Vegan Cheese Sauce / Queso

There are so many different recipes for vegan cheese sauce on the internet. I have tried almost every combination of ingredients possible, and finally came up with a recipe that works best for me and people like me who don't want to spend a ton of money or time on making a single ingredient for a meal, but still want it to taste convincing.

This recipe cuts out the unnecessary ingredients that don't add any noticeable difference to the cheesy flavor of the sauce. It also is nut-free, so you don't have to break your grocery budget for the week to make it!

A quick note for those trying a vegan cheese substitute for the first time: This will not taste just like cheese made from dairy. It is a delicious, flavorful, silky alternative for nacho cheese but it will not taste exactly the same. However, it does capture the essence of a cheesy element and will allow you to make meals that most people don't know could be made vegan!

One last note: With this site being a resource for quick and easy meals, this may seem like a lot of work to put in just for a condiment. As someone who only likes to put in the effort if it's going to make a difference, trust me the pay-off is worth it. If you make a big batch of this at the beginning of the week, you can use it for countless meals all week long (scroll down past recipe for meal ideas).

RECIPE

Makes about 48 oz. or 6 c. :

• 4 potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks (Yukon gold or russet work best)

• 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped

Boil in salted water until soft. Make sure you don't overcook, as your sauce may have a grainy consistency.

Rinse off briefly with cold water to cool down.

Place in a high-speed blender with the remaining sauce ingredients:

• 1/2 c. nutritional yeast

• 1 can coconut cream or full-fat coconut milk (just scoop off the thick cream on top, don't add any of the water)

• 1 T. soy sauce

• 1 T. lemon juice

• 1 tsp. yellow mustard

• 1 tsp. garlic powder

• About 2 tsp. salt. Start with 1 tsp. and increase to taste. (If you are using the sauce in a recipe like a casserole, you want to make it slightly saltier so the cheesy flavor comes through)

• 1-2 c. unsweetened plant-based milk (Soy is creamiest since there is a higher fat content)

Blend on high speed for a couple of minutes, until sauce is a uniform color and the consistency is velvety smooth. Add more milk if needed to thin out.

This is the basic recipe for a very versatile cheese sauce.

However, there are some optional ingredients that you can use to elevate the flavors and take the sauce in a more specific direction:

• Add some pickled jalapenos and a little salsa and 1 can diced green chilis to turn the sauce into queso **Highly recommended!

• Substitute 1 tablespoon miso paste for the salt, adding extra salt only if needed. This gives the sauce an umami flavor that will make it taste even cheesier.

• A dash of smoked paprika will give the sauce a smoked cheese flavor

• 1 tablespoon diced chipotles plus extra adobo sauce from the container will provide lots of heat and a deep smoky flavor

I have also occasionally made this cheese sauce even simpler by boiling only two potatoes and 1 carrot, then blending that with 2 c. of plant-based milk, salt to taste, and 1 packet of Annie's Cheddar Flavor sauce mix from their Vegan Mac package. You may want to try it, the sauce mix makes for a very convincing classic mac n' cheese flavor and this recipe makes a lot more sauce than if you just used the box mix alone!

As I was saying earlier, when I make this sauce, I make enough to last quite a few meals to eat all week. The original recipe I shared makes enough sauce for at least three different dinners, plus some lunches as well. Below are some ideas to help you utilize the sauce.

Some quick meal/snack ideas using cheese sauce that don't require a recipe:

Refried Bean Quesadillas

Spread some refried beans on a tortilla of choice, along with a spoonful or two of cheese sauce and some sauteed veggies (optional) and fry in a pan until golden. Smash avocado on top of the quesadillas and serve with salsa.

Mac n' Cheese

Heat up cheese sauce and pour over cooked pasta. If I have extra cheese sauce, I like to cook extra pasta to have on hand ready to go to make quick mac n' cheese.

Nachos

Layer tortilla chips on a plate and spoon on some beans, warmed cheese sauce, pico de gallo, hot sauce, and guacamole

Easy Entree Recipes that use Cheese Sauce:

• Chili Mac

• Layered Enchilada Casserole

• Broccoli Cheddar Baked Potatoes

And even more easy entree recipes coming soon!

My hope for this recipe post is to help make the transition to a life without dairy a little easier and to encourage those who are considering eating less dairy to not see it as a loss but as a win. Giving up dairy doesn't mean losing foods you love, it means being able to healthfully indulge in plant-based foods that taste just as good!

I also hope this recipe eases the headaches of tried and true vegans who are sick of complicated and expensive cheese sauce recipes.

Enjoy, friends!