What white dairy condiment is a common topping on nachos?

Sour cream is a common white dairy condiment used as a topping on nachos.

Its cool, tangy flavor contrasts with the hot, salty, and rich elements usually found on a nacho platter. Sour cream is often spooned or piped over melted cheese, seasoned meat, beans, jalapeños, salsa, and tortilla chips. Because it is added after heating, it also provides a chilled contrast to the warm base.

Sour cream is not the same as crème fraîche, although the two cultured dairy products are related. Crème fraîche is typically milder, richer, and less tangy, while sour cream has a sharper acidity and is especially familiar in North American Tex-Mex-style dishes. Buttermilk is usually a liquid ingredient, and Greek yogurt can substitute for sour cream but is not the canonical answer here.

Nachos themselves originated in 1943 in Piedras Negras, Mexico, where Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya served fried tortilla pieces with cheese and jalapeños. Sour cream was not part of that minimal original preparation; it became one of the many popular toppings added as nachos evolved into a customizable modern dish.