Nacho cheese is the ultimate dip. Every Super Bowl, 4th of July, and Friday night barbecue needs several servings of this delicious golden goodness. Unfortunately, finding vegan nacho cheese recipes can be difficult.
But not anymore! These easy vegan nacho cheese recipes will fool your friends and delight your tastebuds.
1. Vegan Cashew-Less Queso Dip Nacho Sauce by Minimalist Baker
Minimalist Baker’s recipes taste anything but minimal. This cheese sauce is rich, thick, and sits lovingly on any basket of salted snacks. The secret to making Vegan Cashew-Less Queso is the eggplant. This 45-minute meal yields six servings using sliced eggplants and almond milk.
Minimalist Baker has another recipe for vegan nachos that you should use with the queso. The recipe is excellent for parties and get-togethers. Vegan Cashew-Less Queso should stay refrigerated and covered to retain its thick orange hue.
2. Easy Vegan Cheese Nacho Sauce by Nora Cooks
Nora Cooks is back with another excellent vegan recipe. You can even use her recipe on broccoli or other snacks. It has a sharp flavor that blends beautifully with just about anything you put it on. Her cheese is a bit piquant because of the spices.
Nora Cook’s Easy Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce uses 2 cups of raw, soaked cashews, 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, and various seasonings, including smoked paprika, garlic powder, sriracha, and onion powder.
3. Vegan Nacho Cheese by The Real Food Dieticians
The Real Food Dieticians are here with a delicious, 100% plant-based recipe. The thick yellow sauce uses some creative ingredients to make an impression, including:
- Carrots
- Raw cashews
- Yukon Gold potatoes
To make the cheese, start by softening your ingredients in boiling water. After 20 minutes, place your ingredients in a high-speed blender and grind them finely. This recipe is particularly spicy, thanks to the green-roasted chilies, but don’t forget to drain them first.
4. The Best Vegan Queso Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite
Food addicts love white nacho cheese. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find the best vegan substitute for it. Luckily for you, Sophia DeSantis has a 35-minute vegan recipe that is as simple as three steps!
First, blend your cooked potatoes, roasted garlic, peppers, raw cashews, and seasonings with your wet ingredients. Once your mixture is smooth, cook it until it becomes viscous. This creamy, white queso delivers six servings.
5. Melty Stretchy Gooey Vegan Nacho Cheese by It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken
Stretchy Gooey Vegan Nacho Cheese might seem like a mouthful, but that’s because it is! This oil-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free recipe is super thick and warm. Make sure your starch is Tapioca starch to give the recipe its signature thickness.
This recipe is versatile because you can use it as a topping for nearly any snack or meal. Sam Turnbull recommends using this on grilled cheese sandwiches as well. If you find that it has become too thick for nachos, you can reheat it to use it as a dip again.
6. The Best Vegan Queso Ever by Rainbow Plant Life
One of the first things you’ll notice is how smooth and rich the queso looks. The dip is a smokey amber color, as opposed to the sharp yellow hue most cheeses have. This neat color results from the eight ingredients that go into making The Best Vegan Queso Ever.
This formula has riveting reviews and plenty of potential to use in other meals, especially vegan chickpea quesadillas. It’s an easy vegan cheese recipe, only taking 20 minutes to prepare and cook.
7. Healthy Vegan Nacho Cheese by Simply Plant Based Kitchen
Thus recipe for Healthy Vegan Nacho Cheese is easy and rewarding. The rich, mouthwatering texture of the sauce derives from the medium carrot and 1.5 cups of raw, unsalted cashews. You will need a Vitamix blender or a similar device to give the cheese the perfect smoothness.
To cook this recipe, start by peeling and chopping your carrot. After boiling it, blend the soft carrot with your almond milk, cashews, and other ingredients. You can even toss a few slices of jalapeño peppers into the sauce to give it some spice.
8. Vegan Nacho Cheese by Vegan Huggs
An oil-free, gluten-free, twenty-minute easy recipe for vegan nacho cheese is exactly the type of entry you’re looking for. This Vegan Nacho Cheese recipe is a bit tangy and spicy, making it excellent for groups. Melissa Huggins is to thank for this one.
Your dry ingredients will include:
- 1 cup of raw cashews
- 3 tablespoons of pimientos
- 2 tablespoons of traditional yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of Tapioca starch
- 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic.
You’ll also need half a teaspoon of granulated onion and a few seasonings.
9. Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce by The Conscientious Eater
Here’s a great, simple formula with a Tex-Mex flavor. The Conscientious Eater’s recipe for Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce is 100% vegan friendly and delicious. It’s also pretty sticky. The bright yellow sauce sticks to the chips quite nicely.
Like most recipes, the cheese is made using soaked cashews. The secret ingredient to this recipe, however, is soy sauce. You’ll need a tablespoon of it. You can also substitute soy sauce for gluten-free Tamari.
10. Vegan Nacho Cheese by Sweet Simple Vegan
Anyone who likes gluten-free nacho cheese that takes less than 30 minutes to make is in luck. This vegan nacho cheese is unique because you can load it with spices, or you can choose to leave it as it is. Jasmine and Chris from Sweet Simple Vegan recommend using it for loaded fries as well!
The nutritional yeast in this recipe is also healthy. Paired with nutritious carrots, flavorful spices, and satisfying potatoes, this recipe is one of the best easy vegan nacho cheese recipes.
11. Easy Vegan Nacho Cheese by EatPlant-Based
Thanks to EastPlant-Based, vegans have savory, dairy-free queso they can use in their burritos, fries, and even pizza. Terri’s recipe for vegan nacho cheese can rely on either white beans or cashews. You can also combine the two by using a quarter cup of white beans and cashews.
This recipe stands out because, unlike many other entries, you need vegan salsa to make it. Combining the salsa with the cheese gives it a cool, orange-red hue. If you want extra flavor, throw in roasted tomatoes, peppers, onions, or garlic. You can even freeze this topping to save for later.
12. Creamy Vegan Queso by Cookie and Kate
Not everybody prefers super-thick nacho cheese. Cookie and Kate’s recipe for Creamy Vegan Queso is for those of us who prefer a lighter, creamier texture. This snack includes sauteed onions, russet potatoes, and a few other pantry items.
With only a few simple ingredients, this recipe can yield up to three and a half cups of delicious yellow vegan queso. This particular recipe uses russet potatoes instead of yellow ones and yellow onions instead of white onions. In total, you’ll need about a cup of grated potatoes.
13. White Bean Cheese Sauce by One Green Planet
One Green Planet’s White Bean Cheese Sauce is a must-have for weekend outings. The presentation of the sauce is impressive, donning a bright green as opposed to a more traditional queso. This recipe stands out for the red chili flakes powdered on top of it.
White Bean Cheese Sauce only takes 45 minutes to make. It’s undeniably worth the preparation time! You should soak and cook about half a cup of white beans for it. The cheese is excellent when you pair it with vegetables as well.
14. Healthy Nacho Cheese (Fat-Free) by Nutriciously
This cheese is as bright as it is delicious. The best part? This Plant-Based Nacho Cheese only takes seven ingredients and five steps to make.
First, chop your vegetable ingredients, and throw them into a pot with your vegetable broth. Cook this mix for 15 minutes and then blend it once it’s tender. Finally, you’re free to add whatever spices or seasonings you want to customize for your meal.
15. Vegan Cauliflower Queso by Yup It’s Vegan
Who knew you could turn something as basic as cauliflower into a delicious, sharp, nacho cheese? Vegan Cauliflower Queso uses cashews and cauliflower to make a vegan-friendly topping that rivals non-vegan options. It takes 45 minutes to make and serves four cups.
If you don’t like carrots, this recipe is right up your alley. This recipe excludes carrots from its ingredient list because carrots can sometimes leave a noticeable taste behind. This queso is quite spicy, especially if you add a tablespoon of hot sauce to the dip.
16. Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce by Clean Green Simple
Are you someone who prefers vegan nacho cheese without cashews or almonds? Clean Green Simple has a recipe for you! Her recipe for Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce uses vegan butter and all-purpose flour to give it a beautiful consistency.
Instead of using almond milk, this vegan recipe uses hemp milk and other plant-based milk. She recommends adding different toppings and condiments depending on your mood. Add hot sauce and chili powder for a spicier recipe or turmeric for a brighter color.
17. Vegan Nacho Cheese by Loving It Vegan
Loving It Vegan has a vegan nacho cheese that will trick your meat-eating friends. This recipe is rich and zesty, using onion powder, nutritional yeast, raw cashews, lemon juice, and more. She prefers using a blender jug to situate her ingredients.
Start by adding your dijon mustard, turmeric, and dry ingredients into the jug. Next, add two cups of vegetable stock and blend the mixture. Cook this mixture in a pot and enjoy! Remember not to use vegetable stock with too much salt.
18. Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe by Elavegan
This recipe is, without a doubt, one of the quickest recipes for vegan nacho cheese that exists. Elavegan’s Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce only takes three minutes to make!
You’ll only need five basic ingredients for your cheese sauce, including:
- Coconut milk
- Tapioca flour
- Nutritional yeast
- Salt
- Water
When it comes to making vegan nacho cheese, this recipe is as easy as it gets. On top of its simplicity, it’s wildly popular among people who taste it.
19. The Best Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe by Serious Eats
This creamy, delectable nacho cheese is as good as it looks. It strikes a balance between thick and loose which feels soothing on your tastebuds! James Kenji Lopez-Alt from Serious Eats made this delicious recipe. You might recognize him if you’ve watched cooking shows before, as he is a professional chef.
The secret to Kenji’s recipe is that it’s rich in fat. Fat makes nacho cheese so light and pillowy, especially saturated fats. If you like almond milk, swap it with the water in this recipe. Almond milk is an excellent emulsifying agent, meaning it helps the fat buff up the texture of the cheese.
20. Creamy Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce by Eat The Rainbow Kids
This bright orange recipe is an excellent topping for nachos, fries, and even tacos. This meal is even child friendly, and you can serve this with cut-up tortillas to your kids!
The recipe takes a while to make: a little over an hour to let the cashew soak. It’s still worth the wait, however, as it yields up to six servings. You’ll need 3/4 of a cup of raw cashews to soak, along with half a teaspoon of turmeric and a piece of roasted orange pepper.
21. Best Vegan Nacho Cheese by Detoxinista
Megan Gilmore’s recipe for Vegan Nacho Cheese is as cheesy as non-vegan options with none of the animal produce. It’s a tangy option for vegans with a neat paleness resembling hummus or white cheese!
To make Vegan Nacho Cheese, you’ll need:
- Unsalted and unroasted cashews
- Lemon juice
- A 4-ounce can of green chilies
- Salt
- Jarred jalapeño peppers
Unlike many other entries on this list, her recipe doesn’t call for nutritional yeast.
22. Vegan Sheet Pan Nachos With Homemade Cheese by Labeless Nutrition
Sheet pan nachos are a household favorite. Now, vegans can also enjoy them, thanks to Gabrielle St Claire from Labeless Nutrition. Cashews, carrots, and potatoes all come together in this recipe to give you the ultimate vegan nacho topping.
Her recipe is a notably spicy one. Don’t be shy with the toppings in this dish. You’ll need to use a tablespoon of vegan Worcestershire sauce, half a teaspoon of cumin, a teaspoon of chili powder, a quarter teaspoon of onion and garlic powder, and a chili in adobo sauce.
23. Easy Vegan Mexican Cheese Sauce by The Vegan 8
This recipe for Easy Vegan Mexican Cheese Sauce includes just six ingredients, two of which are salt and water. Making the nacho cheese is unbelievably easy and rewarding. It only takes ten minutes to make!
You’ll need three quarts of a cup of raw cashews, vegan salsa, and water. You’ll also need 6 cups of Sari nutritional yeast, 2-3 teaspoons of cumin, and some salt. To enhance the creaminess, consider adding some tahini.
24. Vegan Nacho Cheese Dip by Life Currents Blog
This recipe is somewhat sharp and smokey. The flavor is similar to what you would expect from a non-vegan restaurant. It’s a delicious recipe perfect for Beyond Burgers and vegan meat products.
Debi from Life Currents Blog prefers using poblano peppers, red onions, and salt cooking in hot oil to give this recipe a kick. You can make it as spicy or basic as you want. While you cook, you should stir all the ingredients until they become aromatic and fragrant. This step should take about 30 seconds.
25. Vegan Nacho “Cheese” Dip by Meat Your Vegetables
Last but not least, we have Rachel Katzman’s recipe for delicious Vegan Nacho Cheese Dip. This entry requires raw cashews, half a cup of vegan salsa, 2-3 garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons of turmeric, filtered water, nutritional yeast, and green chilies.
Needless to say, things are getting spicy with this recipe. It’s an excellent choice for football games and family nights. This recipe serves up to 4 cups of nacho cheese, making it perfect for next-day snacking.
Easy Vegan Nacho Cheese Recipes, Final Thoughts
Many people would never suspect you can use vegan ingredients to make such delicious meals, but you can! Whether you like thick, stretchy nacho cheese or a spicy, smooth, creamy texture, these easy vegan nacho cheese recipes will amp up your standard nacho fare.