Best Ever Vegan Queso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (2024)

Last modified: . Originally posted: By Sophia DeSantis

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This vegan queso recipe is hands down the best dairy free version of queso ever. It's so easy to make and loved everyone!

This queso recipe reminds me of the one I get at Mexican restaurants, except it's made without the dairy so doesn't leave me feeling bloated and yuck! It uses 9 simple easy to find ingredients and a much healthier version.

Best Ever Vegan Queso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (1)
Best Ever Vegan Queso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (2)

This recipe was originally published on May 2, 2016.

If you love Mexican cheese dip you will absolutely love this vegan queso! It's a white queso easily made in a blender. If you prefer an orange Mexican cheese then try out my vegan nacho cheese sauce!

Ingredients

I brought this vegan queso blanco to a party, slipped it on the table and watched as it was devoured. No one knew it was vegan. Everyone stuffed their face and it was glorious.

With the right blend of foods, you can create the most amazingly smooth queso dip, without any cheese! My dirty little secret is the pickled jalapeño juice, it gives it that truewhite queso dip flavor:creamy, cheesy, with the jalapeño tang! Here's what you need:

  • Cooked potato
  • Roasted garlic
  • Raw cashews
  • Veggie broth
  • Unsweetened cashew milk
  • Mild chiles
  • Mild pickled jalapeños
  • Pickled jalapeño juice
  • Seasonings
Best Ever Vegan Queso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (3)

How to Make Vegan Queso

This queso blanco dip is incredibly easy to make. Throw it all in a blender and BOOM. Bathe worthy dip at your tongue tip.

  1. Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pulse in the extra pickled jalapeño slices for some texture .
  2. Pour into a pot and heat until thick.
  3. Serve with everything!
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Best Ever Vegan Queso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (5)
Best Ever Vegan Queso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (6)

What to Serve With Queso Blanco

As much as I'd love to eat this Mexican white cheese dip like a soup, I usually try to use some self control and pair it with other tasty foods either as a dip or topping. Here's some of my favorites:

  • Homemade Oil Free Tortilla Chips
  • Crisp veggies like celery, carrots, peppers, or jicama
  • Vegan Nachos
  • Vegan Taquitos
  • Mexican Rice
  • Pinto Beans
  • Breakfast Burritos
  • Loaded Vegan Burritos
  • Refried Bean Burrito
  • Crispy Potato Tacos
  • Soft pretzels or pretzel chips
  • Oven Baked French Fries
  • Crusty bread
  • Baked Potato
  • Vegan Scrambled Eggs
  • Mix with pasta

Preparation Tips

When making this vegan queso dip recipe over and over and over again (because you will!) make sure to keep these suggestions in mind:

  • Add in some extra flavor by mixing in some vegan chorizo, Mexican salsa, or tomatillo salsa verde.
  • If you are not using a high speed blender, you can soak the cashews overnight, boil them for 30 minutes or grind the dry cashews into a fine powder using a coffee grinder in order to help get them smooth.
  • You can boil, microwave or bake the potato but keep in mind if you boil it there will be more moisture in the potato so you will need to let the dip cook longer to thicken.
  • I used red potatoes but any starchy potato will work, just don’t use sweet ones.
  • I used a veggie broth without tomato in the base. You can sub water for the broth but the flavor will change a bit and you may need more salt.
  • This dip is best enjoyed hot, serve it in a slow cooker on low. (High will likely burn it.)

Make Ahead and Storage Tips

  • To prepare this dip ahead of time, roast the garlic, cook the potato, and soak the cashews (if needed) up to 3 days in advance.
  • This vegan queso blanco dip will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week.
  • You can also freeze for up to 3 months!
  • To reheat, take out of the freezer the night before and slowly defrost to room temp. Then heat in the microwave or stove top on low heat whisking well until the smooth creamy texture returns.
    • Sometimes freezing can change the texture, simply give it another blend in the blender and you're good to go!

Common Questions

What is vegan queso made of?

This vegan queso recipe is made from all whole food, amazing ingredients! The creaminess is a combo of potato, cashews and cashew milk, with flavor coming in from all of the other ingredients including jalapeños and jalapeño juice.

Is vegan queso healthy?

Because this dip is made from simple whole food ingredients, it is much healthier than traditional queso dip.

How do you store vegan queso?

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze for 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, whisking often to get to that creamy texture.

What cheese is queso made from?

Most queso dip is made with white American cheese, but sometimes cheddar, mozzarella, or cream cheese is used as well. This queso blanco recipe avoids all of that for a healthier version!

More Vegan Mexican Recipes

If you're like our family and need Mexican food on a regular basis, you need a variety of recipes to choose from!

All of these plant based dishes are made from only whole food ingredients making them a healthy choice for your family (to learn more about how to figure out what is in those store bought varieties check out this guide on reading food labels):

  • Healthy Crunchy Taco Cups
  • Vegan Mexican Chili Cheese Dip
  • Mexican Tequila Lime Chickpea Soup
  • Vegan Enchilada Casserole
  • Cinco De Mayo Roundup

Also check out these other vegan cheese recipes:

  • 4 Ingredient Cotija Cheese
  • The Best Nacho Cheese Sauce
Best Ever Vegan Queso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (7)

Best Ever Vegan Queso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (8)

The Best Cream Vegan Queso

Sophia DeSantis

The best vegan queso recipe made with dairy free ingredients for that perfect creamy cheesy tangy flavor. It's so easy to make and loved by everyone!

4.89 from 17 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Shop Ingredients

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 6

Calories 114 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cooked potato , about 1 medium sized potato (see note)
  • 4 cloves garlic , roasted (add up to 4 more for extra garlic flavor)
  • ¾ cup raw cashews , see note
  • 1 ½ cups veggie broth (use low sodium to keep the salt low)
  • 1 cup unsweetened cashew milk (almond would work too)
  • 4 ounces chopped mild chiles (one small can)
  • ½ cup jarred mild pickled jalapenos , divided
  • 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeno juice (juice from slices above)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt (see note)

Shop Ingredients on Jupiter

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients except for ¼ cup pickled jalapenos into a blender and blend until smooth.

  • Add last ¼ cup jalapenos and pulse until chopped. You can also just add them at the beginning but I liked the flavor of some chopped jalapenos in the dip.

  • Pour the liquid into a pot and heat over medium low heat on stove until it reduces and gets nice and thick and gooey. Depending on your stove, you may need to up the heat to get it to thicken nicely, even bring it to a boil then reduce the heat.

  • Stir frequently to prevent sticking. It took about 10 minutes for me to get the right consistency but you can make it however you prefer it. Serve hot!

  • Serve with everything!

Notes

  • Makes 3 cups. Serving is ½ cup per person
  • If you are not using a high speed blender, you can soak the cashews overnight, boil them for 30 minutes or grind the dry cashews into a fine powder using a coffee grinder (do not boil them for this method).
  • You can boil, microwave or bake the potato but keep in mind if you boil it there will be more moisture in the potato so you will need to let the dip cook longer to thicken.
  • I used red potatoes but any starchy potato will work, just don’t use sweet. It also won't work to substitute with something that is not an actual potato (such as another root vegetable).
  • I used a veggie broth without tomato in the base. You can sub water for the broth but the flavor will change a bit and you may need more salt.
  • The amount of salt needed may vary depending on the sodium in your broth.
  • If you freeze this, and you can, take out of the freezer the night before and slowly defrost to room temp. Then heat in the microwave or stove top on low heat whisking well until the smooth creamy texture returns.

Tips to prep ahead: Soak cashews if needed. Roast garlic. Boil potato.

Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.

Nutrition

Calories: 114kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 4gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 489mgPotassium: 199mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 24IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.

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Best Ever Vegan Queso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (9)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Janke

    Hi, I just discovered your site and I was pleasantly surprised. Didn't make anything just yet so I cannot rate your recipes –yet I can tell you that I think it looks promising!
    The only thing I scratched my head about was the 'I slipped it on the table' part in the story about the vegan queso blanco. Since we have got some severe food allergies in our household, 'slipping in' or 'slipping between' is always scary. But it might be more of a me-problem than something that you should care about. Might be good to keep in mind though.
    I guess today I'll make the Mexican coleslaw, the pic and the recipe made my mouth water already, and I haven't even begun yet. Can't wait!

    Reply

    • Sophia DeSantis

      Hi Janke! Glad to have you here! Hope you find things you love!

      Reply

  2. Jeanna

    My husbands on a business trip so I'm not motivated to cook much so I decided to make this tonight for myself and my goodness this is delicious! It has a great flavor and it's not spicy!
    I love cheese and use to have it with every meal and as a snack. I'm so happy that I can enjoy queso again and quench my dairy fix. #nomnom

    Reply

    • Sophia DeSantis

      I am so happy you liked it Jeanna! I totally get what you mean about cooking when it's just you, but I can totally take this down myself too!

      Reply

  3. Vicky

    I’ve only known things to reduce by bringing it to boil first and then turning it lower. Is this what you do?
    Thanks! Sounds yummy!

    Reply

    • veggiesdontbite

      Hi Vicky! In the directions I say that it depends on your stove. I did not need to boil it to reduce, I kept it on medium low heat and it slowly thickened. But you can also bring to a boil to thicken it. I'd caution you with this and make sure you are stirring it constantly so it doesn't stick. Hope you like it!

      Reply

  4. Hina

    Hi! I tried this queso recipe without adding potato. It was so good ,totally enjoyed in a burrito bowl & snacking with tortilla chips. Thank you ! 🙋💙

    Reply

    • veggiesdontbite

      I am so happy your liked it as you made it!!

      Reply

  5. Sarah

    This is absolutely unbelievable! So creamy and perfect, you'd never know it's vegan!

    Reply

    • veggiesdontbite

      Thanks Sarah!

      Reply

  6. Hailey

    LOVED IT!!!! is it actually an estimated 118 calories per serving? that's amazing

    Reply

    • veggiesdontbite

      SO happy you liked it Hailey! I just updated the calculation with the newest info on my plugin and it's actually 114 per serving, LOL. It has a veggie base!

      Reply

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Best Ever Vegan Queso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (2024)

FAQs

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.

What do vegans substitute for cheese? ›

And there are also a number of ingredients that can be made to taste like cheese, too.
  • 5 dairy-free cheesy swaps. Reach for these five vegan ingredients the next time you want to cheese up your favorite foods. ...
  • 1 Nutritional yeast. ...
  • 2 Hummus. ...
  • 3 Tofu. ...
  • 4 Cashews. ...
  • 5 Potatoes.

Why is vegan cheese so creamy? ›

Yukon gold potatoes and cashews – They're the key ingredients for giving vegan cheese recipes oozy, creamy texture.

What is in vegan cheese? ›

What Ingredients Are in Vegan Cheese? Vegan cheeses are 100% animal-free and made using vegetable proteins. Usually, they're made from soy; nuts, such as cashews and macadamias; and vegetable oils, such as coconut oil. You can also find cheeses that derive from agar, tapioca, peas and arrowroot.

Will vegan cheese ever taste like real cheese? ›

It's important to understand that vegan cheese, being made with different ingredients, typically does not taste exactly like traditional dairy cheese. However, it does replicate some of the flavors and textures that you might remember from dairy cheese and tastes great in its own right.

Why not to eat cheese vegan? ›

Vegans do not eat cheese or any other dairy products because they are derived from animals. Dairy products involve the exploitation of animals for their milk, and so cheese made from animal milk is not considered part of a vegan diet.

What tastes like cheese but isn't? ›

Nutritional yeast is actually a fairly simple ingredient that offers a cheesy vibe to foods like no other dairy-free ingredient. Loaded with B vitamins (including B12), many people love the taste of nutritional yeast sprinkled on like Parmesan.

What cheese is vegan but real? ›

Real Vegan Cheese (RVC) is a grassroots, non-profit research project working to produce real cheese using cellular agriculture. We add the genes for cheese proteins to yeast and other microflora, and turn them into little protein factories, then make real cheese by adding plant-based fats and sugars.

Why does vegan cheese make me gassy? ›

Vegan cheeses often contain unhealthy starches and vegetable oils that the body converts to sugar, causing weight gain and uncomfortable bloating – the exact symptoms we are trying to avoid!

Is Miyoko's cheese good? ›

Secretly Good: this vegan cashew cheese is so tasty that it meets even my dairy-purist standards. Miyoko's Creamery is a plant-based dairy alternative brand that makes vegan cheese and butter. I'm a cheese enthusiast, but I will devour Miyoko's vegan cheese wheels and dip just as quickly.

What replaces milk in vegan cheese? ›

You could use other plant-based milk instead or even cashew cream, but I find that the coconut milk gives it the rich creamy texture that I crave in cheese. (Coconut cream also works well.)

Which cheese is most vegan? ›

You may be asking yourself, what types of cheese can I eat? Vegans can eat cheese that is comprised of plant-based ingredients like soybeans, peas, cashews, coconut, or almonds. The most common types of vegan cheeses are cheddar, gouda, parmesan, mozzarella, and cream cheese that can be found in non-dairy forms.

Why are cashews used in vegan cheese? ›

Nuts were a game-changer for vegan cheese because they provide a lot of fat: 100 grams of cashews have 44 grams of fat, versus 6.4 grams of fat in the same amount of soybeans. This allows for richer flavor and texture that gets closer to imitating animal milk dairy.

Is vegan cheese anti-inflammatory? ›

Taste and Nutrition. Containing oilseed and plant milk, vegan cheeses are rich in minerals (magnesium) and antioxidants, and they possess anti-inflammatory properties, all of which protect against damage caused by free radicals.

What's an alternative to Velveeta cheese? ›

Monterey Jack. Monterey Jack is a cheese made from cow's milk that has a pale yellow color, slightly paler than Velveeta. It has a mild and creamy flavor, making it a versatile ingredient in many dishes and an excellent alternative to Velveeta when it is melted.

What cheese does Velveeta taste like? ›

Since the government says it isn't technically cheese, Velveeta doesn't have an exact cheese kind. The closest flavor association would be American cheese in terms of flavor, texture, and color.

Does Velveeta have a vegan option? ›

So is Velveeta really cheese, and are any Velveeta products vegan? If you're short on time, here's a quick answer: No, Velveeta contains milk-derived ingredients and is not vegan.

What vegan cheese tastes like parmesan? ›

Violife carefully blends plant-based ingredients to deliver the beloved Parmesan cheesy zest but without any dairy, soy, gluten, lactose, nuts, or preservatives. With our Just Like Parmesan Wedge, eating vegan and dairy-free has never been so easy, or delicious.

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