9 Fabulous Vegan Cheese Recipes (2024)

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TheseVegan Cheese Recipes are so amazing no one will ever realize they are dairy-free and oil-free. Many of them can even be made nut-free by substituting white beans for cashews.

When I am talking to someone about going vegan, they will inevitably say, “I just can’t do that because I love cheese too much.” I always let them know that there are delicious homemade vegan cheese recipes to try like my Dairy-Free Sliceable Cheese and even Vegan Cream Cheese.

Although there are many packaged vegan cheeses available, all of them are loaded with artery-cloggingsaturated fat, and that is something my family tries to avoid.

That’s why, over the years, I have come up with alternatives like recipes for Tofu Ricotta and Cashew Mozzarella. There really are so many different ones to try!

Ingredients used in homemade vegan cheese

There are a lot of different vegan cheese recipes out there, and most of them have a number of common ingredients. This is a short list of what the healthiest versions use for ingredients.

  • Nuts- Cashews are probably the most common because they become creamy when blended.
  • Beans- Many cashew cheeses can be made nut-free by using white beans.
  • Potatoes- Surprisingly veggies like potatoes, carrots, and onions are also used a quite a few recipes like my Best Vegan Cheese Sauce.
  • Nutritional yeast- This is not brewer’s yeast but rather an inactive yeast that has a cheesy flavor and is used as a seasoning in many recipes like these Nutritional Yeast Recipes.
  • Spices- Some of the spices used are salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.

Which vegan cheese sauce tastes the best?

The best vegan cheese in my opinion is all of them! Seriously though, it’s very hard to choose because each one is unique and has its own flavor.

Personally, I will probably always love this Best Vegan Cheese Sauce the most for a number of reasons. It was the first cheese recipe I ever made, and it can be used in so many ways. I’ll list some below.

How to use vegan cheese sauce

Each vegan cheese sauce has its own merits and can be used in different recipes and in many different ways. Here are some of my favorites!

  • Best Vegan Cheese Sauce – Can be served over baked potatoes, steamed veggies, and even with tacos. We also mix it with salsa and serve it inNacho Supreme.
  • Mozzarella Cashew Cheese– This one has become our favorite forVegan PizzaandFrench Onion Soup. It is also terrific drizzled over Mexican Stuffed Peppers.
  • Vegan Ricotta Cheese– Perfect to serve on crackers or crusty bread chunks, as well as inSpinach Black Bean Lasagna.
  • Easy Cream Cheese Great on toasted bagels and crackers.
  • Vegan Parmesan This one is a dry cheese, and we love to sprinkle it over pizza, baked potatoes, and pasta.

There’s even a Spicy Nacho Dip recipe from the PlantPure Nation Cookbook that is pretty awesome when used as a vegan cheese sauce.

Also, be sure to check out my Vegan Cheese Recipes page for more great recipes.

For those of you new to the whole food plant-based lifestyle, we’ve created a FREE 7-Day Plant-Based Menu Planner to help you get started!

Recipes to drizzle it over

  • Portobello Stuffed Mushrooms
  • Spinach Mushroom Lasagna
  • Carrot Dogs
  • Chili Cheese Fries

Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipes

Everything just taste better with cheese, and that's why these healthyvegan cheese recipes are so amazing no one will ever realize they are dairy-free and oil-free! Click on each of the photos, recipe titles, or 'Get the Recipe' buttons to see full recipes with ingredients, measurements, instructions, and a print button.

9 Fabulous Vegan Cheese Recipes (7)

Total Time 30 minutes Yield 10

Best Vegan Cheese Sauce

I use this cheese sauce for everything--nachos, tacos, pizza, baked potato and steamed veggie topping, and so much more!

9 Fabulous Vegan Cheese Recipes (8)

Photo Credit:eatplant-based.com

Easy Vegan Cashew Queso (5 minutes!)

Making Vegan Cashew Queso has never been easier than with this delicious 4 ingredient recipe that takes less than 5 minutes to make in your blender or food processor. Here we go!

9 Fabulous Vegan Cheese Recipes (9)

Total Time 30 minutes Yield 6 servings

Sweet Potato Cheese Sauce

This Sweet Potato Cheese Sauce is packed with wholesome ingredients, amazingly delicious, and diabetes-friendly. Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, and dairy-free.

9 Fabulous Vegan Cheese Recipes (10)

Total Time 20 minutes Yield 4 servings

Cashew Cheese Mozzarella

This Cashew Vegan Cheese Mozzarella is fabulous on cashew cheese pizza, lasagna, quesadillas, and anything else you can think of. With a warm and nutty flavor, it even stretches!

9 Fabulous Vegan Cheese Recipes (11)

Sliceable Vegan Cheese Recipe

This Vegan Cheese Recipe has been a long time coming. Though I have a number of great dairy-free cheese recipesalready, all of them have been sauces. That’s where this one is different. It’s actually sliceable for serving on crackers, sandwiches, and charcuterie boards.

9 Fabulous Vegan Cheese Recipes (12)

Total Time 40 minutes Yield 10 servings

Vegan Nacho Cheese

This Vegan Nacho Cheese is incredible as a dip for baked chips as well as on fries, baked potatoes, and pizza. For healthy burritos and quesadillas, it can't be beaten! Make it with cashews or white beans.

9 Fabulous Vegan Cheese Recipes (13)

Easy Vegan Cream Cheese

Ridiculously easy to make, this Vegan Cream Cheese is fabulous smeared on bagels, muffins, crackers, or celery sticks. Deliciously simple for breakfast and snacks!

9 Fabulous Vegan Cheese Recipes (14)

Total Time 10 minutes Yield 6 servings

Vegan Ricotta Cheese

This homemade vegan ricotta cheese is made with only 7 simple ingredients and takes less than 10 minutesfor a deliciously healthy plant-based cheese alternative.

9 Fabulous Vegan Cheese Recipes (15)

Parmesan in 5-Minutes

Making homemade vegan parmesan is surprisingly easy and only requires a handful of ingredients. It keeps for months, so you’ll have it available to sprinkle on any and everything.

About Terri Edwards

Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy. I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…

9 Fabulous Vegan Cheese Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What vegan cheese actually tastes like cheese? ›

Parmela Shreds

Parmela nailed it (don't ask us how). These cashew-based shreds not only taste like cheese, but they also melt perfectly. Varieties include Mild Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Fiery Jack.

Why doesn't plant-based cheese melt? ›

It reacts with casein, which is not there in plant-based milks. It doesn't "melt" in the sense that it softens and becomes stringy when heated (eg.

What's the best vegan cheese for melting? ›

Violife Epic Mature Cheddar Flavour Vegan Cheese

With a whopping 10 out of 10, the Violife Epic Mature Cheddar Flavour is one of the best rated vegan cheeses when melting is considered. If you're looking for a stronger tasting cheddar to melt, this is for you.

Does vegan cheese melt like real cheese? ›

Does dairy-free cheese melt? Of course it does! But not the same way as its moo moo counterpart. The first thing you might notice when melting dairy-free cheese is that it doesn't brown like traditional cheese.

Is vegan cheese inflammatory? ›

Is vegan cheese inflammatory? The vegan cheeses produced on a large scale that we are most likely to find in grocery stores are processed foods. As is the case with all processed foods, they can cause some inflammation in some consumers.

What vegan cheese tastes like Velveeta? ›

Wayfare Dairy Free Cheese: Ready to Spread, Melt or Dip

The Original tastes nearly spot on for Velveeta, but the ingredients are much more appealing. As promised, Wayfare Dairy Free Cheese is tasty as a cold, thick, creamy dip. It also melts with ease in the microwave for pouring on nachos or when broiled in the oven.

Why is butter not vegan? ›

Traditional butter is made with churned milk or cream, which usually comes from cows (but it can also come from other animals like goats), and that's why it's not vegan. Many people also use margarine, which is similar to butter in texture and color, but it's usually made with plant-based fat instead of animal fat.

Is vegan cheese better for you than dairy cheese? ›

Is vegan cheese healthy? In terms of health, vegan cheese is generally considered better for you than dairy cheese as it's lower in saturated fat and often has added vitamin B12, which contributes to a healthy nervous system.

Why is vegan cheese yellow? ›

Including Color

The most commonly used option for plant-based cheese is oil soluble beta-carotene. This is because it not only has the right golden yellow cheese color, but also because of its consumer recognition as a natural colour, as well as widespread regulatory approval.

Does Daiya vegan cheese melt? ›

Daiya's dairy-free cheese is a game-changer, melting flawlessly for that ooey-gooey satisfaction you love. Thanks to our Daiya Oat Cream™ blend, each bite is a creamy, dreamy delight. Who knew plant-based could taste this good and melt so right?

What is the best vegan cheese for burgers? ›

Here, we've compiled a few of our favorite vegan brands that make vegan cheddar cheese, plus tasty recipes to cook with it.
  • 7 vegan cheddar cheese brands.
  • 1 Violife. ...
  • 2 Daiya. ...
  • 3 Follow Your Heart. ...
  • 4 Chao Creamery. ...
  • 5 Good Planet Foods. ...
  • 6 Parmela Creamery. ...
  • 7 Nurishh.
Jan 20, 2024

What milk is vegan? ›

Vegan milks are made from a wide assortment of beans, nuts, seeds, and grains. The most popular varieties are soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk. Other popular brands are made from coconuts, peas, cashews, hazelnuts, or rice.

What cheese doesn't melt when grilled? ›

In its raw state, halloumi is dense and hard...not exactly the kind of stuff you'd want to put on a board next to some Comté and Gorgonzola. But once grilled or pan-fried, its exterior turns crispy and golden-brown, while the inside softens without melting, for a pleasantly squeaky, chewy bite.

What is in Babybel plant based cheese? ›

Ingredients: Water, modified starch 25%, coconut oil 18% tricalcium citrates, salt, natural flavouring, acididty regulator: citric acid, colour: natural beta carotene, vitamin B12.

What tastes like cheese but isn't cheese? ›

The Best Simple Dairy-Free Cheese Substitutes
  • Macadamia Ricotta. When I was avoiding soft cheeses during my pregnancy, my Macadamia 'Ricotta' (recipe below) was a life saver. ...
  • Cashew Cheese. ...
  • Tofu + Salt. ...
  • Coconut Yogurt, Soy Yoghurt or Almond Yoghurt. ...
  • Hummus. ...
  • Whipped Coconut Cream. ...
  • Avocado. ...
  • Babaganoush.

Is there any actually good vegan cheese? ›

Miyoko's mozzarella and gourmet cheese wheels were the first vegan cheese options to really turn heads and reach mass distribution. For many, Miyoko's is the gateway cheese. The brand has expanded into spreads, cream cheese, and even liquid mozzarella, but the wheels are where it truly shines.

Does Daiya cheese taste like cheese? ›

Many people find that Daiya cheese is a good alternative to traditional dairy cheese, as it has a similar texture and taste. It can be used in a variety of dishes, such as sandwiches, pizzas, and pasta dishes, and is available in a range of flavors, including mozzarella, cheddar, and pepper jack.

What is a really good vegan cheese? ›

Violife is the kingpin of vegan cheeses — and for good reason. The brand manufactures numerous vegan cheese products including mozzarella, cheddar, and Mexican-style shreds, vegan cream cheese alternatives, mature cheddar cheese slices, cheese alternative dips, feta, and shaved parmesan.

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