Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce 🌱 The creamiest, dreamiest, tastiest cheese sauce made with healthy plant-based ingredients like cashews, carrots, potatoes and fresh lemon. Gluten-free and no added oil. Very vegan & very good!
When my husband and I became vegan many years ago, the one food item we missed was cheese. There's just something about the bright flavor and creamy texture that cheese adds to so many recipes like mac & cheese, pasta, veggies, tacos and nachos. Who doesn't love dipping french bread into a luscious cheese fondue?
Problem was, there just weren't any great tasting vegan cheeses available in stores. There were a few products trying to be cheese, but to be honest, the taste and textures were more like plastic. We realized if we wanted to enjoy what we loved about cheese, we needed to figure out a way to make it ourselves.
After experimenting with several different recipes, we enlisted our daughter's creative cooking skills and uncanny knack at dialing in flavors and texture. Sure enough, she found just the perfect combination and balance of ingredients to make the best vegan cheese sauce we ever tasted.
★★★★★ "This vegan cheese sauce was really good! It was so easy, and I felt good about not adding extra oils. Thanks for the great recipe!" Carol
Table of Contents
Why we love this recipe & think you will too
This delicious sauce has the tart bite of sharp cheddar cheese with the smoothest creamy texture. It enhances anything you pour it on: pasta, potatoes, meatballs, cauliflower, asparagus, fries, veggie burgers, nachos, tacos, soft pretzels and more. Whatever you like with cheese, this is your sauce!
- It's delicious
- Creamy, smooth and tastes like cheese!
- Made with all plant-based ingredients
- No added oil
- Only a few basic ingredients
- So easy to prepare
- One batch is enough for several dishes
- Did I mention it's delicious?
🥕Ingredients
With just a few basic ingredients, you can whip up the most luscious & tasty 100% plant-based cheese sauce!
🥕See the printable recipe card below for quantities & details
Cashews - raw and unsalted
Non-dairy milk - we prefer rice milk, almond or cashew based milk
Potato - we typically use russets but Yukon gold will work too
Carrots - adds flavor and a natural cheddar cheese orange color
Nutritional yeast - we love this brand
Lemon juice - fresh (preferred) or bottled
Salt
Black pepper
One of the key ingredients in this recipe is nutritional yeast, aka "nooch". Nutritional yeast has a cheesy, nutty, savory, umami flavor that many people enjoy sprinkled on foods like potatoes, pasta, popcorn, pizza and veggies. We also use it to make a quick & easy 4-ingredient vegan parmesan. Learn more about nutritional yeast in the FAQ's below.
🥕Instructions
Note: I recommend using a high-speed blender with a 64 ounce container to make this recipe. Otherwise, you may need to blend it in smaller batches, then combine each batch into one.
First, soak the cashews. They need to be soaked before using if you want your cheese sauce to be super smooth and creamy. If I know I'm going to make a batch of cheese sauce the next day, I'll soak the cashews in water (refrigerated) overnight.
A faster method is to cover the cashews in boiling water and allow them to sit for a couple hours. You can also place the cashews covered in water in a saucepan and boil for about 10 minutes on the stovetop until they plump up and soften.
2. Wash and peel potatoes. Cut into pieces.
3. Wash and peel carrots. Cut into large pieces.
4. Place carrots and potatoes into a deep pot.
5. Cover completely with water (about 1 inch over the top). Place lid over pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a low boil.
6. Cook carrots and potatoes until tender but not mushy. Remove from pot and drain off all the water.
7. Finally, place carrots, potatoes, cashews, and remaining ingredients into a blender.
8. Purée at high speed until thoroughly smooth. That's it! Easy peasy & cheesy!
🥕Serving Suggestions
Here's just a few delish ways to enjoy this scrumptious vegan cheese sauce.
It's fantastic on a baked potato sprinkled with chives.
Create a festive nachos bar with a basket of fresh tortilla chips, guacamole, jalapeños, salsas, black beans, and vegan "queso" cheese sauce!
This cheese sauce recipe is a key ingredient in preparing this cozy and comforting vegan broccoli cheese pot pie. It's absolutely delicious!
Make the best vegan mac and cheese, like this toasty baked version with broccoli, breadcrumbs and vegan parmesan.
Who can resist and a plate of good old fashioned simple macaroni and cheese smothered in the creamiest, cheesiest sauce? Yes please!
🥕FAQ's
Why use cashews in vegan cheese sauce?
Cashews provide a creamy texture and rich flavor, contributing to the smooth and velvety consistency of the cheese sauce.
Can I substitute cashews with another nut?
While cashews work best for creaminess, sunflower seeds can be an alternative option for those with nut allergies. I haven't tried it personally, but have heard others have with good results.
What role do potatoes and carrots play in the sauce?
Potatoes and carrots add bulk and help create a cheese-like color and texture. They also contribute to the nutritional profile of the sauce.
Is the lemon juice necessary, and why?
Yes, lemon juice adds a tangy flavor to mimic the acidity found in traditional cheese sauces. It also helps balance the richness of the cashews. Lemon provides just the right sharp cheddar-like taste to this vegan cheese sauce.
What is nutritional yeast?
Nutritional yeast is the same type of yeast used for bread baking and brewing beer - with a few differences.This yeast is grown specifically to be used as a food product. The yeast cells are killed during manufacturing and not alive in the final product. It is used in cooking and has a cheesy, nutty or savory flavor.
*Reprinted from healthline.com
How should I heat cheese sauce?
I suggest heating the cheese sauce in a saucepan on a stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently until it reaches your desired temperature. You can also microwave the sauce covered in a microwave safe container in short increments of 10-15 seconds until desired temperature is reached. Be careful not to over heat it in a microwave, as the sauce may caramelize and possibly burn.
How long can I store cheese sauce?
Leftover cheese sauce can be stored refrigerated in a covered container up to 4 days and can be frozen up to 3 months.
I do hope you enjoy this recipe! Please let me know by leaving a ★★★★★ rating & comment below. Thanks a bunch!🥕
Recipe
Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce
Equipment
- high speed blender
- mixing bowl
- large strainer or colander
- Vegetable peeler
Ingredients
Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce
- 1 cup raw cashews soaked overnight - see notes below
- 1 cup non-dairy milk we use rice milk, almond or cashew based milk
- 1 large potato cut into large pieces and boiled until tender
- 2 whole carrots cut into large pieces and boiled until tender
- 1-½ tablespoon nutritional yeast this our favorite brand
- ¼ cup lemon juiced - approx one whole lemon
- 2 teaspoon salt fine
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Soak cashews covered in room temperature water overnight or cover in boiling water and allow to soak for 2 hours. Drain in strainer and rinse with fresh water.
- Peel potatoes and carrots and cut into large pieces. Place in 4 qt or larger stovetop pot, cover with water (about 2" over veggies) and cover with lid. Bring to a rolling boil over medium high heat for 10-15 minutes until tender. Remove from heat and drain in colander or strainer.
- Place cashews, potatoes, carrots, and remaining ingredients into blender. Run at high speed until thoroughly pureed and creamy.
- Sauce can be used heated or cold, depending on how you like it. To heat, pour amount needed into a stove top pan over low heat, stirring frequently until desired temperature.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
Liselotte says
Great cheesy- ish taste, and wonderful texture! You don't alwsys run into a recipe has so much taste, but only takes minutes to do!
I don't like to eat highly processed foods, so this is a keeper!
And the yeast is both high vitamins B, quite a few of them, and a protein that most vegans can go short on. So knock yourselves out! Thank you for sharing this!
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Hi Liselotte! I'm so happy you love the cheese sauce! It has become a staple here at my home, we try to keep some in the fridge all the time. Thank you kindly for your wonderful comments & 5-star rating!💚🥕
Cheryl says
Can I just ask about measurements? is it one cup of potato and 1 cup of carrot or is it just however much your veg measures out to?
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Hi Cheryl, we don't use an exact measurement with the potato & carrots. I think a large russet potato may be closer to 1-1/2 cups, but you don't have to be precise. This recipe has some wiggle room.😊 Hope that helps! Please let me know how it turns out!
Cheryl says
Hi, your sauce s I understand amazing, I WILL try it as written, I came up with a similar one, but I also use some extra veg. However my question is kinda odd, do you ever sub vegan lactic acid for part of the lemon juice? Lso do you not use a pinch of nutmeg at the end? I'm excited to hear your reply! You have many lovely recipes!
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Hi Cheryl, thank you for your kind comments! We (my daughter and I) experimented with this recipe a lot before we found the right combo of ingredients to create a delicious cheddary flavor and smooth texture. We have not tried lactic acid. I do sometimes like to add a pinch of freshly ground nutmeg when I use this sauce as a base for a cheesy cream of broccoli soup. We have also adapted this recipe for a fabulous vegan cheese fondue https://thecarrotunderground.com/main-dish/easy-vegan-cheese-fondue-recipe/ Love to hear what you think when you give the cheese sauce a try!💚🥕
Brandy says
This is my second time making this recipe, and I made a triple batch. I use it for your pot pie recipe (but I make a full sized pie) and it will be the sauce for my chickpea pasta Mac and cheese for Christmas. Thanks for a great recipe! I'm excited to have some for the freezer.
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Wow Brandy, a triple batch! That's awesome! Thanks so much for sharing & have a very Merry Christmas!❤️
Amanda says
This was delicious! I'm wondering if you know if it freezes well?
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Hi Amanda! I haven’t tried freezing the sauce but imagine it would work well. If I did, I would put it in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and then reheat over low heat in a saucepan on the stovetop, stirring so it doesn’t burn. Please let me know if you try freezing it. I’d love to hear how it turns out. Thanks so much for sharing. I’m happy you enjoyed the recipe!🥕
TONY HANSON says
I love this stuff! its quick and easy. I made it late tonight so I will pour it over some brown rice pasta in the morning and let my lady friend's 10 year old try it. Thank you for making this recipe available! I will send an update on how he likes it.
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Thanks Tony! I’m happy you love the cheese sauce. Waiting on pins & needles to hear the review from the young foodie!😊
mike Lewis says
My main concern is how much do it cost to make I would love to use it in some of my dishes
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Hi Mike! That is a good question. The cost of ingredients vary greatly depending on where you are located. Where I live, raw cashews are the highest priced item in this recipe. The rest of the ingredients are relatively inexpensive, including the nutritional yeast, since the recipe only requires 1.5 tbsp. I would say that on average, I spend about $10 US to make a batch of cheese sauce. This recipe yields at least 1-1/2 pints of sauce (depending on the size of your potatoes & carrots), enough to make a mac & cheese casserole, a big plate of nachos and extra for whatever else you might want with cheese sauce. Love to hear what you think if you decide to give it a try!🥕
Crystal says
I watch for raw cashews to go on sale at Sprouts and then buy a LOT of them…they’re usually $5.99 a pound when on sale. I’ve also found big containers of raw cashews at Costco for a fairly reasonable price.
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Thanks a bunch for the great tip Crystal! 💚🥕
Coe lewis says
Love the cheesy sauce!!!!!! Cheese makes everything better😃
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
You said it Sister! So glad you love the sauce - it's a staple in our kitchen! 💚🥕 Thank you Coe!
Marti says
Both taste and texture are excellent! Make sure to follow the measurements carefully,,. when I changed them a bit the result didn’t turn out as perfect as the original.
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Marti - I'm so happy you enjoy the cheese sauce recipe. It took us awhile to dial in the ingredients & proportions to achieve just the right balance in flavor & texture, so thanks for the reminder about careful measuring. Some recipes just aren't as flexible as others. Thanks for sharing your comments!💚🥕
Rylin Hansen says
A point to note here: yeast is not naturally a source of B12. Nutritional yeast is sometimes fortified with b12, but it's best to be sure of that before one might start relying on it as a source. Unfortunately, we vegans must get our B12 from supplementation.
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
You make a good point Rylin. As vegans, many of us are avid label-readers on the lookout for animal-derived ingredients, but may not be as careful to watch for essential nutrients, including B12.
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
This simply delicious and nutritious plant-based cheese sauce has become a staple in our kitchen. It's quick & easy to prepare & even easier to devour! Try it on veggies, potatoes, pasta, nachos - it's so good!