Melty, Creamy Vegan Cheese Sauce

Author Notes

I’ve made countless batches of vegan cheese sauces that rely on blended cashews for creaminess. And while they’re very tasty—and arguably cheese-like, thanks to nutritional yeast—they’re not quite like the vegan cheese sauce I remember from childhood.

You know the one. It’s the kind that my mom used to put on baked potatoes, pasta, and which I’ve had on many plates of nachos. It’s smooth, creamy, salty, and a little stretchy.

The world of store-bought vegan cheese is expanding. New vegan cheese shreds—ones that really do achieve a melty, gooey texture—are making this kind of cheese sauce possible in a non-dairy form.

I recommend using cheddar shreds from the Violife, Moocho, or Daiya brands for this recipe. Once the sauce is made, it can be stored in an airtight container for up to four days and reheated in a small saucepan. Use it as a dip, a topping for enchiladas or potato skins, or even with cooked pasta for a last-minute shortcut mac n’ cheese. —Gena Hamshaw