Vegan Queso: Easy No-Cook Recipe! - The Woks of Life (2024)

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Vegan Queso: Easy No-Cook Recipe! - The Woks of Life (1)

by: Kaitlin

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Vegan Queso: Easy No-Cook Recipe! - The Woks of Life (2)

Our vegan queso is so good, you may find yourself forgoing your go-to cheese substitutes (or, dare I say it, cheese?)! Whether you’re looking to eat plant-based, are lactose-intolerant, or just want a healthy alternative, with delicious add-ins like tomatoes, peppers, and vegan chorizo, you’ll never look back.

How to Make Perfect Vegan Queso

The trick to making a good vegan queso is having a heavy hand with a few key spices and flavorings. If you go too light, it’ll taste like what it technically is: vaguely spicy blended cashews with hot water. Blech. Put too much though, and you might just get stuck with unpleasant overpowering flavors.

Vegan Queso: Easy No-Cook Recipe! - The Woks of Life (3)

That said, as a lactose intolerant individual, I’m deeply committed to my fake cheesy spreads, so I’m pretty sure I’ve made the perfect vegan queso. It even got the seal of approval from Sarah, the eternally skeptical cheese-loving omnivore!

Vegan Queso: Easy No-Cook Recipe! - The Woks of Life (4)

The 3 key ingredients are:

  1. Plenty of nutritional yeast for a cheesy base flavor
  2. Simple distilled white vinegar for tang
  3. Your favorite Mexican hot sauce. (I use Valentina, a classic must-have we use for everything from burritos and tacos to rice and beans.)

There’s also plenty of garlic, and a simple blend of additional spices!

Vegan Queso: Easy No-Cook Recipe! - The Woks of Life (5)

Optional Toppings/Add-Ins

So now you’ve got a perfectly creamy and tasty queso. The next conundrum? My constant, subconscious craving for restaurant style queso—that ooey gooey little casserole of cheese baked with greasy chorizo. It’s so good, but it ain’t vegan.

Hence the TOPPINGS. It’s all about the toppings. My favorites are chopped tomato, chopped green bell peppers, a handful of chopped cilantro leaves and stems, and a spoonful of crispy vegan chorizo.

Break out the tortilla chips, or dollop it over a baked russet potato or sweet potato with a side of salad. It’ll become one of your favorite things to make!

How Long Does Vegan Queso Last In the Fridge?

This queso lasts for up to 2 weeks in the fridge, without any add-ins. I store it in resealable jars for when the craving strikes!

When you want to reheat it, simply pop it in the microwave for 1 minute, covered with a plate to catch any splatter. From there, reheat it 30 seconds at a time to bring it up to your desired temperature. It may seize a little, but just stir it until it’s smooth, adding in a splash of hot water if needed.

Ok, on to the recipe!

Vegan Queso Recipe Instructions

Combine the hot water, raw cashews, and garlic in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth. Add the nutritional yeast, cumin, onion powder, oregano, white vinegar, and hot sauce. Blend until combined, and add salt, additional hot sauce, and/or nutritional yeast to taste.

Vegan Queso: Easy No-Cook Recipe! - The Woks of Life (6)

Transfer the queso to a serving bowl (or store some of it in jars).

Vegan Queso: Easy No-Cook Recipe! - The Woks of Life (7)

And add toppings if desired, and serve with tortilla chips! Here it is with vegan chorizo on top:

Vegan Queso: Easy No-Cook Recipe! - The Woks of Life (8)

Vegan Queso: Easy No-Cook Recipe! - The Woks of Life (9)

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5 from 4 votes

Vegan Queso

Our vegan queso recipe is rich & creamy—perfect for whether you’re eating plant-based, lactose-intolerant, or just want a healthy alternative.

by: Kaitlin

Course:Appetizer

Cuisine:American, Mexican

Vegan Queso: Easy No-Cook Recipe! - The Woks of Life (10)

serves: 10

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Total: 5 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup hot water
  • 1 1/2 cups raw cashews
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
  • 2-3 tablespoons Mexican hot sauce (such as Valentina, to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Optional toppings:

  • 1/2 small tomato (finely chopped)
  • 1/4 cup green bell pepper or jalapeño (finely chopped)
  • 3 tablespoons cilantro (chopped)
  • 1/2 cup vegan chorizo (if you’re lactose intolerant but not vegan, feel free to use pork chorizo; browned/sautéed)

Instructions

  • Combine the hot water, raw cashews, and garlic in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth. Add the nutritional yeast, cumin, onion powder, oregano, white vinegar, and hot sauce. Blend until combined, and add salt, additional hot sauce, and/or nutritional yeast to taste.

  • Transfer the queso to a serving bowl (or store some of it in jars), and add toppings if desired. Serve with tortilla chips.

Tips & Notes:

Makes about 2.5 cups of queso. Store in the refrigerator in a clean, airtight container, and always handle using clean utensils. Will keep for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition information is for approximately 1/4 cup of queso. Does not include toppings.

nutrition facts

Calories: 113kcal (6%) Carbohydrates: 7g (2%) Protein: 4g (8%) Fat: 9g (14%) Saturated Fat: 2g (10%) Sodium: 189mg (8%) Potassium: 153mg (4%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin C: 2mg (2%) Calcium: 8mg (1%) Iron: 1mg (6%)

nutritional info disclaimer

TheWoksofLife.com is written and produced for informational purposes only. While we do our best to provide nutritional information as a general guideline to our readers, we are not certified nutritionists, and the values provided should be considered estimates. Factors such as brands purchased, natural variations in fresh ingredients, etc. will change the nutritional information in any recipe. Various online calculators also provide different results, depending on their sources. To obtain accurate nutritional information for a recipe, use your preferred nutrition calculator to determine nutritional information with the actual ingredients and quantities used.

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Vegan Queso: Easy No-Cook Recipe! - The Woks of Life (15)

About Kaitlin

Kaitlin is the younger daughter/sister in The Woks of Life family. Notoriously unable to follow a recipe (usually preferring to freestyle it), Kaitlin's the family artist, knitter, master of all things chili oil/condiments, and trailblazer of creative recipes with familiar flavors.

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Vegan Queso: Easy No-Cook Recipe! - The Woks of Life (2024)

FAQs

Is plant based queso Vegan? ›

Trader Joe's Vegan Nacho Dip

And, unlike the other vegan queso dips on this list, you can eat it cold (though it is still better warm). It's made with cashews and coconut oil, which, along with tapioca starch, help give it that smooth, creamy texture. A little bit of onion and garlic powder give it that zesty flavor.

How long is homemade queso good for? ›

Once you've made your queso, it can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. However, queso is best when eaten fresh. If you're looking to extend its shelf life, you can freeze queso for up to six months. Be sure to leave some space at the top of the container for expansion.

What are three dominant ingredients in vegan cheese? ›

As vegan blog Wag Free Food notes, coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut cream are popular ingredients to make vegan cheese. The high-fat content of coconut makes it easier to create a creamy, decadent, cheese-like product.

Is it okay to eat queso that was left out overnight? ›

No matter the cheese, leaving it out for more than two hours may change the quality and taste.

Why is my queso dip grainy? ›

Avoid cranking up the temperature while cooking. High heat causes the proteins in the cheese to become denatured, resulting in clumping. It's also why citrus helps fix the problem. Acids unwind the clumped-up protein molecules and prevent the sauce from seizing any further.

Can I eat 4 day old queso? ›

FAQ: Storing and Reheating Queso

If the queso has been in the fridge for longer than 5 days, it's best to err on the side of caution and dispose of it. Always inspect and smell the queso before reheating or consuming it to ensure it's still good.

Can vegans eat plant-based cheese? ›

You may be asking yourself, what types of cheese can I eat? Vegans can eat cheese that is comprised of plant-based ingredients like soybeans, peas, cashews, coconut, or almonds. The most common types of vegan cheeses are cheddar, gouda, parmesan, mozzarella, and cream cheese that can be found in non-dairy forms.

What is plant-based cheese made of? ›

Vegan cheese is usually made from soy, nuts, vegetable oils, and various other natural ingredients like peas or arrowroot. Vegan cheese is seen as a healthier alternative to cheese by some, and may reduce your risk of heart disease due to its lower content of fat.

Does plant-based mean non-dairy? ›

The diet consists primarily of food made of plants: fruits and vegetables in addition to nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes. A plant-based diet is not a vegetarian or vegan diet; you can eat poultry, beef, eggs, fish, and dairy products, however most of your nutrient intake is coming from plant-based food sources.

Is Chipotle's queso vegan? ›

VEGAN & VEGETARIAN OPTIONS

Our tortillas, vegetables, rice, beans, salsas, chips and guacamole, are vegetarian and vegan. If you eat dairy, our shredded Monterey Jack cheese and queso are made with vegetable-based rennet and our sour cream is 100% cultured cream.

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