Looking for creamy dressing ideas? Then you'll LOVE this delectable Sour Cream Salad Dressing! This light, tangy dressing is super easy to make, and you'll love the fresh flavor and creamy texture. Pair it with any salad, or use it as a dipping sauce!
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Ginnie's Take
I don't know about you, but my refrigerator is usually bursting with leftovers (a bit of yogurt, a few spoonfuls of almond butter, a small chunk of cheese, etc.). Sometimes it's hard to finish these random ingredients up, but I truly hate to waste anything, so I'm always brainstorming creative ideas. That desire to use leftovers was exactly what inspired this mouthwatering Sour Cream Salad Dressing! It turned out so well, in fact, that I've been making this tasty recipe on repeat ever since!
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Delicious Flavor - This recipe has a light, tangy, herbaceous taste that you won't be able to resist. You'll love the creamy texture, and it's surprisingly low cal, too!
- Easy to Make - Simply chop a few herbs, then mix everything together. This DIY dressing couldn't be easier to make.
- Versatile - Sure, you can toss this creamy salad dressing with greens, but that's just a start! Use it as a dipping sauce, drizzle it over veggies, and more. You'll find lots of ideas below.
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Ingredients
This easy recipe uses ingredients you can find in any grocery store! Here's what you'll need:
- Sour Cream - Of course, you'll need some sour cream! It gives the dressing a rich, tangy taste and luxurious, creamy texture. This is my fave brand.
- Lemon - Fresh lemon juice brightens up the flavor and thins out the dressing, creating a lighter texture.
- Mustard - Zippy Dijon mustard pairs perfectly with the lemon, herbs, and garlic, and it give the sauce a tangy undertone that's so delish.
- Herbs + Garlic - A mix of fresh herbs adds a vibrant, herbaceous taste you'll love! I used chives and dill, but you can experiment others. A little fresh garlic adds even more flavor.
- Sugar - Just a touch of sugar balances out the dressing's more assertive flavors.
- Salt + Pepper - I recommend using kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper for best results.
This recipe is naturally vegetarian, nut free, and gluten free (read labels carefully if you have an allergy). You can make it vegan and dairy free by using a plant based sour cream.
You'll Also Need
You'll need a sharp knife to mince the herbs. Grab some measuring cups and spoons too, and I recommend using a garlic press for the garlic. You'll also need a medium sized bowl to mix everything together.
How to Make Sour Cream Dressing
This flavorful dressing couldn't be easier to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's a quick overview of the steps:
- Prep base. Start by stirring together the sour cream, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper. The mixture should be totally smooth when you're done. Tip: I used a mini spatula, but a whisk works great, too.
- Mix in fresh herbs. Next, you'll blend in the fresh herbs. Tip: For the best texture, make sure to finely mince the herbs.
- Season to taste. Before serving, don't forget to have a taste! Then if needed, add extra salt and pepper, or for a zippier flavor, add more lemon juice or dijon mustard.
Time to enjoy your homemade Sour Cream Dressing. You are going to love this easy recipe ... it's so delicious paired with any salad!
Variations
This creamy dressing recipe is perfect as-is, but you can easily make a few small changes to vary the flavor:
- Herbs - Any fresh, tender herb (think basil, cilantro, parsley, chives, dill, mint, or tarragon) will work well here. Experiment with different pairings to find your favorite combination.
- Onions - Green onions would also make a tasty addition.
- Yogurt - Out of sour cream? Try using Greek yogurt instead.
- Vinegar - Replace the fresh lemon juice with white wine vinegar.
- Lightened Up - While I don't recommend using fat free sour cream, light sour cream is a great substitute for full fat.
- Vegan - Use plant based sour cream to make this recipe vegan + dairy free.
- Thinner or Thicker - For a thinner consistency, stir in more lemon juice (or water), one teaspoon at a time. To thicken things up, stir in extra sour cream. Tip: Make sure to re-season with salt and pepper when you're done.
Serving Suggestions
This homemade dressing is lovely mixed with almost any salad! I paired it with this simple Butter Lettuce Salad, but it would be delish tossed with a Garden Salad or Green Salad. But don't stop there ... here are some other creative ways to use this versatile recipe:
- Potato Salad - Toss it with boiled potatoes for creamy potato salad everyone at your table will love!
- Slaw - Mix it with thinly sliced cabbage to make an herby coleslaw.
- Pasta Salad - Combine with pasta and fresh veggies for a creamy pasta salad. Try it in this Kale Pasta Salad or this Vegan Pasta Salad!
- Cucumbers - Mix with thinly sliced cucumbers to make a crunchy, creamy side dish.
- Sauce - Drizzle over steamed or Roasted Veggies, or use it as a topping for grain bowls, like this Roasted Veggie Bowl or this Kale, Quinoa, and Sweet Potato Bowl.
- Dip - Serve it with potato chips, homemade Pita Chips, Crostini, Crackers, or vegetables, or use it as a dipping sauce for everything from this gorgeous Puff Pastry Sun Tart to these crowd-pleasing Veggie Pigs in a Blanket.
Storage
Store leftover dressing in a small, airtight container in your refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for about three to four days.
Related Recipes
Looking for more ways to use sour cream? Try my Sour Cream Frosting, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, or Sour Cream Cookies next! And here are some other homemade dressings you'll love, too:
- Vinaigrette - If you're craving classic vinegar and oil, don't miss my fave Red Wine Vinaigrette or this zippy French Salad Dressing.
- Lemony - Like bright, sunny flavors? Then you won't be able to resist this Lemon Olive Oil Dressing or this Honey Lemon Vinaigrette.
- Sweet + Savory - My Maple Salad Dressing has just the right balance of savory and sweet flavors!
- Unique - This versatile Tahini Dressing is ideal for salads and bowl meals.
Sour Cream Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh chives
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
Instructions
- Combine sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, sugar, garlic, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Mix until smooth.
- Stir in chives and dill.
- Taste, then season with additional salt, pepper, and / or lemon juice, if needed.
- Serve tossed with your favorite salad greens. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
