5-Minute Vegan Cheese Sauce - Karissa's Vegan Kitchen (2024)

Easy vegan cheese sauce made in 5 minutes with 8 simple ingredients. Made without nuts. Gluten-free and soy-free.

A good vegan cheese sauce will change your world! The best part is that this recipe requires no blending! It is also soy-free, nut-free, and gluten-free. The base is coconut milk, but you can substitute with another kind of creamy dairy-free milk (see the section on variations below.)

The only equipment you need is a whisk and a pot.

This vegan cheese sauce is super versatile. Here are some ways to use it:

• Dip for chips or veggies
• With pasta to make
• Over roasted vegetables
• To make a loaded baked potato with vegan bacon bits

🧂 Ingredients

You are only 8 ingredients away from the most epic cheese sauce. No nuts needed! See the section on variations below if you have substitution questions, and the recipe card for the measurements.

• Coconut milk: Full-fat canned, unsweetened coconut milk.
• Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce.
• Lemon juice: Adds brightness and a zing! to the cheese sauce.
• Nutritional yeast: Otherwise known as “nooch” – a great cheesy substitute for vegans.
• Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt: Flavorful seasoning. No blandness here.

🧀 How to Make Vegan Cheese Sauce

This dairy-free cheese sauce is super quick and simple to make! You can find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Whisk all of the ingredients together in a saucepan.

Step 2: On medium heat, bring the cheese sauce to a simmer for 5 minutes. (Reduce to low if the sauce is splattering.)

🥣 Storage

• Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
• I do not recommend freezing the cheese sauce. Cornstarch does not freeze well.

🥛 Variations & Substitutions

• Coconut milk substitutions: You can substitute the coconut milk with 1.5 cups of another type of milk. I recommend using extra creamy oat milk for the best consistency. Other kinds of milk will work, but you may need to add more cornstarch. To do this after the sauce is warm, make a cornstarch slurry (dry cornstarch will clump in warm liquid.) Mix 2 tablespoons of water with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Add a little at a time until the sauce is the thickness you desire.
• Cornstarch substitutions: Arrowroot powder is the next best substitution for cornstarch. Tapioca starch will also work in a pinch.
• Different flavors: Add taco seasoning for a nacho-style sauce, or find inspiration from this carrot and potato vegan nacho cheese. Use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika for a smokey flavor. Add hot sauce for some heat.

Try this homemade vegan feta cheese next!