Healthier Swaps: Greek Yogurt for Sour Cream (2024)

It’s very trendy these days to substitute Greek yogurt for a whole bunch of stuff in both cooking and baking. While I admit that Greek yogurt doesn’t belong in EVERYTHING, I think it can go wherever sour cream can.

A friend of mine, who also happens to be a dietitian, had me over for dinner a while back. She was serving chili and had a container of Greek yogurt on the table. I was a little confused, like, what am I supposed to do with that? When I saw her scoop some to top on her bowl of chili, I realized what was going on. Really? Because we’re dietitians we have to do this weird stuff? To be polite and not feel stupid I did the same. Turns out Greek yogurt and sour cream taste super similar! It wasn’t weird at all. Now this is something I do regularly and I even got my husband to make the switch. That took a little convincing at first, but after getting over the initial skepticism, he's grown much more accustomed to it. Just last week we had a homemade taco night, and he didn't hesitate to garnish his tacos with Greek yogurt.

Let’s compare 2 Tablespoons sour cream, light sour cream and plain non-fat Greek yogurt to see what the differences are all about:

Healthier Swaps: Greek Yogurt for Sour Cream (2)

As you can see, the biggest difference between all three is the calorie and fat content. If weight loss is a goal of yours, the swap is definitely worth it. The Greek yogurt also has more protein. Interestingly though, sour cream actually has a little more potassium compared to Greek yogurt. Overall the calcium content is all about the same. Despite the fact that sour cream is a fermented product, probiotics are generally not added back in, so Greek yogurt has the added benefit of probiotics. Those little guys promote a healthy GI tract.

For swapping a dollop of sour cream on your baked potato, taco or chili, a 1-to-1 ratio for non-fat free Greek yogurt will do the trick. In addition, Greek yogurt can be added to dressings or dips as a substitute for cream or mayonnaise (at least in part). A quick internet search will yield some nice recipes detailing how you can do this. One of our summer favorites are fish tacos, with a chipotle dressing made with Greek yogurt.

When cooking and baking, you may want to consider using Greek Yogurt that’s made with whole milk. Fat adds thickness and prevents curdling, so you don’t want to take all of it away from certain recipes. You won’t have the same amount of calorie and fat reduction, but you’ll still get the added protein.

Healthier Swaps: Greek Yogurt for Sour Cream (2024)

FAQs

Healthier Swaps: Greek Yogurt for Sour Cream? ›

Yes. This is a great substitute, because both have that slight tang - and Greek yoghurt has a much lower calorie count, so could make your recipe healthier. Directly substitute, ie 1 cup Greek yoghurt for 1 cup sour cream.

Is Greek yogurt a healthier alternative to sour cream? ›

Greek yogurt

The result is a thicker, tangier version of yogurt that is very similar to sour cream. What's more, Greek yogurt is lower in calories and fat and higher in protein than full-fat sour cream. Full-fat Greek yogurt contains 97 calories, 5 grams (g) of fat, and 9 g of protein per 3.5 ounces (oz.), or 100 g.

How to turn Greek yogurt into sour cream? ›

STEPS TO MAKE SOUR CREAM FROM YOGURT:

All you need to do is add a few tablespoons of lemon juice or vinegar to the yogurt and stir it until the yogurt has thickened. The acid in the lemon juice or vinegar will cause the yogurt to thicken and separate, just like sour cream would.

What is a heart healthy substitute for sour cream? ›

Greek yogurt is one of the best swaps for sour cream that you can find. (Just be sure to look for plain Greek yogurt, not the flavored variety.) It has a similar creamy texture and that characteristic tang; plus, it's a healthy ingredient that'll add protein to your dish.

Can you taste the difference between sour cream and Greek yogurt? ›

While they both can taste pretty tart, sour cream will be much richer. Unlike Greek yogurt, which ranges from 100–300 calories per cup, sour cream tends to be more caloric because of its higher fat content. If this only made you more confused, just ask someone from Bon Appetit.

Is sour cream good for gut health? ›

The main health benefits of sour cream come from probiotics. Probiotics are healthy live bacteria that live in the human gut. Probiotics help people with lactose intolerance break down lactose in the small intestine before it reaches the colon (large intestine).

How do you cut the tartness out of Greek yogurt? ›

Sweeten them Naturally: Natural sweeteners like honey, pure fresh maple syrup, agave, or stevia can provide a delicious sweetness to your Greek yogurt.

How to make sour cream at home in 5 minutes? ›

Instructions. Place 1 cup heavy cream and 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice or distilled white vinegar in a clean 1 pint glass jar and stir with a clean spoon until combined. Cover with a paper towel or cheesecloth and secure with a rubber band.

Do they make fat-free sour cream? ›

Made in 1-ounce servings to meet the needs of your guests, you can give them a brand they know and trust. Cultured for that classic, rich flavor and creamy texture that patrons love.

Is there a healthy version of sour cream? ›

Yogurt is your best substitute for sour cream. Whether you're baking or making a dip or sauce, yogurt is a 1:1 sub. That means if your recipe calls for 1 cup of sour cream, you can replace it with 1 cup of yogurt. Full-fat Greek or natural yogurts work best, but low-fat or even nonfat can be used, too.

What is a good substitute for sour cream for diabetics? ›

Low-Fat Dairy

Whole milk and half-and-half can be replaced with 1 percent milk, skim milk, evaporated skim milk, or nonfat half-and-half. Instead of grabbing sour cream, try using low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt (it's nice and tangy), buttermilk, or low-fat cottage cheese.

How to make sour cream in 10 minutes? ›

Whisk together one cup of cream and one teaspoon of distilled white vinegar or lemon juice in a clean mason jar. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then add ¼ cup of whole milk. Stir well to combine.

Can you substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream? ›

Full-fat Greek yogurt will offer the closest approximation of sour cream's flavor and texture, and can be used as a one-to-one replacement for sour cream. If you'd like, you can stir some heavy cream into any percentage of Greek yogurt to give it a somewhat richer body and higher fat content.

What is a good substitute for sour cream in stroganoff? ›

Greek yogurt is a healthy alternative to the traditionally used sour cream in beef stroganoff recipes, so you can be confident that your family is getting a satisfying, healthy meal. Fresh dill and paprika will provide a sweet, slightly smoky garnish to top off the dish.

What's better, Greek yogurt or cottage cheese? ›

So far, these two high-protein snacks are neck in neck when considering protein, calcium and calories. But one clear distinction steers the choice: Cottage cheese can be loaded with sodium. Just 1 cup of cottage cheese can deliver 8 to 9 times the sodium found in Greek yogurt.

Is Greek yogurt healthier than regular yogurt? ›

Greek yogurt can contain twice as much protein per serving as regular yogurt. Protein is an important part of a healthy diet and helps keep you fuller longer. If either type of yogurt has added fruits or toppings, the sugar content can be higher than normal, but typically, Greek yogurt is lower in sugar and carbs.

Is sour cream healthy for weight loss? ›

Sour cream is high in saturated fats, so limiting your intake and focusing on healthy options is best. If you only have 1 or 2 tablespoons of full-fat sour cream as an occasional garnish, it's probably not a big concern, though. Alternatively, you could switch to light, low-fat, or fat-free versions.

Which is more keto friendly sour cream or Greek yogurt? ›

Keto-Compatible Alternatives for Sour Cream

Greek Yogurt: Plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt can be a great keto-friendly alternative to Sour Cream. It offers a similar creamy texture and tangy taste, with fewer carbs and a higher protein content.

Which Greek yogurt is less sour? ›

Straight to the Point. Our favorite Greek yogurt is the Siggi's Icelandic-Style Skyr. It's creamy and rich and has a sweeter, less tart flavor. Just looking at all the options in the dairy aisle these days is enough to give anyone a case of Greek-yogurt fatigue.

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