3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (2024)

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By:Alison Marras

March 26, 2020

(updated February 18, 2022)

4.51 from 79 votes

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What’s Inside: Looking for the best dairy-free cheese sauce? Here are three recipes to make on repeat. Plus, they’re Paleo, Whole30, and AIP!

3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (1)

The Best Cheese Sauce Is Dairy-Free!

When I first eliminated dairy from my diet many moons ago, I felt a lot of things. I felt way better, I saw less skin breakouts and irritations, and my digestion improved, to name a few. But, I also felt a dairy-shaped gaping hole in the depth of my soul. And so began the search for dairy-free substitutes to be able to enjoy the foods I missed most like mac and cheese, ice cream, and, of course, a good ol’ cheese board.

This post is all about the sauce, though, because cheese sauce can be used in so many different ways. Between pouring it on veggies, gluten-free pasta, veggie noodles, and using it in casseroles, it’s become quite a staple in my fridge because it’s easy to make and delicious!

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The three best dairy-free cheese sauces highlighted in this post are my go-to’s, and two of them are AIP-friendly, meaning they’re nut-free, vegan, and packed with veggies. This is also a great way to get kids or picky eaters to consume more veggies (in a sneaky way).

…Cue the evil laugh – muahaha!

3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (2)

What You Need To Make Dairy-Free Cheese

  • Nutritional Yeast: Different from bakers or brewer’s yeast, this is a pivotal ingredient in dairy-free cheese recipes. It provides a cheesy-like taste. This is the brand I use.
  • Lemon Juice or Vinegar: This helps with that little bite that cheese has and brings something acidic to your recipe.
  • Cauliflower, Nuts, Coconut, or Potato: Something that will be creamy in texture whether it be from fat (nuts, coconut) or starch (like potato or arrowroot starch).

3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (3)

Ways To Use Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce

  • Butternut Squash Lasagna
  • Spaghetti Squash Pastit*io (Baked Ziti)
  • Spaghetti Squash Alfredo
  • As a dip on a platter
  • Poured over tortilla chips as a vegan nacho cheese sauce
  • Use it on any pasta dish
  • Drizzle over broccoli or Brussels sprouts for a cheesy green veggie dish
  • 3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (4)
  • 3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (5)
  • 3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (6)
  • 3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (7)

The Top 3 Dairy-Free (and Vegan) Cheese Sauce Recipes

Creamy Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce from Cauliflower

4.26 from 78 votes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (8)

This nut-free, AIP, and paleo-friendly vegan cheese sauce is so good! The extra creamy texture comes from a combination of steamed cauliflower and coconut cream. Best part? It only requires 10 minutes of prep and stays fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days!

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The Best & Easiest Paleo Cashew Cheese Sauce

4.45 from 50 votes

Total Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (9)

This quick and easy Paleo cashew cheese sauce recipe is a staple in my fridge. Toss the ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth and thick. Lather it on pasta, nachos, tacos, and so much more – the options are endless for this versatile cashew cheese sauce. Whole30 friendly and vegan too!

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Dairy-Free Sweet Potato Cheese Sauce

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (10)

This dairy-free sweet potato cheese sauce is a staple in my fridge. Made with sweet potatoes, nutritional yeast, and no tree nuts, this recipe is easy to make, and even easier to eat while remaining AIP – and Paleo-friendly!

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3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (11)

Sweet Potato Cheese Sauce (+ more Dairy-free Cheese Sauce Recipes)

4.51 from 79 votes

This easy coconut-free sauce is so creamy and dreamy! It's AIP, Paleo, and Whole30.

PrintPin

Author: Alison Marras

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Yield: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked and cooled white sweet potato (skin peeled off)
  • 1 cup+ water
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes
  • 1/2 juiced lemon or 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions:

  • Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until your sauce forms, add more water as needed to loosen and use in cooking or store for up to 5-days in the fridge.

Notes:

This Sweet Potato Cheese Sauce Recipe was adapted from Rachel’s delicious one @meatified!

Course: Sauce

-Alison Marras

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (12)

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3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat dairy free cheese on Whole30? ›

Nut or Vegan “Cheese”: Read your labels

Kite Hill “ricotta” or “cream cheese,” cashew-based “queso” dips, and nut-based Alfredo sauces are all Plant-Based Whole30 compatible, as long as their ingredients are a fit. (Look for rice bran, corn starch, added sugar, or other off-plan ingredients.)

Are nutritional yeast flakes AIP compliant? ›

Nutritional yeast is an AIP approved food that is commonly used to add a cheesy flavour to dishes. And in this recipe, it does just that as the parmesan substitute. It's also exceptionally high in B vitamins, which helps to boost those energy levels!

Can you eat dairy-free cheese on paleo? ›

Melted tapioca cheese - the best dairy-free Paleo AIP cheese! Easy to make vegan, too. Tapioca cheese looks, feels, and acts just like fresh mozzarella. It has a mild flavor that works both as a topping for pizza and other savory dishes, and even in some dessert recipes as well!

Is feta cheese OK on Whole30? ›

Whole30 rule #6: Steer clear of most types of dairy

Avoid dairy products such as cow's milk, goat's milk and sheep's milk. And stay away from dairy products like kefir, yogurt, ice cream, cheese, sour cream, butter and frozen yogurt.

Is almond milk OK for AIP? ›

Coconut milk is the best non-dairy milk alternative. It is AIP-friendly. Oat, hemp seed, almond, flaxseed, and cashew milks are not AIP-compliant because they come from nuts and seeds. Still, they are a better option than cow's milk to heal your gut and reduce symptoms.

Can you eat zucchini on AIP? ›

Examples of foods you can eat while on the AIP diet include: Vegetables that aren't nightshade vegetables like cucumbers, spinach, sweet potatoes and zucchini.

Is almond butter AIP compliant? ›

Almonds are eaten whole but are also used to make a butter, flour, and dairy-alternative milk. Like all nuts and seeds, almonds are excluded when on the autoimmune protocol, but they may be reintroduced and consumed after a period of time if tolerated.

Is there any Whole30 approved cheese? ›

On the Whole30 diet, you can't have: dairy (say good-bye to cheese), legumes (so no beans, pea, chickpeas, lentils peanuts or peanut butter, soy sauce, tofu, and anything else soy-related), grains (wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, and even gluten-free grains like quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth), added sugars (from ...

What cheese can you have on Whole30? ›

Understanding Whole30 “Cheese”

Although traditional, dairy-derived cheese is a no-go during a Whole30, there's a world of dairy-free cheesy elements that's compatible. These include: Almond-based “ricotta” or “cream cheeses,” like select varieties from Kite Hill.

What cheese can you eat if you are dairy-free? ›

Hard cheeses such as cheddar, colby, Swiss, mozzarella and Monterey Jack “are virtually lactose-free,” Cifelli explains. Additionally aged cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano are virtually lactose free. At less than 1 mg lactose per 100 grams even the Italian Ministry of Health allows it to be labeled as such.

Is there a cheese that is dairy-free? ›

Violife is free from dairy, soy, gluten, lactose, nuts, and preservatives, but full of cheesy flavor and just the right ooey-gooey texture. If you're in search of the dairy-free cheese pull of your dreams, search no longer.

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