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Vegan Cheese Sauce (Nut free!)

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Fall in love with this dairy free and nut free cheese sauce! Not only is it super easy to make but is also incredibly healthy and delicious. 

Made with nutritional yeast, peppers, and a variety of spices, this vegan cheese recipe is perfect for those looking for a dairy-free alternative to traditional cheese dips. Plus, it is totally free from all nuts and safe for those with nut allergies. No cashews, almonds, or coconut milk around here! 

Free from: Wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, fish, shellfish, crustaceans, mollusks, celery, corn, sesame, mustard, lupin, sulfites, nightshades, tomatoes, and more 

A big bowl filled with vegan cheese sauce is on a white tabletop. It's topped with cilantro and tomatoes. A few chips are sticking in the sauce. More chips in a bowl are next to the sauce. It's surrounded by fresh ingredients.

Perfect for making it a dip for taco night or game night, quesadillas, grilled cheese, topping on nachos and so much more. 

The next time you’re looking for a tasty and healthy dip, give this easy vegan cheese sauce recipe a try! 

In the mood for more dips? Check out my olive oil bread drip or a tomato free salsa which is also perfect for taco night! 

Why You’ll Love this Cheese Sauce 

  • Totally dairy free and nut free, not even coconut! 
  • Easy to make with simple ingredients from the grocery store 
  • Make it as spicy as you like 
  • Great option for a whole foods vegan diet 
  • Soy free, Gluten free, Top 9 allergy friendly 

Ingredients 

Here is a quick rundown of what you’ll need to make this cheese sauce. 

Ingredients for vegan cheese in various bowls and plates on a white wood tabletop. Black and white labels have been added to name each ingredient like onion, potatoes, and nutritional yeast.
  • Potatoes: This is the base of our vegan cheese sauce. For a more creamy consistency, use all gold potatoes. For a more stretchy sauce, use all russet potatoes. As for me, I tend to use 2 russet and 2 gold potatoes for the perfect blend and velvety texture. 
  • Onions: This brings a good flavor to the sauce. 
  • Carrots: Adds some color to the sauce as well as a touch of sweetness. 
  • Red Pepper: Similar to carrots, this adds some color to the sauce, as well as a bit of heartiness to the sauce. 
  • Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt are the main spices for this dish. You can make it spicy by adding some chili powder or even jalapeno peppers! 
  • Nutritional Yeast: This is what brings the cheesy flavor. It is a type of yeast but not the kind that makes bread dough rise. 
  • Lemon juice: Just a splash adds a bit of brightness to the sauce that mimics the tang from cheese. 
  • Reserved cooking water: Full of starch from the potatoes, the water helps to give this sauce the right texture. 

Allergy Substitutions & Variations 

It is recommended that those with Crohn’s disease use nutritional yeast with caution as it can aggravate symptoms.

If you are allergic to or avoiding corn, please avoid this product as nutritional yeast is grown on a corn base. In place of the nutritional yeast, add 1 teaspoon of white miso paste for a similar taste. 

If you don’t have lemon juice, you can swap it out for apple cider vinegar in the same amount to get a similar tang and brightness. 

Want to make this more of a vegan queso sauce? Add some chopped jalapeños!

Recommended Equipment 

For the best results, I recommend using a high-speed blender. However, it also will work in a normal blender or even a food processor. You just want to be able to really blend the ingredients together to make a smooth and creamy sauce. 

Instructions 

For the full instructions, complete with recipe measurements, please see the recipe card below. 

In a large pot on the stove, add the chopped potatoes, chopped carrot, and chopped onion. Cover with water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook until the potatoes are fork tender, about 20 to 30 minutes depending on how small you chopped the potatoes. 

The cooked potatoes and carrots in a silver pot on a white tabletop.

When you are done cooking, make sure you reserve this cooking water! This water is full of starch and helps to keep the sauce together. 

Transfer the cooked vegetables to your blender. Add the rest of the ingredients including the chopped red pepper, nutritional yeast, spices, lemon juice, and a cup of the reserved cooking water. Blend on medium, adding more water as needed. 

A blender filled with the ingredients to make the cheese sauce.
The finished cheese sauce after blending in a high speed blender.

Give it a taste and adjust for any seasoning. And you are done! 

FAQs 

Can I swap nutritional yeast for brewer’s yeast? 

No, I don’t recommend this. Brewer’s yeast is a similar but different ingredient. 

Can I make it spicy? 

Of course! Add in some jalapeno peppers along with the red pepper when making. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper. This is such a great recipe to customize to your liking. 

Is this sauce healthy?

Yes! I think it is super healthy. With only 65 calories per serving, you can pour on as much “cheese” as you like. It’s a great source of hidden veggies and packed full of vitamins and minerals thanks to the vegetables and nutritional yeast. 

What can I put this on?

This cheese sauce is so delicious on so many things! Try it out with vegan black bean enchiladas, on top of burrito bowls, as a dip for tortilla chips and veggies, or to top a baked potato! 

A big bowl of vegan dip is on a white table. Chips, tomatoes, fresh cilantro, and peppers surround the bowl.

How to Store 

Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I don’t recommend placing this in the freezer. 

More Dairy Free Recipes to Try

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A black bowl is filled with vegan cheese sauce. Tiny tomatoes and fresh cilantro are scattered on top of the sauce. Some chips are dipped into the sauce. More ingredients, tomatoes, and chips are next to the bowl.

Dairy Free Cheese Sauce

Fall in love with this dairy free and nut free cheese sauce! Not only is it super easy to make but is also incredibly healthy and delicious.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Healthy
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword: allergy friendly, easy recipe, sauce
Allergen: Celery Free, coconut free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Fish / Shellfish Free, Peanut Free, Sesame Free, Soy Free, Tree Nut Free, Wheat Free
Yield: 12 servings
Calories: 65kcal

Equipment

  • Sauce pot
  • blender or food processor
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • knife
  • cutting board

Ingredients

  • 2 russet potatoes
  • 2 gold potatoes
  • 2 carrots
  • ½ onion
  • 1 cup water reserved cooking water
  • 1 red pepper
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Cook the vegetables. In a large pot on the stove, bring the peeled and diced russet potatoes, gold potatoes, carrots, and onion to a boil over medium heat. Cook until the potatoes are fork tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from the stove. Reserve the vegetables and the cooking water.
  • Blend and season. In a blender or food processor, combine the cooked vegetables with red pepper, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, spices, and 1 cup of the reserved cooking water. Blend on high until all the ingredients are combined and the sauce is smooth.
  • Serve. Pour the cheese sauce into a bowl and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

  • How to Store
    • Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I don’t recommend placing this in the freezer.
  • Allergy Substitutions & Variations 
    • It is recommended that those with Crohn’s disease use nutritional yeast with caution as it can aggravate symptoms.
    • If you are allergic to or avoiding corn, please avoid this product as nutritional yeast is grown on a corn base. In place of the nutritional yeast, add 1 teaspoon of white miso paste for a similar taste. 
    • If you don’t have lemon juice, you can swap it out for apple cider vinegar in the same amount to get a similar tang and brightness. 
    • Want to make this more of a vegan queso sauce? Add some chopped jalapeños while blending. 

Nutrition

Calories: 65kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 110mg | Potassium: 357mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2031IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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