Vegan Queso is the ultimate creamy and delicious vegan cheese sauce for nachos and much, much more! This vegan cashew queso dip is quick and easy to make, and is perfect for any party!

vegan queso served with nachos

Nachos & Movies: From snacking at home in front of the TV, to a savory indulgence at the cinemaโ€ฆtortilla chips & queso + watching the big screen are just some things that are meant to be together.

Not only does this popular movie snack taste so much better homemade, it can be made healthier and vegan too!

nachos dipping into vegan queso dip

This vegan nacho cheese dip is the perfect plant-based party pleaser when served with tortilla chips.

Fall in love with pumpkin ๐ŸŽƒ

Chip & dip stations are great for crowds! Serve the chips along with this vegan queso dip, red and green salsas, as well as toppings like black beans, jalapeรฑos, fresh tomatoes, cilantro – the sky is the limit! You can keep the queso warm in a slow cooker set on the โ€œwarmโ€™ setting (just add a little water if it gets too thick), but it also tastes great cold!

This vegan cashew queso is already packed with flavor so stick to plain tortilla chips.

vegan nacho cheese sauce in a small bowl

Ingredients

See recipe card for quantities.

  • Cashews: These are the base of our queso, providing a creamy texture.
  • Nutritional Yeast: This is the key to getting that cheesy flavor. Itโ€™s a deactivated yeast thatโ€™s packed with nutrients and umami goodness.
  • Garlic & Onion Powder: Adds a nice depth of flavor.
  • Paprika: For a smoky twist, use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika.
  • Ground Cumin & Cayenne Pepper: Adds more flavor and some heat!

How To Make “Cheese” Sauce Vegan?

Itโ€™s SO quick and easy! The main ingredients for dairy-free cheese sauce are raw cashews and nutritional yeast flakes. You donโ€™t even need to add vegan cheese!

First of all, youโ€™ll need to soak the cashews in boiling water for at least 15 minutes. Sometimes, in recipes using cashews, you can skip this step, but I highly recommended it here so that the sauce becomes super smooth and creamy. Soaking raw cashew nuts also makes it easier to blend if you don’t have a high-speed blender, but rather a more affordable model.

Then youโ€™ll add the nutritional yeast flakes and a few spices to give it a cheesy taste, and blend it all together. Then hey presto, you have queso!

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For those who love a bit of heat, try blending in chipotle peppers in adobo sauce!

Serving Suggestions

Vegan Cashew Queso can be used in so many ways! Here are a few ideas:

Why You’ll Love This Dip

This vegan queso is not just for vegans! Itโ€™s a great alternative for anyone looking to reduce their dairy intake or explore plant-based options. Itโ€™s rich, creamy, and full of flavor, making it perfect for any occasion. Plus, itโ€™s easy to make and can be customized to suit your taste preferences.

Give this vegan queso a try and let me know what you think. Happy dipping!

If you have tried this recipe and canโ€™t get enough of this cheese sauce, you should definitely try this Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese.

FAQs

Absolutely, just like in the movies. =) It tastes very good served cold or warm.

In the microwave or in a small pot. The sauce thickens very quickly when heated, so just add some water until it reaches the desired consistency. This cheese sauce should be slightly thick and not too watery.

It can be stored in an airtight glass container for a good 4-5 days in the refrigerator.

If you make this recipe, Iโ€™d love for you to give it a star rating โ˜… below. 

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๐Ÿ“– Recipe

nachos dipping into vegan queso dip

Vegan Queso

Vegan Queso is the ultimate creamy and delicious vegan cheese sauce for nachos and much, much more! This vegan cashew queso dip is quick and easy to make, and is perfect for any party!
Author : Aline Cueni
4.60 from 10 votes

Click on the stars to leave a vote!

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Prep Time :5 minutes
Cashew Soak Time :15 minutes
Total Time :20 minutes
Servings : 8
Calories : 99kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Instructions
 

  • Soak the cashew nuts for 15 minutes in boiling water and drain afterward.
  • Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until creamy.
  • Serving Suggestions: Garnish the vegan queso with pickled jalapeรฑos and cilantro to serve with nachos or use it for any other recipe.

Notes

  • Serve Warm: Heat the vegan queso in a microwave or in a small saucepan (add some water if it gets too thick) if you prefer to serve it warm.
  • Keeps Fresh: For 4-5 days in the refrigerator.
  • Goes Well: With nachos, burritos, tacos, sandwiches.

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Nutrition

Calories: 99kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 294mg | Potassium: 148mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 83IU | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

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Recipe Rating




4.60 from 10 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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6 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Wow, I just made this and itโ€™s hands-down the best vegan cheese sauce I have ever made!

    1. My dear Christina, thank you so much for your kind words! ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ’• So glad you like my vegan queso recipe so much!

  2. 5 stars
    This is so good. I use it for enchiladas, tacos, tostadas. Also on top of veggies and potatoes. So delicious.

    1. Hi Debbie, I am so glad you like it that much! ๐Ÿ’œ It does very well with all kinds of Mexican food! Thank you for letting me know.

  3. Yum!! Just made this for the second time. So good! Would it be weird to add lime or lemon?

    1. So happy to hear that, Alyssa. Add a few splashes of freshly squeezed lime if you like, doesn’t sound weird at all. ๐Ÿ˜