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3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP)

March 26, 2020

(updated February 18, 2022)

4.53 from 65 votes
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What’s Inside: Looking for the best dairy-free cheese sauce? Here are three recipes to make on repeat. Plus, they’re Paleo, Whole30, and AIP! 

The Best Dairy-free Cheese Sauces To Make On Repeat (Paleo, Whole30, AIP-friendly) via Food by Mars

The Best Cheese Sauce Is Dairy-Free!

When I first eliminated dairy from my diet many moons ago, I felt a lot of things. I felt way better, I saw less skin breakouts and irritations, and my digestion improved, to name a few. But, I also felt a dairy-shaped gaping hole in the depth of my soul. And so began the search for dairy-free substitutes to be able to enjoy the foods I missed most like mac and cheese, ice cream, and, of course, a good ol’ cheese board.

This post is all about the sauce, though, because cheese sauce can be used in so many different ways. Between pouring it on veggies, gluten-free pasta, veggie noodles, and using it in casseroles, it’s become quite a staple in my fridge because it’s easy to make and delicious!

 

Just getting started on AIP (or need a refresh)? Here's an easy 1-week meal plan using some of my most popular AIP recipes to make it stress-free and delicious.

 

The three best dairy-free cheese sauces highlighted in this post are my go-to’s, and two of them are AIP-friendly, meaning they’re nut-free, vegan, and packed with veggies. This is also a great way to get kids or picky eaters to consume more veggies (in a sneaky way).  

…Cue the evil laugh – muahaha!

The Best Dairy-free Cheese Sauces To Make On Repeat (Paleo, Whole30, AIP-friendly) via Food by Mars

What You Need To Make Dairy-Free Cheese

  • Nutritional Yeast: Different from bakers or brewer’s yeast, this is a pivotal ingredient in dairy-free cheese recipes. It provides a cheesy-like taste. This is the brand I use.
  • Lemon Juice or Vinegar: This helps with that little bite that cheese has and brings something acidic to your recipe.
  • Cauliflower, Nuts, Coconut, or Potato: Something that will be creamy in texture whether it be from fat (nuts, coconut) or starch (like potato or arrowroot starch).

The Best Dairy-free Cheese Sauces To Make On Repeat (Paleo, Whole30, AIP-friendly) via Food by Mars

Ways To Use Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce

  • Paleo Moussaka (Greek Eggplant Casserole) - gluten-free, paleo, dairy-free, Whole30 via foodbymars
  • spaghetti squash alfredo via Food by Mars (paleo, AIP, dairy-free)
  • ways to use dairy-free cheese sauce in vegetable lasagna
  • Paleo Spaghetti Squash Pastitsio (Greek Baked Ziti w/ Dairy-free Bechamel) dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb, AIP-friendly via Food by Mars

The Top 3 Dairy-Free (and Vegan) Cheese Sauce Recipes

Creamy Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce from Cauliflower

4.32 from 70 votes
Coconut-Cauliflower Cheese Sauce recipe
This nut-free, AIP, and paleo-friendly vegan cheese sauce is so good! The extra creamy texture comes from a combination of steamed cauliflower and coconut cream. Best part? It only requires 10 minutes of prep and stays fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days!
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The Best & Easiest Paleo Cashew Cheese Sauce

4.48 from 38 votes
The Best Dairy-free Cheese Sauces To Make On Repeat (Paleo, Whole30, AIP-friendly) via Food by Mars
This quick and easy Paleo cashew cheese sauce recipe is a staple in my fridge. Toss the ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth and thick. Lather it on pasta, nachos, tacos, and so much more – the options are endless for this versatile cashew cheese sauce. Whole30 friendly and vegan too!
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Dairy-Free Sweet Potato Cheese Sauce

4.56 from 34 votes
creamy shrimp over zoodles
This dairy-free sweet potato cheese sauce is a staple in my fridge. Made with sweet potatoes, nutritional yeast, and no tree nuts, this recipe is easy to make, and even easier to eat while remaining AIP – and Paleo-friendly!
Get The Recipe

More Healthy, Dairy-free Recipe Collections

The Best Dairy-free Cheese Sauces To Make On Repeat (Paleo, Whole30, AIP-friendly) via Food by Mars

Sweet Potato Cheese Sauce (+ more Dairy-free Cheese Sauce Recipes)

4.53 from 65 votes
This easy coconut-free sauce is so creamy and dreamy! It's AIP, Paleo, and Whole30.
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Author: Alison Marras
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Yield: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked and cooled white sweet potato (skin peeled off)
  • 1 cup+ water
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes
  • 1/2 juiced lemon or 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions:

  • Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until your sauce forms, add more water as needed to loosen and use in cooking or store for up to 5-days in the fridge.

Notes:

This Sweet Potato Cheese Sauce Recipe was adapted from Rachel’s delicious one @meatified!
Course: Sauce
-Alison Marras
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

browse more recipes:

AIP Cauliflower Dairy-free Gluten-free Grain-free Nightshade-free Nut-free Paleo Potatoes Recipe Roundups Recipes Staples Whole30
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26 comments

  1. The cauliflower sauce came out better than I expected. I did add some additional nutritional yeast. I made it with some cassava pasta and added in chicken and spinach. It kind of reminded me of chicken alfredo. 😋

    Reply

  3. Delicious and easy! I made the cauliflower sauce. It is by far the most delicious and easiest “cheesy” like recipe I’ve ever come across. I put it on breaded Italian seasoning chicken and some pasta. This is a keeper. 

    Reply

  8. I love this sauce and I want to put it on everything! Perfect for when my friends that have a dairy sensitivity come over!

    Reply

  9. These are all so clever! I can think of so many uses for them – way beyond just draping them over pasta – and I was excited to see that you had some yummy suggestions, too! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

  10. I will definitely be trying this dairy-free cheese sauce! I just started eating less dairy, so I need all of these.
    Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply

  12. I have been looking for a delicious dairy free cheese sauce and these sound so good – will certainly be giving them a try.

    Reply

  13. This recipe is amazing! We replaced the sweet potato with butternut squash because that’s what we had on hand it turned out amazing. Highly recommend making this! Perfect for pasta, as a sauce or even for nachos! 

    Reply

  18. Definitely going to try the sweet potato cheese sauce first. It looks delicious. Perfect for that classic mac and cheese crazing. 

    Reply

  19. I can’t wait to try these different cheese sauces! Anytime I’ve tried to make a dairy-free one before they’ve never tasted good, but these look delicious.

    Reply

  20. will be making all soon for me i dont eat dairy at home will tag you on twitter drooling over my samsung galaxy j4 love your recipes making me hungry Thanks Ramya

    Reply

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