Cilantro Lime Crema

Last updated on March 9th, 2026

Sometimes you just need an incredible sauce to go with that Mexican dish you’re making! This Cilantro Lime Crema was so packed with flavor! My husband was gone when I made this and his first taste he says “wow, what’s all in this?!” A fingertip of it in my baby’s mouth and his little eyes bulged followed by a huge smile! It’s so creamy, garlicky, tangy, herby! It’s perfect! This would be good with any type of taco, nacho, quesadilla, burrito – I mean really anything! It took less than 15 minutes to make as well!

This post may contain affiliate links

When did Cilantro Lime Crema become a thing?

This flavorful sauce has been around for centuries and originated in Mexico as a “Mexican Crema” but became popular due to modern day Americanized versions! Cilantro and lime were added later on, around the 20th century, when Southwestern states were looking for a more bold, powerful sauce to top their tacos and stuff their burritos with! In 2010, it became pretty prevalent as restaurants like Qdoba and Chipotle started to feature it on their menus as a flavorful garnish!

Did you know?

Cilantro is one of the few herbs where every single part of it is edible, the stems, leaves, seeds – all of it! This tasty herb is used in 70% of the world’s cuisines and especially in Mexican, Asian, Indian, and Mediterranean cooking!

What ingredients do I need to make this?

Sour Cream
Mayo
Cilantro
Garlic
Lime
Salt
Chili Powder

How do I make it?

To prep the ingredients and blend:

First mince up the garlic, then wash the cilantro and lime. Dry the lime off, then zest and juice it. Add all ingredients to a blender or bullet. I like to use a bullet because it’s quick, easy to store, and dishwasher safe. What a breeze!

Blend until smooth and creamy! It should be the perfect consistency for drizzling.

To serve the cilantro lime crema:

Serve alongside most Mexican inspired dishes to elevate and enhance flavor!

What should I eat with this yummy sauce?

• Shrimp Quesadillas
• Fried Pulled Pork Tacos
• Chicken Burrito Bowl
• Shrimp Bowl with Cilantro Lime Rice
• Pulled Pork Carnitas
• Air Fryer Nachos
• Crispy Beef Smash Tacos

Tips:

• This Cilantro Lime Crema will keep for 3-5 days if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Add some cayenne pepper to spice this up a little bit!
• If you find that you did not get to a drizzle worthy consistency, simply blend a bit more or add another tsp of lime juice or water.