30 Easy Sour Cream Recipes

Sour cream is one of my favorite ingredients. I love to use it as a condiment and as an ingredient to cook with as well. It has an acidity that many recipes can benefit from, and the twang it adds to a dish is irreplaceable.

This list is filled with recipes with sour cream, with everything from main dishes, side dishes, and even desserts.

There’s even a recipe for a vegan sour cream substitute you can make for yourself at home if you have a sensitivity to dairy or choose a vegan eating style.

A lot of these recipes are extremely affordable and don’t use any specialty ingredients. They’re also quick and straightforward dishes to throw together. I hope you find inspiration in this list to use up that sour cream container sitting in your fridge!

1. Smothered Cheesy Sour Cream Chicken

Sometimes chicken breast can be bland and dry, but that’s not the case with this recipe!

Smothering chicken in sour cream, parmesan, mozzarella, and a delicious spice blend is a sure-fire way to make sure you have moist, flavorful chicken.

You can include any cheese you love with the mozzarella like pepper jack or asiago.

I like to serve this over steamed white rice or mashed potatoes with roasted veggies for a complete meal.

2. Sour Cream Baked Salmon

This recipe is perfect for those busy evenings when you need to get a healthy meal on the table.

With only five ingredients, including salt, you can throw this together in no time. Sour cream, whole grain mustard, and parmesan make a delicious sauce to go over roasted salmon.

If you don’t have whole grain mustard, you can swap it for Dijon mustard.

You can throw some diced potatoes and green beans on the same sheet tray and roast everything at once for a quick sheet pan meal.

3. Sour Cream Cucumber Dip

Are you wondering, what can I make with sour cream that isn’t the same ‘ole chicken or mashed potatoes?

This cucumber dip is a great solution! It’s light and refreshing, perfect for dipping sliced cucumbers, crackers, raw vegetables, or even as a sauce for lamb chops.

Sometimes I like to shred cucumber and mix it into the dip itself for even more cucumber flavor.

Switch out the dried dill for chopped fresh dill, resulting in an even fresher, herby flavor.

4. Low Carb Sour Cream Beef Bake

This is a great dish if you’re following a low-carb diet or even if you want to get some extra veggies in your meal.

Cauliflower rice replaces normal rice in this ground beef bake, and sour cream and cottage cheese add richness.

The tomato sauce adds an umami flavor that pairs with the tangy sour cream beautifully.

I like to mix in some squash or mushrooms for added fiber and nutrients, and I never skip the green onions on top! They add a great crunch and brightness to an otherwise rich plate.

5. Easy Beef Stroganoff

When someone comes to me wanting a great sour cream recipe, the first thing that comes to mind is always beef stroganoff.

Stroganoff is one of those classic dishes that just never gets old. Sirloin steak is lightly tossed in flour and then seared crisp.

Mushrooms and onions are caramelized down to create the base for delicious gravy that is made even better with sour cream.

Serve this over a big bowl of egg noodles for a warm and satisfying dinner.

6. Poblano Sour Cream Chicken enchiladas

Craving Mexican food? This recipe is for you! These are simple and quick enchiladas that use less than ten ingredients and satisfy that enchilada craving.

Roasted poblano peppers and sour cream are blended with chicken broth to make a smooth and creamy sauce poured over corn tortillas stuffed with chicken.

Sometimes I like to add a can of black beans to the mix as well. Top this with some diced tomatoes and red onion for added freshness.

7. Sour Cream Potato Soup

Loaded potato soup was one of my favorite things my mom would cook for me growing up.

It’s something she still, to this day, makes for me when I visit my parents. There’s nothing quite as comforting and filling like a potato soup, and it’s so easy!

This one has all those tasty baked potato flavors like sour cream, cheddar cheese, and bacon.

This soup is more like chowder: creamy, silky, and tender chunks of fluffy potatoes. Please, make this recipe as soon as possible!

8. Banana Bread with Sour Cream

One of the best falls treats to make is a steaming loaf of banana bread.

This version uses sour cream to make the bread even moister. It also adds a slight twang to play off the sweetness from the bananas.

You can add any of your favorite banana bread fillers to this, chocolate chips, shredded coconut, walnuts, or pecans.

Anything goes! This banana bread will become your go-to recipe when you have a bunch of bananas you need to use up.

9. Garlic Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes

Having a solid mashed potato recipe on hand for any occasion is a good idea.

This mashed potato recipe includes sour cream and garlic to give it an amazing flavor.

These are creamy and airy, thank the half and half. Serve these with any of your favorite proteins like grilled steak, chicken thighs, or roasted fish.

You can swap the half and a half for heavy cream for an even more decadent mash. This may become your top mashed potato recipe, even for Thanksgiving!

10. Chicken Spaghetti

Maybe the sound of a sour cream-based chicken spaghetti sounds odd, but don’t let that fool you. This recipe is a favorite in my household! Kids love spaghetti, and this take on pasta is no exception.

Spaghetti is cooked like a casserole with cream of chicken, salsa, sour cream, and cheese mixed in.

This isn’t anything like a classic bowl of spaghetti. It’s more like a Mexican fusion version of pasta.

If you want to sneak in some veggies, use half spaghetti squash in place of half of the pasta.

11. Cashew Sour Cream

There are plenty of sour cream uses, and if you’re a vegan or vegetarian, you may feel like you’re missing this sour topping.

Well, worry no more! This sour cashew cream proves you have a great alternative that fits your dietary preferences.

This cream is just as thick and creamy as the original and has that same sour flavor you’re looking for.

Apple cider vinegar and lemon juice bring that twinge of acid, while the cashews bring the creaminess.

12. Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole

Cracker Barrel was a restaurant I always went to with my grandparents, and we would always stop on our way out for some of the old-fashioned candy.

This hash brown casserole is exactly like the hash browns we would get on the side of pancakes and eggs at Cracker Barrel.

They are creamy with a crisp bottom and loaded with sour cream and cheese. Make sure to use frozen hash browns here, not shredded potatoes; frozen hash browns are easier anyways!

13. Loaded cauliflower Casserole

This recipe is excellent if you’re on a keto-type diet. This is also a great way to get your kids (or even stubborn adults) to get in more vegetables.

Cauliflower is baked with cream cheese, sour cream, and a mix of shredded cheeses to create a delicious cauliflower side dish. I love to serve this with roasted chicken and steamed veggies.

This is easily made vegetarian by omitting the bacon or substituting it with crispy fried onions.

14. Smothered Sour Cream Chicken

This smothered chicken recipe will become a regular in your dinner rotation.

Chicken is baked under a creamy, cheesy sauce that not only keeps the chicken nice and moist but also imparts a rich and succulent flavor.

You can mix up the seasoning blend as you like, for example, swapping out the oregano and basil for chipotle powder and paprika.

I like to serve this with mashed potatoes to add the creamy sauce from the chicken to them. Yum!

15. Sour Cream Noodle Bake

Sharing unique ideas for recipes online is one of the best things to come out of the internet age, and this recipe is a great example.

I love egg noodles; they have the best bouncy texture and pair perfectly with creamy sauces.

This recipe bakes egg noodles with ground beef and tomato, sour cream, and cheese sauce.

This is a great dish to serve with warm sourdough toast and a side salad. However you do it, it’s sure to be a big hit around your dining room!

16. Mexican Sour Cream Rice

Sour cream rice may not sound like a familiar recipe, but this will become one of your favorites, flavorful side dishes.

This rice is cooked in chicken stock and mixed with sour cream, green chiles, corn, and cheese.

I like to serve this with a side of black beans and corn tortillas for a plant-based dinner.

You can mix in other ingredients like roasted peppers or a can of tomatoes as well. If you want to make this a one-pot meal, try mixing in some shredded chicken!

17. Dads Sour Cream Pound Cake

Who knew there would be desserts in a sour cream recipe list? This sour cream pound cake is exceptional!

The sour cream adds an addicting zest and a moist and fluffy texture. The recipe includes a lemon glaze, but you can top this cake with whatever you like.

Sometimes I’ll drizzle salted caramel over the top or pour over a chopped strawberry syrup and serve with whipped cream.

This is the perfect cake to make for a party or gathering. Everyone will want a copy of the recipe!

18. Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

If you’re on the hunt for the best sour cream recipes, this recipe will need to be on your radar! It’s called million-dollar chicken for a reason, this recipe tastes like it was created for a king, but it is made with inexpensive ingredients you can find at any grocery store.

The surprise here is the crispy, buttery topping that comes from Ritz crackers, don’t skip this!

This is the perfect recipe to throw together if you have some leftover cooked chicken from a previous dinner in the fridge.

19. Chicken Rice-Roni Casserole

Here’s another affordable recipe with ingredients that are easy to find. Using rice-a-Roni here makes the rice step simpler and adds more flavor.

This recipe is a full one-pot meal thanks to the chopped chicken and vegetables, including carrot, green pepper, and onion.

This is an excellent recipe if you have kids, they will love this, and you can sneak in veggies without them realizing it.

Everyone at your table will be getting up for second servings!

20. Sour Cream Coffee Cake Muffins

Another dessert! Who doesn’t love a coffee cake? Coffee cake was my favorite thing to grab from the quick mart on my way to school when I was young.

This version is made from scratch, making it less processed and fresher tasting.

The secret to any good coffee cake is sour cream. It gives the cake that soft texture and is the perfect contrast to the warm cinnamon streusel.

I love to make this on a Sunday morning and have it with a big coffee cup or delicious pumpkin latte in the fall.

21. Sour Cream Potato Salad

This sour cream potato salad should be the next addition to your potluck or family gathering. It’s the perfect side dish and has little bombs of flavor like pimento, cucumber, and pickle relish.

Between these additions and the sour cream, this salad has the perfect amount of acidity to cut the creaminess.

Pro tip? If you want to give this salad an even more fun twist, try adding crushed sour cream and onion potato chips on top for added crunch and saltiness.

22. Creamy Chicken Bake

This creamy chicken bake reminds me of beef stroganoff with the mushrooms and creamy base, but instead of beef, it has leaner and healthier chicken breast as the protein.

I love to serve this over egg noodles so they can hold all the delicious sauce. If you don’t want canned mushrooms, you can use fresh mushrooms like baby Bellas or chopped portobello mushrooms.

If you prefer things to be made from scratch, this recipe also includes links to homemade mushroom cream and chicken soups.

23. Easy Southern Banana Pudding

What to do with leftover sour cream? Why not make a wonderful dessert like this one?

Banana pudding will always be one of my favorite desserts. My grandma made it every year for my birthday.

This banana pudding has a new twist with the addition of sour cream in the pudding base.

But like any great banana pudding, it still has the vanilla wafers on top and in layers underneath for the added cake-like texture.

24. Sour Cream Chicken

Chicken breast and sour cream are a match made in heaven, as you can see from chicken repeated appearances on this list.

Sour cream adds a fattiness and richness to the chicken breast, often tasting plain and dry.

This sour cream chicken uses mozzarella and parmesan to add a salty flavor and creamy base.

The seasoning blend is Italian flavored, which compliments the cheeses wonderfully. Serve this with roasted potatoes and green beans for a nutritious and well-made meal.

25. Old Fashioned Sour Cream Doughnuts

This is probably my favorite recipe using sour cream on this list. Who can turn down a doughnut? They are warm and delicious and often give us a sentimental feeling when we eat them.

These doughnuts use sour cream to accomplish the crunchy outside and cakey inside.

The best part? These doughnuts aren’t fried. They’re baked, making them a healthier option to the doughnuts you’ll pick up from your local bakery. Don’t skip out on the glaze!

26. Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese have always been one of my guilty pleasures. If I could, I would eat at every meal of every day!

This take on Mac and cheese is extremely easy to throw together, and because it cooks in a crockpot, it’s perfect for busy weeknights.

The sour cream adds an unexpected acidic flavor that cuts the richness of the creamy cheese perfectly.

If you want to make this a full meal, try adding some shredded chicken to the finished product and serve with some steamed veggies!

27. Cheese Potato Casserole

I don’t think anyone could deny that potatoes, sour cream, and cheese are a magical combination.

This recipe is easy. There’s only one vegetable you must chop: an onion, the rest you mix and throw into the oven.

The can of cream of mushroom soup adds the creamy texture and gives the casserole a hit of umami.

By using frozen shredded potatoes, you save both times shredding potatoes by hand and money, as frozen vegetables are usually more affordable.

28. One Pan Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Skillet

If there’s a one-pan skillet meal, you can guarantee I’m going to make it! I love one-pan meals because it means less dishes I must wash at the end of the night.

This recipe is like enchiladas, but instead of taking the time to layer or roll tortillas, you chop them into smaller chunks and mix them with the creamy chicken fillings and bake it as is.

Top it all with some cheese, and you have a delicious meal on the table!

29. Sour Cream Cinnamon Biscuits

These cinnamon biscuits are best served for breakfast with a warm cup of creamy coffee.

The nutmeg and cinnamon pair perfectly with the tangy sour cream, and the addition of raisins adds a hint of sweetness and delightful chewy little bites.

Don’t skip the glaze! It adds a scrumptiously sweet topping that goes great with coffee.

You can make these ahead and have them in the mornings for the rest of the week as a sweet start to your day!

30. Baked Potato Soup

We’re finishing off this list with a baked potato soup, perfect for a cozy night watching movies or playing games!

This soup is like the previous potato soup, but instead of being like chunky chowder, this soup is creamier and smoother because the potatoes are blended into the base.

It has cheese melted into it, and it’s topped with crispy delicious bacon and green onions.

There’s a great tip included: try not to use pre-shredded and bagged cheese. It has an ingredient that makes it difficult to melt down smoothly!