This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more information.
Don’t have sour cream or realized you’re all out while you’re making mashed potatoes? Here are the best ways to substitute for sour cream in mashed potatoes!
Sour cream mashed potatoes are not as popular as say, mashed potatoes made with milk or mashed potatoes made with heavy cream. However, many people tend to enjoy the subtle tangy flavor of sour cream mash quite a lot.
If this is you, but you have no sour cream available right now, there are a few ways to make subtly tangy mashed potatoes with ingredients besides sour cream as you will see below.
What can be substituted for sour cream in mashed potatoes
These are some of the best substitutes for sour cream in mashed potatoes. The first 5 ingredients on the list are able to add a nice subtly tangy flavor and creaminess to the mash, while the remaining ingredients will only add creaminess and richness and so are secondary types of sour cream replacements for mashed potatoes.
- Creme fraiche
- Greek Yogurt
- Buttermilk
- Cream cheese
- Vegan sour cream
- Heavy cream
- Heavy whipping cream
- Cow’s milk and butter
- Non-dairy milk and butter
Best subs for sour cream in mashed potatoes
Creme fraiche
Don’t have sour cream? Creme fraiche is a suitable way to replace sour cream in mashed potatoes. Creme fraiche is a thick, creamy soured cream that has a slightly tart flavor and thus can easily replace sour cream in any recipe, including mashed potatoes. It is a french product so this will add abt of a french twist to your mash.
Crème fraîche is both thicker and fattier than the more tangy sour cream which is low in fat and more liquid-like. However, not only will you get a nice subtly tartness in a creme Fraiche mashed potatoes, but you’ll also have some very fluffy mash too!
Since creme fraiche and sour cream are alike, a 1:1 substitution can be used (that is, if a recipe calls for ½ cup of sour cream, replace it with ½ cup of sour cream).
Greek Yogurt
If you have it, greek yogurt can also make a fine alternative to sour cream in mashed potato recipes. Like sour cream, greek yogurt gives a nice tang to mashed potatoes and can easily be swapped on a 1:1 ratio with sour cream. That is, if a mash recipe calls for ½ cup of sour cream, replace it with ½ cup of greek yogurt. Who knew that greek yogurt mashed potatoes were a thing?!
Buttermilk
Another ingredient that can be used to add richness and a slight tanginess to mashed potatoes is buttermilk. Use a 1:1 substitution ratio in this case (that is if a mashed potato recipe calls for ½ cup of sour cream, replace this with ½ cup of buttermilk)
Cream cheese
Cream cheese is another good sour cream substitute for mashed potatoes. Cream cheese is often used in mashed potatoes together with butter and results in a creamy, fluffy mash. Cream cheese will work as a sub for sour cream in mashed potatoes because it is mild and slightly sweet with a subtle tang. Cream cheese mashed potatoes taste amazing, so there will be no sacrifice on your part!
Vegan sour cream
Whether you use homemade vegan sour cream or store-bought vegan sour cream, this is another great sour cream substitute for mashed potatoes. While vegan sour cream does not taste exactly like full-fat sour cream, it is a nice vegan alternative that will work quite well in place of full-fat sour cream, especially when used together with a rich, slightly tangy vegan butter like Miyoko’s.
Heavy cream
While heavy cream will not produce a slightly tangy mashed potato recipe, it can be used in a pinch to make some delicious creamy mash, which will be way creamier than the lighter mash made with sour cream. And if you want that nice tangy flavor that you’d get with sour cream, squeeze some lemon juice in the mash then mix.
Heavy whipping cream
Heavy whipping cream is very much like heavy cream and is often used to make mashed potatoes too. Use it in a pinch as an alternative to sour cream in mashed potatoes if you don’t mind not having that tangy flavor.
Milk and butter
Have no sour cream? A combination of whole milk or 2% milk and butter is another great option worth trying. It’s a combination that can work for just about anyone since most people have these two items in their refrigerators anyway.
Non-dairy milk and butter
Another great replacement for sour cream in mash potatoes is a combination of non-dairy milk and butter. This substitute makes for a less creamy mash recipe, however, with a few additions, this recipe can taste very good! Also, if you want to make this recipe completely vegan, then use a combination of non-dairy milk and vegan butter instead.
Final thoughts
There it is! 9 easy alternatives to sour cream in mashed potatoes. These substitutes make it so that you can make a delicious, tangy mashed potato recipe without sour cream! And also, if you want more ingredient substitutes for mashed potatoes, check out these easy ways to replace milk in mashed potatoes as well as these substitutes for heavy cream in mashed potatoes here!
