Bright, zesty, and creamy — this is your new favorite sauce.
Hey there 👋
If you’re looking for a creamy, fresh, and slightly tangy sauce to drizzle over tacos, grilled chicken, or roasted veggies — this cilantro-lime crema is it. It takes just 5 minutes, uses simple ingredients, and totally levels up your meal.
I use this on everything from taco bowls to baked potatoes. It’s like a flavor booster in a bowl — and it’s super easy to make.
🥣 What You’ll Need
- 1 cup sour cream (full-fat)
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro (loosely packed)
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 small garlic clove
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Optional: 1/2 jalapeño (seeded, for heat)
💚 Why I Love This Recipe
I first made this sauce for a taco night — just needed something extra. After one spoonful, I was hooked. It’s now my go-to “make-anything-taste-better” sauce.
- Super fast — done in 5 minutes
- No cooking — just blend and serve
- Packs a flavor punch with fresh lime and cilantro
- Works with almost any meal
- Keeps well in the fridge for days
👩🍳 Pro Tips
- Use full-fat sour cream for that rich, silky texture.
- Blending the cilantro well helps avoid chunky bits — scrape the sides of the blender!
- Taste after blending — want more zip? Add more lime. Need more salt? Add a pinch.
- Add a spoonful of mayo for extra creaminess and tang (totally optional).
- Make ahead — it gets even better after an hour in the fridge!
🔪 Tools You’ll Need
- Blender or food processor
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Citrus juicer (optional)
- Spatula
- Small bowl for serving
🔁 Substitutions & Variations
- Greek yogurt instead of sour cream
- Add avocado for an ultra creamy version
- Use parsley if you’re not a cilantro fan (totally changes the flavor, but still good)
- Leave out jalapeño for a milder taste
- Add a splash of olive oil for a silkier texture
⏱️ Make Ahead Tips
- Make this up to 3 days ahead
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge
- Flavors get even better as it sits!
🔬 Why This Recipe Works (Quick Science)
- Fat carries flavor — sour cream is rich, so it soaks up the lime, garlic, and cilantro perfectly
- Citrus breaks down greens like cilantro, helping them blend smooth
- Blending emulsifies everything into a creamy, dreamy texture
👨🍳 Instructions
Step 1: Add all ingredients to blender
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 small garlic clove
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Optional: 1/2 seeded jalapeño
Step 2: Blend until smooth
Blend on high for 30–45 seconds until creamy and green, with no big cilantro pieces left. Scrape down the sides once if needed.
Step 3: Taste and adjust
Taste the crema. Add more lime or salt if needed. Blend again for 5 seconds if you add anything.
Step 4: Serve or store
Pour into a bowl or jar and chill if not using right away.
🧊 Leftovers & Storage
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge
- Keeps for up to 5 days
- Stir before serving if it separates a little
- Not freezer-friendly — it changes texture
🍴 What to Serve With
- Tacos (chicken, beef, shrimp — all of them!)
- Burrito bowls
- Grilled chicken or steak
- Roasted veggies
- As a dip for tortilla chips
- Over scrambled eggs
🍽️ Meal Plan Ideas
- Monday: Chicken taco bowls with crema
- Tuesday: Veggie quesadillas + crema for dipping
- Wednesday: Leftover grilled meat with roasted potatoes + crema drizzle
- Thursday: Burritos or wraps
- Friday: Taco night — enough said
🚫 Common Mistakes
- Not blending long enough — leads to chunky sauce
- Using dried cilantro — doesn’t work here
- Too much garlic — it’s strong, so stick to one clove
- Using low-fat sour cream — makes the texture thinner and less rich
🍋 Macros (Per 2 Tbsp serving)
- Calories: 60
- Fat: 5g
- Carbs: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Sugar: <1g
❓FAQ
Can I use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream?
Yes! It’ll be a little tangier, but still creamy and delicious.
Is it spicy?
Only if you add the jalapeño. You can leave it out for a mild version.
How long does it last?
Up to 5 days in the fridge in a sealed container.
Can I freeze it?
Not really — it’ll separate when thawed and lose its smooth texture.
🥄 Wrap-Up
This cilantro-lime crema is so easy, fresh, and full of flavor — it honestly goes with everything. Once you make it, you’ll keep coming back to it again and again.
Give it a try and let me know how it turned out in the comments! Got a question or tried a variation? I’d love to hear from you! 💚