The best vegan queso recipe made with dairy free ingredients for that perfect creamy cheesy tangy flavor. It's so easy to make and loved by everyone!
This queso recipe reminds me of the one I get at Mexican restaurants, except it's made without the dairy so doesn't leave me feeling bloated and yuck! It uses 9 simple easy to find ingredients and a much healthier version.
This recipe was originally published on May 2, 2016.
If you love Mexican cheese dip you will absolutely love the taste of this vegan queso! It's a white queso easily made in a blender. If you prefer an orange Mexican cheese then try out my vegan nacho cheese sauce!
Ingredients
I brought this vegan queso blanco to a party, slipped it on the table and watched as it was devoured. No one knew it was vegan (or gluten-free as some recipes use flour). Everyone stuffed their face and it was glorious.
With the right blend of foods, you can create the most amazingly smooth queso dip, without any cheese! My dirty little secret is the pickled jalapeño juice, it gives it that true white queso dip flavor: creamy, cheesy, with the jalapeño tang! Here's what you need:
- Cooked potato
- Roasted garlic
- Raw cashews
- Veggie broth
- Unsweetened cashew milk
- Mild green chiles
- Mild pickled jalapeños
- Pickled jalapeño juice
- Seasonings and spices
How to Make Vegan Queso
This queso blanco dip is incredibly easy to make. Throw it all in a blender and BOOM. Bathe worthy dip at your tongue tip.
- Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pulse in the extra pickled jalapeño slices for some texture .
- Pour into a pot and heat over medium-low heat so it doesn't burn until thick and melty.
- Pour into a bowl and serve with everything!
What to Serve With Queso Blanco
As much as I'd love to eat this dairy-free Mexican white cheese dip like a soup, I usually try to use some self control and pair it with other tasty foods either as a dip or topping. Here's some of my favorites:
- Homemade Oil Free Tortilla Chips
- Crisp veggies like celery, carrots, peppers, or jicama
- Vegan Nachos
- Vegan Taquitos
- Mexican Rice
- Pinto Beans
- Breakfast Burritos
- Loaded Vegan Burritos
- Refried Bean Burrito
- Veggie Burrito Bowls
- Crispy Potato Tacos
- Soft pretzels or pretzel chips
- Oven Baked French Fries
- Crusty bread
- Baked Potato
- Vegan Scrambled Eggs
- Mix with pasta
I also like to use leftovers of this vegan cashew queso to mix into other recipes. You could mix it into a filling for enchiladas, burritos or even taco meat.
Try mixing in things like tomatoes and black beans for a loaded version of this cheesy dip!
Preparation Tips
When making this vegan queso dip recipe over and over and over again (because you will!) make sure to keep these suggestions in mind:
- Add in some extra flavor by mixing in some vegan chorizo, Mexican salsa, or tomatillo salsa verde.
- If you are not using a high speed blender, you can soak the cashews overnight, boil them for 30 minutes or grind the dry cashews into a fine powder using a coffee grinder in order to help get them smooth.
- You can boil, microwave or bake the potato but keep in mind if you boil it there will be more moisture in the potato so you will need to let the dip cook longer to thicken.
- I used red potatoes but any starchy potato will work, just don’t use sweet ones.
- I used a veggie broth without tomato in the base. You can sub water for the broth but the flavor will change a bit and you may need more salt.
- This dip is best enjoyed hot, serve it in a slow cooker on low. (High will likely burn it.)
Make Ahead and Storage Tips
- To prepare this dip ahead of time, roast the garlic, cook the potato, and soak the cashews (if needed) up to 3 days in advance.
- This vegan queso blanco dip will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- You can also freeze for up to 3 months!
- To reheat, take out of the freezer the night before and slowly defrost to room temp. Then heat in the microwave or stove top on low heat whisking well until the smooth creamy texture returns.
- Sometimes freezing can change the texture, simply give it another blend in the blender and you're good to go!
Common Questions
This vegan queso recipe is made from all whole food, amazing ingredients! The creaminess is a combo of potato, cashews and cashew milk, with flavor coming in from all of the other ingredients including jalapeños and jalapeño juice.
Because this dip is made from simple whole food ingredients, it is much healthier than traditional queso dip.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze for 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, whisking often to get to that creamy texture.
Most queso dip is made with white American cheese, but sometimes cheddar, mozzarella, or cream cheese is used as well. This queso blanco recipe avoids all of that for a healthier version!
More Vegan Mexican Recipes
If you're like our family and need Mexican food on a regular basis, you need a variety of recipes to choose from!
All of these plant based dishes are made from only whole food ingredients making them a healthy choice for your family (to learn more about how to figure out what is in those store bought varieties check out this guide on reading food labels):
- Healthy Crunchy Taco Cups
- Vegan Mexican Chili Cheese Dip
- Mexican Tequila Lime Chickpea Soup
- Vegan Enchilada Casserole
- Cinco De Mayo Roundup
Also check out these other vegan cheese recipes:
The Best Cream Vegan Queso
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked potato , about 1 medium sized potato (see note)
- 4 cloves garlic , roasted (add up to 4 more for extra garlic flavor)
- ¾ cup raw cashews , see note
- 1 ½ cups veggie broth (use low sodium to keep the salt low)
- 1 cup unsweetened cashew milk (almond would work too)
- 4 ounces chopped mild chiles (one small can)
- ½ cup jarred mild pickled jalapenos , divided
- 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeno juice (juice from slices above)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon sea salt (see note)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except for ¼ cup pickled jalapenos into a blender and blend until smooth.
- Add last ¼ cup jalapenos and pulse until chopped. You can also just add them at the beginning but I liked the flavor of some chopped jalapenos in the dip.
- Pour the liquid into a pot and heat over medium low heat on stove until it reduces and gets nice and thick and gooey. Depending on your stove, you may need to up the heat to get it to thicken nicely, even bring it to a boil then reduce the heat.
- Stir frequently to prevent sticking. It took about 10 minutes for me to get the right consistency but you can make it however you prefer it. Serve hot!
- Serve with everything!
Notes
- Makes 3 cups. Serving is ½ cup per person
- If you are not using a high speed blender, you can soak the cashews overnight, boil them for 30 minutes or grind the dry cashews into a fine powder using a coffee grinder (do not boil them for this method).
- You can boil, microwave or bake the potato but keep in mind if you boil it there will be more moisture in the potato so you will need to let the dip cook longer to thicken.
- I used red potatoes but any starchy potato will work, just don’t use sweet. It also won't work to substitute with something that is not an actual potato (such as another root vegetable).
- I used a veggie broth without tomato in the base. You can sub water for the broth but the flavor will change a bit and you may need more salt.
- The amount of salt needed may vary depending on the sodium in your broth.
- If you freeze this, and you can, take out of the freezer the night before and slowly defrost to room temp. Then heat in the microwave or stove top on low heat whisking well until the smooth creamy texture returns.
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Gin
This looks amazing! I want it on _everything_!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks so much Gin!!!
Joelle
Any suggested substitutions for those of us that can't have cashews?
veggiesdontbite
Hi Joelle! I do understand it stinks when you can't have cashews, they are great to get that perfect creaminess. What I would suggest is perhaps trying more potato, it gives a great creamy buttery flavor. Other things that add creaminess are white beans and cauliflower. The jalapeño juice actually contributes to that cheesy flavor too so you may want to up that a bit if it isn't tasting as cheesy. I am not a huge fan of nutritional yeast but I know that a lot of people like that for a cheesy flavor. This dip is tricky though because its a white cheese jalapeño sauce so it's more of a creamy flavor than a real cheese taste. Let me know what you try and how it works! I'm sure other nut free readers would love to hear too!
Heidi McDermottt
This is the yummiest queso dip ever! Thank you for this recipe. I just made it and I can't stop eating it. I doubled the batch and added some extra spice. My boys are gonna love this dip! Thanks, again!
veggiesdontbite
Yay!!! So happy to hear!! I add extra spice for me too. Great call! Can't wait for your boys to try!
Juliana King
Thanks for hosting an Osea giveaway on top of giving us this amazing recipe! I would get the acne essentials kit. I've tried a sample of the mud wash and it was out of control amazing. Would love to see what the kit could do to help clear up my skin.
veggiesdontbite
You are so welcome Juliana! You'd love the kit. I so love the mud wash too!
Stephanie
I've been gluten free and sugar free for many years and am stoked to have found your blog and new recipes to try out thanks to the Osea Instagram post! I have been wanting to try some of the masks and maybe a serum from Osea. I have the mud wash and LOVE it!!!
veggiesdontbite
Ah!!! That's SO awesome Stephanie!! I'm so excited to have you here! I have the mud wash and love it too. The masks are amazing!!
Kaylyn
I haven't had queso since going vegan years ago. I almost feel emotional when I think of making your recipe this weekend!! ??
For the giveaway, I'd want the ocean cleanser and the infamous sea minerals mist.
Back to that queso.... This weekend can't get here fast enough!
veggiesdontbite
Hi Kaylyn!! I just saw this, so sorry. I got so many that it was easy to miss responding to a few. Did you try it?! I'm literally making more now!!
Emily
This looks so good. I have a strong love for queso (addiction, possibly?) but I try to stay away from a lot of dairy so this looks wonderful! The Vitamin Sea serum from Osea looks wonderful as well!
veggiesdontbite
Oh you can join my addiction club! It's a good place to be! LOL! You would love this dip because it tastes like it has dairy but it sure doesn't! The serums from OSEA are awesome!
Rachel
This is amazing and I'm so happy to have found your site. I would love to win store credit to Osea. I recently discovered their products and while excited to find them, skincare can take a hard hit on the wallet and it isn't always possible to have everything we want 🙁
My favorite dip would be anything with sour cream flavor.
veggiesdontbite
OMG Rachel, thank you SO much! You totally made my night. OSEA is so great! But yes, it can take a hit when you want it all! I have to say that I have wasted so much trying product after product to find the right fit. In fact when OSEA first got in touch I had just bought something else, and as soon as I tried OSEA I could't go back to anything else! The great thing is that you don't need much of the products at all. I use so much less than I did the others. If you sign up for their email list, they send out sales they have. They have good ones once in a while and you get free shipping with $50!
Alexandra Robertson
I would get the blemish balm if I won! My favorite dip is jalapeno popper dip!
veggiesdontbite
Awesome! OOOH! Jalapeno popper. YUM!
Emilyem
Hmmm my favorite dip is the VEGAN chili con queso!
Also I would buy the white algea mask at oseamalibu 🙂
veggiesdontbite
The white algae is awesome!! I love it!
Amy
Yummy! Looks so good.
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Amy!
Suze
Yas! I'm always struggling to find awesome vegan recipes-two of my SILs are vegan, and I try to bring things everyone can eat! And it's perfect timing for cinco de mayo!
And def need the ocean mudd cleanser and blemish balm. Bc my face is a wreck after my third baby in as many years.
veggiesdontbite
Oh man, I had my third a year ago and started using this line a few months ago. My skin is amazing!! I'm serious, never been so nice. I struggled with it all the time too! So, I feel your pain. But lucky us that we have a third baby!!
Tina o
I'd want to check out the cleansing mudd and the black algae mask, really anything to help with oily skin.
My fave dip would have to be gauc, love avocado 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Tina, you would love this line! I have oily skin as well and always struggle. My skin has never been so great. I alternate between the ocean cleanser in the morning and the mudd at night. It's the best! Oh and guac for sure!
Alissa G
I love their products as well! My favorites are ocean cleansing mudd and blemish balm! Would love to try the sea minerals mist and black algae mask, though!!!
veggiesdontbite
Oh so glad to hear!! You would love the sea minerals!!
Britney
I have always wanted to try the Vitamin Sea!!! What a great giveaway!
veggiesdontbite
You'd love it!! Isn't it the greatest giveaway? I know it's not food, but I just couldn't resist getting this brand out to others. I just love it. And it should speak huge because I am not getting paid for this. They sent some free products for me to try a few months back and I was hooked, I have spent $150 on my own to try more of their stuff!