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
Ingredients
- 3/4 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)
- 1/2 tsp sea salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder (optional)
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder (optional)
- Pinch of smoked paprika (optional)
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
Video Of The Recipe
- 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
Martina Strasser
Never dreamed of finding such an easy quick awesome tasty delicious vegan cheese recipe – you’re a genius ♥️♥️♥️
I made Ratatouille today and tried your cheese sauce for the first time and it turned out absolutely perfect ???? I used the sauce for the topping – delicious ????????
Thank you so much ????????
Ela
That’s awesome, Martina! I am so glad you liked it. 🙂
Harita
AMAZING!! Used unsweetened soy milk and it was just like a classic non vegan cheese sauce! Danke schön!! ❤️
Ela
You are very welcome, Harita! So glad it worked well with unsweetened soy milk. 🙂
Janine
This is a straightforward basic recipe that you can build on with your own seasoning ideas, but since it is labeled as a sauce, the amount of tapioca starch should be cut in half. The amount in the recipe yields a gummy, overly thick texture that is tough to stir. People are commenting that they’re adding water to thin it, but that waters down the flavor. Just use less starch.
Ela
Janine, a sauce can be thick or thin. Also, the thickness depends on the type of milk you use. Not all people make this recipe with canned coconut milk, some use different dairy-free milk. So the thickness can differ. If you cut the starch in half, it will be VERY runny and cannot really be used as a vegan cheese sauce. I made the recipe probably 1000 times already, and I can assure you that 14-16 grams of tapioca flour are just perfect. 🙂
Kimberly
I agree. I loved the taste of this but could not get past the slimy consistency. Next time I either need to add water or use almond milk or something.
Kay
Perfect cheese sauce for a loaded baked potato! I made it twice in a row and plan on adding it to my weekly dinner roundup. Thank so much for this recipe. I substituted oatmilk and about 1 tsp of safflower oil for coconut milk because I don’t usually have it on hand.
Ela
That’s fantastic, Kay! Yes, it’s perfect for loaded potatoes. 🙂
Chyena
This is my go to cheese recipe! I used to use cashews for cheese but got expensive, this sauce is one of the best vegan cheese sauce I’ve tried and super affordable! Absolutely love it thank you!
Ela
That’s awesome, Chyena! I am so glad you enjoy it. 🙂
Sarah
Oh my goodness! I dont usually comment on recipes but this is AMAZING!!! I used it to make creamy pasta with Next vegan bacon and it was DELICIOUS!!! Thank you so much for this cheap, easy and tasty recipe, I finally found what i needed ????
Ela
You are very welcome, Sarah! I am so glad you like it. 🙂
Magy
This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for, Ela! I used on your zucchini pizza crust and I was simply blown away! I’m sure it will be amazing as a grilled cheese too! None of your recipes have ever failed me and your blog style is incredible! I also love the short videos that accompany them. I cannot thank you enough for what you do and how much work I know you put into it.
Ela
Hi Magy, that makes me so happy! Thanks for your great feedback. 🙂
Annie
Wow, absolutely amazing cheese sauce! I now put it on many things, including simple vegetables that I steam. It makes everything taste so delicious! And depending on what I use it on, I either use regular coconut milk in a carton (lower (fat and less calories) which makes a bit of a thinner sauce, or use the canned coconut milk for a melted cheese texture.. It doesn’t matter which version I use or on what, my family and I love it! Thank you for not only a delicious cheese sauce recipe, but one that is easy and quick to make, too!
Ela
You are very welcome, Annie! I am so glad you and your family like it. 🙂
Shelly
Yes!!!! Thank you for this recipe! Since becoming allergic to dairy I’ve been desperate for a cheddar cheese spread and this was perfect. I spread it on toast and it’s heavenly.
Ela
I am glad you enjoyed it, Shelly. 🙂
Rachel
It’s funny – I don’t like regular mac and cheese (I’m vegetarian with vegan leanings), but I tend to like vegan mac and cheese, but I’m picky (no “fake” store-bought vegan cheese, no pumpkin or sweet potato). This sauce was AMAZING. And so easy! Followed the recipe as is, but decided to throw in some teaspoons of apple cider vinegar at the end and it was perfect.
Ela
So happy it turned out amazing, Rachel. 🙂
D
Just made this sauce. Very good and super easy! Thank you!
Ela
Awesome! I am glad you liked it. 🙂
Amirah Zaky
I agree! This recipe is amazing! Best vegan sauce I’ve ever tried!
Ela
Thank you, Amirah! 🙂
Alana
This was amazing!!
Ela
Happy it turned out amazing! 🙂
Alissa
Made this for my son who is vegan and he absolutely loves it which I am super happy about. I am not sure if different brands of nutritional yeast will taste different and will try different plant based milk also.
Ela
You are very welcome, Alissa! 🙂
Moree
My family loved this sauce! We Doubled the recipe and used it as a dip for chips, and then added the rest to your amazing stuffed pepper recipe! Since I didn’t have tapioca flour I used chickpea flour, and since I didn’t have smoked paprika, I used regular paprika with a couple drops of liquid smoke . I thought it turned out delicious! I’m looking forward to making it with all the right ingredients next time. If I even like it better than I already do, WOW!!!
Ela
I am so glad it turned out great, Moree! I am sure you will love it even more with the right ingredients. 🙂
Thanks for your amazing feedback.
Emily French
This sauce legit brings every meal from 0 to hero. It’s stretchy & melty, you would have no idea that its coconut milk-based. I use this sauce in so many ways throughout the week, – it’s perfect in a risotto, cheesy pasta, quesadilla. I’m so relieved to have found this after making crappy cashew cheese sauce for so long.
Ela
Thanks so much for your feedback, Emily! I am so glad you love it as much as I do. 🙂
Lashonda
At first I was a bit hesitant putting this in my broccoli, chicken, rice casserole. But MAN this was a perfect substitute for the cheese sauce i used to use. I’m not vegan, but within the last year I’ve gotten extremely sensitive to dairy. It made my casserole taste soooo much better than what i was doing before. ! Can’t wait to try it for chips and dip ????
Ela
Happy you loved the recipe! 🙂
Sherba
I have not made this cheese sauce yet but looking forward to using it on my nachos supreme recipe. Thanks for sharing
Ela
You are welcome, Sherba. 🙂
Emily
Can you sub arrowroot for the tapioca starch?
Ela
Hi Emily! Yes, and it’s actually mentioned in the recipe notes. 🙂
Christine
Awesome cheeze sauce!!! Had it on top of baked potatoes with chives and man was it good!!! Going to make pizza with the rest. Thanks fir the great recipe!
Ela
So happy you love it, Christine! 🙂
Rebecca
Had to add a TON more nutritional yeast for it to taste mostly like cheese but I came out SO good! Thank you!
Ela
My pleasure, Rebecca! Thanks for your feedback. 🙂
Melissa
Best vegan cheese, hands down! I love all of your recipes and am so grateful that you share your talents with the rest of us! Thank YOU!!
Ela
Aww, you are a sweetheart, Melissa! I am so glad you love my recipes. 🙂
Much love, Ela
Sebastian Kristensen
Hello Ela
I have tried to make this, but can’t seem to make it thicken at all, what can I have done wrong??
Ela
Hey Sebastian, that sounds weird. Did you use tapioca flour/starch or something different?
Renia
This is the BEST! Thank you!
Ela
I am glad you love it, Renia! Thanks for your feedback. 🙂