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    Home » Recipes

    The Best Vegan Nacho Cheese (Nut Free + Oil Free)

    Jul 8, 2020 · Modified: Apr 20, 2021 by Rachel · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    If you need the perfect vegan nacho cheese sauce to dip into, look no further! This sauce has the perfect combination of flavors and is oil and nut free!

    Look no further! TWO vegan cheese sauces - endless options! You'll never need another vegan cheese dip recipe again ;) #vegancheese #vegancheesedip #vegancheesesauce #dairyfree #nondairy #glutenfree #oilfree #nutfree #plantbased #plantbasedcheese #veganrecipe

    I adapted this recipe from Hot For Food. It's amazing but I prefer to cook oil free. Then I saw Brand New Vegan using mostly potatoes and carrots to make cheese sauces, so I increased the amount, because mo' veggies, mo' better. Am I right?

    What is Vegan Nacho Cheese Made Out of?

    The base of this particular recipe is potatoes and carrots. They are cooked and blended to make the sauce. Don't worry it won't taste like vegetables!

    They're the perfect base because their mild flavors allow for the additional ingredients to really shine and give it the nacho taste we're looking for.

    Ingredients needed:

    • Yukon potatoes
    • carrots
    • pickled jalapeño slices + liquid
    • nutritional yeast
    • tomato paste
    • lemon juice
    • garlic powder
    • onion powder
    • salt

    What is nutritional yeast?

    It's deactivated yeast so it won't make your bread rise like baker's yeast. It provides a cheesy, nutty flavor. Sometimes it also has the added benefit of being fortified with vitamin B12 but not always. And it boasts 8 grams of protein per 2 tablespoons!

    This is a great additive for anyone looking to replace cheese on a vegan diet, however it's recommended to avoid for those with Crohn's Disease as yeast can make symptoms of the disease worse. For everyone else, it is perfectly safe to eat.

    RELATED: Learn more about nutritional yeast, its benefits, best ways to use it, and more!

    Don't have nutritional yeast or can't find it? Here are the best ways to substitute depending on what you're making (including this cheese sauce!).

    Need a tasty vegan nacho cheese dip? Look no further! This one is nut-free, oil-free, and gluten-free and ACTUALLY tastes like nacho cheese sauce! #vegancheese #vegancheesedip #vegancheesesauce #dairyfree #nondairy #glutenfree #oilfree #nutfree #plantbased #plantbasedcheese #veganrecipe

    What equipment do you need?

    You're going to need a large soup pot to boil the carrots and potatoes, as well as a blender to blend everything together. A high-speed blender will work best. Right now I use this Ninja blender which is more affordable but I've heard good things about Vitamix blenders as well.

    What to Serve With it?

    This would go great with this Southwestern Breakfast Hash or on top of my famous Three-Bean Chili. Better yet, dip these Baked Zucchini Chips into it for a satisfying snack. Or simply use your favorite chip or vegetable and dig in!

    How long will it keep?

    I've stored this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer, store in the freezer. Thaw and reheat on the stove or in the microwave.

    Need a tasty vegan nacho cheese dip? Look no further! This one is nut-free, oil-free, and gluten-free and ACTUALLY tastes like nacho cheese sauce! #vegancheese #vegancheesedip #vegancheesesauce #dairyfree #nondairy #glutenfree #oilfree #nutfree #plantbased #plantbasedcheese #veganrecipe

    More Vegan Cheese Recipes

    • Cranberry Vegan Cheese Ball (Nut Free)
    • Easy Vegan Cashew Ricotta Cheese (Oil-Free + Soy-Free)
    • Smoky Cashew 'Cheese' Sauce

    If you need help with sticking to a plant-based diet, we have you covered! The Health My Lifestyle Meal Planner is a customizable meal planner that takes all the guesswork out of what to eat by giving you new ideas with delicious easy recipes, helps you plan weekly meals, gives you an itemized grocery list based on the meals you choose, helps you eat better, and most importantly, helps you eat more plant-based, all in one platform!

    Click  here to try it for free!

    Look no further! TWO vegan cheese sauces - endless options! You'll never need another vegan cheese dip recipe again ;) #vegancheese #vegancheesedip #vegancheesesauce #dairyfree #nondairy #glutenfree #oilfree #nutfree #plantbased #plantbasedcheese #veganrecipe

    Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce

    This is the best vegan nacho cheese sauce! Completely oil free, nut free, and gluten free!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    course: Appetizer, Sauces & Dressings, Snack
    cuisine: American, Mexican
    servings: 8
    prep time: 15 mins
    total time: 15 mins
    Author: Rachel

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb Yukon potatoes
    • 2 large carrots
    • ½ cup water, used to boil the potatoes
    • 6 pickled jalapeño slices
    • 3 tablespoons jalapeño pickling liquid
    • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • Prep the vegetables first by washing and scrubbing both the potatoes and carrots. Peel if desired. I peeled the carrots but left the skin on the potatoes.
      1 lb Yukon potatoes, 2 large carrots
    • Chop potatoes and carrots into uniform pieces (½-1 inch cubes) and boil for 10 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes without draining, then use a slotted spoon to transfer the veggies to your blender.
    • Add ½ cup of the boiled water to the blender and pulse to mix (the starches in the water left from the vegetables help to thicken the sauce).
      ½ cup water
    •  Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
      6 pickled jalapeño slices, 3 tablespoons jalapeño pickling liquid, 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt
    • Can be served cold or hot.

    Notes

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for longer.
    Can't find nutritional yeast? Here are some ways to substitute it.

    Nutrition Per Serving

    Sodium: 364mg Calcium: 17mg Vitamin C: 14mg Vitamin A: 2771IU Sugar: 2g Fiber: 2g Potassium: 356mg Calories: 60kcal Saturated Fat: 1g Fat: 1g Protein: 2g Carbohydrates: 13g Iron: 1mg
    Want to eat healthier but don't know where to start?Get a free customizable meal plan and stop the struggle!

    This has been adapted from Hot For Food's and Brand New Vegan's cheese recipes to make the perfect oil-free vegan nacho cheese!

    Pin this for later:

    Need a tasty vegan nacho cheese dip? Look no further! This one is nut-free, oil-free, and gluten-free and ACTUALLY tastes like nacho cheese sauce! #vegancheese #vegancheesedip #vegancheesesauce #dairyfree #nondairy #glutenfree #oilfree #nutfree #plantbased #plantbasedcheese #veganrecipe
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    I'm Rachel and I'm here to help you transition to a healthy plant-based diet in the easiest way possible. I share simple recipes and tips you can implement today to make it practical and approachable. Read more about my plant-based journey

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