Cilantro Lime Crema for Tacos and Spicy Casseroles
Cilantro lime crema is a quick, budget-friendly sauce made with creamy sour cream, fresh lime juice, and plenty of cilantro. It takes just a minute to stir together and is an easy way to add bright, fresh flavor and a cool, creamy tang to a spicy family dinner.
When you’re trying to save money and eat at home more often rather than going out to eat at a restaurant, one of my favorite budget-friendly tricks is to make easy homemade sauces to upgrade your family dinner.
What often makes a restaurant dinner special is that they have unique flavors spooned over the top of easy dishes. Making these flavor enhancers at home really doesn’t take that much more time.
This homemade cilantro lime crema is the perfect example.
Stir it together in just a minute while the rest of your dinner is finishing off in the oven, and you’ll have a restaurant-quality topping that upgrades your spicy nacho casserole, baked chicken tacos, or quick chicken enchiladas in minutes.
Why This is the Best Recipe
- Just 3 Ingredients: If you’re making something Mexican for dinner, chances are you’ll already have all 3 on hand!
- Easy Prep: Just a quick stir and you’re ready to go.
- Delicious Topping: This cool, creamy sauce tones down spicy dishes in the most perfect way.
Ingredient Notes
With just 3 ingredients, you’d think there wouldn’t be a lot to say about them, but here are just a few quick things to know:
- Sour Cream: I used Light sour cream. You could use full-fat or fat-free if you prefer. Alternatively, you could use Greek yogurt for even more tang.
- Fresh Cilantro: If you’re one of those unlucky people that thinks it tastes like soap, you can just go ahead and leave it out. The sour cream and lime would be tasty together alone. If you want that pop of green, substitute fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley.
- Lime: I really do prefer a fresh lime here. But in a very big pinch you could use jarred key lime juice.
How to Make the Sauce
Add the sour cream to a bowl, squeeze in the fresh lime juice. Add the fresh cilantro and stir it together.
Yep. It’s really just that easy.
I recommend stirring it together and letting it chill in the fridge so it is nice and cold when you use it to dollop over your dinner.
Make Ahead Tips
If you want to get a jump start on dinner, you can stir together the lime crema and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day.
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Serving Suggestions
I love to make this creamy lime sauce to spoon over my spicy baked nacho casserole.
The fresh cilantro and fresh lime juice make everything taste a little bit brighter, but I love how the sour cream helps tone down something a little too spicy for the kids.
You could use it to upgrade regular microwave nachos, use it as a salad dressing over a taco salad bowl, or add it on the side to my easy taco skillet bake, too.
This is one of those easy homemade condiments that makes any family dinner taste like it is restaurant-worthy.
More Sauces for Topping Mexican Recipes
Want to make your Taco Tuesday even more delicious? Try one of these other easy condiments and sauces:
Cilantro Lime Crema
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sour cream or greek yogurt
- 1 lime juiced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions Start Cooking
- Stir the sour cream, lime juice, and cilantro together in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day.1/2 cup sour cream, 1 lime, 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
- Use as a condiment for tacos, fajitas, or spicy casseroles.
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About Tiffany
Tiffany is a home-cooking enthusiast, three-time cookbook author, and creator of the sites Peanut Blossom, Peanut Blossom Book Club, and Don’t Just Fly. She believes that family dinner can be manageable, fun, and — most importantly — tasty. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and two daughters and can often be found baking a loaf of bread with her beloved bread machine, reading a good book, or planning her family’s next adventure.