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

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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 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!

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!

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).

Ways To Use Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce

• Butternut Squash Lasagna
• Spaghetti Squash Pastitsio (Baked Ziti)
• Spaghetti Squash Alfredo
• As a dip on a platter
• Poured over tortilla chips as a vegan nacho cheese sauce
• Use it on any pasta dish
• Drizzle over broccoli or Brussels sprouts for a cheesy green veggie dish

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

Coconut-Cauliflower Cheese Sauce

4.35 from 29 votes

This nut-free, AIP-friendly cheese sauce is a staple in my recipes! It's easy and delicious.

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Classic Cashew Cheese Sauce

4.78 from 27 votes

This vegan cheese sauce recipe is a staple in my fridge. It's easy to make and even more delicious to eat!

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Sweet Potato Cheese Sauce (AIP, Dairy-Free, Paleo, Whole30)

5 from 4 votes

This easy coconut-free sauce is so creamy and dreamy! It's AIP, Paleo, and Whole30.

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4.83 from 28 votes

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

This easy coconut-free sauce is so creamy and dreamy! It's AIP, Paleo, and Whole30.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Course: Sauce

Servings: 6

Author: Alison Marras

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• 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!