This vegan nacho cheese sauce is rich, velvety and easy to make with no gluten or oil! Made with a base of potatoes, carrots and pumpkin seeds, this plant-based cheese sauce is nut-free and soy-free too. This flavorful vegan sauce is perfect for vegan nachos, tacos, and more!
I hope you have a stash of tortilla chips handy because you're gonna need 'em.
Why?
Because this nacho cheese sauce is seriously addictive.
Seriously.
It's actually based off my basic vegan cheese sauce recipe but with a bit of a kick to it.
So, what's in it?
So glad you asked!
Ingredients you'll need
- Raw Pumpkin Seeds (Pepitas)
- Yukon Gold Potatoes
- Carrots
- Nutritional Yeast
- Water
- Lemon Juice
- Salt
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Smoked Paprika
- Red Pepper Hot Sauce
- Chopped Jalapeno
How to make vegan nacho cheese sauce
Start by softening the pumpkin seeds. Cover the seeds with boiling water and set them aside for 20 minutes.
While the pumpkin seeds are soaking, peel and cut the potatoes and carrots into very small chunks. Add the potatoes and carrots to a 2-quart pot.
Cover with water, and bring to a boil and cook until tender (approximately 10 minutes).
Add nutritional yeast, water, lemon juice, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and hot sauce to a high-powered blender.
Drain pumpkin seeds along with the potatoes and carrots in a mesh strainer and add to the blender.
Secure the lid and blend on high.
Stop to scrape down the sides as needed, and keep blending until the ingredients are well-incorporated and the sauce is smooth and creamy (approximately 2 minutes).
If you prefer the sauce a little thinner, you can add 1-2 tablespoons more water.
Transfer to a serving bowl and top with chopped jalapeno.
Now, grab those chips and dig dip in!
Or...
If you're using for nachos or tacos, stir in the chopped jalapeno...
and pour on...generously. 😉
Serving suggestions
Not only is this vegan cheese perfect for nachos, but it's great for tacos too!
We love it with our smashed pinto bean tacos.
You can also use the sauce to jazz up a baked potato, sweet potato or even French fries.
Storing and reheating the sauce
Leftover sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat leftovers in a microwave safe dish in 15-second intervals, stirring in between.
You can also reheat in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until heated throughout.
For more veganized cheese recipes, check out these next:
- Vegan Parmesan
- Sunflower Seed Vegan Ricotta
- Almond Ricotta
- Cashew Ricotta
You might also enjoy:
Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- 1 ¾ cup peeled and chopped yellow or gold potatoes (chopped into small pieces of similar size)
- 1 cup peeled and diced carrots
- ½ cup filtered water (plus more if needed)
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoon red pepper hot sauce (I used Cholula)
- 1 medium jalapeno, seeded and chopped
Instructions
- Cover pumpkin seeds with boiling water and set aside for 20 minutes
- While the pumpkin seeds are soaking, add the potatoes and carrots to a 2-quart pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until very soft (approximately 10-15 minutes).
- Add ½ cup water, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and red pepper hot sauce to a high-powered blender.
- Drain pumpkin seeds along with the potatoes and carrots in a mesh strainer (5 ½" or 7 ⅞" size) and add to the blender.
- Secure the lid and blend on high, scraping down the sides as needed, until the ingredients are well-incorporated and the sauce is smooth and creamy (approximately 2 minutes). If the sauce is too thick for your liking after you've used ½ cup water, you can add 1-2 tablespoons more water and blend again.
(Please refer to the post above for instructional photographs for this recipe)
Suggested Equipment/Tools
Notes
Nutrition
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Christie
Yum I love vegan nacho cheese sauce and this sound sounds so good with that hot sauce incorporated right into it!
Sherri Hall
Thanks so much, Christie! Gotta have the hot sauce! 😉
Svenja
WOW I’ve just made this recipe and tried a spoonful and I can really say it’s amazing!! Even better than “normal” cheese dip! I added a red onion to the boiling potatoes and carrots and I mixed pumpkin seeds with cashew nuts. I can’t wait to see peoples reactions when they try this dip and I’m sure they’ll ask for the recipe 🙂 Thank you so much! Can’t wait to try more from your blog!
Sherri Hall
Thank you so much, Svenja! I really appreciate that! 🙂 Love the idea of adding a red onion...will definitely have to try it out. Hope you have an awesome day!