Easy Cashew‑Based Vegan Cheese Sauce for Drizzling, Dipping & Nachos
Rich and creamy vegan cheese sauce made with cashews and bold nacho flavors. Smooth, silky, and perfect for drizzling, dipping, or topping your favorite plant-based meals.
This rich, creamy vegan cheese sauce has a bold nacho-inspired flavor that’s perfect for drizzling, dipping, and topping. It’s not a melt-style cheese, but it’s just as flavorful and satisfying—smooth, silky, and seriously versatile.
Pair this vegan cheese sauce Black bean burrito or Easy Vegan cabbage steaks with cashew cheese sauce for a nourishing meal.
If you love vegan cheese recipes, you should try our Easy creamy vegan burrata and Quick & Easy Tofu Feta.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this vegan cheese sauce recipe
- Full of flavor: Nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, onion, and garlic powders bring that classic nacho-style taste.
- Creamy & smooth: Purposefully not melty, but ideal for dips, drizzles, and toppings.
- Versatile: Delicious with burritos, nachos, roasted veggies, or grain bowls.
- Quick & easy: Comes together in just 10 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.
- Plant-based goodness: A dairy-free alternative that’s wholesome and satisfying.
Ingredients
- Cashew nuts – create the creamy base
- Onion & garlic powder – for savory depth
- Smoked paprika – gives a smoky, nacho-style flavor
- Salt – enhances all the flavors
- Turmeric – adds color and a subtle earthiness
- Nutritional yeast – adds cheesy flavor and protein, read more about nutritional yeast here.
- Water – brings it all together
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Soak the cashews. Bring about 4 dl (1.5 cups) water to a boil. Pour it over the cashews and let them soak for 10 minutes. (For an even creamier texture, you can soak them in warm water for 2 hours or overnight—the sauce turns out delicious either way.)
- Blend until smooth. Drain the cashews and add them to a high-speed blender or food processor together with the spices and fresh water. Blend for about 3 minutes, until the sauce is completely smooth and silky. Be mindful not to overheat your blender.
- Adjust the texture. If the sauce feels too thick, add a tablespoon of water at a time and blend again until you reach your desired consistency.
- Serve. Transfer the vegan cheese sauce into a small bowl or serving dish and enjoy right away as a dipping sauce, or drizzle it over veggies, nachos, or bowls.
Expert tip: For the best texture, don’t rush the blending step—let it go for the full 3 minutes. This extra time is what makes the sauce irresistibly smooth and creamy.
Tips & Variations
- For a less smoky, more neutral cheese flavor, simply omit the smoked paprika.
- Stir in some chili powder, or add a chipotle pepper, for extra heat.
- Use as a base for vegan mac & cheese by thinning with more water and mixing with pasta.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Mix in with a splash of water if it thickens.
Similar recipes
Tofu Feta
10 minutes
Easy creamy vegan burrata (with cashews and sunflower seeds)
40 minutes
Hemp seed dressing
5 minutes
Vegan bacon
30 minutes
Vegan Cheese Sauce
Rich and creamy vegan cheese sauce made with cashews and bold nacho flavors. Smooth, silky, and perfect for drizzling, dipping, or topping your favorite plant-based meals.
Equipment
- 1 Blender
- 1 Kettle or small pan
Ingredients
- 1 cups cashew nuts
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- ¾ cup water
Instructions
- Boil 2 dcl of water.
- Soak 1 cups cashew nuts in boiling water for 10 minutes (or longer in warm water for creamier results). Drain.
- Blend cashews with 2 teaspoon onion powder, 2 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast, and¾ cup water, until silky smooth.
- Add a splash of water if too thick.
- Serve as a dipping sauce for burrito, or drizzle over veggies, nachos, or bowls.
Notes
- Don’t rush the blending – 3 minutes makes the sauce extra smooth and creamy.
- Add 1 tablespoon of water at a time if you want a thinner consistency.
- Can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 212kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 9gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 590mgPotassium: 382mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 493IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 3mg