A vegan nacho cheese sauce made with real food ingredients and ready to slather atop your favorite chips and veggies! You won’t believe how spot on this dairy free nacho sauce is!
Real food hot nacho cheese sauce with no junk! A dairy free dip that will have you wanting more….even if you CAN have dairy!
Vegan Nacho Cheese Inspiration
A couple of times in her short life, my daughter had the ‘pleasure’ of partaking in one this country’s nastiest creations: powdered, fake nacho cheese sauce.
I tried to explain how it was made and why it was something that was not good for our bodies (while she scarfed said nastiness into her gullet), however…..she seemed totally unconvinced.
“But Mom!! It is really good!” she lamented!
Sigh. I remember how much I too enjoyed those sauces growing up, Eazy-Cheese was one of my favorites (gross!)!!
But now…..we know more. And I know better. MAYBE it was time for me to recreate that flavor using ingredients I could pronounce?!
I never have lofty hopes when trying to make dairy free cheese sauces.
I have made more than I can shake a stick at. None of them convince anyone in the family. But this one did!
My daughter thinks I make this special hot cheese sauce just for her. She doesn’t know or care that it comes from all wholesome, real -food ingredients, and certainly that it’s a dairy free cheese sauce. She just likes it, plain and simple!
Kids are simple like that.
And no, it does not taste like REAL cheese…it tastes like that hot nacho ‘cheese’ sauce that lives in proliferation in concession stands across the US!
And one day, I can hope, that she too will learn that what food she puts into her body really does matter.
Maybe after the 1000th talk about it………….if I’m lucky! Because that’s what kids do….they make us repeat ourselves 500 gazillion times. (Do they think we like to hear ourselves talk!?)
Until then, I present you with a dynamo dairy free cheese sauce worth making over and over!
Serving Suggestions:
While not exhaustive, here are some favorite ways we like to enjoy this dipping sauce!
- drizzled over tortilla chips of course! We like the grain free Siete Tortilla chips, as well as the Organic Blue Corn Dippers from Late July
- Jicama is one of my very favorite low carb dipping vegetables! I like the pre cut matchstick shaped ones available at Trader Joes.
- On top of a baked potato with other favorite toppings!
- with some sauteed broccoli!
- as a dipping sauce for your favorite cracker! We love my gluten free ‘wheat’ thins!
Additional dairy free dipping sauce recipes
- the way I leaned to love eggplant was this easy prep smoky eggplant dip
- love artichoke dip but need a dairy free version? Dairy free artichoke dip to the rescue!
- this dairy free crab dip is right up my alley!
Vegan Nacho Cheese Recipe:
If you try this dairy free cheese sauce, be sure to come back and leave a comment below!
Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 cup raw cashews next time I might try raw soaked sunflower seeds to make it nut free
- 6 tablespoons nutritional yeast most often in bulk foods sections of well-stocked grocery stores
- 2 tablespoons sweet rice flour or cassava flour
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch or any starch
- 2 teaspoons garlic granules or powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika reduce if you don't like a smoky flavor, but it is a key flavor here!
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon Hungarian paprika
Stirred In At the End
- 2 tablespoons allowed butter or butter substitute, or coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or lemon juice, or more to taste
Instructions
- In a blender, puree all the ingredients through the seasonings until smooth and no gritty texture left from the nuts. I did this for one smoothie cycle in my Blend Tec.
- Pour into a small saucepan, and gently heat over medium low heat, whisking frequently.
- When the sauce is thick and creamy, remove from the heat, and stir in the butter and rice vinegar. Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
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I enjoyed this first batch very much. I look forward to making again when I have all the proper ingredients including smoky paprika and hungarian paprika. I presoaked my cashews the night before. I enjoyed dipping crackers in it (JILZ paleo crackers are really good). I also reheated some in a saucepan and and stirred in just-cooked GF pasta for a yummy homemade GF DF “mac and cheese.” There was still some left, so I poured it in a mason jar and stuck it in the freezer … I’ll let y’all know how it comes out! Would like to use later over roasted broccoli or maybe for a junk food session, I’ll use it with some corn chips for GF nachos (assuming it defrosts well). I miss cheese SO much, but having a creamy, savory sauce like this really helps! Thank you, Tessa!
OMG, wait until try it with the smoked paprika!! they sell it at Trader Joes, fyi. So glad it is still hitting the spot Lindsey!
Thank you so much for posting this! I made it yesterday. My husband thought your version was a nice change from ours. I used sunflower seeds,lemon juice and normal paprika because I didn’t have Hungarian. But it was lovely and I couldn’t stop eating it! Here is my version…
Vegan Cheesy Sauce
½ cup of raw cashew nuts
3 cups water
1 TBSP lemon juice
1/3 cup of pimentos canned (or diced red peppers)
1 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
1 ½ tsp. salt
¼ cup nutritional yeast flakes
2 ½ TBSP cornstarch
Blend all ingredients (except lemon juice) until very smooth. Place in saucepan and bring to a boil while stirring. Add lemon juice at the end and mix in thoroughly.
Thanks sarah, I appreciate you sharing your version too!
Sooooooo good!!! We’re not vegan, but I like to limit our dairy intake and thought I’d try this. Well, my husband had a taste while it was thickening on the stove and could not stop afterwards – YUM! This will become a family favourite. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Anni, I appreciate your feedback!
This sounds like heaven….only catch were the cashews. I did definitely perk up with the mention that soaked sunflower seeds would work too, but can’t figure out how much should be added in replacement to the 1/2 cup of cashews? Would I need more sunflower seeds instead of 1/2 a cup?
Thanks!
(from one Tessa to another)
Hey Tessa (heehee!) should be roughly equal amount, perhaps a couple tablespoons extra!
I have been thinking lately that hemp hearts might be another good alternative!
Seeing how I love cheese, but it don’t love me this could be an alternative for me. Pinned to my healthy eating board, would love for you to share on Real Food Fridays.
This sounds wonderful…but what can I use instead of the nutritional yeast. I can’t tolerate it.
I have tried to find something else but without it, the flavor is bland.
Hi Valinda…nutritional yeast adds some huge tang and full bodied flavor, there is definitely a reason it is use din so many vegan cheese scenarios! I suggest adding a bit of tahni, additonal lemon juice and mustard to attempt to compensate for all that lost flavor. Here is one I found online too:
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/12/09/vegan-macaroni-and-cheese/
Oh wow, this sounds amazing! GREAT to have a healthy alternative!! Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂
Can’t wait to see what you are bringing to the party this week! We have another GREAT giveaway!
Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
Your Nacho Cheese Sauce sounds terrific. I know it can be hard to make cheese sauces dairy free but you’ve done a fantastic job here – even the texture coming off the whisk looks perfect! I like the spices you have used too.
Wishing you a peaceful Memorial Day Weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Mmmm, I love dairy-free cheese! And I love how oozy yours looks. Bet it would be delicious over cauliflower, apple slices, and tortilla chips! Well done!!!
Wow! I’m impressed! Thanks for linking up to Tasteful Tuesdays and for the link back :o) Can’t wait to see what you bring next week. Emily @ Nap-Time Creations
oh, and I just posted looking for some help with my blog… maybe you can offer some advice?
Anything that you can use in place of the nutritional yeast? My son has yeast sensitivity.
That is tricky! Here is a recipe I found sans yeast….you could morph the recipes…..good luck! http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/12/09/vegan-macaroni-and-cheese/
Thanks, Tessa!
I was just saying we needed a more grain free dairy free yeast sauce!! Yippee!
wohoo!! Hope you like Adrienne!
This looks terrific! I make a vegan cheese sauce but never exactly like this- I like the ingredients in this- I think I’m going to try this one out! Thanks for sharing!
Hope you enjoy it!
Thank you for your submission on Nourishing Treasures’ Make Your Own! Monday link-up.
Check back later tonight when the new link-up is running to see if you were one of the top 3 featured posts! 🙂
That looks nice and creamy, just like they like it. I’ve had the same conversation with my daughter about the orange cheese food … yours looks great and is far healthier! Thanks for sharing at Hearth & Soul. 🙂
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you are having a great day and enjoy your new Red Plate!
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen
Tessa – this sounds delicious! A great option for those that are dairy free!
Thank you Ina…did you get the linky issue figured out? Would hate to not see your delicious recipes on AFW!
I can’t wait to give this a try! My lactose intolerant son loves nacho cheese sauce and I have been looking for a substitute.
Let us know how it turn out for you Alea or any fun changes you make!
Thank you so much for linking up your yummy healthy recipe on Kids in the Kitchen! we’re so happy to have you- linking again on Tues! may 22
This looks so tasty. I am all about “cheese” sauces-can’t wait to make this! Thanks Tessa!
Tessa,
This looks so good!
xo
Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
You had me at Nacho Cheese and then DF!! I would have to use sunflower seeds, as both of my kids are allergic to nuts but am excited to find this for my son who is also allergic to dairy.
My son can’t do nuts either, I have been experimenting A LOT lately with sunflower seeds and bet these would be delicious in this, thanks for your comment AMber!
My dairy free 5yo would love this!
Hopefully they do Wendy! I know mine does!!
Looks great Tessa!!! I make a similar “cheese” sauce, but I LOVE the idea of serving it has a nacho cheese sauce. So cleaver.
I’m trying my best to keep up with all the posts each day! So much good information and awesome recipes. It may take a while to digest everything. But what you’ve shared thus far has been stellar. Great job friend!
Hugs,
–Amber
Yay! You finally posted it! Do the cashews need to be pre-soaked?
‘if you have a really weak blender, it wouldn’t hurt, but no, you shouldn’t have to soak them.