Need sour cream for a recipe and only have yogurt on hand? Or perhaps you’re looking for a healthier alternative to sour cream and have been wondering if yogurt can do the trick. Sour cream and yoghurt are generally great substitutes for one another. Here’s how to do it, with a few tips for the best results. When substituting sour cream for plain yogurt, or vice versa, it’s quite easy: the basic rule of thumb is that you can just use the same amount.