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

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By:Alison Marras

March 26, 2020

(updated February 18, 2022)

4.52 from 80 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

4.46 from 51 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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More Healthy, Dairy-free Recipe Collections

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  • Paleo BBQ Menu (Whole30 and AIP-friendly)
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  • Favorite Spa Water Flavors + How to Stay Hydrated
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3 Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipes (Paleo, Whole30, AIP) (11)

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

4.52 from 80 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) (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat cheese on AIP diet? ›

Non-Paleo Foods Eliminated on the AIP Diet

Anything made with cow's or goat's milk, like cheese and yogurt, should be avoided. Dairy contains certain proteins that can trigger inflammation.

What kind of cheese can I have on paleo? ›

A Paleo-diet purist will tell you no, all cheese should be avoided on a Paleo lifestyle. Paleolithic humans didn't milk cows or process dairy. This is one case in which keto diet rules are much more lax than paleo.

Why is there no cheese on the paleo diet? ›

Dairy. A strict paleo diet does not allow dairy products because hunter-gatherers did not milk cows. This includes milk, butter, yogurt, sour cream and cheese.

Is Braggs nutritional yeast 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! Woot woot!

What cheese is not inflammatory? ›

Goat cheese

Both RDs say that goat cheese may be a good option for people who don't tolerate cow milk cheese well. “This is because the casein protein in goat cheese doesn't cause inflammatory effects as associated with other kinds of dairy,” Neumann says.

What cheese is OK on anti-inflammatory diet? ›

Swiss, provolone, Cheddar and Gouda are some examples. According to 2019 research in the Journal of Dairy Science, cheese may offer a stable environment for probiotics to live in, thanks to its high fat content, pH and high water activity.

Can I have 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 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 ...

Are there any dairy-free cheeses? ›

Parmela Shreds

Most dairy-free cheeses are made from nuts. It works great with firm and creamy cheese, but how do you get a nut to melt? Parmela nailed it (don't ask us how). These cashew-based shreds not only taste like cheese, but they also melt perfectly.

Why am I not pooping on the paleo diet? ›

To ensure you're getting enough fiber on the paleo diet, it's important to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. If you're following a paleo diet that's low in fiber-rich foods — like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other paleo-friendly fiber sources — you could experience constipation.

Is ghee allowed on paleo? ›

The Short Answer: Ghee can be a fine addition to a Paleolithic diet.

Is peanut butter OK on paleo diet? ›

Peanuts are technically legumes, which are not paleo compliant, and that means peanut butter is off limits for paleo eaters. All other nuts and seeds are fair game, so if nuts and seeds are the only ingredients, snack away!

Is Stevia OK on AIP? ›

In general, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, and natural sweeteners that do not have calories (such as stevia) should be avoided, especially in the elimination phase of the AIP diet.

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 apple cider vinegar OK on AIP diet? ›

Apple cider vinegar has a low sugar content and is allowed in most diets. Its ability to improve gut flora means its suitable for the AIP diet which focuses on healing the immune system and reducing gut inflammation caused by an unbalanced gut flora.

Is Cheddar cheese an anti-inflammatory? ›

All dairy foods including milk, cheese, and yogurt, as well as dairy proteins, like whey and casein, were found in several systematic reviews to be anti-inflammatory or to have a neutral effect on inflammation. Learn more about dairy's role in fighting inflammation here.

Can you have dairy on the AIP diet? ›

Dairy is excluded from the AIP diet for several reasons. First, many people have lactose intolerance or sensitivity to dairy proteins like casein or whey. These can cause digestive issues like bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation.

Can you have dairy on AIP? ›

The AIP Diet eliminates nuts, seeds, grains, legumes, dairy, eggs, food additives, nightshade family vegetables, and processed foods such as processed vegetable oils and processed sugars during the elimination phase of the diet. You should also avoid consuming certain drugs such as tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine.

Is dairy allowed on AIP? ›

During this phase, foods like grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, nightshade vegetables, eggs, and dairy are completely avoided. Tobacco, alcohol, coffee, oils, food additives, refined and processed sugars, and certain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should also be avoided ( 1 ).

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