By Lisa Esile, MS,
Nutritional yeast is a beloved flavor booster among plant-based eaters. Also known as "nooch," this gold-hued dust has a rich, fermented, "cheesy" flavor, that, when blended with ingredients such as nuts, beans, and cooked starchy vegetables, perfectly mimics a creamy, cheese sauce. Whether you're a nutritional yeast-newbie or a fan from way back, these 23 hand-picked recipes showcase its ability to enhance savory flavor in a variety of dishes. All the recipes are plant-based and oil-free, which means they're deliciously healthy too!
Want to know more about nutritional yeast? Check out our beginner's guide.
Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese
In this vegan take on a comfort food classic, a hearty dose of nutritional yeast blended with plant milk, garlic, and boiled sweet potato makes a velvety sauce with cheesy flavor. Don't be surprised if this one creeps into your weekly rotation! One reader notes: "Made many times and [it] will continue to be a staple." Check out more Healthy, Delicious, Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipes here.
Crispy Potato Vegan Cheese Sticks
This healthy vegan take on fried cheese sticks uses blended potato and nutritional yeast to recreate a mozzarella-like interior; nooch is also used to season the crispy coating. Prepare to be amazed, or as one fan puts it, "These are stupid good." Note: This recipe calls for the cheesy-potato filling to be frozen overnight before baking, so be sure to allow time for this.
Faux Parmesan
Chef AJ’s dairy-free Parmesan is so darn good you’ll find yourself adding it to everything from stews to veggie bakes, salads, and even air-popped popcorn. Made with nutritional yeast and raw nuts, this must-have condiment is also free of added salt. Make plenty and store in the fridge in an airtight container so it's ready to bring out at mealtimes.
New American Veggie Cheeseburgers
These sublime, open-faced vegan cheeseburgers are a testament to how far WFPB cooking has come. Featuring tender, beautifully seasoned quinoa-veggie patties drizzled with a mouthwatering potato "cheese" sauce and a tangy red onion and bell pepper medley, they are a culinary triumph. Note: These burgers take some time to prepare and are better suited to nights when you're not scrambling to get dinner on the table.
Homemade Vegan Pesto
Homemade basil pesto is affordable, convenient, and just as good as store-bought. Nutritional yeast and cashews sub in for Parmesan cheese while the usual tricksters, garlic and lemon juice, give pep and body. Add a dollop to pastas, salads, grain bowls, sandwiches, or pizza, and instantly create a cafe-quality meal. Pro tip: Make plenty and use for multiple meals; it'll keep for a few days in the fridge.
Loaded Potato Skins
Sun-dried tomatoes, capers, and nutritional yeast add tangy cheese flavor to these twice-baked potatoes. Garnished with scallions and a simple lime-tahini dressing, they're fancy enough to serve to guests and are kid-friendly as well. Note: This recipe takes 90 minutes to make, but that's mostly passive potato baking time.
Cheesy Vegan Veggie Pizzette
When you start eating a healthy plant-based diet it's natural to wonder how you'll eat pizza again. What about the cheese?! But then you discover recipes like these easy pita pizzas, which are topped with a nut-free, vegan cheese spread made from blending nutritional yeast with white beans. Insert sigh of relief! Our Air Fryer Mini Pizzas also get their cheesy flavor from a nooch-infused white bean spread.
Polenta Pizza Pie
A dusting of nutritional yeast over this rustic, gluten-free pizza adds a cheesy layer of flavor to the herb-scented tomato sauce and fork-tender veggies.
Herb-Crusted Asparagus Spears
Looking for a fabulous appetizer to impress both vegans and non-vegans? Enter: asparagus spears coated with a mix of hemp seeds, nutritional yeast, garlic, and breadcrumbs. No one will know they're healthy! One reader writes: "We’ve made this recipe numerous times and love it. Don’t forget to drizzle the lemon juice on top because it really adds to it."
Cheesy Caesar Dressing
Nutritional yeast joins a toothsome lineup of ingredients including chia seeds, capers, lemon juice, kelp granules, and maple syrup to create a full-bodied, oil-free caesar dressing. Pro tip: When eating out, especially when you suspect there will be few vegan options, bring along your own dressing; now you can transform even a basic green salad into a satisfying meal.
Creamy Cauliflower Bake
This fabulous side dish of baked "cheesy" cauliflower brings back happy memories of veggies bathed in a rich cheese sauce—only this time, it's healthy! Perfect for family supper or festive gatherings, this scrumptious bake also works with broccoli substituted for some, or all, of the cauliflower. One reader remarks, "This was a slam-dunk for me. I loved the creaminess of the sauce and really appreciated how low key the prep was."
Vegan Butternut Squash Lasagna Roll-Ups
For the full, cheesy, melt-in-your-mouth flavor extravaganza that only lasagna can give, these vegan roll-ups really deliver. A herb-infused butternut squash "cheese" sauce, flavored with nutritional yeast, white miso, navy beans, garlic, and tahini, mingles with layers of whole grain lasagna noodles and marinara sauce. One reader writes, "So good! One of my new faves."
Chickpea Nuggets
A whole-food, plant-based take on chicken nuggets, these crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside bites are perfect for a snack, appetizer, or kids birthday party. With a well-seasoned center made with chickpeas and rice, they taste great dipped into ketchup, barbecue sauce and/or hot sauce. For another delish "cheesy" appetizer, check out these Chickpeazella Sticks.
White Bean Fettuccine Alfredo with Peas and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Fettuccine Alfredo is normally a cream-heavy dish, but this vegan version gets its cheesy richness from blended cannellini beans, nutritional yeast, almond butter, and garlic. "So simple and yummy," notes one reader. For more cheesy vegan pasta dishes, check out our collection of mac and cheese recipes or this yummy Green Bean Pasta with Cashew Pesto.
Taco-Spiced Tortilla Chips
In combination with a medley of spices, a touch of nutritional yeast goes a long way to make these oven-baked tortilla chips seriously addictive. Whip up a batch and serve as a side dish or a snack.
No-Cheese Sauce
In this dairy-free cheese sauce, a whole cup of nutritional yeast is blended with onion, red bell pepper, and cashews (optional) to delicious effect. Add veggies, pasta, or a veggie bake, for a tasty meal the whole family will enjoy. Other delicious nut-free vegan cheese sauces that you can use to brighten up your cooking include: our oat-based Vegan Queso Sauce; or this incredibly versatile Cauliflower Béchamel.
Layered Vegetable Salad
This gorgeous layered veggie salad is so much more than your ordinary salad. Thinly sliced veggie ribbons are layered with a "cheesy" white bean spread, while a seasoned balsamic dressing adds tangy goodness. You'll want to savor every bite. Note: To really let the flavors mingle, chill for at least an hour before serving.
Mushroom and Green Pea Risotto
The best thing about this fabulous brown rice risotto, aside from the creamy, rustic nooch-enhanced flavor, is you don't need to spend hours at the stove trying not to burn it! Mayim Bialik's scrumptious Winter Vegetable Risotto also features nutritional yeast.
Vegan Chili Cheese Fries
In this healthy version of a greasy, fast-food classic, chunky potato wedges are topped with a zesty bean chili and a creamy potato sauce. Incredibly satisfying and packed with robust flavors, this hearty whole-food, plant-based dish forever dispels the myth that vegans live on raw lettuce and sprouts!
Loaded Lentil Nachos
For a 30-minute weeknight meal that consistently knocks it out of the park, serve baked tortilla chips with seasoned lentils, pico de gallo, and a creamy potato-based nacho "cheese." Garnish with scallions and cilantro.
Creamy Corn Butter
Oil-free and absolutely delicious, there's no need to be sparing with this creamy, golden butter. Corn lends sweetness, nutritional yeast adds a savory note, and agar powder (a seaweed-derived alternative to gelatin) binds it together. Spread on bread, crackers, or slather on ears of piping hot corn. Note: You can use fresh or frozen corn to make the butter.
Tofu and Veggie Frittata
Perfect for a lazy weekend brunch, this tofu-based veggie frittata has a delightful lightness thanks to the airy qualities of aquafaba (canned chickpea liquid), while a selection of spices and nutritional yeast yield a tantalizing cheesy, egg-like flavor.
Vegan Cheese Fondue
Sick of serving up the same old appetizers? Gather your guests for some vegan fondue fun—you'll be amazed at the perfectly gooey texture of this veggie-laden "cheese" sauce. Plant-based dippers that work well include: tofu or bread cubes, bell pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, asparagus, small whole mushrooms, snow pea pods, and pita triangles. Now where is that fondue pot?
About the Author
About the Author
Lisa Esile, MS
As an author, Do Nothing meditation instructor, and wellness coach, Lisa Esile combines her love for food and nutrition with her mental health background and delights in helping people find a stress-free way to make lasting lifestyle changes. Esile has a master’s degree in human nutrition and is the co-author/illustrator of Whose Mind Is It Anyway? Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life. Learn more at lisaesile.com.
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