A silky smooth, lusciously creamy, Vegan Cheese Sauce that is nut-free, gluten-free, low in fat, high in protein and can be whipped up in your blender in minutes! It's one of my favourite super quick dinners. Toss it through freshly cooked pasta and serve alongside some veggies or a salad. Dinner done fast!
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"Hands down the best vegan cheese sauce I’ve tried yet!!!"
- Jenna ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ More reviews →
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This super easy Vegan Cheese Sauce is a game-changer. It's seriously good and like my Cauliflower Alfredo, it's nut-free, gluten-free, and really low in fat.
There aren't many nut-free vegan cheese sauce recipes around. Cashews tend to be used on repeat for creamy sauces in the vegan world, like in my cashew cheese sauce recipe, and although they make a really tasty, glossy, yummy sauce that I love, hey, sometimes there are times when you could use a recipe without them.
Maybe you have guests with allergies, maybe you don't want to spend an arm and a leg on a bag of nuts (cashews aren't exactly cheap!), or maybe you are trying to eat a low-fat diet. Whatever the reason you want a nut-free vegan cheese sauce, I've got you covered, because this tofu cheese sauce recipe is just perfect.
It's a super simple Vegan Cheese Sauce, made in seconds, and it's luscious, smooth and creamy and can be used in any recipe where you want a thick, creamy, cheesy sauce. And did I mention it's got no nuts, no gluten, and no fat in it? I did but I feel the need to repeat myself.
Ingredients
Here is what you need at a glance, along with some important ingredient notes:
- Silken tofu - The tofu used must be silken (any firmness of silken tofu), or soft tofu. Don't use medium, firm or extra firm tofu as you won't get the intended texture or flavor. This sauce is super, super velvety and smooth. Much more so than a nut-based sauce and it tastes lighter. That's all because of the silken tofu.
- Nutritional yeast - This is what gives the sauce its cheesy flavor.
- Dairy-free milk - This must be unsweetened and unflavored. Be sure to check the ingredients list before you use it. Many dairy-free milks have added sugar or vanilla and you don't want these in a cheese sauce recipe.
- White wine vinegar - A little acidity and sharpness is necessary and white wine vinegar does that job while also enhancing the cheesy flavor. It is the best choice however you can use apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar if you don't have any.
- Dijon, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika - This combination adds lots of flavor and enhances the cheesiness of the nutritional yeast.
Nutritional Yeast
Please be sure to use good-tasting nutritional yeast when making this recipe. All nutritional yeasts are not created equally. Some brands taste a lot better than others.
Bob's Red Mill nutritional yeast is one I don't recommend as you won't get the intended cheesy flavour. I love most of their products but their nooch is not great. Same with Braggs. They are both ok used in small amounts but in a recipe where you use a lot like this it will make a big difference to the overall result. I like the brands Hoosier Farms (in the USA), or Everland (if you are in Canada).
How To Make Vegan Cheese Sauce
This simple, Vegan Cheese Sauce couldn't be easier to make:
- Put the ingredients in a blender or a food processor and blend.
- Pour into a pan and warm through gently on the stovetop or use in any recipe calling for cheese sauce.
It's the easiest vegan sauce ever, and because all of the ingredients are super soft, you don't need a fancy pants high powered blender to make it silky smooth. Any blender or food processor should be able to take care of it.
Serving Suggestions
The possibilities are endless. Stir through pasta for a quick and simple dinner, use it as a dip, drizzle it on nachos, add to casseroles and pasta dishes, or serve with vegetables.
Recipe
Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce (no nuts!)
Author:WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Ingredients
- 12 oz (340 grams) silken or soft tofu
- ½ cup (35 grams) nutritional yeast , make sure it's a good tasting one
- 1½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika , or chipotle powder
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt , adjust as necessary if using table salt
- ½ cup (120 mls) dairy-free milk , it must be unsweetened & unflavored
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until completely smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
- Warm the sauce through gently in a pan on the stove top before serving, or use in your favorite recipes.
NOTES
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Jenna H says
Best cheese sauce I’ve ever tried. Thank you!!!
Steve says
Really tasty, smooth, and simple. Excellent on nachos (with some added heat of course), and on raw as well as cooked veggies. Thanks for all the research you did, and double thanks for offering it up to the world. Much appreciated!
Melanie McDonald says
You're welcome, Steve. So pleased you're enjoying the recipe!
Kori Clark says
Finally a delicious vegan cheese sauce without being laden with calories from cashews. Thank you!
Lynne says
By far the easiest and tastiest 'cheese sauce' recipe I've tried.
Tasha says
So easy and delicious !
Carolyn says
I made this (I ALWAYS keep extra-firm silken tofu on hand). It turned out perfectly. More so, because I also added roasted red-peppers, really kicked up the flavor. Thank you so much!!
Donna says
Absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this, it's going to be so helpful on my plant-based adventure.
Caroline says
Question: Can you use the shelf style tofu (Mori-nu) or should you use a silken tofu in water tub style?
Melanie McDonald says
I always use the shelf stable Mori-nu style silken tofu. I've never seen silken tofu packed in water.
Alocasia says
This came out perfect with the ACV. I love getting away from the cashew cheeses for a change. We'll definitely be making this often.
Alocasia says
I'd like to try this today. I understand you don't recommend subbing, but white wine vinegar is the only vinegar I don't have. I have red wine, apple cider, white balsamic, plain, balsamic, sherry, rice....any of these doable for a substitute or am I going shopping? :)
Melanie McDonald says
Apple cider will be the best sub. Hope you enjoy it!
Krys says
I subbed it for some ginger beer ( i had an open bottle in the fridge) gave a light ginger flavor in there, also roasted a pepper and a head of garlic and some fresh basil. Worked perfect <3 This will be lovely on my nachos later.
Tracy says
This was great! I've tried so many other vegan cheese sauce recipes which always turn out ok but have lots of other steps involved. I love how quickly and easily this one comes together! Even hubby, who is not a fan of tofu, thought it was lovely (although I didn't tell him until after he ate it! ;) ) Thank you!!
Melanie McDonald says
So pleased you're enjoying it! My husband won't eat tofu but has been eating this for years. I still haven't told him! 🤣
Heather M Quinn says
I have been wanting to make a yummy casserole. Can I throw raw veggies into the cheese mix then "cook it again" since it's already technically done? I was worried that the cheese might taste a bit burned..
Melanie McDonald says
I've used it in lasagna and it was fine so should be ok!
Glenda Fagan says
After 3+ years of WFPB no oil eating, I have finally found the PERFECT cheese sauce! Why is anyone bothering with potatoes, carrots, squash, oatmeal when tofu is available? My kinda recipe: dump and blend. Made a broccoli rice mushroom casserole with it....all it needed was more cheese sauce! Next time, double batch....Thanks Melanie 💗
Melanie McDonald says
Love this! So pleased you're enjoying it Glenda!
Jodi says
seriously so good and easy to make...I use this recipe at least 4 times a month...no huge amounts of fat from nuts so it's much healthier than most "cheesy" sauces out there!
joyce says
hi, what if you leave out the nutritional yeast and vinegar?!
I have histamine intolerance, so I am looking for substitutes...
Thank you!
Melanie McDonald says
I would look for another recipe that doesn't use those ingredients. The nutritional yeast is crucial to this recipe and it would be really tasteless without it. Sorry!
I don't have anything suitable but Google vegan cheese sauce without nutritional yeast and I'm sure you'll find some.
Jenna says
Hands down the best vegan cheese sauce I’ve tried yet!!!
Marcy says
This was the first recipe I made in my new Vitamix. It took a little adjustment to vegan cheese sauce as I am still evolving into vegan recipes, but it only took a few dips to be fully on board. I soon found myself dipping veggies and corn chips in it. I'm realizing more and more these wonderful recipes are making the conversion to vegan an easy move.
Melanie McDonald says
That's so good to hear Marcy. Best of luck with your vegan transition!
Krista says
This recipe is literal perfection!! Thank you SO MUCH
Gail Holm says
Just had it on gluten free sea shell macaroni and it was delicious. I used honey dijon mustard since that was all I had and it tasted great.
Really quick to make as well, stored it in a glass jar in the fridge and when I needed it, I just heated it in the microwave.
KJ says
To be successful when switching from a standard Western diet to a vegan or plant-based diet, you need foundational recipes that can get you through the transition and also sustain you over time. For me, a cheese addict, this cheese sauce is exactly that type of foundational recipe. It is a satisfying substitute that has helped me remain plant-based for over three years now. Mac & cheese, nachos, dips… it is smooth and creamy and tastes like a good quality melted cheese. Thank you for helping me overcome my cheese addiction while continuing to enjoy my favorite foods! I recommend this to everyone, including those who eat cheese — it’s a tasty way to add protein and fiber without the extra calories and saturated fat.
Melanie McDonald says
I love this. Thank you!
Eva Gonzalez says
Do I need to press out all the water, first?
Melanie McDonald says
Follow the recipe as written. If it needs to be pressed the recipe will always say.
Gizi McLeod says
But what if I don’t have a press to use? Can I omit that step?
Melanie McDonald says
There is no pressing step and you don't need a tofu press. There is no mention of pressing the tofu in the instructions. You can't press silken or soft tofu.