Name: Creamy Horseradish Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: ½ cup sour cream; 1 cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish, drained; 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt; ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Creamy horseradish sauce topped with chives and black pepper in a plain white ceramic bowl.

Creamy horseradish sauce is a tangy, no-cook sauce made with sour cream, mayonnaise, prepared horseradish, Dijon mustard, and fresh chives. This 5-minute recipe gives prime rib, steak, and roast beef sandwiches a creamy finish with as much horseradish bite as you like.

A spoonful is right at home beside Prime Rib Roast with Herb Garlic Crust. Start with the measured horseradish, then taste before adding more-the sauce should complement your dinner.

Ingredients You'll Need

Sour cream and mayonnaise make the creamy base; prepared horseradish, Dijon, vinegar, and chives give it its tang and bite. The measurements are in the recipe card below.

Sour cream
Mayonnaise
Prepared horseradish, drained
Dijon mustard
Apple cider vinegar
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Fresh chives, finely chopped

Choose Prepared Horseradish

Use prepared horseradish, not a premixed creamy horseradish sauce. Drain off excess liquid before measuring it into the sauce so that liquid doesn't thin the creamy base.

For the tested substitutions, use plain, full-fat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream, white wine vinegar in place of apple cider vinegar, or finely sliced green onion tops in place of chives.

Sour cream, mayonnaise, prepared horseradish, Dijon, vinegar, salt, pepper, and chives.

Tools That Make It Easier

Use a mixing bowl, whisk, measuring cups and spoons, fine-mesh strainer, chef knife, and cutting board. Have an airtight storage container ready if you're making the sauce ahead.

How to Make Creamy Horseradish Sauce

Prepare the horseradish and chives, whisk the base smooth, then stir in the remaining ingredients. There's no cooking or required chilling time.

Step 1: Prep. Drain any excess liquid from the prepared horseradish. Finely chop the chives.

Prepared horseradish draining in a fine-mesh strainer beside chopped chives.

Step 2: Whisk the base. Whisk the sour cream, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard in a mixing bowl until smooth.

Sour cream, mayonnaise, and Dijon whisked into a smooth base.

Step 3: Stir in the flavor. Stir in the horseradish, vinegar, salt, pepper, and chives until evenly distributed.

Horseradish, chives, and seasonings being stirred into the creamy base.

Step 4: Taste and serve. Taste and adjust the seasoning. For a stronger horseradish flavor, add more drained horseradish a teaspoon at a time. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until needed. Stir before serving.

Prepared horseradish on a spoon for adjusting the sauce’s heat.

Adjust the Heat to Your Taste

Add more drained horseradish a teaspoon at a time for a stronger flavor. Taste after each addition before adding another teaspoon; the measured amount is your starting point.

Overhead view of creamy horseradish sauce with fresh chives and a gold spoon beside the bowl.

Make It Ahead and Keep It Fresh

You can serve the sauce immediately or cover and refrigerate it until needed. Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, and stir before serving.

Freezing is not recommended. The sauce may separate and become watery when thawed.

What to Serve with Creamy Horseradish Sauce

Serve this sauce with prime rib, roast beef, grilled steak, or roasted potatoes. It also makes a tangy spread for roast beef sandwiches.

Cast Iron Steak

Crispy Duck Fat Oven Roasted Potatoes

Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

Creamy horseradish sauce in a white ceramic bowl beside sliced prime rib and mashed potatoes.

Get More Recipes Like This

If you loved this recipe, make sure you join my email list. I send out my best weeknight dinners, holiday favorites, and reader-requested recipes straight to your inbox.

I'll also send you My 5 Chef Secrets that instantly elevate your cooking-the exact techniques I use in my own kitchen.

Tell Me How It Turned Out

Did you serve it with prime rib, steak, or sandwiches? Leave a comment and tell me how it turned out. If you made the recipe, please leave an honest rating and review to help other readers.

More Recipes You Might Like

For more homemade sauces, try these next.

Homemade Cocktail Sauce

This five-ingredient homemade cocktail sauce is tangy, savory, and boldly flavored with horseradish. Mix it in 5 minutes, chill for 30, and serve it cold with shrimp, oysters, or crab claws.
Read More

Cajun Remoulade Sauce

A quick homemade Cajun remoulade sauce made with mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, horseradish, capers, Cajun seasoning, and fresh herbs.
Read More

Easy Lemon Dill Sauce

There's something special about the combination of fresh lemon juice and dill in a sauce. It's simple, zesty, and makes everything from seafood to veggies taste like it came straight from a top-tier restaurant. This creamy dill sauce is one of my favorite sauces-whether I'm throwing together a quick dinner or serving something a little...
Read More

Creamy Horseradish Sauce

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

This creamy horseradish sauce takes just 5 minutes, with tangy Dijon, fresh chives, and adjustable heat for prime rib, steak, and roast beef sandwiches.

Author: Jennifer Locklin
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 14 servings (about 1¾ cups; 2 tablespoons each) 1x
Category: Sauce
Method: No Cook

Ingredients

Units Scale

½ cup sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish, drained
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Drain any excess liquid from the prepared horseradish. Finely chop the chives.
Whisk the sour cream, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard in a mixing bowl until smooth.
Stir in the horseradish, vinegar, salt, pepper, and chives until evenly distributed.
Taste and adjust the seasoning. For a stronger horseradish flavor, add more drained horseradish a teaspoon at a time.
Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until needed. Stir before serving.

Notes

Substitutions: Use plain, full-fat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream. White wine vinegar can replace the apple cider vinegar. Finely sliced green onion tops can replace the chives.
Horseradish: Use prepared horseradish, rather than a premixed creamy horseradish sauce.
Serving Suggestions and Pairings: Serve with prime rib, roast beef, grilled steak, or roasted potatoes. Use as a spread for roast beef sandwiches.
Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Freezing is not recommended because the sauce may separate and become watery when thawed.