Best Vegan Queso (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (2024)

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Vegan Queso is a quick and easy dip made with cashews, green chilies, nutritional yeast and warm spices for a deliciously thick, creamy condiment to pair with tortilla chips or veggie sticks!

Best Vegan Queso (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (1)

Dips are a perfect center for a variety of chips, veggies, and crackers. You may already be familiar with this Vegan 7 Layer Dip, Vegan French Onion Dip, Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip, or Vegan Ranch. All delicious in every way!

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Why We Love This Recipe!

Now I would like to introduce to you the best cashew queso that’s dairy-free, plant-based dip and rivals any other cheese-filled dip. It’s absolutely creamy and delicious, and you won’t miss a thing!

This easy vegan queso dip is ready in about 15 minutes and is well suited for game day, movie night, parties, or whenever you are craving a savory ‘cheesy’ style dip!

It’s a perfect centerpiece for a platter of tortilla chips. Or if you’re in the mood for fresh, veggie sticks would be great too!

Best Vegan Queso (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (2)

Ingredient Notes

Here is everything you will need, plus variations when possible:

  • Raw cashews – You can find raw cashews in bulk at Sprouts or Whole Foods, or packaged from Trader Joe’s. I often purchase them online from Amazon for ease:Terrasoul CashewsorAnthony’s Cashews(affiliate links).
  • Green chilies – Keep it easy by using canned chile peppers.
  • Garlic – Both fresh cloves of garlic or garlic powder will work.
  • Nutritional yeast – Adds a savory flavor, but can be optional. I used 1 tablespoon here and it was perfect).
  • Cumin – Use to taste
  • Chili powder – You can sub with regular paprika. If you’re feeling bold, try using smoked paprika or chipotle powder.
  • Salt – As always, salt to taste (I used 1/2 teaspoon mineral salt).
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How To Make Vegan Queso

Here is a quick look at the process (Note – The full printable recipe is at the bottom of this post):

  • Soak the cashews. I like to soak my cashews covered in hot water for 5 minutes. This helps them soften up nicely and blend into pure creamy perfection. To help with digestion, it’s recommended to soak them for up to 2 hours in cool water. Soaking can be optional.
  • Blend the ingredients. Add the cashews, water, garlic, nutritional yeast, cumin, chili powder, and salt to the blender cup. Blend until creamy, about 1 – 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Taste for flavor.
  • Warm it up (optional). For warm vegan queso, pour queso dip into an oven-safe bowl, cover with tin foil, and place in a preheated oven set to 350 degrees F. for 10 – 15 minutes.

Recommended equipment: I love using my NutriBullet (affiliate link) for small jobs like this. It’s compact, easy to clean, and packs plenty of power for such a small appliance.

Best Vegan Queso (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (4)

Top Tips

  • Make it chunky. Instead of adding the green chile peppers when blending, stir them in after the vegan queso dip has been blended. This will make for a chunkier style dip. You may even like to add finely diced red bell pepper, tomatoes, or jalapeno for color!
  • Add toppings. For color, texture, and an extra yum factor, top with sliced or diced, jalapeno, red bell pepper, tomatoes, green onions, and/or cilantro.
  • Add more spices. Feel free to adjust the amount of spices to suit your taste.

How To Store

Refrigerator: Leftovers can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 6 – 7 days.

Freezer: For longer storage, vegan queso can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months using freezer-safe containers. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight, give a good stir before serving or warming.

Best Vegan Queso (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (5)

Serving Suggestions

Serve this savory dip as an appetizer to any of these delicious recipes. Here are a few of our favorites from TSV:

  • Salad:Serve alongside or use as a dressing for this Southwestern Salad or Southwest Chickpea Salad.
  • Soup: Pair with a bowl of this Vegan Pozole or Tex-Mex Vegetable Quinoa Soup.
  • Tacos: Make it a starter for these Roasted Poblano Tacos, Vegan Black Bean Tacos, or Buffalo Chickpea Tacos.
  • Burgers: Pair with Smoky Black Bean Burgers or Sante Fe Black Bean Burgers.
  • Meal bowls: It would be delicious drizzled in this Nacho Bowl, Vegan Burrito Bowl, or Kale + Black Bean Burrito Bowl.
Best Vegan Queso (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (6)

If you try this queso recipe or have a question, please let me know!Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

Print

Vegan Queso

Best Vegan Queso (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (7)
Print Recipe
★★★★★5 from 10 reviews

The best vegan queso is made with cashews, green chilies, and warm spices, creating a healthy dip made with whole food plant based ingredients and ready in minutes!

  • Author: Julie | The Simple Veganista
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Total Time: 15 min
  • Yield: Serves 6 – 8 1x
  • Category: Condiment, Appetizer
  • Method: puree
  • Cuisine: Tex-Mex, Mexican
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Units Scale

  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 1/23/4 cup water
  • 1 clove garlic or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 12 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1 4oz can green chile peppers
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 salt, or to taste

Instructions

Soak the cashews. I like to soak my cashews covered in hot water for 5 minutes. This helps them soften up nicely and blend into pure creamy perfect. To help with digestion, it’s recommended to soak them for up to 2 hours in cool water. Soaking can be optional.

Blend the ingredients. Add the cashews, 1/2 cup water, garlic, nutritional yeast, cumin, chili powder, and salt to the blender cup. Blend until creamy, about 1 – 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Add more water as needed. Taste for flavor.

Warm it up (optional). For a warm vegan queso, pour queso dip into an oven safe bowl, cover with tin foil, and place in a preheated oven set to 350 degrees F. for 10 – 15 minutes. Alternatively, warm in the microwave, uncovered, using 30 second intervals, stirring after each until warmed through.

Serve: Serve warm or at room temperature with your favorite tortilla chips or veggie sticks. For color and texture top with sliced or diced, jalapeno, red bell pepper, tomatoes, green onions and/or cilantro.

Makes about 1 1/4 cups

Serves 4 – 6

Store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 – 7 days, in a covered container. Give a good stir before serving.

Notes

If you find you want more flavor, bump up the spices a bit to suit your taste.

For a chunky style queso dip, instead of adding the green chile peppers when blending, stir them in after the dip has been blended. You may even like to add finely diced tomatoes or red bell pepper for color.

Nightshade free: To make queso nightshade free, simply omit the diced green chilies and chili powder. In place of the chili powder, use 1/2 teaspoon EACH garlic & onion powder. Also make the cumin a heaping teaspoon.

Nutritional values are estimates only. See ourfull nutrition disclosure here.

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Best Vegan Queso (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan queso made of? ›

Description. This creamy vegan queso is SO LUSCIOUS! It's made with just three ingredients: cashews, green chiles, and taco spices.

Why put evaporated milk in queso? ›

Evaporated milk works best in queso because it doesn't have that excess of water and it can help your dip reach a delicate balance between super thick and too thin. (As in you're not constantly having to alternate between adding more milk and then more cheese.)

How do you make queso not chunky? ›

The keys to making authentic, smooth, melty queso are:
  1. Grate your own cheese. Don't buy pre-grated, which has additives to prevent clumping.
  2. Add cream, milk or evaporated milk.
  3. Add a sufficient amount of acid to break down the milk proteins in the cheese.
  4. Work slowly.
Mar 4, 2018

What is vegan mozzarella made of? ›

Vegan Mozzarella is typically made from a combination of plant-based milk, such as soy, almond, or cashew milk, and a coagulant, such as agar agar or carrageenan. Some vegan mozzarella brands may also include starches or proteins to improve texture and flavor.

What are three dominant ingredients in vegan cheese? ›

Common Ingredients in Dairy Free Cheese
  • Soy Based. Soy is unsurprisingly one of the most common bases for vegan cheeses—and is popular in many plant-based animal-product substitute. ...
  • Coconut. ...
  • Flour. ...
  • Tree Seeds and Nuts. ...
  • A Safer Alternative.
Apr 29, 2020

What makes queso taste like queso? ›

Whether it's orange or white, queso can contain green chiles or jalapenos or both, and it may be spiced with a dash of cumin or chili powder. Some even add meat to queso, like ground beef or spicy sausage.

What makes queso thicker? ›

Making a slurry with cornstarch and cold milk is how you will thicken your queso. A traditional slurry is a 1:1 liquid to cornstarch ratio, but for our queso purposes I used 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of milk.

How to thicken queso without cornstarch? ›

All-purpose flour: You can thicken sauces with all-purpose wheat flour. For every tablespoon of cornstarch, use three tablespoons of flour. Combine raw flour with cold water in a small bowl to form a paste, then add it into the sauce as it's simmering.

How to make queso runnier? ›

Helpful Tips and Frequently Asked Questions. Fresh or pickled jalapeños may be used for this recipe. To make a thinner cheese dip, you can add more milk a little bit at a time until you reach the desired consistency.

Why is my queso cheese not melting? ›

Why won't my cheese melt? There are many reasons, but the biggest is the moisture content. The moisture content of the cheese has a great effect on the melting process. Cheese that contains higher amounts of fat will melt better than one that doesn't.

How do you make homemade queso not gritty? ›

Can You Fix Grainy Queso? In the hopes of achieving a smooth, creamy texture, remove the cheese sauce from the heat and let it cool. Vigorously whisk in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or a little cream to detangle protein molecules and eliminate the clumps.

What cheese is vegan but real? ›

Real Vegan Cheese (RVC) is a grassroots, non-profit research project working to produce real cheese using cellular agriculture. We add the genes for cheese proteins to yeast and other microflora, and turn them into little protein factories, then make real cheese by adding plant-based fats and sugars.

What is a good vegan substitute for cheese? ›

SAY CHEESE- 10 VEGAN SUBSTITUTES TO SATISFY YOUR CHEESE CRAVINGS”
  • Cashew Cream Cheese: Creamy Dream Come True. ...
  • Nutritional Yeast: The Cheesy Secret. ...
  • Tofu Ricotta: ...
  • Tahini – ...
  • Roasted salted almonds – ...
  • Hummus – ...
  • Peanut Butter or Sunflower Butter. ...
  • Avocado –
Oct 20, 2023

What is the healthiest cheese? ›

Which cheese is healthiest? Cottage cheese is probably the healthiest cheese, Rizzo says. “It's lower in saturated fat and higher in protein than most other cheese,” she explains.

What makes vegan cheese cheese? ›

What Ingredients Are in Vegan Cheese? Vegan cheeses are 100% animal-free and made using vegetable proteins. Usually, they're made from soy; nuts, such as cashews and macadamias; and vegetable oils, such as coconut oil. You can also find cheeses that derive from agar, tapioca, peas and arrowroot.

Is vegan queso healthy? ›

Like regular cheese, vegan cheese can be part of a healthy diet when used in moderation — but it's best to avoid highly processed options. However, not all vegan cheeses are created equally. Some versions are highly processed and have less nutritional value than others.

What is vegan nacho cheese made of? ›

Easy Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce is made with soaked, raw cashews, blended with water, nutritional yeast and spices; and warmed on the stove until it reaches nacho cheese perfection! Optional but good: Add Sriracha to taste or keep it mild for kids with sensitive palates.

What is queso made up of? ›

Flavour packed with onion, garlic, jalapeños, tomatoes, cilantro and spices. Normally made with Velveeta, our recipe is made with real cheese... there's nothing like a good Queso dip to dunk your fried tortillas or corn chips!

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