The Best Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce (Dairy Free Queso)

The Best Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce (Dairy Free Queso)

4 servings
The best vegan nacho cheese recipe. Rich, creamy and delicious. Made with cashews, nutritional yeast and more.

Ingredients

  • raw cashews
    1 c
  • potato
    1 small
  • carrot
    1
  • pickled jalapeno slices
    6
  • pickled jalapeno brine
    3 tbsp
  • lemon juice
    2 tsp
  • garlic powder
    2 tsp
  • onion powder
    1 tsp
  • nutritional yeast
    ⅓ c
  • salt
    ½ tsp
  • water
    2 c
  • salsa

    optional. add this in the end and don't add this to the blender

    3 tbsp

Directions

Boil

  1. 1

    Peel and roughly chop potatoes and carrots. Place carrots, potatoes and raw cashews into a sauce pan and cover with water. Bring to a simmer and cook until potatoes and carrots are tender. About 8-10 minutes.

Blend

  1. 1

    Drain the water from the sauce pan and add the potatoes, carrots and cashews to a blender as well as all the ingredients, MINUS THE SALSA, above. Blend on high until well combined. Add a splash of water or two if it's too thick.

Warm up on the stove

  1. 1

    Transfer the cheese sauce to a sauce pan and heat on low until sauce thickens, stirring the whole time. Stir in a couple spoonfuls of salsa if you'd like. Taste, and add salt if needed.

  2. 2

    Serve over tortilla chips and top with your favorite nacho toppings.

The Best Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce (Dairy Free Queso)

The Best Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce (Dairy Free Queso)

4.7(25)20 min4 servings244 cal

Similar Recipes

Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce

Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce

Easy vegan cheese sauce, ready in 3 minutes! A super simple and nut-free plant-based recipe which requires only a handful of ingredients. This vegan queso is perfect for pizza, nachos, Mac and Cheese, burgers, pasta bake, toast, and more savory recipes. The sauce doesn't contain cashews!

3 minutes
Vegan Sour Cream

Vegan Sour Cream

This vegan sour cream recipe is the best! This creamy dairy-free sauce can also replace goat cheese, ricotta and even mozzarella. It's easy to make, too. Recipe yields about 1 cup.

10 minutes1 serving99 kcal
The Best Vegan Chili

The Best Vegan Chili

This vegan chili is incredibly rich and velvety and packed with layers of complex flavor, just like a classic chili should be. An easy homemade chili powder and slow simmering take this bean chili over the top.

120 minutes6 servings352 kcal
Instant Pot Vegan Cheese Sauce

Instant Pot Vegan Cheese Sauce

The best Vegan Cheese Sauce made with veggies and made in the Instant Pot! It's perfect for making classic mac and cheese but also tastes amazing with veggies, rice, baked potato, or as a base for dairy-free cheese dips. Gluten-free & nut-free option. Stovetop option

36 minutes6 servings139 kcal
Nacho Cheesy Kale Chips

Nacho Cheesy Kale Chips

These cheesy kale chips are tossed in a vegan nacho sauce then baked to perfection. They're easy, healthy and SO delicious!

100 minutes10 servings
Easy Queso

Easy Queso

I love this homemade queso made with cheese, milk, chiles, and pickled jalapeños. For the smoothest queso, use some American cheese. Or skip the American cheese and swirl in a bit of cream cheese instead. Read why in the article above. If you don’t like the idea of cream cheese or American cheese in your queso, you can still make queso dip! Use any melty cheese, but remember that the dip won’t be as smooth and is best eaten immediately.

20 minutes170 kcal
Vegan Lasagna

Vegan Lasagna

Feel less guilty with this Vegan Lasagna from Delish.com.

105 minutes10 - 12
Easy Peasy Dairy Free Sour Cream

Easy Peasy Dairy Free Sour Cream

These easy dairy free sour cream recipes will satisfy the fiercest of cravings and will make your meal complete. There are 2 nut free versions to choose from below and a link to a cashew sour cream above - all of which are vegan, dairy, and soy free!

5 minutes6 servings

Ratings & Reviews

0.0/ 5
Exceptional

Based on 25 ratings

damntastyvegan.com
4.7(25 reviews)
View original recipe

Rating Breakdown

About this Recipe

Missing that truly rich, creamy queso experience but living dairy-free? Get ready for The Best Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce that brings all the savory, cheesy flavor without a drop of dairy. This recipe makes achieving that perfect dip for your vegan nachos or favorite snacks surprisingly simple, proving you don't need dairy to enjoy deeply satisfying comfort food.

So, what makes this dairy-free queso truly stand out? The secret lies in a harmonious blend of raw cashews for a velvety base, combined with nutritional yeast which delivers that unmistakable umami "cheesy" flavor. The addition of pickled jalapeno slices and their brine provides a subtle tang and a gentle kick, elevating the sauce beyond a simple cashew cream. It's a thoughtful combination that creates an authentic nacho cheese experience.

When you whip up this dairy-free queso, expect a sauce that is wonderfully rich, incredibly smooth, and lusciously creamy. It’s thick enough to cling to a chip but pourable enough to drizzle generously over your favorite dishes. You'll taste a savory depth, a hint of zesty lemon, and a subtle warmth from the garlic, onion, and pickled jalapenos. This recipe is straightforward, designed to be easy for any home cook, and comes together quickly for those urgent nacho cravings.

While delicious as is, you can easily adapt this vegan nacho cheese to your liking. For an extra layer of flavor and texture, stir in salsa at the end. If you prefer less spice, reduce the amount of pickled jalapeno slices or omit them entirely, adjusting the brine to your taste. For a richer, deeper color, consider adding a pinch of turmeric, though it's not strictly necessary for flavor.

This versatile sauce is perfect for dressing up a plate of vegan nachos, making it the star of your game-day spread. It's also fantastic as a dip for tortilla chips, a topping for baked potatoes, or a savory drizzle over your favorite plant-based tacos or burritos. Get ready to elevate your snack game!

Frequently Asked Questions