sure your dinner cooks perfectly, and you don't have to stress about what time it is going to be done.
Hand Mixer/Stand Mixer - You can mix this with either a hand mixer or your stand mixer.
Muffin Pan - We use a 12-muffin pan for this recipe.
Great Recipe Collections
Cherry Pie Filling Recipes - Check out a ton of desserts made with delicious cherries.
Olive Garden Recipes - Make your favorite Olive Garden meal at home.
Celery Recipes - Are you wondering what to make with the celery that has been in your fridge? These are our favorite recipes with celery in them.
Banana Recipes - Check out our favorite banana recipes for using ripe bananas and dried bananas.
Lemon Desserts - Pucker Up for These Delicious Lemon Desserts! They are the perfect spring and summer sweet treat.
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