This is one of those recipes where I’m like, “NAT. WHY DID THIS TAKE YOU SO LONG?!”

Vegan queso or cashew “cheeze” sauce has been floating around the Internet for a few years, but I was always doubtful that it would be worth making. Or that it would taste good.

You’ll love this Cashew Nacho Cheese

I’m a cheese snob and generally resistant to trends (food or otherwise) until I can mull them over and decide if they’re something I want to try.

When I was working on my last cookbook, I wanted to add a dairy-free cashew cheese sauce to my basics chapter and incorporate it into a few of the recipes.

After the first few test runs, I was hooked. Vegan queso is so much better than I thought it would be!

I included this Chipotle Vegan Queso as well as a Garlic Alfredo “Cheeze” Sauce version in my cookbook.

You can use vegan queso in any tex-mex dish that uses cheese or as a veggie dip. Or drizzle it over chili. (Yum. I’ve done this!)

Queso Chipotle Ingredients

• Cashews – raw and unsalted
• Lemon juice
• Nutritional yeast
• Garlic
• Sea salt
• Chipotle chile powder or a chipotle pepper from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• Ground turmeric

How to make Chipotle Queso

1. Put the cashews in a medium bowl and cover completely with steaming hot water. Let the cashews soak for at least an hour. Drain off the liquid.
2. Put the cashews in a blender or food processor along with 1/2 cup of fresh water and the ingredients listed above. Blend until smooth.

Tips for making Cashew Nacho Cheese

Getting the cashews rehydrated is a key part of this recipe, make sure you soak them for at least 1 hour.

If you’ve never used dried chipotle powder, it’s about as spicy as cayenne, so keep that in mind when using it.

Chipotle Cheese Sauce Variations

Spice – Since chipotle is spicy, you might want to reduce the amount if you have a sensitive palate.

How to Make Paleo Nachos With Cashew Nacho Cheese

For these paleo nachos I used :

• My Crispy Sweet Potato Chips, grain-free tortilla chips, or plantain chips.
• Leftover shredded pork I pulled out of the freezer and heated up with some Chipotle Chorizo Seasoning
• Chipotle Vegan Queso (recipe below!)
• Favorite fixings — guacamole, pico de gallo, chopped tomatoes, sliced radishes and cilantro.

I’m thinking we’ll have these nachos on Sunday for Father’s Day.

Nachos has become a Mother’s Day tradition because it’s something that’s fast and easy and the kids can almost do by themselves. (And it doesn’t stress Steve out.)

You can even make the vegan queso sauce ahead of time and heat it up in a skillet over low heat. Or pop in in the microwave for 20 second intervals and stir between each one.

If it starts to get clumpy or the texture is funny, just buzz it up again in the blender with a tablespoon of hot water to smooth it out.

Other ways to use this Chipotle Queso Dip

This vegan queso can be used anytime you want to replace a cheese sauce!
I like drizzling it over my Roasted Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole or Easy Blackened Fish Tacos.
Or as a dip for Fiesta Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets and Everything Bagel Chicken Tenders.

Chipotle Queso Gluten Free dip storage

Make the vegan queso sauce ahead of time and store it in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Reheating Chipotle Cheese Sauce

Heat it up in a skillet over low heat. Or pop in in the microwave for 20 second intervals and stir between each one.

If it starts to get clumpy or the texture is funny, just buzz it up again in the blender with a tablespoon of hot water to smooth it out.

 

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