5 from 117 votes
Best Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
This vegan nacho cheese sauce blends soaked cashews, water, lemon juice, salt, diced green chilies, and optional jalapeños in a high-speed blender for a creamy and spicy dairy-free topping. The smooth sauce can be served immediately with tortilla chips or as a versatile condiment for tacos and burrito bowls. Its thick texture can be thinned with water after chilling, making it convenient for storage and reuse.
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings:
6
Calories:
125 kcal
Course:
Appetizer
Cuisine:
Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashews (not roasted or salted)
- 6 tablespoons water
- 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon juiced)
- ¾ teaspoon salt I use Real Salt brand, fine sea salt
- 1 (4-ounce can) green chilies I use Rio Luna organic, diced
- 6 jalapeño optional, but recommended, sliced jarred
Instructions
- In a high-speed blender, combine the cashews, water, lemon juice, salt, diced chilies (along with their juices), and jalapeno slices. Secure the lid and blend until very smooth.
- Serve right away with your favorite tortilla chips for dairy-free nachos, or use it as a topping for tacos, burrito bowls, and more. This nacho cheese sauce will thicken when you store it in the fridge, so add a tablespoon of water to thin it out again, if needed. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- If a high-speed blender is unavailable, soak cashews for up to 2 hours and drain before blending to ensure smooth texture.
- Add water gradually after blending if the sauce thickens too much during refrigeration to adjust consistency.
- Store sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week or freeze for up to three months.
- This sauce pairs well with tortilla chips and as a topping for tacos or burrito bowls.
Nutrition Information
Calories
125kcal
(6%)
Carbohydrates
8g
(3%)
Protein
4g
(8%)
Fat
9g
(14%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
(12%)
Monounsaturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Sodium
357mg
(15%)
Potassium
146mg
(3%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
0.2IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
4mg
(4%)
Calcium
9mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 125
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 125kcal | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 8g | 3% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Sodium | 357mg | 15% |
| Potassium | 146mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 0.2IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 9mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.