16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (2024)

Appetizers | Dips, Sauces, and Condiments | Snacks | Vegan Basics | | Vegan Recipes

ByKarissa

Oh, cheese! It can be difficult to give it up when going vegan. However, there are so many options out there now…including vegan cheese recipes you can make right at home.

16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (1)

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“I could go vegan…but I’d miss cheese!”

I have heard that phrase so much, and I have also been guilty of saying it! Cheese is one of those things that is really tough to replicate without using animal products.

And we are so used to cheese on everything. Cream cheese on bagels, parmesan on pasta, nacho cheese dip with our chips, sliced cheese on all the sandwiches, and so much more. Cheese is everywhere.

Store-bought dairy-free/vegan cheese can be a total hit or miss. I’ve tried so, so many types from every different brand I could find. And about 75% of them are either absolute misses or just underwhelming.

However, I have found some totally delicious vegan cheese at the store!

Store-Bought Cheese Recommendations:

  • GoVeggie Cream Cheese
  • Kite Hill Mozzarella
  • VioLife Shredded Mozzarella
  • VioLife Shredded Cheddar
  • Follow Your Heart Sliced Gouda
  • Follow Your Heart Sliced American
  • Follow Your Heart Shredded Parmesan
  • Miyoko’s Garlic Herb Cheese Wheel
  • Field Roast Chao Slices

But don’t stop there! While store-bought vegan cheese has come a long way, I also recommend making your own at home. They are often easy to make, healthier, and totally customizable to your flavorful preferences!

For example, I’ve tried a few store-bought vegan cheese dips but none of them compare to my homemade queso!

Vegan Cheese Recipes

Delicious, vegan cheese recipes you can make right at home.

Vegan Queso

4.77 from 21 votes

This white vegan queso is made in a blender in just minutes!

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (2)

Vegan Nacho Cheese

4.77 from 42 votes

Healthy nacho cheese?! Yup! This recipe is so flavorful and perfect to dip in chips in or drizzle onto tacos.

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (3)

Vegan Cream Cheese

5 from 12 votes

Homemade vegan cream cheese is SO simple to make. This version is made with cashews.

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (4)

Vegan Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Ball

4.89 from 9 votes

This cheeseball is always a hit, especially around the holidays!

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (5)

Easy Cheesy Vegan Parmesan

4.19 from 22 votes

Homemade, shakeable vegan parmesan cheese made from simple ingredients like cashews and nutritional yeast.

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (6)

Vegan Feta Cheese

This easy vegan feta cheese substitute is made using tofu. Add to a charcuterie board, smear on toast, or toss into your favorite salad!

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (7)

All-Purpose Cheese Sauce

4.86 from 106 votes

The best vegan cheese sauce made in 5 minutes with just 8 ingredients. This easy sauce is great as a dip and as a pasta sauce.

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (8)

Vegan Ricotta Cheese

4.25 from 4 votes

Easy vegan ricotta made with soaked cashews and a block of tofu.

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (9)

Vegan Beer Cheese Dip

4.93 from 27 votes

Creamy, mouth-watering, and super flavorful vegan beer cheese dip…made in 10 minutes! Enjoy this dairy-free dip as a snack or appetizer.

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (10)

Vegan Pepper Jack Cheese

This perfect vegan pepper jack cheese is creamy and spicy and perfect for sandwiches, quesadillas, cheese and crackers, and charcuterie boards. You’ll love how quick and easy it is to make your own vegan cheese! (aplantifulpath.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (11)

Melty Stretchy Gooey Vegan Mozzarella

Ooey gooey vegan mozzarella you can put on pizza or dip chips in! (itdoesnttastelikechicken.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (12)

Vegan Cheddar Cheese

Serve this stunning jalapeno cheddar cheese ball to your family & friends and they'll be amazed! (mydarlingvegan.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (13)

Jalapeño Cashew Cheese Spread

This spicy vegan cheese spread makes for a great appetizer or to add flavor to sandwiches! (cadryskitchen.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (14)

Smoked Paprika Basil Goat Cheese

Yup, you can even make vegan goat cheese! (wellvegan.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (15)

Vegan Blue Cheese Dressing

This creamy tangy vegan blue cheese dressing is made with tofu and cashews. Use as a salad dressing, dip for or topping. (veggiefunkitchen.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (16)

Extra Mature Vegan Cheddar

Missing that sharp cheddar taste? Try this recipe! (yumsome.com)

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16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (17)

16 Homemade Vegan Cheese Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to eat vegan cheese everyday? ›

Some of the more processed types of vegan cheese contain large amounts of refined oils, preservatives, color additives and sodium while being mostly void of substantial nutritional value. In general, foods like this should be consumed minimally, if at all.

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.

How long does homemade vegan cheese last in the fridge? ›

Hard cheeses: Hard vegan cheeses like cheddar or parmesan can be wrapped in parchment paper or cheesecloth and stored in the refrigerator. They will keep for 1-2 weeks. Fermented cheeses: Fermented vegan cheeses like cashew cheese or miso cheese should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Which vegan cheese gives the meltiest cheese pull? ›

With a score of 9.8 out of 10, Follow Your Heart Smoked Gouda vegan cheese is one of the best vegan cheeses for melting. One of the highest rated vegan cheeses out of hundreds within the discovery app, this smoked gouda is perfect for a home made pizza or grilled cheese sandwich.

Is vegan cheese actually healthier? ›

Vegan cheeses are typically lower in fat, protein and calcium than regular cheese and are likely gluten-free. Because vegan cheese is a processed food, it tends to be higher in sodium, so check your labels.

How long does vegan cheese last in the fridge? ›

La Fauxmagerie and other vegan cheese makers have storage instructions on most of their cheeses. Store in the fridge between 3-5C and consume within 5 days of opening. Wrap well or put in container after opening. Can be frozen for up to 2 months and defrosted in the fridge.

Is mayonnaise vegan? ›

Is mayo vegan? Due to the presence of egg yolk, mayo typically isn't vegan friendly. This means that a lot of commonly-found mayo is not suitable for those on a plant-based diet. However, as more people are experimenting with plant-based diets, several brands have launched a vegan mayo to reflect the growing market.

What milk is vegan? ›

Vegan milks are made from a wide assortment of beans, nuts, seeds, and grains. The most popular varieties are soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk. Other popular brands are made from coconuts, peas, cashews, hazelnuts, or rice.

Can vegans eat yeast? ›

Although yeast is technically alive—it's a single-celled organism that metabolizes food into energy—it's no more an animal than other fungi such as mushrooms. Therefore, yeast is generally accepted as part of a vegan diet.

Why are cashews used in vegan cheese? ›

Nuts are a combination of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, and the ratios of those three components is what gives different nut-based cheeses their varying flavours and textures. Cashews are great for cheese making because they're mild, dense, and creamy.

What is a substitute for cashews in vegan cheese? ›

Substitute for cashews: cashews are my preference as they are creamy and mild in flavor, but if you need to substitute them you can use macadamia nuts, blanched almonds, or raw sunflower seeds. All of these nuts and seeds will need to be boiled for about 15 minutes to ensure they have softened.

Can you freeze homemade vegan cheese? ›

Fear not, you can save them for later by putting the vegan cheeses in to your freezer. We have had fantastic results with freezing most of the vegan cheeses we have tried over the years and never had one come out bad after freezing. They're texture has remained the same after defrosting and none have been ruined.

What vegan cheese actually tastes like cheese? ›

Miyoko's Creamery: This brand offers a wide range of vegan cheeses that taste like real cheese, including mozzarella, cheddar, and brie. Their vegan mozzarella is great for making vegan pizza, and their cheddar can be used for mac and cheese or grilled cheese sandwiches.

Is vegan cheese inflammatory? ›

Is vegan cheese inflammatory? The vegan cheeses produced on a large scale that we are most likely to find in grocery stores are processed foods. As is the case with all processed foods, they can cause some inflammation in some consumers.

Why is vegan cheese so expensive? ›

The production of vegan cheese can be costlier than that of traditional dairy cheese due to the higher price of plant-based ingredients and the additional processing steps involved.

Is too much vegan cheese bad for you? ›

Plant-based cheese is almost 10% saltier than regular cheddar and equally high in saturated fat, despite its perceived “health halo”, Action on Salt has warned. The organisation found that plant-based cheeses have the highest salt levels, containing an average of 1.91g per 100g.

Is vegan cheese too processed? ›

Most vegan cheeses are processed: Some plant-based cheeses are highly processed, which means they contain preservatives, color additives and sodium. If you do opt for vegan cheese, browse the brands that boast simple, straightforward ingredients.

Are vegan cheeses unhealthy? ›

This probably isn't the answer you wanted, but here it is: Most vegan cheese is not healthy at all. This is because most vegan cheeses are very high in saturated fat and contain little or no protein.

Does vegan cheese raise cholesterol? ›

Unlike traditional cheeses, vegan cheeses contain no cholesterol. They are an excellent option if you want to appreciate the great taste of cheese without causing your cholesterol levels to rise! And even better, plant-based cheeses are known for their high content of phytosterols (or plant sterols).

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