Whether you are dairy free for health reasons, allergies, or by choice, having an easy recipe for dairy-free sour cream makes cooking much easier.
Jump to RecipeA few years ago I found out I have a dairy allergy. It isn’t just lactose intolerance, but a true allergy. I was shocked since I love dairy products and would eat them all the time! But, knowing that, I have tried to do better for my body and come up with dairy-free alternatives made from simple ingredients.
Cooking from scratch is my favorite way to make meals for my family. It lets me control the ingredients as well as the taste of all our food. But finding out I needed to try to cook dairy-free food as much as possible threw a wrench into my typical meals. One of Tyler’s favorite meals, tacos, now became much harder. Not only did I have to find dairy-free cheese, but I also needed to find a vegan alternative for sour cream.
Ryan and I used regular sour cream on a lot of meals including tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and any TexMex food we eat. So it was time to try out a few ways to make homemade dairy-free products and taste test for the best. While I was able to find a sour cream alternative that I like, Ryan still likes to stick to the real thing in his meals.
The only sour cream I can find ready-made at the grocery store is from the Kite Hill brand. Theirs is made from almonds and almond milk. It has a creamy texture with the delicious taste of sour cream. While it’s a great option, I can’t always find it easily around my area.
There are plenty of recipes you can find online that include raw cashews, coconut cream and coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, tapioca starch, and other such ingredients. But those aren’t always easy to find either and can be time-consuming.
Another issue with most of those recipes is the use of nuts. If you are looking for a nut-free sour cream recipe, this one is very easy, has a great taste, and doesn’t take a long time to make. My favorite recipes for homemade staples are those I can whip up ahead of time and have ready when I need them.
For this recipe, you’ll need to purchase dairy-free Greek yogurt. Make sure to get Greek yogurt as it has a thicker texture than regular yogurt. Combine that with some lemon juice and you have a simple recipe with plant-based ingredients. There are a few different brands of dairy-free yogurt, but I prefer the brand called So Delicious. Hint: they also make delicious dairy-free ice cream, too!
Note: Most dairy-free options, including this homemade dairy-free sour cream, are thinner than traditional sour cream made with real dairy. While it works well for topping foods such as tacos and baked potatoes, it may not work as well in baking unless you thicken it with corn starch, arrowroot, flour, or chickpea protein powder.
Dairy-Free Sour Cream Step by Step
Ingredients
- 6 oz dairy-free plain Greek yogurt
- 3/4 tsp lemon juice, fresh
Preparation
Drain any excess liquid from the yogurt.
Stir the lemon juice into the yogurt and whisk until fully combined. You can do this in a separate container or prepare directly in the Greek yogurt container.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.
Dairy-Free Sour Cream Leftovers
Storage: Leftover dairy-free sour cream can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I like to keep it in a glass jar or prepare it in the container the yogurt comes in to make it easy to use and reseal.
Recipe
Originally Published On: June 26, 2023
Dairy-Free Sour Cream
Ingredients
- 6 oz dairy-free plain Greek yogurt
- 3/4 tsp lemon juice (fresh)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Drain any excess liquid from the yogurt
- Stir the lemon juice into the yogurt and whisk until fully combined
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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So we aren’t totally fans of sour cream and it’s great to know that there is an alternative. A healthier one at that if I do say so. I eat Greek yogurt almost daily so we already have the necessary ingredients to make this for our tacos and burritos!
I love it! How simple it is to just add lemon juice to make it sour.
What a simple recipe to follow! I’ll have to remember this when I need a dairy-free option.
Wow, it is very simple to make and looks very delicious. I must try this, thanks for sharing such an easy and delicious recipe.
I love fast and easy recipes. I would probably add some honey or some other sweetener to this. But dairy-free Greek yogurt? Can a Weesky without alcohol still be called weeskey? 🙂
I love how simple this recipe is. Also, with only 2 ingredients? Im down to make it.
Wow – two ingredients! That’s so easy to try this dairy-free sour cream substitute. My niece struggles with dairy – gonna share this with her, too!
It is nice to have this as an option when we run out of sour cream. It seems inevitable that we go to make a recipe and we are missing sour cream for something like taco salad.
I have never tried to make my own sour cream before. It’s great that it is so easy to do yourself.
Ooohhhh….I have always wondered how sour cream can be made! Thank you for this particular recipe. I look forward to tasting it, on my first meal over the weekend.
I’ve used yogurt in so many recipes before. Even when making a delicious sour cream and onion dip, I’ll often substitute yogurt instead
Love this, and such a simple recipe! I love sour cream but it doesn’t love me back. So nice to have a healthy alternative!
Wow! This is a really great and easy recipe to make! Can’t wait to try this out! Love it
Aww thank you for this very useful tips! I definitely love to do it! Easy and healthy!
My daughter is vegan so I will definitely try this recipe, Thank you for sharing such a doable and simple recipe that can be made at home.
Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe for a dairy-free sour cream substitute. It’s incredible how just two simple ingredients can create a delicious and creamy alternative.
I’m sure this is a good dairy-free sour cream. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
This is perfect timing! My daughter was last week diagnosed with an allergy to dairy so we have been trying ALL the dairy free things!
I was diagnose with a dairy allergy a couple of years ago, at 33 years old and it was HARD to change my habits! I have found that many recipes, if you sub out the milk for almond milk and the butter with a vegan butter (both easy to get at our grocery stores) you can make many recipes dairy-free that weren’t to start with. Almost all my recipes here that just say “butter” I use a vegan butter for.
Did I already let you know that your recipes are among my favorite? I’ll let you know how this one turns out.