Simple and fabulously cheesy vegan cheese sauce. Ideal for lasagnas, pastas, vegan mac and cheese or anywhere you would usually use a cheese sauce.
Making a vegan cheese sauce really couldn’t be easier.
You start off with a basic vegan white sauce – also called bechamel sauce and then with just a few added extras, it magically turns into cheese sauce!
How to make vegan cheese sauce
There are just 3 basic ingredients – oil, flour and plant-based milk (I used soy milk) to make your basic white sauce.
To that you add some salt, black pepper, dijon mustard, great for adding a cheesy flavor don’t even ask me why but really it works, and some nutritional yeast.
And that might be as far as you need to go to get your perfect cheese sauce flavor! If you want to intensify the flavors a bit more, you can add in some optional onion powder and garlic powder too.
How to serve vegan cheese sauce
This isn’t the kind of cheese sauce you’re going to use on a pizza.
Have you had a white sauce (bechamel) before? It’s exactly like that, just flavored to be cheesy!
It’s what you want when you want a cheesy version of a white sauce to use in your lasagna! It’s also great as a pasta sauce or served over vegetables.
It also makes a great sauce for a mac and cheese.
If you want a cheese sauce to drizzle on your pizza, then you’re looking for a cashew cheese sauce! Or you can even grate up some hard sliceable cashew cheese and melt it on your pizza!
You will love this vegan cheese sauce! It is:
- Ultra cheesy
- Thick and creamy
- Nut-Free
- Simple
- Versatile
Keep leftovers stored in the fridge and enjoy within 4-5 days.
More vegan sauces
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Vegan Cheese Sauce
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 4 cups
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Creamy and super cheesy vegan cheese sauce recipe. Ideal for lasagnas, pastas, vegan mac and cheese or anywhere you would usually use a cheese sauce. Nut free.
Ingredients
- 6 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 5 Tbsp All Purpose Flour
- 4 cups (960ml) Soy Milk*
- 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1/2 cup (30g) Nutritional Yeast
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
Optional:
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- Grated Vegan Cheese
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a pot on the stove and turn the heat to medium high.
- When the oil begins to heat up, add the flour, stirring briskly all the time.
- Fry the flour in the oil for a bit, stirring vigorously, and then add in all the soy milk at once. Stir vigorously. Alternate with a hand whisk and a wooden spoon while it heats up to prevent any lumps from forming.
- Continue to stir until the sauce begins to thicken.
- You will usually reach the right thickness a few minutes after the sauce has reached boiling point.
- When it has reached the desired thickness remove from the heat (bear in mind that it will continue to thicken as it cools).
- Stir in the mustard, nutritional yeast, salt and ground black pepper.
- Taste test and see how you like it. If you want to intensify the flavors, add in the onion powder and garlic powder and stir in. Depending on what you want to use the cheese sauce for, you may prefer it plain or you may want to intensify the flavors with the onion and garlic powders.
- Serve with pasta or use as a sauce in a vegan lasagna. Add some grated vegan cheese to the sauce as well if you like.
Notes
*You can use different non-dairy milks with slightly different flavor results.
*Adapted from my basic vegan white sauce recipe.
*This recipe has recently been updated with new photos added.
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 166
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 112mg
- Fat: 12.3g
- Saturated Fat: 1.6g
- Carbohydrates: 6.9g
- Fiber: 1.4g
- Protein: 5.4g
Keywords: vegan cheese sauce
razieh says
December 23, 2018 at 3:03 pmHi and thank you very much.
One question: Can I make nutritional yeast at home?
Alison Andrews says
December 24, 2018 at 9:28 amHi! I don’t think so, but I have never looked into that, but really… no idea, sorry! 🙂
Holly says
January 20, 2019 at 12:47 amHello! I just got done making this for myself and partner. He loved it (even tho he is not vegan). I used unsweetened almond milk and dijon mustard because we didn’t have any yellow mustard. I steamed some broccoli and added it to the sauce and poured it over baked potatoes. Very good! I did notice that the sauce seemed to thin when it was still on the burner boiling for a few minutes but it thickens quite a bit once off the burner.
★★★★★
Alison Andrews says
January 20, 2019 at 11:07 amSo glad you enjoyed it Holly! Thanks for awesome review! ?
Barbara says
January 24, 2019 at 6:17 pmHi , thanks so much for the recipe. I made this sauce exactly as you recommended and used over steamed cauliflower, did sprinkle some chilli flakes on top , then grilled.. delicious ?
My 14yr old daughter has decided to go vegan, we are all enjoying the challenge.. actually easier than I thought.. so many great recipes. Thanks again
★★★★★
Alison Andrews says
January 25, 2019 at 9:41 amOh this is perfect for a cauliflower cheese sauce! So glad it came out well and also so happy you’re enjoying the new challenge, it is definitely fun and there are so many new delicious things to try. All the best and thanks for the fabulous review. 🙂
Irene Aldridge says
January 27, 2019 at 5:58 pmJust made this to top a vegan lasagna. I can’t believe it was so easy and so tasty! I made too much so have a small jarful cooling that I will spread on crackers or toast.
Thanks for the recipe – it will used again and again.
★★★★★
Alison Andrews says
January 28, 2019 at 1:26 pmWonderful! Yes, it’s perfect for lasagna. So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the great review. 🙂
Christina says
January 28, 2019 at 7:26 pmThis came out great! I used almond milk since I did not have soy, gluten free flour, and added a bit of garlic powder 🙂 went well with lentil noodles .. thanks for sharing!
Alison Andrews says
January 29, 2019 at 10:33 amWonderful! Thanks for posting! 🙂
Chelsea says
February 2, 2019 at 1:16 pmUsed this on some red lentil pasta and it was super yummy! I’ve been really picky and haven’t been able to find a vegan cheese sauce that I actually liked until this so I’m super excited!! I made it exactly as describe but added garlic and herb seasoning, paprika, and some onion powder to create a more savory flavor and then, after it was through cooking, I actually blended it up in my nutribullet to make it extra creamy and smooth. It was perfect! Thanks!!
Alison Andrews says
February 2, 2019 at 1:21 pmSo pleased you like the recipe Chelsea, thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
Taylor Cole says
February 24, 2019 at 7:53 pmHi! I’ve used this recipe as a rough base maaaany times now! I use it for a veggie/pasta bake! I have leek, broccoli, potato, carrots and wholewheat pasta all part boiled, then put into a Pyrex dish and I make the cheese sauce! I never have yellow mustard so always use Dijon, and whatever oil I have on hand at the time, but never changes the flavour! I also use almond milk as it’s thinner than soya, and I find the outcome for my purpose much better! I also add in smoked paprika, garlic powder, a little onion powder, salt and black pepper, and then a teaspoon or two or a free from cheese sauce powder mix, just to add extra cheesiness and then I always add dried parsley and it tastes beautiful! I then pour it over my veg and pasta, and then grab a bag of “bacon rasher” potato crisps(Tesco ones are vegan) and I smash then with a rolling pin and use this to top my bake and it gives a lovely crispy smokey layer! I always used this recipe as my base and it’s worked out perfectly every time and my whole omni family even love this vegan dish so having my family over for dinner with my partner and I is much less stressful knowing they will enjoy this vegan meal and be impressed with this take on cheese sauce! They didn’t even know it was vegan the first time I made it!! Thank you??
Alison Andrews says
February 26, 2019 at 7:55 amHi Taylor! So glad you like the recipe and thanks for sharing all your additions/adjustments, sounds awesome! 🙂
Maria Modica says
February 27, 2019 at 5:07 pmTo me, this is just ok. It didn’t get very thick and could have used more flavor.
Kat says
May 5, 2019 at 8:47 amI have my vegan daughter and grandchildren coming for a week and want to put some stuff in the freezer ready. Anyone know if I can freeze this? Thanks
Alison Andrews says
May 5, 2019 at 4:16 pmHi Kat! Yes, it freezes well! 🙂
Kathryn Layard says
May 5, 2019 at 4:23 pmThanks – I will give this a go :O)