Home > Recipes > Meal > Staples > 3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP)
By:Alison Marras
March 26, 2020
(updated February 18, 2022)
4.52 from 80 votes
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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!
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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 Pastit*io (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
4.26 from 78 votes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
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
4.46 from 51 votes
Total Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
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
4.60 from 42 votes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
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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More Healthy, Dairy-free Recipe Collections
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Sweet Potato Cheese Sauce (+ more Dairy-free Cheese Sauce Recipes)
4.52 from 80 votes
This easy coconut-free sauce is so creamy and dreamy! It's AIP, Paleo, and Whole30.
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Author: Alison Marras
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
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!
Course: Sauce
-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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