Heart-Healthy Creamy Nacho Cheese Sauce

Upgrade your snacking game with this Heart-Healthy Creamy Nacho Cheese Sauce, a guilt-free twist on a classic indulgence. Made with unsalted raw cashews, nutrient-rich carrots, and a blend of smoky spices like paprika and cumin, this vegan cheese sauce is as flavorful as it is wholesome. Nutritional yeast adds cheesy depth, while fresh lemon juice brings a bright tang to the velvety texture created in your blender. Perfectly dairy-free and packed with plant-based protein, this sauce comes together in just 30 minutes and pairs beautifully with tortilla chips, baked potatoes, or veggie-loaded nachos. Whether you're looking for a crowd-pleasing party dip or a healthy topping option, this recipe delivers bold flavor without the guilt.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 cup Unsalted raw cashews
• 1 medium Carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1 4 tablespoons Nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon Cumin
• 2 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 1 cup Vegetable broth
• 1 cup Water

Directions

Step 1

Place the unsalted raw cashews in a bowl and cover with one cup of water. Allow them to soak for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight if you have time.

Step 2

In a small pot, combine the peeled and chopped carrot with the vegetable broth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes, or until the carrot pieces are tender.

Step 3

Drain and rinse the soaked cashews.

Step 4

In a high-speed blender, combine the drained cashews, cooked carrot (along with any remaining broth), nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, lemon juice, and salt.

Step 5

Blend on high until the mixture is smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add a small amount of extra water, one tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.

Step 6

Transfer the sauce to a saucepan over low heat and stir occasionally until warmed through. Adjust seasoning if needed.

Step 7

Serve the creamy nacho cheese sauce warm with tortilla chips, over baked potatoes, or as a topping for nachos.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(692.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	793.9

Total Fat 50.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 9.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1812.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 65.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 10.8g	0%
Total Sugars 15.3g
Protein 28.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 135.6mg	0%
Iron 10.8mg	0%
Potassium 1588.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 54.7%

Protein: 13.9%

Carbs: 31.5%