3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP)
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!
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!
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
Creamy Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce from Cauliflower
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
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
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!
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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!
-Alison Marras
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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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24 comments
Can’t wait to try this. I am gf and now need to be df too. I was bumming out but this is great! I can still make some of my old recipes.
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.
Will definitely be making this on repeat!
This is definitely amazing. Perfect recipes. Cant wait to try them all. Cheesy options are my all tie favorite.
Oooh I love these sauces – so easy and tasty and -seeing Im lactose intolerant, these are perfect for me! Thank you!
This looks so delicious and perfect for my daughter! I can’t wait to show her this recipe! So excited!
I love this sauce and I want to put it on everything! Perfect for when my friends that have a dairy sensitivity come over!
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!
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!
My pleasure, hope you enjoy it!
Wow! I don’t even know which one to start with first. They all look amazing!
I have been looking for a delicious dairy free cheese sauce and these sound so good – will certainly be giving them a try.
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!
Perfect and easy swap! Thanks for sharing, Claire!
What brand of nutritional yeast do you use? I’m trying to find a non-fortified one.
I use Bragg’s
Oh gosh..your pasta looks amazing..drooling just looking at the pics
They all sound so delicious! Looking forward to making them!
We made the sweet potato cheese sauce. It is so yummy! I’ll definitely make it again!
awesome!! thanks for sharing, Beth!
Definitely going to try the sweet potato cheese sauce first. It looks delicious. Perfect for that classic mac and cheese crazing.
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.
all the goods to try!! yay, hope you enjoy!
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