• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Fit Mitten Kitchen

balanced baking and real food recipes

Subscribe to receive my FREE Healthy Nut Butter eBook!
Free eBook!
  • Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
        • Egg Dishes
        • Oatmeal & Granola
        • Pancakes & Waffles
        • Scones
        • Smoothies
      • Desserts
        • Bars & Brownies
        • Cakes & Cupcakes
        • Candy
        • Cookies
        • Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts
        • PIes, Tarts & Crisps
        • Cinnamon Rolls
      • Healthy Drinks
      • Lunch & Dinner
        • Appetizers
        • Bowls
        • Salads
        • Sandwiches & Wraps
        • Sides
        • Soups & Chili
      • Snacks
        • Bars & Balls
        • Muffins & Breads
        • Nut & Seed Butters
    • Dietary
      • Dairy Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • No Added Sugar
      • Nut-Free
      • Oil-Free
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Whole30
    • Method
      • Food Processor & Blender
      • Freezer
      • Grill
      • Instant Pot
      • No-Bake
      • Oven
      • Slow Cooker
      • Stovetop
    • Protein
      • Chicken
      • Plant Based
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Turkey
    • Recipe Videos
  • About
    • Meet Ashley
    • Work with Me
      • Partnerships
    • Contact
  • Lifestyle
    • Real Talk
    • Travel
    • Workouts
  • Shop
Home Recipes Course Lunch & Dinner Appetizers Cashew Queso Dip
DF Dairy Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian

Cashew Queso Dip

Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Posted:4/26/21
Updated:1/16/23

Vegan queso recipe! Using raw cashews, nutritional yeast (makes it “cheesy”) garlic and spices. You will love this easy creamy recipe – trust me!

bowl of cashew queso dip with blue and yellow corn chips

This post is sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help Fit Mitten Kitchen bring you new recipes!

Why You’ll Love This

If you’re ready for a dairy free and vegan Mexican-inspired queso recipe that everyone will love, then you must make this dip!

  • It takes minutes to throw together
  • Minimal ingredients – think a few pantry staples + spices.
  • Dairy free, vegan and paleo friendly so most can enjoy this queso dip.

But first, let’s talk about nutritional yeast.

Nutritional Yeast = Cheesy Factor

bob's red mill nutritional yeast next to plate of chips and cashew queso

What is Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional yeast is made from a specially selected strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is often used in many vegetarian and vegan recipes to add a cheesy flavor.

It’s high in B12 vitamins and protein (8g per 1/4 cup!), making it a great supplement for a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Yeast is:

  • Paleo
  • Vegan
  • Kosher
  • Gluten Free

What does Nutritional Yeast Taste Like?

Nutritional yeast has a naturally cheesy, nutty and almost salty flavor – which is why it’s such a great cheese replacement in many dairy free and vegan recipes.

Other ways you can use nutritional yeast: sprinkled on popcorn, these amazing kale chips, use in place of parmesan for vegan pesto, and plant based bolognese.

Vegan Queso Ingredients

  • cashews – when soaked in hot water, cashews break down to a super delicious cream, which is the perfect replacement for dairy for a vegan queso recipe.
  • garlic clove – a fresh garlic clove will give you the best flavor but minced garlic from a jar will work as well.
  • nutritional yeast – the other star ingredient in this cashew queso. Nutritional yeast adds a salty cheesy flavor.
  • coconut aminos and lime juice– enhances flavor.
  • spices & salt – onion, cumin and chili powder.
  • adobo sauce – optional but adds a nice smokey flavor.
water, cashews, Bob's Red Mill Nutritional Yeast, spices, lime and garlic on gray board

5 Minute Recipe

This cashew queso literally takes minutes to make, thanks to a blender.

Throw everything in, blend until smooth, and you’ve got yourself a creamy cheese dip!

NOTE: While soaking the cashews in boiled water will make this dip recipe super creamy, if you’re in a hurry you can skip this step. Just note your queso likely won’t be as smooth.

cashews, nutritional yeast and spices in blender for cashew queso

Serving Suggestions

  • With chips & salsa for a snack. Stir in a couple tablespoons of salsa for diced tomatoes if you’d like!
  • On tacos (highly recommend these vegan ones!).
  • As a sauce for a burrito bowl.
  • You could even spread it on some breakfast sandwiches.

If you’re serving for a crowd, double the batch because this will go fast!

Storing

This queso dip recipe is best enjoyed fresh, but you can also store in the fridge up to 5 days.

You can enjoy cold or reheat in a small pan on the stovetop.

hand dipping chip into small bowl of cashew queso

Let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a comment and rating below! It helps others learn more about the recipe too! Xx Ashley

Print

Cashew Queso Dip

bowl of cashew queso surrounded by blue and yellow corn tortilla chips
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Even non-vegans love this Cashew Queso Dip! Using cashews, nutritional yeast (makes it “cheesy”) garlic and spices. This recipe takes just minutes to throw together – blend everything until smooth then serve with your favorite chips, tacos and more.

  • Author: Ashley
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: about 1 cup 1x
  • Category: snacks
  • Method: blender
  • Cuisine: Mexican Inspired
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3/4 cup cashews
  • 1/2 –3/4 cup boiled water
  • 2.5 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 medium garlic clove
  • 1/2 tablespoon coconut aminos
  • 1 teaspoon Adobo sauce (optional but adds a chipotle smoky flavor)
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Instructions

  1. Add cashews to 1/2 cup of boiled water and let sit for 5 minutes. While the cashews are soaking, gather the rest of your ingredients.
  2. In blender cup, add cashews in water, nutritional yeast, juice of 1 lime, garlic clove, coconut aminos, adobo sauce if using, salt, cumin chili powder and onion powder. Blend until smooth creamy consistency forms – a high powdered blender or NutriBullet works best. 
  3. Check for spice level, cheesy factor and consistency – if you want a little thinner queso, add an additional 2-4 TBSP water and blend again. 
  4. Serve with your favorite chips, these tacos, or even a burrito bowl.

Equipment

terrasoul cashews package

cashews

Buy Now →
NutriBullet

NutriBullet

Buy Now →

Keywords: cashew queso, vegan queso, queso dip recipe

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @fitmittenkitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #fitmittenkitchen

About Ashley

"Ashley Walterhouse is the founder of Fit Mitten Kitchen, based in the Greater Lansing Area of Michigan, AKA “the Mitten.” Ashley grew up as a picky eater but later discovered that eating healthy was actually easy and fun. She started FMK in 2015 as a way to share her newfound love of developing healthier recipes for all to enjoy."

piece of strawberry baked oatmeal on plate next to fresh cut strawberry
Previous Post
Strawberry Baked Oatmeal
up close image of jackfruit tacos with jalapeno
Next Post
Easy Jackfruit Tacos

Reader Interactions

Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Primary Sidebar

More...

31 Holiday Cookies for Your Cookie Exchange

baked gingerbread bundt cake

Gingerbread Bundt Cake

bowl of pear salad with fresh pomegranates and candied pecans and orange poppyseed dressing jar

Pomegranate Pear Salad

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

overhead view of honey glazed carrots on rectangle baking dish with fresh thyme

Honey Glazed Carrots

stacked gingerbread truffles on green plate next to red gingerbread cookie cutter and red towel in background

Easy Gingerbread Truffles

pieces of cranberry orange baked oatmeal on oval plate

Cranberry Orange Baked Oatmeal

mocha mini cheesecake with whipped topping on black plate and dessert forks

Mini Mocha Cheesecakes

Free recipe ebook!

Subscribe and get a FREE healthy nut butter ebook!

Thank you for subscribing!
Trending Now
butternut squash, feta and kale salad in bowl Lunch & Dinner
chai latte in mug with cinnamon and star anise Cozy Drinks
banana peanut butter cinnamon rolls on small white plates with banana slices Cinnamon Rolls
As Featured On
  • Browse by Diet
  • Gluten-Free
  • Dairy Free
  • Vegan
  • Paleo
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
Exclusive Member of Mediavine· © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Back to Top

Subscribe & receive a free nut butter ebook!

Thank you for subscribing!