Easy vegan cheese sauce with minimal ingredients and ready in 3 minutes! A super simple and nut-free plant-based recipe which requires only a handful of ingredients. This vegan queso is perfect for pizza, nachos, Mac and Cheese, burgers, pasta bake, toast, and more savory recipes. The sauce doesn’t contain cashews!
Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce Without Cashews!
This is probably the easiest homemade vegan cheese sauce ever! It might change your life, it changed mine, I am not kidding. Coconut milk, tapioca flour, nutritional yeast flakes, water, and salt – these are the ingredients which you will need to make this delicious sauce.
Since most people have water and salt at home, all you need to buy is coconut milk, tapioca flour, and nutritional yeast flakes. But maybe you already have these ingredients at home as well. So let’s start to make this easy recipe, it will be done in 3 minutes!
Only A Few Ingredients
I know there are tons of vegan cheese sauce recipes out there, but most of them contain cashews + many more ingredients and require longer preparation time. This cashew-free cheese sauce contains only a handful of ingredients and is ready in 3 minutes.
How To Make Vegan Cheese Sauce
You just need to put all the ingredients into a saucepan, bring the mixture to a boil and that’s it! You don’t even need a blender or food processor. No cooking of veggies, no soaking of cashews. It seriously couldn’t be easier than that.
Not Only For Vegans
This recipe is not only amazing for vegans. I served it also to vegetarians and meat eaters and everyone loved the taste AND texture of this vegan cheese sauce. The tapioca flour (which is also called tapioca starch) makes this recipe so special because it adds the amazing elasticity to the sauce. It makes the sauce stretchy and even reminds of real cheese. Nutritional yeast is an important ingredient for the taste because it adds a cheesy flavor. The spices are up to you, but I love to add some garlic and onion powder, and also a pinch of smoked paprika.
Perfect For Nachos, Pizza, Gratin And More
You can use this vegan sauce for any savory recipe which requires cheese. Whether it is pizza, nachos, gratin, pasta, or any other plant-based recipe. Sometimes when I am too lazy to make my Mac and Cheese recipe I will simply make this 3-minute cheese sauce and pour it over my cooked pasta and my dinner is served in just a few minutes. I have included some pictures of different dishes which I made using this cheese sauce recipe.
This easy vegan cheese sauce is:
- Plant-based
- Gluten free
- Oil-free
- Dairy-free
- Nut-free (no Cashews!)
- Paleo-friendly
- Easy to make in a few minutes
Make This Vegan Cheese Sauce Today
I made this cheeze sauce probably 100 times already because I use it in almost all of my savory recipes lol. I just love simple recipes which require only a few ingredients and this easy sauce recipe is one of them. So don’t wait any longer and make it NOW. I am sure you will love it as well.
Tapioca flour can be bought in every Asia shop or big supermarkets or simply ordered online. Same goes for nutritional yeast flakes. Check the Recipe Notes for a tapioca flour substitute.
Should you recreate this vegan nacho cheese sauce, please leave a comment below and don’t forget to tag me in your Instagram or Facebook post with @elavegan and #elavegan because I love to see your recreations.
Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce
Video
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (180 ml) coconut milk canned (*see notes )
- 3 tbsp (20 g) nutritional yeast flakes
- 2 tbsp (15 g) tapioca flour OR arrowroot flour/starch (*see notes)
- ½ tsp sea salt (or to taste)
- ½ tsp onion powder (optional)
- ¼ tsp garlic powder (optional)
- Pinch of smoked paprika (optional)
Instructions
- You can check out the video for visual instructions.Put all ingredients into a saucepan and stir with a whisk. Once everything is combined, turn on the heat and bring the mixture to a boil while stirring constantly.
- Let simmer on low to medium heat for about one minute until the sauce is stretchy.
- Enjoy this vegan cheese sauce with nachos, on pizza, over pasta, and many other savory dishes! Please read the recipe notes below.
Notes
- Thickness: If the cheese sauce turns out too thick, just add more coconut milk or any other plant-based milk (or water), up to 1 cup.
- Coconut milk: I use coconut milk that contains 17% fat. In case you don't like the taste of coconut milk, you can use a different plant-based milk instead, e.g. almond milk, cashew milk, etc. The higher the fat content of the milk, the better will be the taste of the vegan cheese sauce.
- Tapioca flour: Tapioca flour/starch can be bought in every Asia store or larger grocery stores or simply ordered online.
- Tapioca substitute: Two readers (thanks, Brooklyn and Nichola) commented that arrowroot flour (also known as arrowroot powder or arrowroot starch) is a great substitute for tapioca flour/starch.
- Cornstarch: You could use cornstarch instead of tapioca flour, but the result won’t be as good (stretchy) as with tapioca flour. It will still taste ok!
- How to store: You can store the sauce in the fridge for up to 2 days, but it will change the texture. Reheat with a splash of dairy-free milk. It tastes best freshly made.
- FAQ: "My cheese sauce didn't turn out yellow. What did I do wrong...?" Answer: Some nutritional yeast brands enrich their products with lots of B-vitamins. The nutritional yeast flakes which I ordered from Amazon contain B-vitamins and are therefore yellow. When I use 3 tbsp, the cheese sauce turns out pretty yellow, but when I use less (e.g. just 1 tbsp) the color is just light yellowish." You can also add a pinch of turmeric powder.
Nutrition information is an estimate and has been calculated automatically
„Simple and Delicious Vegan“ Cookbook by ElaVeganCLICK HERE to order!If you are using Pinterest, feel free to pin the following photo:
Hi! I have two questions. Can I use corn starch in place of the tapioca flour? Also, how long will this last in the fridge? I’m thinking of meal prepping it with pasta. Thanks!!
You could use cornstarch instead of tapioca flour but the result won’t be as good (stretchy) as with tapioca flour. It will still taste ok!
You can store the sauce in the fridge for up to 2 days but it will change the texture. Reheat with a splash of milk. It tastes best freshly made.
Does anyone know how long this keeps in the fridge?
For up to 2 days but it always tastes best freshly made!
Could we use tapioca granules and ground it to starch? ???? Thank you!
Hi Gigi! No, you can’t use tapioca granules! If you have an electric spice/coffee grinder which can turn them into a very fine powder, then you can do that but I think it’s much easier to use store-bought tapioca flour. 🙂
I just left a Helpful message to Mia who cannot find the tapioca starch in Africa. Is it going to be posted? Please
So kind of you, Gigi! 🙂
Hi! I was able to find the nutritional yeast(what a search that was) but can’t find the flour anywhere! Or the substitute. Can I substitute Almond flour instead?
Ps. All the way from South Africa and ordering off of Amazon isn’t an option for me 🙂
I am sorry, Mia, but almond flour won’t work. You could use cornstarch but the result won’t be as good (stretchy) as with tapioca flour. It will still taste fine! 🙂
Mia, I search the Web for the tapioca starch in Africa. It is called CASSAVA flour, it’s the same. And it grows in many part of the world including Africa. My box says Tapioca (cassava) starch. I’m sure you should find it. Google it ! ???? Good Luck!????????
How many days can we keep it in the fridge? Thank you!
Up to 3, however, it tastes best freshly made!!
Are you able to post the recipe for that delicious looking waffle sandwhich??
Check out the recipe here: https://elavegan.com/vegan-grilled-cheese/ 🙂
I’ve made this 3 times now and it is absolutely delicious and so easy to make. I had it once on vegan nachos and twice on mushroom and spinach tortillas (also your recipe Ela – yum!) Thank you for your wonderful website. I love trying out your recipes!
You are very welcome, Gabby! I am so glad you love the recipe as much as I do. 🙂
Can I use something instead of nutritional yeast?
Hi Adri, no you can’t because there isn’t really a good substitute for nutritional yeast. You could add some soy sauce for the umami flavor but it will still taste different…
What I like about this recipe that I have to mention is that it compliments food very well. I was not expecting that. There are some cheese recipes that overpower the food that you add it to, and this did not do that. I made this with a coconut LIGHT canned milk and it was tasty! My favorite way to use this is to drizzle over steamed veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots). Although, I will incorporate it into more foods because it’s versatile.
Thanks so much for your helpful feedback, Bel! I also use lite coconut milk quite often and drizzle it over veggies. So happy you like it too! 🙂
This is awesome. Best and easiest I’ve tried. Thank You!
Fantastic! So glad you like the recipe, Dannie! 🙂
Just made this with the canned coconut unsweetened milk and dear Lord in Heaven, this stuff is amazing. My husband, who hates coconut and is a very adamant meat and taters guy (Im vegan) loves this as well. Thank you for the recipe share!! I will have to take a gander at what else you have.
Wow, thank you so much for your feedback! I am thrilled you both love the recipe. You can subscribe to my newsletter to never miss any future recipes. 🙂
Could i substitute corn starch for tapioca? Thank you
I don’t recommend it. Please check the recipe notes. You can use arrowroot flour. 🙂
I like to meal prep and was wondering if this cheese recipe will still be good 3-4 days in the fridge after making?
Hey! I really recommend making it fresh because it does change the texture in the fridge and is not as good after 2-4 days. 🙂
Ok thank you so much Ela I made it for the first time today and am very pleased ! This is the most simple recipe I have found for cheese but the most delicious as well!
Wow, thanks so much for your wonderful feedback! So pleased you love it as well. 🙂
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I was wondering if you think this cheese sauce could be used in your cheesy spinach and artichoke dip?? I’d like to try that one too but I don’t want to use the cashews in the “cheese sauce”. Please let me know and thanks again for these awesome recipes!
I am not sure! I think the result will be different. Please report back if you give it a try. 🙂
First time ever of trying a vegan cheese sauce. Very good! I made it with all the suggested seasonings I think I will keep trying to tweak the seasonings. Just curious, mine had a bit of a strong aftertaste – was that the nutritional yeast? I used it on eggs and it was very tasty. Do you think this would do well in an egg casserole since people have used it in lasagna? Thanks!
Hi Vanessa, I use the cheese sauce in all my casseroles! Works great. Not sure about the strong aftertaste though. 🙂
Hi, Ela..
I would love to try this but cannot have nutritional yeast ????
I know it’s a long shot but do u think it could be substituted for something else..?
Hi Lara! There isn’t really a good replacement. You can either leave it out or add a little soy sauce (for the umami flavor) or miso paste.
you reckon i can use this for a creamy lasagne ?
Yes, that should be fine. I also used it for these vegan lasagna rolls: https://elavegan.com/vegan-lasagna-roll-ups/
Just made some to go with some vegan chili that I made. It’s delicious thank you so much!
You are very welcome, Arianne. 🙂
Very interesting. Will try with soy milk next time for a more neutral base and then add flavours.
Sure! It’s fun to experiment with this recipe because it’s so easy and quick to make. 🙂
Hi Ela
Just want to thank you for the inspiration and delicious recipes. I’m an feeling so unhealthy after all the eating out we have been doing which began on 12/19 for my daughter’s birthday. My husband and I not only agree home cooked food taste much better, we also feel so much better. Your recipes are delicious and even my kiddos enjoy. Thank you for taking the time to share your recipes.
Liz
You are very welcome, Liz! I am so glad you enjoy my recipes. All the best for 2020. 🙂
Just wanted to say this is my first vegan ‘cheese’ anything attempt since my son and I became vegan. I made two small changes to your sauce. I added 1 TBSP Dijon and 1 tsp of smoked paprika instead of a dash. Was so impressed and happy with how it turned out. Thank you.
Sounds amazing, Robert! I am a huge fan of Dijon mustard, so I am sure it was very tasty. Thanks for your great feedback. 🙂