Easy Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce for Pasta, Potatoes, Rice & Vegetables

This simple, fast and easy dairy-free cheese sauce recipe was originally shared with us by a reader. I’ve added some options to help modify this recipe to taste, and some instructions to make sure the sauce is smooth. It’s a very basic sauce that can add a pleasant cheesy flavor to everyday foods. Use it to make dairy-free (and gluten-free) mac and cheese or pour it over baked potatoes and steamed vegetables.

This Quick Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce makes for Easy Meals

I love recipes like this one because they work so well with everyday ingredients, and a well-stocked pantry. Here are a few tips and notes to make it work perfectly for your needs.

Get Creative with Simple Meals. Drizzle this vegan cheese alternative over “burrito bowls” made with rice, black beans, corn, and whatever add-ins you have on hand. Stir it into pasta with chicken or chickpeas, and fresh, frozen or canned vegetables. Or make broccoli “cheddar” baked potatoes. The sky is the limit.

You can use Just Pantry Ingredients. As noted, you can use canned tomatoes, and you can even use bottled lemon juice if you don’t have a fresh lemon on hand. For a different flavor spin, try jarred roasted red peppers in place of the tomatoes.

No “Milk” Needed. You can buy shelf-stable milk beverages, and even use one in this dairy-free cheese sauce recipe, if desired. But you don’t need to. The nuts provide creaminess, so plain old water is fine.

Why Ground Cashews? For a few reasons. First, it’s much faster than soaking cashews, making this an almost instant recipe. Second, using cashews that haven’t already absorbed water is a great way to thicken sauces. When ground and blended in, the cashews pull the moisture out as you cook, for a thick and creamy sauce.

Special Diet Notes: Easy Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, optionally nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian.

Easy Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Alternative

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

5 mins

Total time

15 mins

 

This recipe was shared with us back in 2006 by a reader. They recommended this sauce for making macaroni & cheese or cheesy potatoes. We have made some minor modifications the recipe and instructions to help adapt the recipe as needed and to ensure more seamless results.

Author: Alisa Fleming

Recipe type: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Serves: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• ¼ cup raw cashews (see the Nut Options below)
• 2 cups water, divided
• ¼ cup diced tomatoes (can use canned)
• ¼ cup nutritional yeast flakes, or to taste
• 2 tablespoons non-GMO cornstarch or arrowroot starch
• ½ tablespoon lemon juice, or to taste
• 1 to 1½ teaspoons sea salt, to taste
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

1. Grind the cashews in a spice grinder or small food processor until powdered.
2. Pour the cashew powder into your blender. Add the 1 cup water, tomatoes, nutritional yeast, starch, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, onion powder, and garlic powder. Puree until smooth. Add the remaining 1 cup water and briefly blend to combine.
3. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a saucepan (to remove any large or small nut bits). Place the pan over medium heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Taste test and add more salt, if needed.
4. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The sauce will thicken as it chills, but you can whisk in more water to thin it.

Notes

Nut Option: Cashews produce the creamiest results, and we think they provide the best flavor. But you can substitute almonds (preferably blanched) or macadamia nuts, in a pinch. For nut-free, sunflower seeds work fairly well, but do lend a more pronounced taste.

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More Easy Cheesy Dairy-Free Recipes

Vegan “Goat Cheese” Alternative

Dairy-Free “Yogurt Cheese”

Fuddruckers Copycat Cheese Sauce

For More Dairy Alternative Recipes, Get Go Dairy Free