5 14 Published Aug 18, 2022, Updated Oct 03, 2023 And if I do say so myself, I think I hit the jackpot with this recipe. It’s by far the best vegan queso recipe I’ve ever had. Even cheese lovers will enjoy this recipe. It’s that good! This vegan queso is creamy, easy to make, loaded with nutritious ingredients (like sweet potatoes and cashews) and filled with traditional Mexican flavors. I could eat it by the spoonful (only speaking from experience here!), but it’s delicious drizzled over a burrito, enchiladas or really any dish and also makes for an awesome dip served with tortilla chips. Definitely add it to your next Taco Tuesday menu. You won’t regret it!
Why You Need to Try This Vegan Queso
Who doesn’t love creamy queso? This vegan queso is bursting with flavor and loaded with nutrition. It’s great as an appetizer with chips or makes an awesome topping for tacos, burrito bowls and so much more! It’s vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free, making it perfect for someone with allergies or dietary restrictions.
Ingredients Needed
raw cashews – this is the base of the sauce that makes it thick and creamy! Their mild flavor and fatty texture are the perfect substitutes for the creaminess of cheese. I didn’t soak the cashews for this recipe because I didn’t feel like they needed to be soaked with my Vitamix blender, but if you don’t have a high-speed powerful blender then you might want to soak your cashews for 2-4 hours before making the queso. sweet potato – this powerhouse vegetable is packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. When steamed and pureed, it adds the perfect color and thick, creamy texture. water – to help the queso from getting too thick. Almond milk would also be a good option. garlic – adds a ton of flavor! Garlic powder will also work in a pinch! nutritional yeast – this nutrient-packed ingredient gives the sauce a “cheesy” flavor without any actual cheese! It’s slightly nutty, slightly cheesy and a key ingredient in this recipe so I don’t recommend skipping it! Learn more about nutritional yeast here. You can find it at most grocery stores in the spice section or you can buy nutritional yeast online. chili powder, paprika, onion powder and cumin – the perfect combo of spices for this queso. green chiles – I prefer to use the mild canned green chiles, but if you want more spice feel free to use the hot chiles! kosher salt – to bring all the flavors together. apple cider vinegar – adds a great tangy flavor to this queso. Fresh lemon juice will work as a substitute. cayenne pepper – this is optional if you want to put a little “kick” into your queso!
How to Make Vegan Queso
Once you’ve steamed your sweet potatoes, this queso dip is so quick and easy to whip up. Here’s all you need to do: Peel sweet potatoes and chop into cubes. Place in a steamer basket (I use my Always pan), cover and steam for 15 minutes or until fork tender. Add sweet potatoes to a high-speed blender (I love my Vitamix) with the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy. That’s it! Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve with an assortment of raw vegetables and tortilla chips or drizzle over your favorite dish.
How to Serve
As a dip – I love serving this vegan cashew queso as an appetizer with tortilla chips and fresh veggies! It would also be delicious served as a dip with fresh jicama or my baked jicama fries. As a topping – this queso is a delicious topping for any recipe that you want to add some creamy, cheesy goodness too. If you want to keep it vegan, drizzle it over this vegan burrito bowl, tempeh tacos or cauliflower tacos. For some non-vegan options this queso would be a great addition to this taco salad, sheet pan shrimp fajitas, chicken burrito bowl or chicken enchiladas. The options are endless!
How to Store Vegan Queso
Store leftover queso in the refrigerator covered in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Or place in the freezer for up to 1 month. To take the chill off, warm in the microwave or in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add more water as needed if it thickens in the fridge.
More Appetizer Recipes to Try
Easy Black Bean Dip Black Bean and Corn Salad Easy Guacamole Healthy Spinach Artichoke Dip Creamy Hummus Healthy Guacamole with Frozen Peas Lima Bean Hummus Healthy 7-Layer Dip Cowboy Caviar Whipped Feta Dip Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip Hot Honey Whipped Cottage Cheese
More Mexican-Inspired Recipes to Try
Cheesy Mexican Quinoa Casserole Vegan Burrito Bowl Copycat Chipotle Sofritas Cauliflower Tacos Tempeh Tacos Mexican Street Corn Salad Mexican Quinoa Casserole
Be sure to check out all the appetizer recipes as well as the full collection of healthy Mexican recipes on EBF!
