Best Vegan Cheese Sauce

When I first switched over to a healthy plant-based lifestyle back in 2013, one thing that I really missed was CHEESE. Cheese for pizza, tacos, baked potatoes, lasagna, and so much more. That’s why I came up with this amazing best vegan cheese sauce recipe ever!

One of the best things about it is that it can be made with either cashews or white beans for those avoiding nuts. Better yet, do a combination of both to reduce the fat but maintain the creamy rich texture.

This is the BEST cheese sauce because it’s…

• Versatile and can be made with cashews OR white beans
• Flavor-packed
• Creamy
• Cheeesy
• Veggie-loaded
• Customizable
• Low-fat
• Vegan
• Oil-free
• Freezable

Three versions to choose from

1st Version: Originally, I made it with 1/2 cup raw cashews.

2nd Version: Now, I sometimes sub out white beans–like navy beans or cannellini–to lower the fat content even more. For those avoiding nuts completely, this is a terrific nut-free cheese sauce.

3rd Version: Nowadays, I mostly make with a combination of the two–1/4 cup cashews + 1/4 cup white beans. It has a warm creamy texture with less fat. This easy vegan cheese sauce has so many options!

What is vegan cheese sauce made of?

Incredibly some of the ingredients used to make this amazing cheese sauce are…

• potatoes
• onions
• carrots
• cashews (and or white beans)
• nutritional yeast flakes
• lemon juice
• spices

What is nutritional yeast?

Nutritional yeast is what makes this vegan cheese sauce taste like cheese. It has a nutty, cheesy flavor and is yellow in color. Unlike baker’s and brewer’s yeasts, is a deactivated yeast used for seasoning.

It’s an inactive form of the yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Though it is the same strain of yeast bakers use to leaven bread, nutritional yeast has been pasteurized to dry out the yeast. This process helps to extract its nutritional benefits.

Nutritional yeast is exclusively for seasoning and cannot be used for leavening in baking. Even so, it can normally be found in the baking section of many grocery stores. I usually purchase my nutritional yeast online.

How to make vegan cheese sauce

I have a Vitamix blender and so don’t take the time to soak my cashews. That thing is powerful and everything that goes into it comes out creamy. However, if your blender isn’t jet engine speed, soaking the cashews in warm water for at least 30-minutes before adding to this recipe will help this recipe come out more creamy. 

Begin by dicing up the potatoes, carrots, and onion.

In a medium pot, bring about 3 cups of water to a boil. Place potatoes, carrots, and onion in a pot and allow to cook until veggies are tender approximately 15 minutes. Cooking time will vary based on how small the veggies are diced.

When veggies are tender, drain and place them in a blender. NOTE: reserve 1 cup of the broth, and add to blender. Add all the remaining ingredients, and blend until smooth.

Now, it’s ready to use in nacho cheese dip, mac-n-cheese, topping for steamed broccoli, or anything else you need a creamy, cheesy sauce in. This recipe makes approximately 1 quart and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

I often freeze this recipe when I have lots leftover, which admittedly isn’t that often. Most of the time, I freeze it in a wide-mouth mason jar which makes defrosting it later in the microwave much easier. Simply remove the lid and place it in the microwave to defrost.

Once the cheese sauce is no longer frozen, I place it in my blender and take it for a spin for just a minute which brings it back to its original creaminess. It’s as good as freshly made then.

InstantPot instructions

Yes! You can also use your InstantPot to make this cheese sauce!

Simply add the potatoes, carrots, onion, and one cup of water to your Instant Pot. Set on MANUAL for 10 minutes.  Once finished, use a spoon, dishcloth, or potholder to turn the VENT knob for a quick release to allow the pressure to come down. Then add all other ingredients to a blender and process until smooth.  Easy-Peasy!

Tips for making this recipe

• Soaking cashews or not. I have a Vitamix blender and so don’t take the time to soak my cashews. That thing is powerful and everything that goes into it comes out creamy. However, if your blender isn’t jet engine speed, soaking the cashews in warm water for at least 30-minutes will help this recipe come out more creamy.
• Potatoes to use. You really can use almost any variety of potato. I love to use russets, red potatoes, or even sweet potatoes. Just make sure they are cooked until soft.
• Save that broth. One of the steps of this recipe is to boil the potatoes, onions, and carrots on the stove. Remember to save some of that broth for adding to the blender.
• Tweaking to your taste preference. Most likely this cheese sauce will come out amazing as soon as you dip that spoon into the blender (after it has stopped, of course) to give it a taste. However, if it needs a little tweaking, first try adding a little more salt or nutritional yeast, as those two ingredients can make a big difference, in my opinion. 

*Original publish date February 02, 2015.

Your dairy-free cheese sauce questions answered

Q: How long will this vegan cheese sauce last in the refrigerator?

A: This sauce will keep in the refrigerator for about 7-10 days in an airtight container. I love to use quart mason jars.

Q: Can this vegan cheese sauce be frozen?

A: YES! Freezing is also an option. Simply defrost and place in a blender for a freshen up spin and it will be back to its original creamy texture.

Q: Which vegan cheese is best?

A: All of mine! LOL! Seriously though, I have a lot of different dairy-free cheeses to choose from. That a peek at these yummilicious ones.

• Best Vegan Cheese Sauce
• Cashew Vegan Mozzarella
• Nacho Cheese
• Vegan Ricotta
• Vegan Parmesan Cheese
• Easy Vegan Cream Cheese

Q: What recipes use vegan cheese sauce?

A: I am so glad that you asked! I have a number of great recipes that use this cheese sauce. The options are really endless!

• Cheesy Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
• Loaded Potato Skin Bites
• Vegan Chili Cheese Fries
• Vegan Cheddar Broccoli Soup
• Easy Vegan Pizza

Ways to use this sauce

Who doesn’t love pasta? This vegan oil-free cheese sauce is amazing on mac and cheese as well. It’s the perfect comfort food and can even be made gluten-free by using brown rice pasta.

Just add salsa to this cheese sauce, and you’ve got delicious Nacho Cheese Dip to serve with tacos and nachos. It’s amazingly delicious!

Other ways to use this cheese sauce are:

• Over a baked potato
• On steamed broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, or another veggie
• Drizzled over pizza, lasagna, or tacos
• In cheezy grits for breakfast
• On my Chili Cheese Fries or Nacho Supreme
• Any other wonderful way you can think of!

Nutritional information

1/4 cup serving (WITH BEANS):

• 5 calories
• 28 carbs
• 0.14 grams fat
• 1.9 grams of protein

1/4 cup serving (WITH CASHEWS):

• 41 calories
• 4.6 carbs
• 1.8 grams of fat
• 2 grams of protein