Tofu Queso Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free) Dairy Free (2024)

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This tofu queso recipe is a creamy and flavorful sauce that is ready in 5 minutes in a blender. A rich and cheese sauce that is vegan and gluten free.

Great for nachos, burritos, or just as a party dip for tortilla chips. Blend all the ingredients together and fiesta forever!

Tofu Queso Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free) Dairy Free (1)

This tofu queso recipe saved our party last weekend, and was a huge hit for everyone! It’s creamy, tasty, and perfectly spiced.

This Tofu Queso Recipe Is:

  • Creamy
  • Cheesy
  • A Little Spicy
  • Loaded with Flavor
  • Bright
  • Fresh
  • Made in the Blender
  • Vegan, Gluten Free, and Dairy Free
Tofu Queso Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free) Dairy Free (2)

A Great Last Minute Vegan Dip Recipe – with Pantry Ingredients

This tofu queso recipe is a fantastic pantry-staple dip! It uses almost all ingredients you would have in your dry pantry or cupboards – most of which you probably have on hand. Keeping a well-stocked pantry makes it easy to come up with delicious meals using a few staples you can rotate.

I made a list of my Top 125 Plant-Based Pantry Staples that always keep stocked. By stocking up on whole ingredients you can cook delicious recipes without a trip to the store!

Tofu Queso Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free) Dairy Free (3)

What’s In Tofu Queso Dip?

See the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!

  • Silken Tofu
  • Nutritional Yeast: not to be confused with bread baking yeast, nutritional yeast has a cheesy nutty umami flavor which is great in all kinds of dishes – I even sprinkle it on fresh popped pop corn and WOW! Also great in soups and sauces of all kinds.
  • Garlic
  • Jalapenos: if you don’t have fresh jalapenos, these jarred sliced jalapenos are a fantastic addition to the dip! I use these in a pinch, they’re great to keep a jar or two in the pantry.
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Garlic Powder: Also a major pantry staple ingredient that gets used in our house daily! I love this garlic powder and add it to a lot of recipes that I would use fresh garlic in too.
  • Smoked Paprika: give an additional depth of flavor to this dish.
  • Cumin: also adds a really nice flavor to this recipe – cumin has a lightly smokey flavor found in a lot of chili recipes.
  • Lime Juice
Tofu Queso Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free) Dairy Free (4)

Is This Vegan Queso Authentic?

For the record, in no way is this a real authentic “queso” dip. Queso means cheese in Spanish, and since this dip has no real cheese in it, I borrowed the mere concept of queso to adapt it and make it vegan. The result is a creamy, spicy, cheesy-tasting dip that is 100% plant-based, but in no way part of traditional Mexican cuisine.

If you are looking for a real cheese queso recipe, here is one I found online from a group of local Mexican restaurants by us. They vouch that it is authentic Mexican queso dip, so sharing it here!

Tofu Queso Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free) Dairy Free (5)

How Do I Make Queso with Tofu?

  1. Add all of the below ingredients to a blender, and blend well to combine, about 1 to 2 minutes.
  2. Transfer sauce to a serving bowl, and top with extra paprika or cilantro for a garnish.
  3. Enjoy it as a dip, a sauce, or add it to your next burrito!

Other Tofu Dips and Sauces You’ll Love!

Vegan Boom Boom Sauce Recipe (Dairy Free, High Protein, Low Sodium)

Vegan Garlic Sauce For Falafel, Kebab, and Shawarma Recipe

Tofu Mayo Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, Egg Free)

Tzatziki Sauce with Tofu Recipe (Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free)

Tofu Sour Cream Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

Tofu Queso Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free) Dairy Free (6)

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Tofu Queso Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free) Dairy Free (7)

Tofu Queso

Tofu Queso Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free) Dairy Free (8)Kelly Jensen

This tofu queso recipe is a creamy and flavorful sauce that is ready in 5 minutes in a blender. A rich and cheese sauce that is vegan and gluten free. Great for nachos, burritos, or just as a party dip for tortilla chips. Blend all the ingredients together and fiesta forever!

5 from 10 votes

Print Recipe Pin

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Condiment, Dip, Sauce

Cuisine American, Mexican

Servings 8 servings

Calories 64 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 12 ounce block tofu
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 jalapeno seeded
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 lime juiced
  • Paprika for garnish

Instructions

  • Add all of the below ingredients to a blender, and blend well to combine, about 1 to 2 minutes.

  • Transfer sauce to a serving bowl, and top with extra paprika or cilantro for a garnish.

  • Enjoy it as a dip, a sauce, or add it to your next burrito!

Nutrition

Calories: 64kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 124mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 40IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg

Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a rating and comment below, let us know what you loved about it!

This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn from qualifying purchases from affiliate programs, at no additional cost to you. Please read ourprivacy policyfor more information.

About the Author: Kelly Jensen

Tofu Queso Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free) Dairy Free (9)

Kelly Jensen has 7 years experience as a food blogger, freelance recipe developer, content creator, beekeeper, and loves cooking everything she can from scratch.

View all post by Kelly Jensen | Website

Tofu Queso Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free) Dairy Free (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in plant-based cheese? ›

Vegan cheeses are 100% animal-free and made using vegetable proteins. Usually, they're made from soy; nuts, such as cashews and macadamias; and vegetable oils, such as coconut oil. You can also find cheeses that derive from agar, tapioca, peas and arrowroot.

Is tofu dairy free cheese? ›

Fact: Tofu is sometimes called soy cheese because, like dairy cheeses, it's made with the use of a coagulant, or curdling agent, soybeans and water, but it's not a dairy-based cheese.

What is vegan mozzarella made of? ›

Vegan Mozzarella is typically made from a combination of plant-based milk, such as soy, almond, or cashew milk, and a coagulant, such as agar agar or carrageenan. Some vegan mozzarella brands may also include starches or proteins to improve texture and flavor.

Does fried tofu have gluten? ›

Remember that tofu is made of beans. It contains no gluten whatsoever. You may have a problem when you buy ready-flavored tofu that has extra sauces or flavorings on it. Make sure you check the ingredients list and the labels, which should alert you to the fact that your tofu is either gluten-free or not.

What are three dominant ingredients in vegan cheese? ›

This means that it does not contain any dairy, eggs, or any other animal-based ingredients. The main ingredients used to make vegan cheese are plant-based proteins such as soy, almonds, cashews, or coconut.

Why doesn't plant-based cheese melt? ›

It reacts with casein, which is not there in plant-based milks. It doesn't "melt" in the sense that it softens and becomes stringy when heated (eg.

What can I use instead of dairy in tofu? ›

You can, of course, replace dairy milk with soy milk by picking up a bottle of Silk at the grocery store. But you can also puree a package of tofu in the blender with a cup and a half of water the create a high-protein, low-fat milk substitute for use in recipes. (Think alfredo sauce!)

Is tofu gluten free and dairy-free? ›

Yes, plain tofu is generally considered to be safe for those with gluten intolerances to eat, as the beancurd contains no glutenous grains. However, flavoured tofu such as sweet chilli or smoky tofu may not be suitable, as it may be marinated with soy sauce which is not gluten-free.

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.

Which cheese is most vegan? ›

Vegans can eat cheese that is comprised of plant-based ingredients like soybeans, peas, cashews, coconut, or almonds. The most common types of vegan cheeses are cheddar, gouda, parmesan, mozzarella, and cream cheese that can be found in non-dairy forms.

Is feta dairy-free cheese? ›

Because feta cheese is traditionally made with sheep's milk, or sometimes a combination of sheep and goat's milk (and now, some versions are occasionally made with cow's milk), it is not vegan. That said, some who avoid dairy choose to make an exception for feta cheese.

Can vegans eat feta cheese? ›

The answer here is a pretty straightforward no. As feta cheese is made from the milk of sheep and sometimes goats it isn't suitable for anyone on a fully plant-based diet. Vegans will not only abstain from eating meat, but also all animal products or other foods that are made with the use of byproducts too.

Why is soy not gluten-free? ›

Most soy sauces contain gluten

The sauce is typically made by combining soy and crushed wheat and allowing the two to ferment for several days in a salty brine containing mold cultures (2). Therefore, most soy sauces contain gluten from the wheat. However, one variety called tamari is often naturally gluten-free.

Is Trader Joe's tofu gluten-free? ›

Entirely plant-based, gluten free, high in protein while low in fat makes for a great addition to many dishes as the main protein component. Trader Joe's Organic Firm Tofu soaks up the flavor of any dish or sauce it gets tossed into, making for a flavorful and versatile plant-based star of many meals.

Can I eat tofu if I have celiac disease? ›

Those living with celiac disease must refrain from consuming foods containing gluten, wheat, barley and rye, but can enjoy meat and poultry, fish and seafood, tofu, dairy, fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts, and more.

Are plant-based cheese healthy? ›

Vegan cheese has 'little nutritional value' and eating too much may raise risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, expert says.”

Is plant-based cheese healthier? ›

One of the main benefits of vegan cheese is its lack of natural cholesterol, which comes mostly from animal products, especially animal fats.

Is plant-based cheese healthier than dairy cheese? ›

Is vegan cheese healthy? In terms of health, vegan cheese is generally considered better for you than dairy cheese as it's lower in saturated fat and often has added vitamin B12, which contributes to a healthy nervous system.

What is the difference between vegan cheese and plant-based cheese? ›

Vegan cheese, which is alternately referred to as dairy-free cheese or plant-based cheese, is a product that mimics some of the properties of cheese. These include its texture, its flavor, and to some extent its melting ability, even though vegan cheese is made without using any animal-based ingredients whatsoever.

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