Slices, Shreds, Sauces, and More! 15 Dairy-Free Cheeses You Need to Try Right Now

Have multiple allergies? There’s a good chance you’ll still be able to enjoy Daiya Cheddar-Style Shreds. This cheese alternative is not only free of dairy, but of casein, whey, lactose, soy, and gluten. It is made primarily from filtered water, tapioca flour, non-GMO canola oil, and pea protein. Reviewers have been using these shreds in tofu scrambles, pizza, burritos, mac and cheese, and sprinkled over roasted veggies. While you could technically sprinkle these shreds on cold dishes like salads, most of the reviewers are raving about this cheese’s melting capabilities, saying they don’t taste particularly amazing out of the bag but melt wonderfully. To try these out for yourself, you can get one eight-ounce bag for a little over $4.

Pure Abundance Cashew Cheese is a soy-free and gluten-free artisan cheese. According to Pure Abundance, this cheese is cultured and aged just like the regular dairy variety. It is also coated in organic basil, parsley, and thyme. As for how to use this cheese, Pure Abundance suggests the following: spreading it on a cracker, crumbling it onto a salad, pairing it with fresh figs, or adding it to a baked potato. Since this is an artisan product handmade in small batches it’s on the expensive side, with each cheese in this four-pack costing $13.25 for a total of $53.

Do you love making grilled cheeses with more than just cheddar-style slices? Then you should check out Tofutti Soy Mozzarella Slices. This cheese is made primarily from water, tofu, and soy protein. It has no dairy, cholesterol, or gluten, and each slice is only 80 calories and has two grams of protein. You can get one eight-ounce package for $3.

Who doesn’t love a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on their pasta or caesar salad? For a dairy-free Parm, try out Go Veggie! Grated Parmesan Cheese. This gluten-free product is made primarily from soy protein, rice flour, and salt. It is also casein free, lactose free, cholesterol free and non-GMO. Reviewers are saying that this product is delicious, an excellent pantry addition, and great for people with multiple allergies. While some of the cheese alternatives in the Go Veggie! line (like the shreds and slices) are actually not vegan since they have casein, reviewers confirm that this product is indeed 100 percent vegan. You can get one four-ounce jar for a little over $7.50.

When looking at sunflower seeds, the last thing you probably think about is cheese. But as Beyond Better Savory Sunflower Sauce proves, with a little nutritional yeast, tapioca, sea salt, and plenty of herbs and spices, sunflower seeds can be transformed into a thick, velvety, and cheesy sauce. This sauce is free from soy, gluten, and grains, and each serving (1/4 cup) has six grams of protein. One packet makes three cups worth of sauce simply by adding hot water and mixing. Since it’s a dry mix that requires no refrigeration, Beyond Better suggests packing this powder for road trips or camping expeditions. Reviewers have been adding this sauce to baked potatoes, broccoli, and chili. You can get one package for a little over $8.50.

It’s amazing what ingredients you can combine to create an authentically cheesy flavor. Living Intentions Cheesy Salad Booster, for instance, uses seeds – pumpkin, sunflower, chia, sesame – spirulina, nutritional yeast, turmeric, and an assortment of spices. The result? A product that is similar to nori in texture with a distinct cheesy taste. Reviewers report using this product in salads, soups, homemade dressings, pizza, and stir fries. The consensus among reviewers seems to be that this product isn’t trying to emulate cheese, but rather introduce cheesy undertones to your dishes. You can get one three-ounce bag for $11.

Nacho Mom’s Vegan Queso is a healthier alternative to processed nacho dip. Made primarily of tomatoes, green chilies, and nutritional yeast, this cheese is free of fat, soy, and nuts, and the whole jar is only 120 calories. Reviewers are raving about this dip, saying that this product is great on nachos and Latin fare, has amazing texture, and “tastes like the real deal.” Don’t expect this dip to taste like a healthy vegan dip, though, as reviewers have pointed out, Nacho Mom’s is trying to emulate cheesy dips like Tostito’s, which aren’t the most natural-tasting products either. If this is the kind of cheese you’re looking for you can get this four pack – two “Ultimate Queso,” one “Fire-Roasted,” and one “Hatch Chile” – for $30.

Have you ever wanted to make your own dairy-free cheese from scratch? With Druids Grove Vegan Cheese Kit, you can! This non-GMO and organic product comes with everything you need to make vegan mozzarella cheese including lactic acid, soy milk powder, tapioca flour, kappa carrageenan, sea salt, and coconut oil. Druids Grove says that the mozz cheese that is produced with this kit is perfect for lasagna, eggplant parm, and pizza. According to reviewers, it takes about 15-20 minutes to make the cheese and as long as the directions are followed, it turns out well. You can get one kit for $20.

Follow Your Heart Garden Herb Cheese is a block of dairy-free cheese made from filtered water, coconut oil, modified food starch and potato starch and then seasoned with sea salt, thyme, and oregano. It is free of lactose, soy, and casein and each 20-gram slice has 60 calories. Reviewers are saying that this product has the same texture as regular cheese and that the herbs add a nice touch. To try it out for yourself, you can get 13 seven-ounce packages for a little over $65.50.

According to reviews, Daiya Swiss-Style Slices not only taste remarkably similar to the traditional dairy kind, they even melt in the same way. These slices are made primarily from filtered water, tapioca starch, palm fruit oil, non-GMO expeller pressed canola and/or safflower oil, and coconut oil. Reviewers have been using these slices in grilled cheese sandwiches and in macaroni and cheese. You can get eight 7.8-ounce packages for $45.

Cream cheese is a soft, mild-tasting fresh cheese with a high fat content. Go Veggie! Cream Cheese attempts to emulate the dairy product using filtered water, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and soy protein. And considering this product has won awards, they seem to have found the perfect ratio of ingredients. In addition to being dairy-free, this product is free of gluten, lactose, and casein. You can get one eight-ounce packaged for a little over $3.

Tired of having to add multiple seasonings to your dishes? If this sounds like you, consider buying Parma! Vegan Parmesan. This cheese alternative is made from walnuts, nutritional yeast, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, kelp, sesame seeds, and various herbs and spices. It is dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO. Parma! suggests adding this cheese to pasta, salads, popcorn, and pizza. Most reviewers are saying that while this product does not perfectly mimic the flavor of dairy Parm, it is still a yummy and flavorful addition to their cooking. You can get one 3.5-ounce jar for about $13.

Follow Your Heart Mozzarella Shreds are made primarily from filtered water, palm fruit oil, and modified food starch. In addition to being dairy-free, this product is gluten-free, soy-free, cholesterol-free, and kosher. Follow Your Heart uses only sustainably grown palm oil and suggests using these shreds anywhere you would use regular mozzarella. One package has eight servings and each serving (one ounce) is 90 calories. You can get eight bags for a little under $60.

Looking for a nacho cheese that is dairy-free but has a kick? If so, you should check out Nacheez Spicy Nacho Sauce. This gluten-free and soy-free product is made primarily from cashews, red bell peppers, roasted green chilies, and jalapeño peppers. It is also low-calorie (each eight-ounce jar is only 140 calories), low-fat, and rich in B vitamins 6 and 12. Reviewers have been using this sauce to spice up rice, noodles, veggies, and even soup. You can get one jar for $10.50.

While cashews are great for making dense cheeses similar to brie or manchego, they also are great for making pourable sauces, like Beyond Better Cashew Sauce. This cheese alternative is dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and organic. Since it’s made from cashews, this sauce not only has a nutty flavor, but it is high in nutrients in protein, with one serving (1/4 cup) having six grams. Each package contains enough powder to make three cups worth of sauce, you simply have to add hot water and mix. Reviewers are saying that this cheese is surprisingly healthy, “unbelievably delicious,” and is perfect for mac and cheese. You can get one packet for $9.

Lead image source: Baked Herb-Crusted Cashew-Almond Cheese