Name: Creamy Horseradish Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 cup sour cream; ½ cup mayonnaise; ½ cup prepared horseradish; ½ lemon (zested and juiced); ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon Ground black pepper

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This Creamy Horseradish Sauce Recipe is so easy to make in just 10 minutes with a few simple ingredients! It combines creamy and tangy sour cream and mayonnaise with spicy prepared horseradish, zesty lemon, and simple seasoning. It’s the perfect condiment for Prime Rib, Steak, French Dip Sandwiches, and more!

A white spoon scooping super smooth and creamy homemade horseradish sauce garnished with freshly chopped chives from a small white ceramic serving bowl.

Creamy Horseradish Sauce is a delicious, full-flavored condiment that can be enjoyed with an array of roast meats, meaty sandwiches, and roasted veggies. It’s creamy, tangy, and uniquely spicy.

Prepared horseradish adds an irresistible spicy bite to the creamy sauce that can be easily adjusted to suit your preference. Incorporating horseradish into your sauces is an easy way to add a burst of flavor to your meals without much effort or preparation.

Combine simple and budget-friendly ingredients, such as mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon, prepared horseradish, and seasoning, and have this creamy sauce ready to enjoy in a matter of minutes!

What is Horseradish?

Horseradish is a large white root vegetable in the same family as mustard and wasabi. It is used to make prepared horseradish which consists of grated horseradish root combined with a bit of vinegar and salt. It is readily available in most grocery stores and online.

Prepared horseradish can be enjoyed alone or used as an ingredient to make condiments and sauces, much like I’m using it to make this creamy horseradish sauce. It adds an extra bite to dressings, sauces, and other dishes that it’s incorporated into.

The spice/heat from horseradish is different from that of a chili pepper. The “heat” spreads to the nostrils rather than staying in the mouth and throat.

Horseradish originates from Russia and Hungry and is mentioned in Greek mythology and some of Shakespeare’s work! It’s an extremely popular food item that is available year-round throughout the world.

All of the ingredients for Homemade creamy horseradish Sauce presented in individual measuring cups and ramekins.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

Find the printable recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.

Sour cream—Sour cream is the base for this creamy horseradish sauce. I prefer to use full-fat sour cream for maximum flavor, but reduced-fat sour cream or even Greek yogurt could be used instead if you prefer.
Mayonnaise – Use store-bought or homemade mayonnaise.
Horseradish—For convenience, I’ve used store-bought horseradish in this sauce. However, if you know how to prepare horseradish yourself, feel free to use your own.
Lemon—Zested and juiced. This helps to cut through all the creaminess in this sauce! Apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar can be used instead of lemon juice.
Salt and ground black pepper – Fine sea salt is the best for seasoning this sauce.

How to Make Creamy Horseradish Sauce

Combine the ingredients: Whisk all the ingredients together in a medium bowl.
Garnish and serve: Top the sauce with minced chives, if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Medium mixing bowl filled with mayonnaise, prepared horseradish, sour cream, lemon zest and lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.

Smooth and creamy homemade horseradish sauce in a white serving bowl.

Recipe Tips

Once the creamy horseradish sauce has been made, taste it and adjust by adding more salt and pepper. Any other seasonings you wish to experiment with should only be added once the main ingredients have been mixed.
Use a brand of prepared horseradish that lists minimal additional ingredients to ensure the best flavor.
Consider adding Dijon mustard for a bit of tang and flavor complexity. Start with 2 teaspoons of the mustard and taste to test, adding in more if desired.
Topping this creamy horseradish sauce with freshly chopped chives provides a pop of color to this condiment and a subtle onion flavor that pairs beautifully with the rest of the flavors.
Make sure to drain the prepared horseradish of any excess liquid that it may be stored in before adding it to the other ingredients. This will prevent the sauce from turning watery.
This recipe makes 2 cups of creamy horseradish sauce, but you can halve it or double it depending on your needs.
If you have the time, allow your creamy horseradish to chill before serving. All it needs is 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together for an overall better-tasting sauce.

Homemade creamy horseradish being whisked together in a small ceramic serving bowl.

What to Serve with Horseradish Cream Sauce?

Creamy horseradish sauce pairs beautifully with meat! Especially beef, but also pork, lamb, and salmon. Here are some of my favorite recipes:

It’s also great as a spread or topping on sandwiches, burgers, baked potatoes, and wraps or as a dip alongside freshly cut veggies and crispy pita chips.

Storage

Store this creamy horseradish sauce in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for 5-7 days. Make sure to give it a good stir before serving again.

It is not recommended to freeze creamy horseradish. The freezing and thawing process may cause the sauce to break, resulting in a watery sauce.

More Sauce Recipes

If you make this Homemade Creamy Horseradish Sauce Recipe, please leave me a comment below! I always love to read your thoughts and feedback!

RECIPE CARD