This Easy vegan nacho cheese sauce is made from cashews, spices, nutritional yeast & dairy free cheese and more... 10 Minutes to make! Stir all ingredients together on the stovetop until melty and ultra cheesy! Great on chips or poured over potato and steamed broccoli. Kids love it!
I love me some vegan nacho cheese sauce, And this recipe will not disappoint! Made with cashews, nutritional yeast, vegan yogurt, spices, bouillon, tapioca starch (flour), pickled jalapeños and some grated Daiya cheese. No need for vegan butter or olive oil! It's a pretty healthy plant based cheese dip and you don't have to boil any veggies either- Yay!
There's no where near me where I can buy a cheese sauce that's vegan so I had to make my own! and boy am I glad I did!
I’m telling yah, it’s the BEST cheese sauce for nachos! OMG!
The cheesy flavour will blow you away! And it's not just for vegans people! Vegetarians and meat eaters love this vegan nacho cheese sauce! It's Delicious and so quick and easy! And you'd seriously never know it's dairy free!
All you need is your Nutra Bullet or a quality Blender (like a Vitamix) and a pot and you are ready to rock! Well and some tortilla chips or fully loaded nachos and your appetite, lol?
As far as vegan cheese recipes go this one is definitely at the top!! You're gonna love it! My daughter made it last night and says it's her absolute favourite! My grandkids too! totally kid approved!
How do you make Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce?
- Add cashews, water, nutritional yeast, vegan yogurt, cheese, and rest of ingredients -(except chopped pickled jalapeños) to your Nutra Bullet or blender (like a vitamix) and process until smooth. I don’t soak the cashews for this recipe and it works great! Super creamy!
- Now add the sauce and chopped jalapeños to a medium heavy bottomed pot .Bring to a simmer over medium heat and whisk continuously for a few minutes until it thickens.
- Serve warm with tortilla chips, loaded vegan nachos, burritos, quesadillas, or any mexican inspired dishes, or potatoes, over pasta,…etc! Enjoy! For full recipe instructions and ingredients see recipe card below.
What's the difference between Nacho Cheese Sauce and Queso?
- Nacho cheese sauce and Queso are relatively close but Queso usually has tomatoes or salsa added and or ranchero sauce. 😊
Ok lets make some Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce, it’s:
- cheesy
- a fabulous cashew cheese sauce!
- made with whole food ingredients!
- spicy
- creamy
- perfect for nachos
- addicting!
- kid friendly
- gluten free
Enjoy guys! Happy day to you? feel free to leave a comment and a rating below. I would love to hear from you.
Follow me on PINTEREST and INSTAGRAM for more tasty Plant Based Vegan Recipes❤️
Want more Vegan Mexican Recipes? Check these out:
- Vegan Nachos Supreme! (Fully Loaded)
- Best Ever Vegan Enchiladas With Homemade Enchilada Sauce
- Vegan Quesadillas with Refried Black Beans and Roasted Vegetables!
- Vegan Burrito (Better than Chipotle)
- Best Vegan Taco Meat
- Mild or Spicy Pico de Gallo
- Refried Black Beans
- Tasty Tex Mex Vegan Taco Meat
- Vegan Crunchwrap Supreme
- Best Salsa Recipe
- Best Guacamole Recipe
Easy Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce (GF)
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 ¼ cups 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Easy vegan nacho Cheese Sauce is made from cashews, spices, nutritional yeast & dairy free cheese. 10 Minutes to make! great on chips or poured over potato and steamed broccoli. Kid friendly! Gluten free.
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews (no need to soak)
- 2 cups water
- ⅓ cup nutritional yeast
- ½ cup grated Daiya cheddar cheese, (grated from the block)
- ¼ cup plain vegan yogurt, I use Silk brand unsweetened Cultured Coconut Yogurt
- 1 tablespoon tapioca starch (flour)
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt or regular salt
- 1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon Seasoned Vegetable Base
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or pickled jalapeño juice or both!
- 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeños, chopped small
Instructions
- Add cashews, water, nutritional yeast, vegan yogurt, cheese, and rest of ingredients -(except chopped pickled jalapeños) to your Nutra Bullet or blender (like a vitamix) and process until smooth. I don’t soak the cashews for this recipe and it works great! Super creamy!
- Now add the sauce and chopped jalapeños to a medium heavy bottomed pot .Bring to a simmer over medium heat and whisk continuously for a few minutes until it thickens.
- Serve warm with tortilla chips, loaded vegan nachos, burritos, quesadillas, or any mexican inspired dishes, or potatoes, over pasta,…etc! Enjoy!
Notes
- if you want sauce even cheesier feel free to add another ¼ cup or so of Daiya cheese, or if you would like to omit the Daiya completely, substitute ¼ cup of nutritional yeast
- I use my Nutra Bullet for this recipe and it works perfectly! (the big cup).
- I have not tried using a food processor but would recommend soaking your cashews in boiling water for 10-15 minutes first.
- To store: keep covered in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat leftover sauce on the stove or in the microwave
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sauces & Dressings, gluten free
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: vegan nacho cheese sauce, dip, vegan nacho cheese dip, Mexican cheese dip, easy vegan cheese sauce, vegan cheddar cheese sauce, vegan cheese sauce, vegan nacho cheese
Kerrie
Have you ever tried to make it it without cashews or other nuts? I have a nut allergy!
Katie Hale
While I have never made it, this one has good reviews and is worth trying: https://healthmylifestyle.com/the-best-vegan-nacho-cheese-nut-free-oil-free/
Eli
Does this taste anything like taco bell cheese sauce?
Verna
My dairy free cheese sauce definitely gives Taco Bell real nacho cheese a run for it's money. It tastes pretty spot on, enjoy!
Eva
Absolute favorite dip by far! My whole family loved it, even my skeptical hubby who asked for more😊
Thanks for this recipe😊
Verna
thanks so much Eva! feel free to leave a star rating too💕
Lynette
OMG!! This is fabulous! My new favorite addition to Taco Tuesday dinner. Thank you for creating it!
★★★★★
Verna
Oh thank you so much Lynette! Absolutely thrilled you love it!
Kerrie
Love this cheese sauce so much!!
Can this be frozen? I would love to freeze half portions so I could pull it out and heat it up when needed.
Verna
Hi Kerrie glad you're enjoying it!! Yes it's fine to freeze. I wouldn't keep it in freezer for longer than 2 months.
Kerrie
Thank you so much!
Denny
Do you have to use yogurt? Or could I substitute it ?
Thanks
I just haven’t boughten any or had it forever
Verna
I only make it with yogurt but you could try vegan sour cream? or maybe add more cashews. Enjoy!
Lauren
Could arrow root powder be used instead of the tapioca starch? I always have arrow root powder on hand.
Verna
Hi Lauren yes that should work just fine! Enjoy!!
Shalona
I have a ninja blender...I usually soak my cashews because neither me or my husband and children enjoy the gritty consistency of whatever I’m making when I don’t soak. I know all blenders work differently. Should I soak given i do not own a nutra bullet?
Verna
Hi Shalona, if you feel your blender isn't powerful enough the yes go ahead and soak the cashews in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Enjoy the cheese sauce!!
Cassidy
My husband and I are addicted to this cheese sauce, my husband normally doesn't like daiya cheese but in this recipe it really works! Yum!!
★★★★★
Verna
Thanks so much for your comment Cassidy. I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Amelia
This was delicious on nachos, I'm so happy to have found this recipe!
★★★★★
The Cheeky Chickpea
So glad you loved it Amelia! Thanks so much for your comment!