15 Must-Try Dairy-Free Cheeses Made with Vegetables

A lot of us think that there’s no life after cheese — we love it that much. Truth be told, we understand because anything cheesy is amazing, practically by default. There is an obvious underlying theme in many of our favorite comfort foods: mac and cheese, lasagna, baked ziti, and pizza… Other than being (mostly) Italian, they are all downright cheesy. Traditional cheese may not be vegan in any sense, but here’s the catch: we can now find vegan cheese in just about any grocery store and it’s surprisingly easy to make at home! Who knew? Cashews are the most popular ingredient for vegan cheese. Try this recipe for Herbed Soft Cashew Cheese; it’s so easy, even a beginner can make it. Need recipes? Check out 20 Amazing Vegan Cheeses You Can Make at Home and 15 Dairy-Free and Nut-Free Cheeses You Can Make at Home … Yes, It’s Possible! to get started.

Once you have that down, you can get creative because there are so many ways we can take vegan cheese to the next level, such as incorporating nourishing ingredients like veggies and beans. All the cheeses and cheese sauces we have here today is either made from vegetables or incorporate it in one way or another and we have 15 recipes from our Food Monster App for you to try. Let’s get started!

1. Sliceable Zucchini Cheese and Spreadable Tomato Nacho Cheese

Source: Sliceable Zucchini Cheese

This is a two-in-one recipe! First up we have a delicious Sliceable Zucchini Cheese by Lena Ksanti. Yep, you heard right! It’s a beautiful pale green because it’s made from zucchini and pumpkin seeds, and it tastes absolutely delicious on crackers. Then, we have a creamy, dreamy orange nacho cheese that you can dip chips and veggies in, or use as a sauce for mac and cheese! The possibilities are endless!

2. Gooey Grilled Cheese Sandwich 

Source: Gooey Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Making vegan grilled cheese without nuts or soy can be tricky, this Gooey Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Dawn Hutchins recreates the sandwich we all know and love without either! It combines vegetables, sunflower seeds, and a little bit of nutritional yeast for extra cheesy flavor, resulting in an ooey-gooey sandwich that’s perfect for dipping in tomato soup.

3. Easy Green Casserole

Source: Easy Green Casserole

Green veggies, crunchy quinoa, and a creamy, dairy-free cheesy sauce made from coconut milk and white beans make Jordan and Clark Cord‘s Easy Green Casserole a new comfort food favorite. Make this casserole at the start of your week and you’ll have a week-worth of dinner! Best of all, this recipe only requires one-pot meaning it’s an easy make and an easy cleanup.

4. Smoked Coconut Gouda

Source: Smoked Coconut Gouda

Somer McCowan‘s Smoked Coconut Gouda will satisfy your need for a nut-free vegan cheese that melts, stretches, slices, and grates. You can use it to top pizzas, eat it with crackers, or pair it with one of the sandwiches on this list for some extra-smoky goodness. This stuff might make you swoon over how satisfyingly melty it is.

5. Swiss Cheeze Sauce

Source: Swiss Cheeze Sauce

Potatoes and a high-speed blender are the secret to creating this creamy Swiss Cheeze Sauce by Janie Gianotsos. This cheese sauce really tastes just like Swiss cheese! Use it to top veggies like broccoli or green beans and enjoy!

6. Smoked Vegetable Cheese 

Source: Smoked Vegetable Cheese

This Smoked Vegetable Cheese by Edelweiss and Lorelei is the perfect appetizer for a party. It’s amazingly smoky and if you omit the crust, it’s completely nut-free (save for the optional crust) because the cheese is made from vegetables and tofu. Serve with multi-grain crackers or vegetables like celery and carrots for a delicious and savory snack that everyone will love.

7. Cheesy Corn and Smashed Avocado Quesadillas 

These Cheesy Corn and Smashed Avocado Quesadillas may feel like a total comfort food indulgence, but they are remarkably healthy! The “cheese” is made with corn, nutritional yeast, garlic, and salt, and with the avocado and cherry tomatoes, these are pretty well-rounded ingredient-wise. Who knew ooey-gooey deliciousness could be so wholesome?

8. Cheesy Potato Skins With Coconut Bacon

Source: Cheesy Potato Skins With Coconut Bacon

Sofia Von Porat‘s Cheesy Potato Skins With Coconut Bacon are the perfect game day snack! Crispy oven-baked potato skins are loaded with cheesy sauce made from red bell pepper, smoky coconut bacon, and topped with additional goodies. Make sure you double up on this for your guests, because they definitely won’t last long.

9. Savory Baked Cheesecake

Source: Savory Baked Cheesecake

Florian Nouh‘s amazing Savory Baked Cheesecake requires only six ingredients and ten minutes of prep time, so you can have a delicious and unique party appetizer that’s ready in no time. The crust can be made from your gluten-free flour of choice and hummus and the filling is made from chickpeas and tofu. So, if you want it spicy? Try adding jalapeños to your hummus — so you can get as creative as you want with the flavors. Slice this up and serve with crackers.

10. Gruyere Cheese 

Source: Gruyere Cheese

Anna Bannister‘s simple, fast, dairy-free Gruyere Cheese comes together in just 15 minutes. It’s perfect for pasta, quiches, gratins — any dish that calls for a nutty, slightly sweet cheese! You can even enjoy it as a snack paired with crackers and a glass of Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.

11. Potato and Carrot Cheese

Source: Potato and Carrot Cheese

The sky is the limit when it comes to the ingredients you can make dairy-free cheese with. Cashews, almonds, seeds, and even potatoes — yes, potatoes. Yana Chistyakova‘s creamy Potato and Carrot Cheese is made from a base of veggies with nutritional yeast, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder for flavor. It’s completely nut-free and easy to make, so if you’re allergic to nuts, this is the cheese of your dreams! Use it as a spread for sandwiches and wraps or serve it with crackers.

12. Pimento Cheese 

Source: Pimento Cheese

Florian Nouh‘s Pimento Cheese is so quick and easy to make, you can literally make it for a party mere minutes before you guests arrive. It’s cheesy, spicy, and comforting, which are pretty much all the characteristics of a good dip. And since it’s primarily made from chickpeas, you can feel good about munching out!

13. Purple Mac and Cheese

Source: Purple Mac and Cheese

When mixed with vegetable broth and a bit of nutritional yeast, potatoes and vegetables like carrots are able to create a deliciously creamy and cheesy sauce! In the case of this Purple Mac and Cheese by the Cruelty Free Family, the potatoes and carrots both have purple hues, creating a beautiful and uniquely colored dish when tossed with mac and cheese. Get a little more color on your table with this creative entrée.

14. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Sandwich 

Source: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Sandwich

The cheese spread in this Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Sandwich by Kelly Williams brings excellent flavor and a little nutritional “oomph” to the table. It’s made from, get this — beans. But don’t worry, it certainly doesn’t taste like it. It combines the classic pairing of grilled cheese and tomato soup into a thick, savory spread that deserves to be eaten with everything.

15. Gluten-Free Pizza Crust With Nut-Free Cheese

Source: Gluten-Free Pizza Crust With Nut-Free Cheese

When you make the potato cheese from Jana Kastner‘s Gluten-Free Pizza Crust With Nut-Free Cheese, be sure to make the entire pizza. Trust us, it tastes just like what you can get at an Italian restaurant! The crust is slightly crispy, with a soft interior, covered with a savory tomato sauce and creamy, nut-free cheese made from potatoes. Enjoy this plain, with garlic and onion powder or with any vegetable of your choice.

For more cheesy recipes, check out our vegan cheese recipes. For various recipes, download our Food Monster App where we have over 15,000 vegan and allergy-friendly recipes!

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