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Microwave Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce

August 29, 2014


My little sister moves into college this weekend.  Being the amazing, ambitious older sister I am, I had the great idea to write her an e-book full of healthy, delicious foods she could make in a microwave (or other appliances you can have in a dorm).  And then, in order to fully show off the skills I learned in college, I procrastinated all summer long and never actually got around to doing it.  Fortunately for me, there’s no due date for nice gestures.  Instead, I’ll post the handful of recipes I have here and hopefully she’ll find enough food not to starve to death.

Microwave Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce

First up, microwave nacho cheese.  I didn’t know this easy vegan nacho cheese could get any easier, but apparently it can!  Even better, you can make a big batch of the mix so you have vegan cheese sauce almost instantly whenever you want it.  Perfect for a college student — steal the seasonings and flour from your parents house when you’re home doing laundry and bring it back to your dorm for a tasty time later.

Microwave Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce

This cheese sauce is great for dipping tortilla chips, making nachos, topping tacos (also vegan and made in the microwave), drizzling over microwave-baked potatoes, or scrambled microwave eggs.  If you have access to more than just a microwave, this recipe also perfectly swaps for the easy vegan cheese sauce in any of my other recipes using it, like these vegan enchiladas, vegan Ranch potato burritos, and beefy avocado quesadillas.

5.0 from 1 reviews

Microwave Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
Author: 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 

Serves: 8
 

Ingredients
  • Mix
  • ¾ c white whole wheat flour or whole wheat flour
  • 1½ c nutritional yeast (flakes)
  • 3 tbsp. taco seasoning
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp paprika (strongly recommend smoked)
  • To Prepare Sauce
  • 3 tbsp. mix
  • ½ c unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
  • Salt, optional

Instructions
  1. To make the mix. Combine all “Mix” ingredients in a food processor and pulse until fine and well combined. If you don’t have access to a food processor, simply mix in a bowl; stir extra until the flakes of nutritional yeast are finely powdered.
  2. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to several months (as long as your nutritional yeast is fairy fresh). Keeps in the fridge or freezer even longer.
  3. To prepare sauce. Combine 3 tbsp. of the mix with ½ c milk in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring with a fork.
  4. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each, until the sauce is your desired thickness. Takes about 90 seconds. Double batches will take approximately twice the time. Add a pinch of salt (to taste) if desired before serving — I normally omit, especially if I’m putting it on salty chips, but it’s nice when topping a potato or broccoli.

Notes
This makes 1½ c of dry mix (I know that seems strange given the amount of dry materials that go in, but the nutritional yeast flakes break down). I highly recommend measuring your yield in a measuring cup if you don’t mix until the nutritional yeast is powdery. Then divide your yield by 8 for how much you should add per ½ c milk.
Each “serving” here is ½ c sauce, prepared. Prepared leftovers can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days.

Nutrition Information
Serving size: ½ c prepared Calories: 160 Fat: 3 Carbohydrates: 22 Fiber: 9 Protein: 16

New to nutritional yeast and don’t want to commit to a whole big batch of mix?  Add an extra tbsp. of flour to this recipe and microwave in 30 second increments (stirring between each) for 2 – 3 minutes, until desired consistency is met. That recipe makes about a cup.

Any suggestions on healthy dorm snacks or other college survival tips?  Leave `em for my sister (and other college freshmen) in the comments!

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17 Comments
    Jenn Sep 16, 2014

    What?! This looks so easy. Can’t wait to try!

    Vicky Sep 05, 2014

    Simply cannot wait to make this recipe and just shared it on my blog in my Friday Foodie Faves post where I link up 10 of my favorite recipes finds from around the web.

    Rachel @ Bakerita Sep 03, 2014

    Love it! This is so easy, and sounds so delicious. Gotta try it 🙂

      Kelly Sep 03, 2014

      Let me know how you like it! Sometimes, you’re just too lazy to stand over a stove 😀

    Mira Sep 02, 2014

    This sounds so easy and it is nice to know there are no preservatives in your nacho cheese sauce! Pinning!

    Ashley Sep 01, 2014

    haha I always have all these great ideas and then they just never end up happening! But hey – even this one recipe looks awesome! So creamy!

    Allison Aug 29, 2014

    I can’t believe how creamy this looks! Such a great recipe! I don’t think there’s anything nutritional yeast can’t do!

      Kelly Aug 29, 2014

      I think our nutritional yeast consumption has been growing at an exponential rate since I first made this a couple of months ago. Seriously, SO easy to make a quick batch of cheese sauce when the mix is already ready and waiting in a mason jar. We’ve been topping everything with it and I’m definitely not complaining about that 😉

    cheri Aug 29, 2014

    Hi Kelly, what a nice big sister you are, love this idea of vegan nacho cheese.

      Kelly Aug 29, 2014

      Thanks, Cheri!

    Joanne Aug 29, 2014

    I’m going to point my sister in your direction because she just started college also! I think with this cheese sauce…she’ll be making quite a few friends in her dorm!

      Kelly Aug 29, 2014

      Aren’t you just a little bit jealous? I guess you’re still wrapping up school, but I’d love to be back at 18 again!

    Joanna @Makingmine Aug 29, 2014

    Haha, this looks delicious, but my favorite part is “stealing the seasonings and flour from your parents while home doing laundry.” Been there, done that 😉