In honor of holiday parties, football games, and a general love for Mexican food, we decided to host a taste test for the best dairy-free queso! Okay, we also just thought it would be fun. And like our dairy-free mozzarella and dairy-free cream cheese taste tests, this one was full of surprises. You can use these links to jump ahead in our review:
The Ultimate Taste Test for the Best Dairy-Free Queso
I visited every grocer in town and bought every dairy-free queso brand I could find. This included cheesy sauces and dips labeled as “queso,” “nacho,” or specifically marketed for chips and nachos.
To be as inclusive as possible, I also reached out to all other companies that weren’t here locally, and asked if they wanted to send their product for the taste test. Since I fully disclosed that it would be an unbiased group and we would not guarantee positive results, not everyone opted to participate. But Kite Hill, Wayfare, and Good Foods did send their product. In total, we ended up with SIXTEEN dairy-free queso or nacho-inspired dips and sauces.
We had a total of 15 taste testers! The group included vegan, dairy-free, lactose intolerant, dairy flexitarians, and dairy-loving tasters. We had every group covered, from those who haven’t tasted dairy in 20 years, to those who remember what it tasted like yesterday. Each queso was served on tortillas chips, one at a time, to all tasters.
Summary of Our Findings
I knew there would be some brands that people didn’t love, but I was expecting pretty high marks for this taste test. Of all cheesy substitutes, cheddar-style cheese sauce is one of the easiest to mimic. And some chili powder or green chilis will usually bump it up to the “queso” category. But quite a few companies have gone rogue with creativity, and perhaps focused a little too much on the ingredients rather than the product goal.
None Really Tasted Definitively Like Queso. Some were in the queso ballpark, and definitely passable in place of the beloved Mexican dip, but there was a surprising lack of cheesiness overall. Just a handful of brands out of all sixteen focused on the cheesy aspect of queso.
There’s a Heat Level for Almost Everyone. Pretty much all of the varieties had some spice, but ranged from very mild to pretty darn spicy. If you love blazing heat, bring some hot sauce. We only had a few “too spicy” comments throughout the entire tasting.
Overall, Fresh Tubs Beat Jarred. All of the refrigerated tubs we taste-tested made our top ten list of the best dairy-free queso. But only two of the shelf-stable options made the cut. There was one jarred option that was sold refrigerated, which also didn’t rank.
The Top 10 Had Fans and Foes. Each of the brands in our top 10 had raves from at least a few tasters, but this was balanced by distaste from others and many “it’s okay” opinions. This was a very finicky taste test!
The 10 Best Dairy-Free Queso Dips & Nacho Toppers
The ratings are averaged rankings, but don’t get too hung up on the numbers. I encourage you to read the tasting notes to help find your perfect dairy-free queso. Each of these brands had fans! And they all appear to be vegan, plant-based, gluten-free, and soy-free, unless otherwise noted. But always verify before purchasing.
The following products were dairy-free by ingredients at our time of review. All food products are at some degree of risk for potential cross-contamination with allergens. It is up to you to decide what is safe for your needs. Our choice for the best dairy-free queso cheese alternative might not be yours. All of these products have been on the market for a while because some people like them. This is just a guide based on our findings and opinions. You can leave your own review and star rating on each of these products via the title links.
Chipotle Bitchin Sauce (8.1/10)
Some might argue that this isn’t a queso, but it does include classic vegan “cheesy” ingredients, and the company does market this flavor with tortilla chips and as a good Mexican food topper. Not to mention, it received good to excellent marks from all fifteen taste testers. That said, I would call it a spicy dip that can be used in place of queso, rather than a copycat. It has a creamy consistency that’s thick but a little runny, and isn’t completely smooth. The flavor isn’t particularly cheesy, but it is bold, full-bodied, a little rich, and Mexican-inspired.
Sample Comments:
- “Nice smoky flavor, and great spicy dip. But it isn’t queso.”
- “Dusty texture. I thought It was the chip seasoning! Great taste though.”
- “Smoky with a bit of a bite, nice!”
- “Grainy and the bite lasts too long. Tastes like too much chili powder.”
- “Smoky and slightly too spicy for me. Not queso, but really good.”
- “Very smoky, mild spicy, good taste”
Base: Almonds
Top Allergens: Almonds, Soy
Heat Level: Medium
Chao Queso (7/10)
If you’re a lover of nostalgic cheesy products and are timid with heat, this is a good product to start with. If you like bold spice, keep moving down our list. This vegan queso has a a bright orange hue with the Kraft-style cheesy flavor to match, and mild spice that warms up in the aftertaste. But one major downfall is that it has to be heated. It’s unpleasantly gelatinous when cold. Once heated, it thins quite a bit into a dippable and pourable consistency.
- “Not bad, more cheesy than the others.”
- “Tastes like stadium nacho cheese!”
- “Bland”
- “Tastes processed like Cheez Whiz or Tostitos Queso.”
- “Creamy. Could be doctored up. Good for a base.”
- “Nice consistency, flavorful veggie taste.”
Base: Coconut Oil + Starch
Top Allergens: Soy
Heat Level: Mild
Good Foods Queso (6.5/10)
The pretty orange hue of this dip comes from wonderfully healthy ingredients. It has a brighter taste, with light sweetness, mild spice, and only the faintest hint of cheeziness. Most of our spicy testers found this queso too bland, while the heat averse liked the flavor. It’s a thick and creamy sauce consistency that isn’t totally smooth – much like Bitchin Sauce.
- “Red bell pepper hummus queso! Ahhhhhhmazing!”
- “Delish, I would pour this on everything.”
- “Noooo!”
- “Tasty, but not queso. A little tangy, a touch sweet, mild spice, but not cheesy. Could be smoother.”
- “Bland, too mild, grainy.”
- “Love – can taste the almond butter. Almond butter hummus?”
Base: Cauliflower, Bell Pepper, Almonds
Top Allergens: Almonds
Heat Level: Mild
Good Foods Spicy Queso Blanco (6/10)
Those who didn’t like Good Foods classic Queso tended to love the Queso Blanco (and vice versa). They both have a thick sauce consistency with a rustic texture, but the Blanco is a wee bit creamier, notably spicier, and just a smidgen closer to the vibe of queso.
- “Green chile madness ❤️ enchiladas, burritos, sandwiches …”
- “Spicy! Jalapeno flavor. Not for me.”
- “Nice bite, smooth.”
- “Spicy, okay flavor, but grainy texture – like hot hummus.”
- “Spicy! Not bad, but a little too much vinegar, and not cheesy.”
- “Very garlicky, like garlic dip, but still good.”
Base: Cauliflower, Almonds, Cashews
Top Allergens: Almonds. Cashews
Heat Level: Medium
Credo Medium Queso (6/10)
Like Good Foods, Credo uses nuts and vegetables to craft all natural dips. But they manage to achieve a creamier, smoother dip with just a slight powdery finish. Their dip is also a touch cheesier than the other natural brands. But it is runnier, even when cold, so be careful not to spill it! They also have a Spicy Queso (not in stores near me), which might have faired better with tasters that called this variety “bland” or “too mild.”
- “Would not use as a queso, not as spicy, but good taste.”
- “Too thin, no blend of flavors, very bland, no queso flavor.”
- “Pretty good, I would buy that.”
- “Watery, too mild, taste is okay.”
- “Subtle queso, tastes like yeast / cashews. Enjoyed it but too runny.”
- “Tastes like beans.”
Base: Cashews
Top Allergens: Cashews
Heat Level: Mild
The Honest Stand Spicy Nacho (5.5/10)
This is a very thick dip, whether cold or heated. But our crew definitely recommends heating it. When cold, it has a very smooth bean dip texture. Once warmed, it takes on more of a creamy consistency. The flavor is spicy, but a little disjointed, causing a wide range of tasting notes. They also have a Mild Nacho flavor if you prefer less heat.
- “Finally, a creamy queso! Not half bad.”
- “It’s got some zip, but the aftertaste is not good.”
- “Not bad, creamy and tasty, but no queso taste.”
- “More like hummus, spicy, good.”
- “It’s spicy Velveeta.”
- “Nice consistency, flavorful, the aftertaste is a bit spicy.”
Base: Cashews, Carrots
Top Allergens: Cashews
Heat Level: Medium
Core + Rind Bold & Spicy Cashew Cheesy Sauce (5.5/10)
They offer three variations of their Cashew Cheesy Sauce, but this is the one they specifically market for nachos. It has a medium thickness that’s pourable, and a texture that reminds us of a very smooth tomato sauce. The flavor gets even more intriguing. It’s definitely bold, but the taste beckons more to a tangy sauce than a cheesy queso.
- “I like it! Great for nachos. Smokey, dark flavor.”
- “I tasted mustard and vinegar. Mustard doesn’t go on nachos.”
- “No cheese. BBQ sauce flavor. I would us this as BBQ sauce.”
- “Not sure what that was.”
- “Doesn’t taste like cheese, but it’s tasty.”
- “Mustard! It’s way too tangy. Not horrible, but not queso.”
Base: Cashews
Top Allergens: Cashews
Heat Level: Medium
Wayfare Nacho Cheddar Sauce (4.4/10)
This is a stronger contender than the number implies. Several tasters said they would have upped their rating if the “with jalapenos” label lived up to its name. This was one of the cheesiest quesos, but also the mildest. The consistency is smooth, rich, and very thick when cold, like a spread. But it becomes thinner and stickier, like queso, when heated. If they turned up the heat a bit, it could easily bump up several spots of this list.
- “A little plain, but it tastes like cheese.”
- “It could’ve fooled me as cheese, but it needs a bite.”
- “Pasty and bland. I wouldn’t buy it.”
- “Salty like cheese, but not much other flavor.”
- “Sorry, it tastes like cardboard. It made the chip taste worse.”
- “It reminds me of Velveeta with just a tiny bit of spice. Cheesiest of the bunch.”
Base: Butter Beans, Oats
Top Allergens: None
Heat Level: Mild
Kite Hill Queso (4.4/10)
This queso has a creamy finish that’s thick when cold and a bit runny when heated. It has a bright orange hue and is liberally dotted with bits of bell peppers, adding to the anticipation. But the flavor is much milder than the image. On the bright side, most of our reviewers gave it a solid “okay.” It wasn’t as polarizing as some of the other quesos on this list. A boost in salty cheesiness would likely move it up the list.
- “Good, creamy, nice flavor.”
- “Looks like a queso, and tastes a bit spicy, but has no flavor.”
- “Not bad, not fantastic. I wouldn’t complain if served, but it’s forgettable.”
- “Somewhat bland, but I like the spice.”
- “It tastes like plastic packaging with jalapeno flavor.”
- “Green pepper, some spice, and a bitter aftertaste. Oddly creamy.”
Base: Almond Milk, Coconut Oil
Top Allergens: Almonds
Heat Level: Medium
Daiya Zesty Cheddar Style Deluxe Cheeze Sauce (4.3/10)
Though it isn’t in the name, this is Daiya’s “nacho cheese” alternative. It comes with three shelf stable pouches in a box, and each pouch will easily douse a platter of nachos. It’s pourable right from the pouch, so heating is optional. But it does thicken a little with refrigeration. Daiya does an admirable job with cheesiness, particularly without top allergens. But the base could use a boost in freshness from some natural ingredients. It was easy to tell this was a long shelf-life product.
Sample Comments:
- “Tasty! Light gorgonzola.”
- “Tastes and feels like cooked mac and cheese powder.”
- “Plasticky and oily. Not bad flavor, but bad consistency.”
- “Tastes like queso. Salty, not sweet.”
- “Not great. Oily, weird after taste, processed like.”
- “Melted velveeta flavor, spicy-ish.”
Base: Oil / Coconut Oil + Starch
Top Allergens: None
Heat Level: Mild to Medium
More Dairy Free Queso Brands
We also purchased and taste tested the following brands:
More dairy-free queso brands that did not participate:
- Dare Queso
- Fabalish
- Field & Farmer
- Fresh Cravings
- Mundus Foods
- Siete Cashew Queso
- The Dairy Free Co
- Zubi’s Queso
For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!
6 Comments
We use the Daiya cheddar sauce packet with a few spoonfuls of rotel in it, microwaved for 30 seconds.
That’s a great idea!
Thanks for the review and feedback! All great brands! For the Credo, eating it hot changes the flavor in a very positive way for anyone wanting to give it a try! -Adam, CEO of Credo 🙂
Thank you Adam – we tried them both cold and heated! Like many of our tasters, I thought the flavor was quite good, and my husband devoured the leftovers as a sauce on lunch bowls. If a bit thicker, it would definitely rank higher. It literally sloshed out of the container!
That’s interesting about Diaya reviews. While its not quite as good as Mac and Cheese it is a good tasting alternative. I eat their Mac N Cheese when Im craving it.
As mentioned, there were mixed reviews for all varieties, and each one of these had at least a few fans, including Daiya!