Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce (Nut-Free!)
Last Updated on April 10, 2024
Say hello to the best creamy Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce made without cashews or other nuts! It’s actually boasting with nutrition as it’s packed with secret veggies and fiber for a healthy, dairy-free indulgent dip or sauce.
Post updated: 4/10/24
Oh my heavens! If you’ve been looking for a dairy-free nacho cheese sauce, you’ve landed in the right spot! I am so excited to share this nut-free vegan nacho cheese sauce with you today. It’s so easy to make, it’s creamy, it’s thick, it has that smokey nacho cheese flavor and only requires 9 ingredients! There’s some sneaky carrots in there, and my favorite sneaky ingredient… butter beans!
The Cheese Sauce Ingredients
Butter beans. I love using sneaky beans in this recipe! I like butter beans because they are light, very neutral in flavor, and creamier than other beans. I have tried this recipe with cannelini beans and it was also good, but I do prefer the butter beans. I found the cheese sauce to be a bit more starchy when using beans other than butter beans. But I do realize they can be harder to find.
Carrots. You may use shredded carrots (easier prep work if you buy them from the store!) or carrot peels that you peel yourself from large, full carrots with a vegetable peeler. I’ve made this cheese sauce using both and both work great. The carrots also help give this cheese sauce it’s magnificent nacho color!
Nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast brings the cheesy flavor while also packing in some protein and B12 like real cheese! 😉 It also helps with the color.
Garlic. Garlic brings out the best flavor in vegan cheeses. For this recipe you’ll need 1 teaspoon of minced garlic. I buy mine pre-minced for ease.
Tapioca starch/flour. Tapioca starch helps to thicken the sauce so it’s not watery. You will need 3 tablespoons.
Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar adds just a little bit of tanginess and zing to this nacho cheese sauce. You will need 1 teaspoon.
Plant milk. I used flax milk in this recipe, but feel free to use another plant-based milk of choice- such as oat or soy milk. You may also use cashew or almond, but note that if you use a nut-based milk, this recipe is no longer nut-free.
Smoked paprika. Smoked paprika give this cheese sauce a great smokey, nacho flavor! Don’t skip this ingredient 😉
Salt. You will need 1 teaspoon of salt.
The color is magnificent from the carrots- the real nacho cheese vibe without turmeric or added artificial coloring. The beans allow this cheese dip to contain fiber and a little bit of protein too!
My other secret ingredient to give it that smokey nacho cheese flavor (and also deepen the color) is a pinch of smoked paprika! I used flax milk in this nacho cheese sauce, but you can also use oat milk, coconut milk, or other plant milk- just keep in mind if you use almond or cashew milk it’s no longer nut-free.
How To Make This Cheese Sauce In 10 Minutes
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute the garlic until it starts to turn golden. Whisk in the tapioca starch until it absorbs all the oil, then add the nutritional yeast and salt. Whisk to combine.
Next, add the plant milk and whisk until the mixture is relatively smooth.
Transfer the mixture to a blender along with the shredded carrots or carrot peels and beans, apple cider vinegar, and paprika. Blend on high until very smooth and creamy. Option to add a splash more plant milk if you desire a thinner consistency.
Note: I previously said to place the beans and carrots into a microwave safe bowl, cover with water and microwave for a couple of minutes. I have since removed this step because it’s not needed and it also allows the carrots and beans to retain more nutrients blending them in this cheese sauce raw.
Enjoy this Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce with chips, fresh veggies, steamed veggies like broccoli, tossed with pasta for some delicious Mac n’ cheese, on baked potatoes, scalloped potatoes, enchiladas, gluten-free soft pretzels… I mean, so many uses for this magic cheesy goodness! I personally love this nacho cheese sauce drizzled over my Fajita Roasted Potatoes!
Check out these other awesome homemade sauce swaps while you’re here!
Healthy Vegan Caramel Sauce
Using just seven simple ingredients and in five minutes, you can make your own Homemade Vegan Caramel Sauce! It's the perfect naturally sweetened caramel sauce to pour over all of your scrumptious desserts, and is gluten-free and vegan, with a nut-free option too!
Caramelized Onion and Garlic Roasted Tomato Sauce
Use your home grown tomatoes from the garden to make this simple Caramelized Onion and Garlic Roasted Tomato Sauce! This fresh, garden-to-table pasta sauce is so flavorful by simmering the sweet and salty caramelized onions and garlic with the tomatoes, and classically herby with the addition of fresh basil and oregano. It’s perfect for pasta night tossed with your favorite gluten-free noodles!
5-Minute Healthy Hot Fudge Sauce
This homemade vegan 5-Minute Healthy Hot Fudge Sauce is smooth and creamy, thick, and perfectly decadent! It only takes 5 minutes to make, uses only 6 healthy ingredients: sunflower seed butter, vegan butter, raw cacao powder, date syrup, coconut milk, and pure vanilla extract.
Easy Vegan Alfredo Sauce
This 6-ingredient Vegan Alfredo Sauce is rich and creamy and is the closest to real alfredo sauce I've had yet! No plant-butter is needed, just coconut oil, coconut butter, unsweetened dairy-free yogurt, coconut milk, homemade vegan parmesan cheese, salt and pepper! And the best part is it's ready for any pasta dish or casserole in just 15 minutes! Also gluten-free and grain-free.
Vegan Hollandaise Sauce
A delicious vegan replacement for Hollandaise Sauce made with plant butter, gluten-free flour, nutritional yeast, dijon mustard, lemon juice, coconut milk, vegan mayo, salt & pepper! With these simple ingredients you can use this Vegan Hollandaise Sauce on your tofu scramble, hashbrowns, or roasted veggies!
I hope this Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce satisfies all your nacho cravings! And if you make it, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Facebook @HealthyLittleVittles #healthylittlevittles !
Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce (Nut-Free!)
Say hello to the best creamy Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce made without cashews or other nuts! It's actually boasting with nutrition as it's packed with secret veggies and fiber for a healthy, dairy-free indulgent dip or sauce.
Ingredients
- ½ cup carrot peels or shredded carrots
- ½ cup butter beans (or other neutral flavored white bean)
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil (or other light, neutral olive oil)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons tapioca starch (flour)
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup plant milk (such as oat, almond, cashew, flax, etc.)*
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute the garlic until it starts to turn golden. Whisk in the tapioca starch until it absorbs all the oil, then add the nutritional yeast and salt. Whisk to combine.
Next, add the plant milk and whisk until the mixture is relatively smooth.
Transfer the mixture to a blender along with the shredded carrots or carrot peels and beans, apple cider vinegar, and paprika. Blend on high until very smooth and creamy. Option to add a splash more plant milk if you desire a thinner consistency.
Notes
*If you use cashew or almond milk this recipe is no longer nut free.
I previously said to place the beans and carrots into a microwave safe bowl, cover with water and microwave for a couple of minutes. I have since removed this step because it's not needed and it also allows the carrots and beans to retain more nutrients blending them in this cheese sauce raw.
The Healthy Little Vittles blog provides general information and discussions about health, health foods, nutritional content and value, and related subjects from time to time. Read the health disclaimer for more information.
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About the author
Gina Fontana
Gina Fontana is a certified health coach, recipe developer, food photographer, published author, and blogger. Her own personal health challenges led her to a gluten-free, vegan, plant-based lifestyle where she found significant improvement in her symptoms. Her passion and mission is to now share that with others who also need (or want) to pursue a healthier lifestyle.
I made the Vegan Nacho cheese sauce and it was delicious! Those spices really give it a cheese flavor! And the consistency was cheese-like! My husband didn’t see me make it and he thought it had cheese. My kids thought it was melted cheese and ate it with chips (at least the dip was healthy!). Win win. Will definitely make again. Thank you for the recipe!
Yay! I am so glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Pretty sneaky, huh?! hehe