Calling all nooch sauce lovers! Craving that cheesy goodness without the cashews? This 5-minute vegan cheese sauce is your answer, packed with flavor and made with simple ingredients like nutritional yeast, tapioca flour, and oat milk. It's completely nut-free, oil-free, and gluten-free, making it a perfect dairy-free alternative for everyone to enjoy! Perfect for pasta, nachos, mac and cheese, pizza, toast, broccoli, or anything that needs a creamy, cheesy touch, and prepare to be amazed!
Love easy vegan sauces? Don't miss out on the creamy deliciousness of our lactose-free Alfredo and non-dairy queso dip!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- Ready in 5 minutes: Perfect for busy weeknights or when you need a quick cheese fix.
- No cashews or blender: This nooch sauce uses everyday ingredients and requires minimal prep.
- Dairy-Free & Gluten-Free: Perfect for those with dietary restrictions.
- Rich and creamy: The sauce thickens beautifully without any heavy cream or potatoes.
- Versatile: Use it on pasta, vegetables, dips, or even as a pizza topping.
- Healthy & delicious: Made with plant-based ingredients and free of saturated fats, cholesterol, and added sugars.
Looking for the best cheese substitute? Love the texture and taste of melted cheese?
If you are vegan, lactose intolerant, have a dairy allergy, or just following a clean plant-based diet this recipe for vegan cheese sauce is for you. Because it's nut-free (doesn't contain cashews or any nuts), this tasty cheese dip sauce is a great option if you are allergic to nuts, as well. This smooth, soft, and melty cheese spread will bring a touch of cheesy flavor to your favorite savory recipes. Satisfy your cheese cravings with this quick fat-free vegan cheese spread and don't miss the regular cheese anymore!
Forget bland, store-bought cheese sauces! This healthy homemade version not only adds a luscious golden touch to your meals, but it's also super easy and affordable to make. Kids and adults alike will adore its rich, cheesy flavor, and you'll love knowing it's packed with wholesome ingredients. Plus, it's completely dairy-free and budget-friendly compared to store-bought options.
Looking for another versatile vegan cheese alternative? My homemade parmesan cheese is another easy-to-make option you'll love!
How Does Nutritional Yeast Taste
Nutritional yeast has a unique, savory flavor often described as nutty, cheesy, and slightly umami. It's not quite like real cheese, but it adds a delicious richness to vegan dishes.
There are two types of nutritional yeast: unfortified and fortified. Unfortified nutritional yeast doesn't have added vitamins or minerals; it only has the ones naturally produced during growth. Fortified nutritional yeast has synthetic vitamins added during manufacturing to boost nutrients, and you'll see these added vitamins listed in the ingredients. It also provides a boost of essential vitamins and minerals, making it a nutritious addition to any plant-based diet.
Ingredients
The ingredient list for this creamy cheese sauce is very short. All you need is:
- Plant-Based Milk: Choose your favorite! Oat milk is a popular choice, but any unsweetened plant-based milk like cashew or almond milk works here.
- Nutritional Yeast (aka nooch): This golden flake adds a cheesy, umami flavor – the star ingredient!
- Tapioca Flour: This naturally gluten-free starch thickens the sauce beautifully, creating a smooth and creamy texture.
- Seasonings: A touch of salt, turmeric, onion powder, and garlic powder bring out the savory, cheesy notes and make the sauce truly delicious.
As always, you can find the full recipe with a list of ingredients with measurements in a printable recipe card at the end of this post.
How To Make Vegan Cheese Sauce Without Cashews
Whisk ingredients. Combine oat milk, nutritional yeast, tapioca flour, and spices in a small saucepan.
Boil and simmer. Whisk and bring to a soft boil over medium heat, then reduce to low and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly until smooth and stretchy.
Taste and serve. Adjust seasonings to taste, serve immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Reheat with a splash of milk on medium-low heat if needed. Enjoy your creamy, gooey cheese sauce!
Substitutions
- Oat Milk: While oat milk offers a neutral and creamy base, you can readily swap it for any unsweetened plant-based milk you enjoy, such as almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk, or even coconut milk (for a richer flavor).
- Tapioca flour: If you don't have tapioca flour, try cornstarch, arrowroot powder, or even a slurry of 1 tablespoon of flour mixed with 2 tablespoons of water. These will thicken the sauce differently, so adjust the amount based on the desired consistency.
- Seasonings: Feel free to adjust the spices to your liking! Want it smokier? Add a pinch of smoked paprika. Craving a kick? Sprinkle in some cayenne pepper.
Serving Suggestions
- As a dip for crunchy red lentil tofu or crispy baby potatoes.
- Spread it on homemade tortillas stuffed with black beans and corn salad.
- Use it as melted cheese on pizza, toast, or pasta.
- Alongside crispy potato latkes, protein-packed quinoa patties, or zucchini fritters.
- Drizzle it over vegan scrambled eggs, eggless frittata with chickpea flour, and vegan polenta.
Storage
Once your nooch cheese sauce has cooled down, transfer it to an airtight container before storing it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For longer storage of up to 2 months, you can freeze it by transferring it to a freezer-safe container or bag, leaving some space at the top to allow for expansion during freezing.
Top Tips
- Whisking is key: Don't skip whisking constantly while the sauce heats and simmers. This ensures even thickening and prevents lumps.
- Adjust the thickness: If your sauce is too thick, add a splash of plant milk while simmering. If it's too thin, cook slightly longer or whisk in a bit more tapioca flour (½ teaspoon at a time) until the desired consistency is reached.
- Herb infusion: For added depth of flavor, infuse the sauce with fresh herbs by adding them towards the end of cooking or using them as a garnish.
- Vibrant color: If your cheese sauce isn't as yellow as shown in the pictures, it might be because of the nutritional yeast brand you used. Some brands add extra B vitamins which give it a yellow color. If you want it more yellow, just add extra turmeric powder.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Absolutely! Vegan cheese sauce can be frozen for up to 2 months in a freezer bag or airtight container. To reheat, defrost it in the fridge and warm it in a saucepan on the stovetop. Add a splash of plant milk and whisk until creamy.
Yes, nutritional yeast can expire. It usually lasts for about one to two years if you keep it in a cool, dry spot away from sunlight. But make sure to check the expiration date on the package. If it's past that date, it might not taste as good or have as many nutrients.
The secret ingredient here is nutritional yeast. These unique golden flakes also known as "nooch" give our cheese sauce that strong umami taste that resembles cheese. Because of its yummy cheesy flavor nutritional yeast is used in many vegan recipes like dairy-free alfredo sauce or vegan scrambled eggs as a good substitute for cheese.
Absolutely! This non-dairy cheese sauce can be a part of a healthy clean eating diet. Unlike highly processed store-bought cheese sauces this vegan version is free of saturated fats and oils, contains ZERO cholesterol, and has significantly lower levels of sodium.
More DIY Sauces And Dips
- Vegan Ranch Dressing (No Mayo)
- Mediterranean Parsley-Avocado Dipping Sauce
- 5-Minute Ultra Creamy Avocado Dip
📖 Recipe
Nooch Cheese Sauce (Vegan, No Cashews)
Equipment
- 1 Small saucepan
- 1 Whisk
Ingredients
Instructions
- Combine oat milk, nutritional yeast, tapioca flour, and spices in a small saucepan.
- Whisk and bring to a soft boil over medium heat, then reduce to low and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly until smooth and stretchy.
- Adjust seasonings to taste, serve immediately, or refrigerate in anairtight container for up to 3-4 days. Reheat with a splash of milko n medium-low heat if needed. Enjoy your creamy, gooey cheese sauce!
Notes
- Storage - Once your nooch cheese sauce has cooled down, transfer it to an airtight container before storing it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For longer storage of up to 2 months, you can freeze it by transferring it to a freezer-safe container or bag, leaving some space at the top to allow for expansion during freezing.
- Whisking is key: Don't skip whisking constantly while the sauce heats and simmers. This ensures even thickening and prevents lumps.
- Adjust the thickness: If your sauce is too thick, add a splash of plant milk while simmering. If it's too thin, cook slightly longer or whisk in a bit more tapioca flour (½ teaspoon at a time) until the desired consistency is reached.
- Herb infusion: For added depth of flavor, infuse the sauce with fresh herbs by adding them towards the end of cooking or using them as a garnish.
- Vibrant color: If your cheese sauce isn't as yellow as shown in the pictures, it might be because of the nutritional yeast brand you used. Some brands add extra B vitamins which give it a yellow color. If you want it more yellow, just add extra turmeric powder.
- See the post above for more ingredient substitution ideas.
Nutrition
Did you try this easy recipe for nut-free vegan cheese sauce?
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Choclette says
Now I need a bowl of cheese sauce. You've reminded me of just how delicious it is. And much easier to make than you might think.
Marinela says
Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your feedback with us, Choclette!
nancy says
yes to this nut free cheesey dip with thats vegan! thanks for this easy recipe
Marinela says
I'm glad you like this easy-cheesy dip, Nancy, thank you for your feedback!