This vegan cheese tastes like the real thing. It's a delicious and healthy alternative to cheese made with 9 ingredients in 30 minutes.
This wonderful vegan cheese will turn your world upside down! Hands down one of my top recipes! So creamy, cheesy, gooey, and its flavor will have you thinking that you're eating real cheese.
This non-dairy cheese is made with 9 ingredients and 30 minutes and is perfect for lactose intolerants. It is also gluten-free and extremely easy to make. You'll be awed by its wonderful texture!
What is vegan cheese?
It is a dairy-free version of regular cheese. It is 100% plant-based and cholesterol-free, and I love making it at home to customize it with my favorite spices!
Ingredient notes
- Potatoes: I've made this vegan cheese recipe using different types of potatoes and it always works, but Yukon gold potatoes work best.
- Water: it can be made with cold, hot, or room temperature water. You could even add the water you used to boil or steam the veggies. I prefer to use clean water at room temperature, though. You could also use vegetable stock instead.
- Nutritional yeast: it gives this recipe the cheesy flavor, so it’s an important ingredient. If you can’t find it, you could use brewer’s yeast or even beer instead of water. However, nutritional yeast is the best choice.
- Extra virgin olive oil: extra virgin olive oil is my favorite choice, but you could actually use any kind of vegetable oil.
Dietary variations
- Make it oil-free: use water or vegetable stock instead of oil.
Pro tips
- Not all brands of nutritional or brewer's yeast weigh the same, so I prefer to use a measuring cup. If you don't have one, add 8 tablespoons or 35 grams, and then add more if needed.
- If you like your cheese spicy, just add a dash of cayenne powder as well. You can also customize it with pepper, paprika, or your favorite herbs.
How to make vegan cheese
- Boil or steam the potatoes and carrots for about 20 minutes or until they're soft.
- Drain them and add them to a powerful blender.
- Add all the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
- Serve your vegan cheese immediately.
How to store
- Fridge: keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
- Freezer: keep it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Reheat: it can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through. Add a little water, vegetable stock, or unsweetened plant milk if needed, such as soy milk or almond milk.
What is vegan cheese made of?
There are a lot of different vegan cheese recipes. They can be made with nuts like cashews, nutritional yeast, tofu, soy protein, tapioca starch, and even agar-agar, but this version contains potatoes, carrots, and some spices.
Serving suggestions
This dairy-free cheese is as creamy as the classic cheese sauce, so you can have it as an appetizer or snack and dip some tortilla chips, crudités, pita bread, or crackers in it.
Another option would be to spread it over a slice of vegan bread or use it to make a vegan grilled cheese sandwich, a pizza, or simply serve it with all your pasta recipes.
Looking for more vegan cheese recipes?
Did you make this vegan cheese recipe?
Please leave a comment and rate it below. We’d love to hear from you!
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Vegan Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups potatoes, peeled and diced, any type will do, but Yukon gold works best
- 1 cup carrots, peeled and diced
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Boil or steam the potatoes and carrots for about 20 minutes or until soft.
- Drain them and add them to a blender.
- Add all the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
- Serve your vegan cheese immediately with tortilla chips, crudités, pita bread, or spread over a slice of vegan bread. You could also use it to make a vegan grilled cheese sandwich!
- Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. I usually transfer the frozen container to the fridge the night before, that way it defrosts by itself. I reheat it in a saucepan and add some water, vegetable stock, or unsweetened plant milk if needed. It can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through.
Notes
- I've made this vegan cheese recipe using different types of potatoes and it always works, so please feel free to use any kind you have on hand.
- It can be made with cold, hot, or room temperature water. You could even add the water you used to boil the veggies. I prefer to use clean water at room temperature, though.
- Extra virgin olive oil is my favorite choice, but any oil will do.
- If you can't find nutritional yeast in your area, use debittered brewer's yeast instead (the same amount) or you could also use beer instead of water. You may need to add a little less, though.
- Not all brands of nutritional or brewer's yeast weigh the same, so I prefer to use a measuring cup. If you don't have one, add 8 tablespoons or 35 grams and add more if needed.
- If you want your cheese spicy, just add a dash of cayenne powder.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in September of 2019, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions, and tips in May of 2022.
Kim says
I love your recipe just the way that it is but I kicked it up a notch with Impossible chorizo. I also experimented with my second batch and used can carrots and potatoes. I'm a fresh girl all the way but someone gave me some can carrots and potatoes so I gave it a try because turning down free food was not an option. They are already cooked so this took less time and with the added chorizo, I couldn't really taste the texture difference.
Iosune says
Hi Kim! Sounds amazing 🙂 Thanks a lot for your comment!
Evie says
I’m currently out of white potatoes but I do have fresh sweet potatoes and dry potato flakes. Would either of those substitutions work?
Cathelijne says
Been searching the whole internet for this old recipe! This is the best vegan cheese sauce, you cannot imagine the taste when you read the ingredients
Adriana @ Simple Vegan Blog says
Hi Cathelijne! Thank you so much 🙂
Joan M says
Sorry reread recipe
answered my question about freezing
Adriana @ Simple Vegan Blog says
Don't worry!
Joan M says
can you freeze the sauce
Adriana @ Simple Vegan Blog says
Hi Joan! You can see how in the "How to store" section 🙂
Kelly says
This is so epic. Thank you! I ve just made a trial batch to see if I could sneak it to my kids and husband without them really knowing. Presently sitting unashamedly full on my couch cause I ate half the trial batch on my own. I love truffle mac and cheese - and have also just indulged with a good sprinkle of truffle powder on top. Zero guilt. And not a nut in sight so easier on the digestive system that I can have more for dinner! So good! For those in the UK - I may have gotten it wrong as a waxier potato but I've used maris piper. Great flavour, had to add a bit of cooking water from potato boil but...gave me that cheesy gooey consistency.
Melanie says
Love this recipe and have made it many times. I had one friend comment that it taste more like mashed potatoes then cheese dip and now that's all I think of when I eat it!! I don't really care, but wondering: Has anyone tried any additions that they like?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Melanie! Maybe you can try to add more nutritional yeast 🙂
Janice says
I am allergic to potatoes and carrots as well as nuts and dairy. What could I use in place of the potatoes and carrots?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Janice! I think it is not possible to make this recipe without potatoes and carrots, sorry 🙁
Alana says
Try Hannah sweet potatoes and butternut squash. Hannah sweets are white inside and less sweet
Aliza Mervis says
I can't eat dairy and found this recipe. Just made it and it is incredibly delicious. Thank you for posting it. So so good.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Aliza! I'm so glad you liked it 🙂
ataraxia says
This vegan cheese is insanely good, every time it blows my mind how simple and good it is 🙂 Have been coming back to this recipe for over a year now
Iosune Robles says
Hi! I'm so glad you liked it 🙂