Easy Creamy Vegan Cheese Sauce

This Easy Creamy Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe is the best because it’s a delicious, savory sauce, is made in only a few minutes, and includes nutritional powerhouse ingredients. Try this vegan cheddar sauce with steamed broccoli or sautéed veggies, over pasta, on baked potatoes, or overcooked macaroni for a mac and cheese fix. Or think of it as a vegan cheese dip to serve with nachos, veggie sandwiches, and more.

A spoon is drizzling vegan cheese sauce over a baked potato with steamed broccoli.

Weekly Eating

If you were to look at our weekly menu of meals, you might be surprised to learn that we’re vegan. Maybe that’s because the names sound kind of familiar.

These are all recipes on the cheesy side. Cheese and Vegans. They’re kind of oxymoronic. Archenemies. Nemeses.

As the infamous Pink Panther says, “Not anymore.” (best spoken with a French accent).

Looking down at a bright orange bowl of vegan cheese sauce next to steamed broccoli.

I made this Velvet Vegan Cheese Sauce recipe the other day and my daughter immediately declared it her favorite.

Of course, I think she says that about everything I make. I swear, she’s up to something! I’m expecting a request for something huge sometime soon.

Looking down on sauce in a saucepan with a red spatula in it.

What is Vegetarian Cheese Made Out Of?

This is my vegan Velveeta. I used to love that stuff when I was a kid. And then I became an adult and learned what it was made from.

So, this dairy-free cheese sauce is much better because it tastes amazing, and it’s actually healthy too. That’s because I use a lot of healthy ingredients to make it, like:

  • chickpeas
  • pumpkin puree
  • nutritional yeast flakes
  • garlic

Simple vegan cheese sauce can be as thick or as smooth and melty as you’d like it to be. Simply add more liquid for a smooth-flowing cheese sauce. I store this in the fridge and it thickens up as it cools.

Looking down on a food processor full of chickpeas and pumpkin puree.

Is This a Vegan Cashew Cheese?

A lot of people these days are making vegan cheese sauce with cashews. I’ve done that as well. Take, for example, my Vegan Mac and Cheese recipe. Adding cashews when making vegetarian cheese adds a creamy, rich texture.

However, this life changing vegan cheese sauce (to quote my daughter) uses other techniques to make this sauce smooth and creamy. You’ll definitely want a food processor or a high-powered blender to make this as smooth as possible.

How to Make Vegan Cheese Sauce

To make this non-dairy cheese sauce, begin with a saucepan over medium heat. Add vegan butter and then flour to create a thick paste. Add hot water, coconut aminos, salt, garlic powder, turmeric (for color), and nutritional yeast flakes. Stir that all together.

In the meantime, add the following to a food processor: 1 can of pumpkin puree and 1 can of chickpeas (including the liquid). Pulse these two together until smooth. Then add this along with a package of vegan cheddar shreds to the rest of the ingredients in the saucepan. Cook until the cheese melts.

Make This Vegan Cheese Sauce Your Own

The best vegan cheese recipe is the one you like. With that in mind, this creamy sauce is a perfect base from which you can adapt to make it a favorite recipe for you and your family. Here are some ideas for how you could adapt this recipe:

  • Add more garlic powder for a more garlicky flavor
  • Try a cup or so of steamed cauliflower to add creaminess to this sauce
  • If you want a smoky flavor, try adding a teaspoon or so of smoked paprika
  • You should definitely salt and pepper to taste

This vegan cheese sauce is a perfect sauce for your everyday dishes. Dollop spoonfuls of it over freshly steamed veggies like broccoli or green beans.

Pour this cheeseless cheese over freshly cooked macaroni for your own vegan Mac and Cheese fest! Use it in place of  Velveeta in your favorite nacho cheese dips. You can even spread this cheese sauce on bread and make your own grilled cheese sandwich. There’s no end to the possibilities!

A baked potato is topped with steamed broccoli and vegan cheese sauce.

It’s surprising the things you can eat while living on a vegan diet. You don’t have to give up your favorite foods, just veganize them!

A spoon is drizzling vegan cheese sauce over a baked potato with steamed broccoli. A bowl of more cheese sauce is sitting in the background.

Velvet Vegan Cheese Sauce

Velvet Vegan Cheese Sauce will redefine your ideas of vegan cheese. Serve it over steamed veggies, potatoes, and even with mac and cheese.
5 from 2 votes
Course: Seasoning
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 16 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 144kcal

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup vegan butter
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour (sub gluten-free)
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 1 tablespoon Bragg Amino Acids
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast flakes
  • 15 oz pumpkin puree
  • 15 oz chickpeas (including liquid from the can)
  • 2 cups vegan cheddar shreds either Follow Your Heart or Daiya

Instructions

  • In a saucepan, melt vegan butter over low heat. Add flour with a whisk and beat over a medium heat until mixture is smooth and bubbly.
  • Whip in 1 cup of hot water, Bragg, salt, garlic powder, and turmeric, stir well.
  • In a food processor combine the pumpkin and full can of chickpeas (including liquid from the can). Pulse the food processor up to a minute or as needed so that the mixture is very smooth. You don't want lumps from the chickpeas.
  • Add the flour mixture from the saucepan to the food processor along with the vegan cheese. Pulse for up to a minute. You may still have some lumpiness from the vegan cheese. 
  • Transfer this mixture back into the saucepan over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of water. Stir to combine. Put the lid on the saucepan and cook for one minute. Remove the lid and stir then reduce heat to low and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.
  • Once the cheese sauce is done, allow it to cool before transferring to a sealed container. This will keep in the fridge for up to one week.
  • Serve over baked potatoes, steamed broccoli, on sandwiches, and you can even add some salsa to create a delicious nacho cheese sauce.

Recommended Equipment

(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)

Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 398mg | Potassium: 142mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 5700IU | Vitamin C: 1.5mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1.4mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Now you know what my secret ingredients are. The pumpkin adds some delicious beta carotene and the chickpeas provide a powerhouse of protein! So not only is this recipe delicious, but it’s also packed with fiber, protein, and healthy nutrients.

*Sigh*  Life is just too good.

Enjoy!

5 Responses to Easy Creamy Vegan Cheese Sauce

  1. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyOscar Reply

    I am looking forward to trying your vegan cheese sauce. Which Bragg product do you use?
    After storing how can it return to its velvety smoothness?

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Hi Oscar! I use Bragg Amino Acids in this recipe. Thanks for your comment, I’ll make a note in the recipe. Also, you can add a little water or vegetable broth when reheating because it does thicken after it’s refrigerated. If you use water, just give it a taste test before serving to make sure you don’t need to add a little seasoning.

  2. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyAli | Gimme Some Oven Reply

    Wow – beautiful photography, Marly! 🙂 I’m so going to serve this the next time my vegan friends come for dinner!

  3. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyDee Reply

    5 stars
    Wow! the sauce looks very filling on its own with chickpeas and pumpkin. Will give it a bash and try on my lasagne.

  4. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyNicole Reply

    Wow! This looks incredible! Looking forward to trying it out soon.

Rate / Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.