Name: Cashew Queso
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 7 min
Ingredients: 1 cup (240 mL) milk of choice, unsweetened; ¼ cup (20 g) nutritional yeast; ½ cup (70 g) raw almonds, unsalted; ½ cup (65 g) raw cashews, unsalted; 1 red bell pepper, seeded; 1 ½ tsp (8 g) salt; ½ tsp (1.5 g) garlic powder; 1 tsp (2.5 g) onion powder; crushed red pepper - a few shakes (to taste)

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Cashew Queso
Recipe by Blending For GoodCourse: Dips and spreads, Featured Recipes, Popular
Yield
475
ml (2 cups)
Active time
2
minutes
Cook time
5
minutes
Total time
7
minutes
How do you write about one of the greatest gifts you’ve given to the world? The answer is: you don’t. Instead, you let other people do it for you. Below are some of our favorite stories staring the recipe that began it all. Originally from Life is NOYOKE, it’s Cashew Queso: Great hot or cold, lasts for days, adored by picky eaters young and old. It’s the return of cheese. It’s an irresistible appetizer to bring to a party. It’s a base for soup (Broccoli “Cheese”), a sauce for tacos, a dip for chips or veggies. This dairy-free cheese sauce may be the best Vitamix recipe ever. It’s mine, it’s ours, it’s here for the world to discover and enjoy. –Lenny Gale
Ingredients
1 cup (240 mL) milk of choice, unsweetened
¼ cup (20 g) nutritional yeast
½ cup (70 g) raw almonds, unsalted
½ cup (65 g) raw cashews, unsalted
1 red bell pepper, seeded
1 ½ tsp (8 g) salt
½ tsp (1.5 g) garlic powder
1 tsp (2.5 g) onion powder
crushed red pepper – a few shakes (to taste)
Directions
Add ingredients to blender container in order listed.
Blend on high for 6 minutes (or use pre-programmed ‘Soup’ setting).
Enjoy with friends.
Recipe Video
Notes

Equipment: This recipe assumes you have a high-performance blender that can heat ingredients. If you don’t have one, blend until smooth and heat on stovetop on medium heat until warm.
Storage: Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Cashews allergy? Substitute with raw sunflower seeds and sesame seeds. Per our friend Andrew, this substitution works perfectly.
Great on jackfruit tacos or sliders.

Great as an easy kids dinner.

Thank you chef

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290 responses to “Cashew Queso”

Ashley

September 15, 2025

I’ve been making this recipe for years and haven’t served it to anyone who didn’t enjoy it. It’s really versatile when I’m out of something since it works with almond and oat milk, with all cashews, or even with potato + cashews. I once served it to a friend who turned to me partway through the meal, surprised, and asked: “How can you eat this? I thought you were vegan!” Apparently it tasted so good that he completely forgot it wasn’t dairy cheese. And it’s still one of the only vegan cheese recipes (besides the Gentle Chef’s more complicated ones) that really does taste like cheese. Thanks so much for this!

Reply
Megan Currie

August 27, 2025

This has been a favorite recipe of mine for years! I have served it to many who cannot believe it’s not real cheese. Thank you for this recipe so much! I am now growing my own bell peppers so that I can make it fresh. Let me ask you a question, can I make this in batches and freeze it? Thank you so much for what you do. I love your site. You guys are awesome. Your detox salad is amazing one too. It’s an every day in my house. 👍

Reply
1. Lenny Gale
  
  September 4, 2025
  
  Hi Megan. Thanks so much! We’ve never tried to make big batches and freeze because it gets eaten so quickly. But we’re all about batching and I’m thinking it’d work great, especially if it’s stored in something like these Souper Cubes. Thanks for being part of the Blending For Good Family. — Shalva and Lenny
Cher Barron

August 23, 2025

If I can’t eat bell peppers, what can I substitute? Or do I even need a substitute? I can do sorrano peppers. Thanks for your help.

Reply
1. Lenny Gale
  
  September 4, 2025
  
  Hi! Sorrano peppers could work, but would maybe be a bit spicy? Give it a try and let us know. 🙂
SE Basore

June 10, 2025

I absolutely love this recipe and make it often. Do you ever publish the nutritional information on your recipes? My cardiac/metabolic dietician has me really watching my daily fat intake. Thank you!

Reply
Lexa

August 30, 2023

I am so excited to make this. I only got my very frost vitamix yesterday and I’ve used it 5 times already 😳

Today I made your banana bread flavoured but butter. Omg. The kids were eating by the spoonful! I can not get over how smooth it comes out! (Although I never managed to get it moving its self. I just kept whacking it with the tamper)

Okay my question…. I have the vitamix 2300i which doesn’t have a soup function…..
can I still use my vitamix for this recipe?
I’m very new to how to use the vitamix lol.

Thankyou!

Reply
1. Lenny Gale
  
  August 31, 2023
  
  Hi Lexa, Yes, 100%. Just run it on Variable Speed 10 for 5:30. Enjoy and share with friends!
Joan Van Wagner

June 26, 2023

Hi. I made this yesterday in my basic Vitamix but it never produced steam on 10. But after heating it up in a saucepan on medium low it was perfect. I made loaded vegan nachos with vegan chorizo, beans, pickled jalapeños, red onions etc.
Everyone loved them including my husband who hates vegan. No one knew my secret ingredients.

Reply
1. Shalva Gale
  
  June 28, 2023
  
  The end result sounds delicious! If you run your machine on high for about 6 minutes with the lid on tightly you should definitely get some steam!
Cashew Queso: The Best Vegan Cheese Sauce! | EpersianFood

June 19, 2023

[…] our best video (and recipe!) yet. print it here https://s45509.p20.sites.pressdns.com/cashew-queso/ […]

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Vitamix Propel 510 and 750 Review: Who'd Get These? • Life is NOYOKE

March 1, 2023

[…] Cashew Queso […]

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Kelly Bennett

February 7, 2023

Love making this! I have the e-book and the weight for the 1/4 C of nutritional yeast is 60g, but online the weight measurement is 20g. We usually use 60g, but not sure which is correct.

Reply
1. Shalva Gale
  
  March 20, 2023
  
  It’s 20g, thanks for letting us know!
Vardit

February 7, 2023

Love your version of this dip!!! Since I first tried it about 6 months ago, I have been making it regularly. It freezes beautifully, too. Thank you!

Reply
1. Lenny Gale
  
  February 7, 2023
  
  Heyhey! Thanks Vardit! Yeah, we still make it weekly and often serve it for kids dinner!
kal5

February 2, 2023

Bad thing on nutritional yeast. It contains MSG and there is a claim it’s not vegan. Bummer. Here’s an interesting article: https://traditionalcookingschool.com/health-and-nutrition/healthy-living-health-and-nutrition/why-nutritional-yeast-is-not-vegan-health-food/

Reply
Kal5

February 2, 2023

Cashew Queso recipe has been around forever. You make it sound like you invented it. Your spin on the recipe is like others I’ve tried. And Cashew Queso is all good. Makes everyone happy

Reply